Whether you are building a new complete or replacing the ones you already have, make sure you buy the best wheels for you because not all are created equal and for the same purpose. If you want to cruise, you’re going to need a different kind of wheel than if you want to use your skateboard specifically for skating on the street. In that regard, we’ve built something of our own. A best-of list consisting of the top skateboarding wheels on the market in 2015 that are specifically made for skateboarding on the street.
To make our list, we had to do our research and make sure that we were selecting the best of the best. We specifically created this list not only for wheels fit for the street, but to make sure our wheel selections had a range of sizes, prices, colors, and durability levels to fit your preferences and styles. Our process was split into a few categories to ensure that our choices were the best skateboard wheels on the market for the street. Following all of our research, we judged all the wheels and made our decisions based on these categories:
Contents
Material
Almost all skate wheels are made from a hard composite material called polyurethane. This material lends characteristics to the wheels such as durability and resistance to abrasion in a sport that requires that technology in its wheels. PU wheels are also moderately inexpensive to make so the price doesn’t have to escalate just so we can skateboard.
Size and Durability
This category required the most research, time, and debate to make sure we made the right choices. Skateboard wheels are measured by both diameter and durometer. The diameter is the size of the wheel, and the durometer is the hardness of the wheel. Both of these factors are a matter of personal preference. To put it simply, the wheel diameter is measured in millimeters (mm). The lower the number, the smaller the wheel. Most wheels range from 50-75 mm. Smaller wheels result in a slower ride, and larger wheels result in a faster one. Wheel diameter also affects how quickly you accelerate and how tightly you can turn.
The Durometer measures the skateboard wheel’s hardness. Most manufacturers use the Durometer A Scale, which is a 100-point scale that quantifies how hard a wheel is. The higher the number, the harder the wheel. The average wheel durometer is 99a. Generally speaking, harder wheels are faster, and softer wheels are slower but offer more grip. Softer wheels are better suited to street skating which is what our list focused on specifically.
More research we did involved contact patches. A wheel’s contact patch refers to the area of the wheel that makes contact with the pavement. If you have large longboard wheels, your contact patch will also be large. If you have a large contact patch, your weight will be distributed over a larger area. This reduces the compression of the urethane in your wheels and decreases rolling resistance, which can slow down your wheel. Rounded wheels make less contact with the pavement, while square wheels make maximum contact with the pavement. The placement of contact patches can also affect wheel performance.
There was a lot of information to consider, but we did our research and our three choices passed all of our tests. As well as another.
Affordable Price
Obviously, this is a concern. From our perspective, we made sure that for the price, the wheel was going to have the range to fit your preferences as well as your style while being of the highest quality material and durability. That way when you put your money down on one of our choice wheels, you’re going to be getting a wheel that will be guaranteed to last. Our price range goes from a maximum of $40 to a low-value price of $18. We feel very confident that the price of the wheel will stop being a concern the moment all four wheels are on your skateboard.
Our Decision
Our list has three options for the best skateboard wheel for the street. Our first choice is the Spitfire Classics White/Orange Skateboard Wheels. Our backup selection is the Powell Peralta Rat Bones Reissue Skateboard Wheels. Our value pick is the Sunset Skateboards Street Wheel with ABEC-9 Bearings to offer you additional value for a skateboard wheel specifically made for the street. We made our choices for the following reasons:
Our Pick for Street Skating: Spitfire Classics White / Orange Skateboard Wheels
What you’re getting with the Spitfire Classics is one of the best wheels for street skateboarding on the market without a doubt. This set of street wheels is made specifically out of high-quality polyurethane to ensure the best material. These measure at 53mm in diameter and 99a in durometer which is the average for both of them in terms of size and durability. With the wheels remaining smaller and at an average hardness, it will allow great durability while still a perfect shape for technical tricks. They will be able to meet any standard for contact patch which gave us full confidence to believe in these wheels first over our other selections.
At just under $25 for a four-wheel set, you’re getting one of the best names in skateboarding wheels and a wheel made specifically for the street for a low price. The Spitfire Classics are a skateboarding wheel for can trust for a smooth and thrilling ride on the streets.
>>> See Specifications & Read Customer Reviews on Amazon! <<<
Our Street Park Wheel Pick: Powell Peralta Rat Bones Re-Issue Skateboard Wheels
When we did our research, we knew that we’d have to include a wheel that was a little different from the average wheel. This was the Powell Peralta Rat Bones Re-Issue because it fits that description perfectly.
Made from the same high-quality polyurethane to put our material concerns to rest. The size and durability of the wheel are what make this a great wheel for street parks. A smooth surface with a diameter of 60mm and a hardness of 85a makes this a natural wheel specifically for the street. As said, the softer the wheel on the durometer scale, the more grip it has. The 60mm diameter makes this a bigger wheel with a more firm grip to turn and skate to your preference for $36 a set.
We wanted to give you two options to have some range for your style and preferences on street vs. street park. If the Spitfire Classics don’t do the trick, the Powell Peralta Rat Bones are sure to do the trick to give you the best skateboard wheel for the street.
>>> See Specifications & Read Customer Reviews on Amazon! <<<
Our Value Pick for Basic Street Riding: Sunset Skateboards Street Wheel with ABEC-9 Bearing
Our value pick was the Sunset Skateboards Street Wheel with ABEC-9 Bearing because our research told us again to offer something a little different to match the difference in preference. Sunset has created a solid skateboard wheel for the street that is made of the same materials as our other choices, but this wheel has a diameter of 54mm and a durometer of 90a which makes it have more grip than the Spitfire Classics, but have small diameter than the Powell Rat Bones. This set also includes ABEC-9 Bearings for a price of $40 which is a great price for the quality.
In terms of durability and range of performance, this is a mix of what makes all three of our selections a top-quality skateboard wheel built specifically for the streets. We feel completely confident that out of our three choices, you’ll be able to find a wheel that fits your style and preference for how you like to skateboard on the streets.
>>> See Specifications & Read Customer Reviews on Amazon! <<<
Thank you for reading and good luck with your choice. Feel free to drop a question, or comment and let us know what you thought of our selections and your own.
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