How to Get Rid of Wheel Bites on Skateboards

Wheel bite while longboarding is extremely dangerous. Yet, these issues can be easily overcome, lessening the potential for eating pavement at Mach speeds. Choosing a setup technically appropriate for downhill skateboarding saves you from the potential of broken bones and can extend your skateboarding career. Don't be the one stranded mid-run with a bad case of road rash. Some time spent at home getting your setup dialed yields equipment perfectly calculated for leaving your friends in the dust.

Things You'll Need

  • Long skateboard
  • Wheels
  • Trucks
  • Riser pads
  • Truck tool
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Instructions

  1. Wheel Selection

    • 1

      Define your riding style and board length. Longer boards pair best with bigger wheels.

    • 2

      Choose wheels with a diameter range of 70 to 75 millimeters if your board is more than 40 inches long.

    • 3

      Select wheels with a diameter range of 68 to 72 millimeters for boards 34 to 42 inches long.

    • 4

      Opt for wheels with a diameter range of 60 to 67 millimeters if your board is below 34 inches.

    Truck Selection and Adjustment

    • 5

      Select trucks with an axle width equal to no less than a 1/4-inch difference of the board width.

    • 6

      Pick high-rise trucks when using wheels larger than 56 millimeters.

    • 7

      Use the truck tool to turn the nut located at the end of the truck's kingpin. The tighter you tighten the nut, the stiffer you make the bushings.

    • 8

      Experiment on pavement with tightening the kingpin nut and carving turns to achieve the ideal setting for you. Remember, the tighter the bushings, the less chance of wheel bite.

    Selecting and Installing Rider Pads

    • 9

      Choose riser pads that are 1/8 to 1/4 inch wide, depending on your truck height and clearance needed.

    • 10

      Use the truck tool to remove all four of the nuts at the ends of the truck mounting hardware.

    • 11

      Slide the riser pad between the truck and the skate deck.

    • 12

      Refasten the nuts to the hardware, completing the assembly of truck and riser pad to the board.