Why Are Good Skateboard Trucks & Wheels Needed?

"Good" skateboard trucks and wheels are trucks and wheels that are appropriate for the type of skating you want to do. Having the appropriate trucks and wheels will help you skate your best as well as increase your stability and safety. "Good" trucks and wheels are not necessarily the most expensive and technical. Inexpensive trucks and wheels might be best for beginners. As your skill level improves, you might find that you need more expensive trucks and wheels in order to skate at your optimum level.

  1. Types

    • Street, park, pool, vert, cruising, longboarding and downhill are all types of skateboarding with trucks and wheels. Though there might be some overlap among the various types, trucks and wheels suited to street skating are different than the trucks and wheels best suited to longboarding, for example.

    Trucks

    • Skateboard trucks are typically made of cast alloy metal or aluminum alloy. Trucks consist of a baseplate that mounts the apparatus to the underside of the skateboard deck. The kingpin is a bolt that holds the hangar to the baseplate. The hangar of the truck, which can vary in width, houses the axle, which can vary in length. Bushings are rubber-like rings of varying hardness inside the truck that facilitate the pivoting, or turning of the skateboard. Hard bushings are harder to pivot than soft bushings.

      The length of the axle generally corresponds to the width of the skateboard deck. Short axles, with narrow hangars, have a small turning radius, meaning that they enable the skateboard to turn quickly within a small area. Longer axles, with wider hangars, more often found on longboards and downhill boards, have a wider turning radius and require more space to turn.

    Wheels

    • Wheels, which are made of polyurethane, are available in different diameters and durometers. A wheel's diameter refers to its size. Large wheels increase speed and stability and are good for longboarding, cruising and downhill skating. Small wheels, which are good for nimble street skating tricks, require more effort to produce speed.

    Durometer

    • The durometer of a skateboard wheel refers to its hardness. Wheels with a low durometer are softer, slower and more capable of gripping the riding surface. Wheels with a high durometer are hard and fast. They do not grip the riding surface as well. A low durometer wheel is good for cruising on rough streets, while a high durometer wheel is good for the smooth surfaces of a pool or skate park.

    Style

    • Skateboard trucks and wheels are available in a wide array of shapes, sizes, styles, and colors. Wheels are available with and without printed graphics. The trucks and wheels that you choose not only help you skate at your highest level but also help you express yourself as an individual. Style and aesthetics are aspects of skateboarding, as are functionality, technique and safety.