How Skateboard Risers Change Your Setup

If you love carving deep turns or riding loose skateboard trucks, but your skateboard wheels keep rubbing against your skateboard deck, it might be time to add skateboard riser pads. These small but mighty inserts sit between your deck and trucks, giving your setup extra clearance to prevent wheel bite and smooth out your ride. At Sector 9, we’ve spent decades fine-tuning how boards handle under pressure, and we know a simple riser pad can make a big difference. Whether you’re cruising your local hills or setting up cruiser skateboards for everyday rides, risers help you find that perfect balance between control, comfort, and flow.

What Are Riser Pads and What Do They Do

A riser pad is a piece of hard plastic placed between your skateboard deck and skateboard truck baseplate. Its main job? To raise the deck slightly higher off the ground, giving your skateboard wheels more breathing room. That extra clearance helps prevent wheel bite—that dreaded moment when your wheels touch the deck mid-turn, stopping your flow and sending you off balance.

Risers also protect your deck from stress cracks by reducing pressure and vibration transfer. And unlike a shock pad, which is made of softer material to absorb impact, skateboard riser pads focus on height, clearance, and control.

If you’re new to setting up trucks, check out our guide on skateboard truck sizes to make sure your risers and trucks align perfectly.

How Risers Change Your Setup

A small adjustment under your trucks can change the entire feel of your skateboard or longboard deck.

1. Increased Wheel Clearance = Fewer Wheel Bites
If you ride larger wheels, big wheels, or carve deep on cruiser skateboards, risers give you that extra space to lean without fear of wheel bite. It’s a simple, effective tweak for smoother carving and tighter turns. To better understand how wheel diameter affects ride feel, explore our deep dive: Skateboard Wheels 101: Types, Sizes, and Styles Explained.

2. Ride Height and Leverage
Adding risers increases your deck’s ride height, giving more tail drop and snappier pop. Some skaters find this improves leverage for pumping or surf-style skating on longboards.

3. Deck Longevity and Truck Protection
Risers act like a buffer between your board and skateboard trucks, spreading pressure evenly and protecting your deck from cracks around the bolts and hardware area.

4. Balance and Feel
A taller setup slightly changes your center of gravity. Some riders love the floatier feel, especially on complete skateboards with longboard trucks and longboard wheels that roll over rough pavement with ease.

How to Choose the Right Riser

Sector 9’s philosophy: your setup should flow with your style.

• Riser Height: Common sizes are 1/8″, 1/4″, and 1/2″. A thicker riser pad gives more clearance for big wheels and deeper carves.
• Wheel Size: If you’re running larger wheels for cruiser skateboards or longboard setups, risers are essential. Smaller wheels can usually skip them.
• Material & Shape: Choose hard plastic risers for durability, or go with angled risers (also called wedge risers) to fine-tune your turning radius.
• Hardware: Adding a riser pad means you’ll likely need slightly longer bolts to secure your skateboard trucks properly.
• Riding Style: Carvers, cruisers, and longboards benefit most. Street skaters may prefer a lower setup for quick tricks and faster response.

What Are Angled Risers (and Why They Matter)
If we had to name an unsung hero in your setup, it would be the hardware, the small pieces that hold everything together and quietly keep you rolling smoothly. Among these heroes are angled risers, sometimes called wedge risers. Unlike flat riser pads, these are designed with a slight slope that changes the angle of your skateboard trucks. The result? More responsive turns, smoother carving, and a ride that feels dialed into your terrain.

Adding angled risers can increase stability for downhill runs or loosen your trucks for surf-style flow, depending on how they’re mounted. The 9-Ball Crew has spent years testing and refining this kind of skateboard hardware, making sure every piece, from your bolts to your pads, works together for speed, reliability, and that signature Sector 9 feel.

Not sure what deck size fits your riding style? Our guide to skateboard size and how to choose the right deck breaks it down by width, terrain, and skill level so your risers fit a setup built for you.

If you’re unsure, stop by your local skate shop near you and they’ll help you find the right combo for your ride.

When to Add Risers

• You’ve upgraded to larger wheels and want to avoid wheel bite.
• You’re seeing cracks or stress lines near the truck bolts.
• You want smoother carving with fewer vibrations and more clearance.skate
• You’re tuning a longboard deck or surf-skate hybrid for that flowing feel.

When to Skip Them

• You’re skating smaller wheels (<54 mm) and want to stay low to the ground.
• You prefer quick flips, fast pops, and technical precision.
• You’re happy with your board’s current feel and ride height.

Final Thoughts: Flow Over Force

At Sector 9, we believe your setup should move with you—not against you. Adding skateboard riser pads isn’t about chasing trends; it’s about dialing in your board so it rides the way you want it to. If you’re carving deep hills or cruising coastal paths, a riser pad can make your session smoother and keep your skateboard deck protected.

And don’t forget your knee pads and elbow pads when you’re testing new setups—comfort and safety help you stay in the zone longer.

Your board is your wave—adjust your stance, your trucks, and your risers until it feels right. Trust your flow, stay balanced, and keep rolling.

FAQ: Skateboard Risers, Riser Pads & Wheel Bite

Do I need skateboard risers?
It depends on your setup. If you ride larger wheels (55 mm and up) or carve deeply, skateboard riser pads help prevent wheel bite and extend your deck’s life. If you’re skating street or want max responsiveness, you might not need them.

What size riser pad should I use?
Start small. A 1/8″ riser pad gives light clearance for mid-sized wheels; 1/4″ or 1/2″ is ideal for cruiser skateboards or longboard wheels. A thicker riser pad may also require longer bolts for your skateboard trucks.

Can risers make my skateboard last longer?
Yes. Risers distribute stress evenly across your skateboard hardware, reducing cracks and absorbing vibration between your deck and trucks.

What’s the difference between riser pads and shock pads?
A riser pad is rigid and built for clearance; a shock pad is made of softer material to absorb impact. Some skaters use both for a cushioned yet responsive ride.

Will risers change how my skateboard feels?
Slightly. A taller setup feels more stable for carving or cruising, while lower setups feel snappier for technical skating. Try both and see what fits your flow.

Pro Tip: If you’re shopping for wheels, longboard trucks, or new complete skateboards, test a few different heights of risers while you’re at your local skate shop—the right combo can completely transform your ride.