Your skateboard wheel is where the magic happens – it's your connection to the pavement, your ticket to that perfect ride. At Sector 9, we've been rolling on four wheels since 1993, and we've learned a thing or two about what makes the difference between a good ride and an epic one.

Why Your Wheel Choice Matters More Than You Think

Here's the truth: you can have the most dialed setup in the world, but if you're not riding the right wheel for your style and terrain, you're missing out on the full experience. Whether you're carving coastal highways, hitting street spots, or pushing the limits at skate parks, understanding the different types of skateboard wheels is fundamental to unlocking your board's potential.

Skateboard Wheel Anatomy: The Basics

Before we dive into the types of skateboard wheels, let's break down what makes a wheel tick. Every skate wheel these days consists of polyurethane (urethane for short) that is poured into a mold. Softer wheels are poured around a hub which is where the bearings seat while harder wheels are one solid unit. The wheel durometer (hardness), skateboard wheel diameter, contact patch (width), and wheel shape all work together with your trucks to determine how your setup performs.

Wheel Sizes: Finding Your Sweet Spot

Smaller Wheels (50-54mm)

Perfect for street skating and technical tricks at skate parks. These smaller wheels offer quick acceleration and easier flip maneuvers but sacrifice roll speed over rough terrain. If you're a street skater hitting rails, ledges, and vert ramps, this is your zone.

Medium Wheels (55-60mm)

The versatile middle ground for skaters who want to do a bit of everything. Great for cruising, commuting, and light bowl riding. These wheels balance speed with maneuverability, making them ideal for riders who switch between park and street without changing setups.

Larger Wheels (61-75mm+)

This is longboard territory – our specialty. Longboard wheels roll faster, maintain speed longer, and crush rough terrain like it's nothing. Perfect for downhill, freeride, cruising, and transportation. The bigger the wheel, the smoother ride and faster roll you'll get on those long hills. 

Understanding Wheel Durometer: The Hardness Scale

Skate wheels use the Shore A durometer scale, typically ranging from 75A to 101A. Here's how hardness affects your skating preferences:

Softer Wheels (75A-87A)

Softer wheels grip incredibly well and provide a smooth ride over cracks, pebbles, and rough surfaces. They're perfect for cruising, carving, and freeriding. The trade-off? They wear faster and can develop a flat spot more easily during powerslides.

Medium Wheels (88A-95A)

The sweet spot for most experienced skaters. These wheels offer good grip and decent slide characteristics while maintaining durability. Excellent for freeride, light downhill, and all-around longboard use. Our 70mm 80A Butterballs exemplify this balance perfectly – offering the same shred-able formula in a more compact package with better control and responsiveness.

Harder Wheels (96A-101A)

Built for speed and sliding. Harder wheels break traction more easily, making them the fastest wheel choice for cement parks, ramps and pools. They last longer on smooth surfaces but can feel harsh on rough terrain.

Wheel Shape and Lip Profiles: Different Shapes for Different Needs

The wheel shape dramatically affects performance across different types of riding:

Square Lip Wheels

Maximum contact patch means maximum grip. Square lips hold lines through turns and provide predictable traction on ramps and bowls. Perfect for carving, cruising, and when you need confidence in your grip during aggressive turns.

Rounded Lip Wheels

Designed to break traction smoothly and predictably. The rounded edges make it easier to initiate slides and transitions. Essential for freeride and technical sliding, these different shapes excel when you need controlled breakaway.

Beveled/Chamfered Lip Wheels

A hybrid approach offering some grip with easier slide initiation than square lips. Great for riders who want versatility in their setup, whether they're hitting street spots or flowing through bowls.

Contact Patch: Wide vs. Narrow Performance

Wide Contact Patch

More urethane touching the ground equals more grip and stability. Wide wheels excel in carving, cruising, and maintaining traction through turns. They do create more rolling resistance but offer superior control.

Narrow Contact Patch

Less contact means easier slide initiation and less rolling resistance. Narrow wheels are preferred for technical sliding and when you want a more nimble, responsive feel for trick execution.

Core Types and Their Impact on Performance

Centerset Cores

The bearing sits in the center of the wheel. This allows for even wear patterns and the ability to flip wheels to extend their life. Popular in freeride applications where even wear is crucial.

