Written by Chris K
Are you thinking of getting into longboarding to commute around the city or freeride and slide down massive hills at insane speeds?
It is important to pick the best longboard wheels for cruising, sliding, downhill racing, freestyling or the best longboard wheels for commuting – the right longboard wheel is dependent on your riding style.
With the huge variety of longboard wheels, you should know what to look for in a wheel depending on if you will be commuting, cruising, dancing or sliding.
There are many factors, from wheel hardness to finding the best wheel for carving. It can feel overwhelming to know what wheel works best, but it doesn’t have to be!
I have picked out the best longboard wheels for cruising, the best longboard wheels for sliding or freeriding and the best longboard wheels for downhill racing to help you pick the right wheel for you.
The 9 Best Longboard Wheels for Cruising
Orangatang Caguama 85mm Longboard Wheels
- BIG, SMOOTH LONGBOARD WHEELS — Designed for maximum speed, comfort, and momentum for longboard commuting, carving, long-distance pushing, pumping, and electric longboards. Includes Loaded Jehu V2 bearings with integrated spacers and speedrings.
- FAST AND COMFORTABLE — With a large 85mm diameter, the Caguama rolls with incredible speed and plows over cracks, rocks, sticks, and the roughest roads.
- FUNCTIONAL DESIGN — The 56mm contact patch with its surface skin provides confident grip, while the subtly rounded edges help the wheels pass smoothly across pavement cracks.
- HAPPY THANE FORMULA — The original Orangatang urethane formula is fast, smooth, plush, and grippy. Now available in three durometers: 77a (blue), 80a (orange), and 83a (purple).
- LARGE, SUPPORTIVE CORE — The fully exposed 46mm core reduces weight while providing quick acceleration and lots of momentum. Compatible with any electric skateboard that can accommodate Orangatang Kegels, allowing for an even faster and smoother ride.
The ever-popular and high-quality Orangatang Caguama longboard wheels are made with the “Happy Thane” formula. The formula offers fast, smooth and plush wheels with a high roll speed and a lot of grip.
The core is offset with a deep valley support core to provide a lot of cushion. Although the wheels are huge at 85mm, the cores are exposed to reduce weight.
The Caguama has higher edges and rounded lips, which prevent the longboard from fishtailing. The rounded lip also prevents your wheels from catching an edge from the lip on the paint lines on the road.
The larger wheel size does mean less torque (slower acceleration), but it offers higher speed and a much smoother ride. The large size of the wheel makes them perfect for heavier riders!
The Orangatang Caguama is the best longboard wheels for cruising.
The larger diameter also provides more clearance for skid plates, reducing the amount of debris flying up and scratching the bottom of your longboard.
The Orangatang Caguama wheels have a 56mm wide contact patch but an overall width of 58.5, meaning that the wheels will get wider and add more grip to the ground as you ride.
The large wheels are great for cruising over rough pavements and cracks and easily getting up curbs. The Caguamas are grippy and slide out at just the right times.
If you are looking for more of a long-distance push, the purple 83A’s are the hardest wheel that helps you ride for long distances before pushing again.
The top speed for the Caguama longboard wheels is 21mph (34km) and is perfect for boosted boards. Using the Caguama on a boosted board will give you amazing ride quality, high speeds and torque.
The Orangatang Caguama longboard wheels have a softer feel for road vibrations and are great for turning easily and riding over cracks and debris.
If you are looking for a different hardness level, the Orangatang Caguama is made with three different durometers. The softest is the blue 77a, the medium is the orange 80a, and the hardest is the purple 83a.
I recommend pairing them with Bone Reds 608 sized bearings.
What We Like
- Multi-use – great for commuting, e-boarding, carving, pumping and long-distance pushing.
- No wheel bite
- Made from heat-resistant urethane
- Amazing ride quality
- Top speeds
- Super soft, which increases the ride quality
- Wider wheels are great for heavier riders
What We Don’t Like
- Wheels can chunk on rough terrain – but this is a manufacturing error, and the warranty will replace them for free.
- More Expensive
- It gets dirty easily (Clean with magic erasers)
- Colors fade with use
- Large wheels can cause shoe rub
- Not for small boards
Shark Wheel Sidewinder 70mm Longboard Wheels
Shark Wheels are known for being all-terrain longboard wheels. However, if you ride in wet conditions or over rough terrain often, the best longboard wheels for cruising are the Shark Wheel Sidewinder 70mm 78a Longboard Wheels.
Shark Wheel did reinvent the wheel with the unique shape of a sine waveform design. In addition, the sidewinder wheels give off the optical illusion of being shaped like a wavy cube but are still round.
Shark Wheel’s innovative design offers more sliding control and is excellent for rough terrain and wet riding conditions. In addition, the wheel maintains firm contact with the ground giving an overall smoother ride.
You should find the best longboard for sliding with the shark wheel sidewinders.
