If you're a skateboarder, then you know just how necessary wheels are. There are many, many types of wheels out there. What kind of skateboard wheels should a skateboarder get? This article will help you generate a better understanding of the many different types of wheels out there.

The very first thing you must to learn about wheels is that they come in different hardness's. Skateboarders call this 'hardness' the wheel's Shore D, or durometer. There are two different scales of durometer. The D scale is used for harder materials, while the A scale is used for softer materials, such as the urethane used in a skateboard wheel.

You have to pick a durometer depending on what you desire in a skateboard wheel. A good rule to follow is that 78a to 88a are great cruising/longboarding wheels, as they are extremely soft wheels that can ride over rocks very easily, while 88a to 97a or higher make excellent wheels for street skaters. These harder wheels provide a little more control of the board, and give you extra speed on very smooth skating spots, such as the smooth concrete in a skatepark. A harder wheel is also less likely to end up with a flat spot if you're a powerslider.

Another thing a skater has to look at in a wheel is the shape of the wheel. There are a few different shapes of wheels, and each has been designed for a different purpose. A 'freeride' wheel is your every day skateboard wheel. Freeride wheels have rounded edges and a rounded face, which makes getting off ledges or coping much easier than it would have been if you had conical wheels with a flat back. Downhill longboarders sometimes use soft freeride wheels because it makes it easier to skate down a hill. The beveled edges also give you a little extra traction while carving.

The other type of wheel is the conical wheel. Conical wheels have a reverse volcano shape to them, with a flat reverse side. (If this doesn't create a proper visual, do a quick image search and you will know what I'm talking about.) Conical wheels are often used for street longboarders, as they are light weight and ride on the street very well. Since these wheels are light weight, longboarders don't have to push as often as they would with a regular wheel.

The next thing you'll want to look at the diameter of the wheel. Normal skateboard wheels usually come in sizes from 50 to 54mm. Skateboard wheels aren't typically made too much smaller than 50mm, as they become too tiny to be useful. Bigger wheels are usually used on longboard or cruiser boards; many longboarders like to utilize a softer wheel that is around 59 to 60mm. Longboarders use bigger wheels than street boarders because it makes it easier to get over bumps or cracks in the road. Extreme downhill longboarders will on occasion get even larger wheels - up to 65mm or more - because there is a speed boost. The larger the wheel, the more speed you will gain on a hill.

The last step you must take in buying your wheels is to find out what is available to you at your local skateboard shop, and then get the wheel that is going to suit your needs. If you're a street cruiser, you might want to look at getting some 78a 60mm tunnel/conical wheels. If you're a street skater, you'll probably want something small and hard - 97a 52mm wheels should do nicely. Before you buy the wheels you're looking at, find out if you can try out a board that has the wheels you were checking out on it. Some skateboard shops have skateboard decks that they will be happy to let you test.

In conclusion, we talked about what the durometer of a wheel is, how the shape matters, and the differences in diameter. If you are still confused after consuming the above info, take a trip down to your local skateboard shop. They will be thrilled to help out a fellow skater.

The Author has been a skateboarder for a very long time. He enjoys longboarding, trickboarding, and everything in between. If you're looking for an online skateboard shop after reading this hub, please check out http://www.the-skateboard-shop.com/

Depending on what type of wheels you buy, you may only need to replace them once or twice during the life of the board. You should replace wheels when they become 5-6mm smaller than they used to be, or if they develop 'flatspots.' A flatspot is exactly what it sounds like - it's a flatspot on the wheel. Flatspots are created when you powerslide, and are usually created more easily on a soft wheel.

You should also replace your wheels if they look like the following picture.