Choosing skateboard wheels is an important part of setting up your board.

Whether you're an experienced skater or a beginner, finding the right skateboard wheels will affect your overall riding experience.

This article will give you some tips to help you make the right decision when it comes to choosing wheels, so start your quest to find the best wheels for you!

There are three main types of skateboard wheels for different types of riding. Watch the video and read below to find out which is right for you.

1. Park/Street Wheels
2. Cruiser Wheels
3. Longboard wheels

The two most important factors to consider when choosing skateboard wheels are wheel size and stiffness.

Street wheels tend to be smaller in diameter, ranging from 50-54mm, with a hardness of 99A or higher. They're designed for technical street skating and tricks. The smaller size provides better maneuverability, and the stiffer wheels allow for a smoother ride.

Soft wheels are designed for cruising, commuting, and carving. Soft wheels absorb shock and vibrations for a smoother ride. Larger wheels provide better stability and a smoother ride over rough terrain.

Old School decks are wider and have a longer wheelbase than standard decks, making them ideal and stable for skating in bowls and moving around. They may not be suitable for street skating as they make flips and ollies more difficult.

Generally, stiffer wheels are best for street skating on obstacles like skate packs, ledges, rails, and gaps, providing better sliding performance.

On the other hand, softer wheels are better for cruising, transportation and longboarding, providing a smoother ride and better grip.

Mid-stiffness wheels, especially those in the 90a to 98a range, are a good choice for beginners and street skating on rougher surfaces.

It's also worth noting that some brands, like Bones Wheels, use the Shore B scale when measuring wheel stiffness. This scale is 20 points lower than the A scale, so a wheel rated 82 would be equivalent to a 102a wheel on the A scale.

Understanding skateboard wheel stiffness can help you choose the best wheels for your riding style and the type of terrain you enjoy skating on.

Wheel diameter matters. Smaller wheels are ideal for street and technical skating because they're lighter, have more pop, and are more responsive. Larger wheels, on the other hand, are heavier but roll faster and maintain speed better, making them ideal for transportation and bowl skating. If you choose wheels larger than 56mm, we recommend adding riser pads to prevent wheel bite.

Contact patch is the part of the wheel that touches the ground and affects the amount of grip the wheel has. Narrow, small contact patch wheels are preferred by street skaters for technical street skating as they make some tricks easier to glide through. Wider, larger contact patch wheels are better for transportation and bowl skating as they maintain grip when skating at higher speeds.

The profile or shape of the wheel ends affects the grip, weight, and how the wheel locks in when grinding. Rounded wheel ends help the wheel glide more easily. Sharp wheel ends provide more grip and are less likely to slip off sections, helping the wheel lock in better when grinding.