The wave pattern design has a thin contact patch touching the ground, causing less friction and a quicker ride. Shark wheels easily ride over rough surfaces smoother than your traditional wheels.
However, they do feel harsher than standard wheels riding on smoother pavement. The wheels are designed to prevent loose attachment, which causes most longboard accidents.
Sidewinders are great for rainy day rides as the grooves prevent hydroplaning and help funnel and push pebbles and tiny rocks aside. You may feel the wheel easing off before losing control – if you lose control at all.
The Sidewinder Longboard Wheels are great for sliding!
The wheels keep spinning as you slide, giving you more control than traditional wheels for sliding.
You can feel the difference with Shark Wheels when you carve. They carve smoothly and roll quieter than traditional wheels.
They are great for rainy day rides as the grooves prevent hydroplaning and help push pebbles and tiny rocks aside.
Shark Wheel’s wheel shape channels liquid away from the wheel’s surface and offers more controlled traction over the traditional wheels in wet conditions.
If you are looking for the best longboard wheels for cruising on dry and smooth surfaces, Shark Wheel isn’t any better than a traditionally shaped wheel.
However, if you are riding in rainy wet, and sketchy terrain every day, the best longboard wheels for cruising are the shark wheels.
I recommend pairing these with Bones Reds bearings.
What We Like
- Great for rough terrain
- Amazing in wet conditions
- Perfect for sliding, turns and carving
- Large color selection
- Super soft
- Super Sticky/Grippy
- It helps with road vibrations
What We Don’t Like
- Expensive
- Not great on smoother surfaces
- Wheels often have air bubbles on the surface
- Gets dirty easily
- Unfinished look with nubs in the inner wall
Sector 9 Nine Ball 70mm Longboard Wheels
- Imported
The Sector 9 Nine Ball wheels are fast and aren’t super grippy, and the 78a durometer is super soft and offers a quiet ride.
However, these wheels are a little rough on sidewalks and skateparks – this could be from over-compressing your bearings, making the wheels not ride well. Otherwise, if the bearings are placed right, it should feel like you are riding on a cloud.
The Nine Balls are made with the Top Shelf Urethane formula, which has added control and a center-set core with a 38mm contact patch with a center-set core.
These wheels aren’t ideal for sliding, but they make the perfect cruising and carving wheels. You can go much farther and carve better with the Sector 9 Nine Balls.
Some riders really love the Sector 9 Nine Balls for sliding because they are smooth, but I found they weren’t great.
Keep yourself safe and pick up a set of the best skateboard pads.
What We Like
- Great for beginner cruisers
- Durable
What We Don’t Like
- Not the best for sliding
- Not great for skateparks
- Wheels are transparent, so they become dirty fast
Big Boy 70mm Gel Solid Longboard Wheels
Are you looking for the best longboard wheels for cruising but don’t want to break the bank? Then, the Big Boy 70mm Gel Solid Longboard Wheels are for you.
These 70mm, 78a hub wheels are offset, meaning the bearings are off-center in the wheel. This means that the wheels are extra grippy as they change the grip point in the wheel.
The Big Boys are similar to the Sector 9 Nine Balls wheel but with more bounce. They are so inexpensive, so they are perfect for cruising and practicing your slides without feeling like you are destroying more expensive wheels.
The Big Boys are one of the best longboard wheels for cruising as they ride super smooth, don’t get rugged or bumpy, and are perfect for riding in any weather.
The wheels absorb shocks, so you can easily ride over cracks, pebbles and sticks. The Big Boys are perfect for cruising, but you can also use them for downhill riding, slides and carving.
One of the best things about buying the Big Boy longboard wheels? They come with bearings and spacers, so you don’t have to worry about extra costs.
The Big Boys are 70mm, so if they are larger than your normal longboard wheels, be sure to get some riser pads with 1.5″ hardware to avoid getting wheel bite as you ride.
I recommend pairing these with Bones Reds Bearings or any standard bearings.
If you need new hardware, check out the best skateboard hardware to help you find the right hardware.
What We Like
- Inexpensive
- It comes with bearings and spacers
- Great for beginners
- Stable & sturdy
- Smooth ride – Rides over all terrains
- Grippy
What We Don’t Like
- Color darker than the picture
- Large wheels may cause wheel bite
- Not super high quality
- Noisy
Seismic Speed Vent Defcon Longboard Wheels
- The 85mm diameter gives it the roll speed of a downhill wheel, while the weight-saving hub adds the quickness and agility of a smaller wheel, as well as enhanced rebound
- Combined with lips designed for pure grip, the Speed Vent is utterly unique among high-end wheels
- Breakthrough performance for Downhill, LDP, carving and cruising.
The super-fast Seismic Speed Vent Longboard Wheels are perfect for downhill racing and long-distance cruising.
The speed vent wheel is built for traction, roll speed and downhill riding. The urethane formula offers a sugary feel and is perfect for maintaining roll speed and stability.