Offset Cores

The core is positioned toward one side of the wheel. This creates different characteristics on each side – typically more grip on one side and easier sliding on the other.

Sideset Cores

The core is flush with one side of the wheel. This maximizes the urethane on one side for maximum grip and roll speed, while creating different performance characteristics when wheels are rotated.

Choosing the Right Size and Hardness for Your Style

Street Skating and Park Riding

Street skaters typically prefer smaller, harder wheels (50-54mm, 96A-101A) for technical tricks, grinds, and navigating obstacles. These wheels offer the right size for flip tricks while maintaining speed on smooth surfaces around skate parks.

Commuting and Transportation

Look for larger, softer wheels (65-70mm, 78A-83A) with square lips. A cruiser wheel setup prioritizes comfort and roll speed over slide characteristics, perfect for daily transportation. The 61mm 78A Nineballs are ideal here – featuring good roll speed, round lips for smooth rides over cracks, and a centerset core for even wear.

Freeride and Sliding

Medium to large wheels (65-72mm) in the 78A-86A range with rounded lips work best. The exact choice depends on your skill level and the type of slides you do and the amount of grip you’d like. For serious freeriders, our 61mm 80A Butterballs offer the same shred-able formula that's become a fan favorite, now in a compact package perfect for double kicks and any freeride situation.

Downhill Racing

Larger, grippier wheels (70-79mm+, 76A-80A) with square lips and wide contact patches. Stability and predictable grip are paramount when bombing hills at speed.

Cruising and Carving

Soft, larger wheels (65-70mm, 75A-80A) with square lips. Focus on comfort and smooth rolling characteristics for that perfect cruiser wheel experience.

Longboards vs. Traditional Skateboards: Different Needs

Longboards typically use larger, softer wheels compared to traditional street setups. While a street skater might run 52mm wheels at 99A durometer, longboard riders often prefer 70mm wheels at 78A for the ultimate smooth ride. The increased wheel size sometimes requires riser pads to prevent wheel bite with your trucks during deep turns.

Popular Brands and Quality Considerations

While brands like Bones Wheels have established reputations in the street skating community, there are many quality options across different price points. The key is matching wheel specifications to your riding style rather than just going with name recognition.

Pro Tips from the Sector 9 Team

Break in your wheels gradually. New wheels often have a glossy surface that affects performance. In some instances this outer skin is desired, such as carving without sliding and also racing. A few sessions will wear this off and change the wheel’s characteristics a bit and often times make them more controllable and predictable. .

Rotate your wheels regularly. Uneven wear patterns can affect performance. Swapping wheel positions extends life and maintains consistent ride characteristics, preventing premature flat spot development.

Match your wheels to your local terrain. Rough terrain needs different wheels than smooth surfaces. An experienced skater considers their most common riding surfaces when making their choice.

Don't overlook bearing quality. Even the best wheels can be held back by poor bearings. Quality bearings complement your wheel choice and truck setup perfectly.

The Sector 9 Difference

At Sector 9, we've spent over three decades perfecting the art of the wheel. Our urethane formulas are developed specifically for different riding applications, and we test everything extensively with our team riders in real-world conditions. From our butter-soft Nineball wheels for cruising to our precise Race Formula wheels for high-speed applications, every wheel we make is designed with purpose.

Making Your Decision: Finding Your Right Wheel

Choosing the right wheel comes down to understanding your priorities. Ask yourself: Where do I ride most? What kind of experience do I want? Am I prioritizing comfort, speed, sliding, or trick capability?

Remember, there's no single "best" wheel – only the best wheel for your specific needs and riding style. Whether you're bombing hills on a longboard or perfecting your technique in bowls, don't be afraid to experiment with different types and setups.

Final Thoughts

Your wheels are your connection to the road, your interface with the world beneath your board. They're the difference between fighting your setup and flowing with it. Take the time to understand what you're riding on, and you'll unlock new levels of stoke in your skating.

Whether you're just starting out or you've been pushing for years, never stop experimenting with different wheel setups. The perfect wheel for you might be one you haven't tried yet. Keep rolling, keep exploring, and remember – it's all about the ride.

Ready to upgrade your setup? Explore our complete range of premium skateboard wheels designed for every riding style and terrain. Because when you roll with Sector 9, you're rolling with three decades of passion, innovation, and pure stoke.