Do Skateboard Wheels Affect Turns?

Many skateboarding enthusiasts enjoy customizing their skateboards. Riders can purchase specific board and wheel sizes, based on the intended skateboard use. Some riders simply cruise down sidewalks with a comfortable longboard, whereas other enthusiasts require a smaller skateboard for technical tricks, such as jumps. The skateboard's wheels do affect the turning capability of the entire board assembly.

  1. Skateboard Features

    • A basic skateboard consists of a board, two trucks and four wheels. The trucks are the connecting axles between the board and the individual wheels. The trucks contain bushings that provide a turning movement for the board. In addition, the wheels have individual internal bearings that supply the spinning action for a smooth skateboard ride.

    Large Wheel Size

    • Skateboard wheel size is defined by the wheel's diameter. Basic skateboard wheel diameters range between 49 and 75 mm. Larger wheels, between 55 and 75 mm, offer a faster ride. The wheel's spinning motion moves across more ground in an individual rotation, creating acceleration. However, the larger diameter makes turning more difficult. The individual wheels are not spinning as fast as a smaller wheel's diameter would allow, making overall skateboard turns slower and less sharp.

    Small Wheel Size

    • Small wheel sizes, between 49 and 54 mm in diameter, offer precision turning for easier skateboard maneuvering. The smaller wheel offers a lighter feel to the skateboard, as well as a closer proximity to the ground, creating the ability to turn faster at sharper angles. However, smaller wheels need to spin faster than their larger counterparts to cover the same distance. As a result, the wheel's bearings must rotate faster, generating more drag on the wheel's movement. This drag must be overcome with more effort from the rider's foot action.

    Hardness

    • Skateboard wheels also vary in hardness. This harness value is called the wheel's durometer and can affect wheel turning abilities. Larger wheels tend to be made of softer polyurethane. This soft wheel composition generates a dampening effect against bumps and cracks in the street during riding, generally meant for a longboard cruising skateboard enthusiast. As a result, the softer wheel has more traction for reliable turns in wet conditions.

      The softer wheel can wear faster, requiring frequent replacements. In contrast, a hard durometer polyurethane wheel tends to be designed for smaller wheel installations. The hard wheel composition aids in skateboard pops into the air, as well as providing a durable alternative to the softer wheel types. However, the hard wheel does not have as much traction against the ground, making turns slippery in wet weather.