Seismic is a high-end wheel that offers breakthrough performance in carving, downhill riding, cruising, long-distance pushing and riding on electric skateboards. Check out the best skateboard brands if you want to know more about skateboarding.
Coming in 85mm with a 77a durometer, these massive wheels will grip the ground, offering the ultimate balance and stability a wheel can have, which is important when racing down at super high speeds.
If you take a very tight and slow turn, the front wheels are prone to wheel bites. But, on the other hand, the big square-lipped wheels are perfect for long-distance pumping.
The Speed Vents don’t slide well and accelerate very slowly, but once you get going, these wheels are so fast that they make your long-distance cruising trips much quicker.
One of the best things about the Seismic Speed Vent wheels is that they come in three different proprietary formulas.
BlackOps provides a balance of speed grip, extreme traction, buttery and smooth and is comfortable and predictable.
Defcon – Insane speeds, directional slides, long-lasting grip, and slow, consistent wear.
Just note that the 80a has a hard edge that offers excellent speed and traction on buttery smooth pavement. However, if riding on rougher pavements, go with the 76a as it provides more traction.
The Defcon 80a holds up better to wear and is better for sliding than the BlackOps 76a, but the 76a is forgiving and gives a gradual release when sliding. In addition, the 76a is a great freeride style wheel.
The softer the durometer of the Premium Clear 75a is sluggish – go with the 77a or 79a and roll forever, which is a plus for long-distance riding. Also, the long-distance pumping is amazing as the wheels are wide and thin – making carving and pumping really efficient.
I recommend pairing these with Zealous Bearings.
What We Like
- Very fast
- Grippy
- Great inertia – rolls forever
- Perfect for long-distance riding
- Stable under high speeds
- Long-lasting paint
- Variety of wheels depending on rider needs
What We Don’t Like
- Expensive
- Chips easily
- Heavy
MBS All-Terrain Longboard Wheels
The super high traction MBS All-Terrain Longboard Wheels are 100mmx65mm all-terrain longboard wheels. They are made with 78a SHR urethane and are perfect for off-road riding.
Due to the amount of traction, the MBS wheels won’t slip on wet surfaces. However, the wheels are large, so I recommend getting wide large trucks to lift the board higher off the ground.
The MBS All-Terrain Wheels have built-in bearing spacers. These wheels also won’t work on boosted boards. Bearings are not provided but use 8x22mm bearings. These wheels are not made for power sliding.
Rolls well on asphalt, concrete, rough roads and hard pack dirt – but not gravel roads. The MBS All-Terrain Wheels will need add-ons if you ride a regular style deck.
You will need big risers, so these wheels best suit drop-throughs. If you have a pintail or a longboard with cutouts, you will need riser pads to prevent wheel bite.
Check the truck diameter size before buying, as you may need adapters or different trucks to hold the massive wheels. Check out the best longboard trucks post to find the best trucks for you.
I recommend using 2x ½ inch riser pads per truck so the wheels don’t rub against your board. Again, I recommend pairing these with the Bones Bearings Reds Bearings.
What We Like
- It does not wear down quickly
- Great for off/on-road riding
- Very rough, high traction wheel
What We Don’t Like
- Cruises slow due to traction
- Hefty wheels
- Will need a riser to prevent wheel bite
Cal 7 90mm 78A Longboard and Cruiser Wheels
- 90x52mm PU wheels (4 pack)
- 78A durometer
- 44.45mm center-set hub
- 19.05mm PU depth
- Bearings and spacers included
Are you looking for an inexpensive longboard wheel for cruising? Look no further than the Cal 7 90 mm 78a Longboard Wheels. The center-set hub wheels are steady and create a shock-absorbing ride. In addition, the wheels come with ABEC 7 bearings.
The Cal 7 wheels are large and heavy, so it takes some extra push to get your momentum going, but the ride is super smooth. Unfortunately, the wheels have no grip when brand new, so they will need to be broken in if riding in less than ideal weather conditions.
The Cal 7 Cruiser wheels are great for smooth and fast riding, but they can be difficult to control when making turns. These wheels are great for those looking for a cheaper alternative to larger longboard cruising wheels.
The wheels are 52mm wide and have a contact patch of 47mm, making them fantastic for cruising.
If you are looking for an even larger wheel, Cal 7 does a 97mm 78a Longboard Cruiser Wheel.
The 97mm wheels have an aggressive cutting edge in carving and roll nicely and smoothly. The wheels are large but can still be used on a cutout board if you have wide trucks.
There may be some wheel rub when turning. Also, some people complain that ABEC 7 bearings are too cheap, so in that case, I recommend getting the Shiver ABEC 9 as a replacement.
These cruising wheels are great for downhill riding! They go super fast, reaching speeds up to 50mph! Be sure to find the best cheap skate shoes too.
What We Like
- Inexpensive
- Bearings and spacers are included
- Variety of colors
What We Don’t Like
- Heavy
- Prone to bubbles
- Slippery when wet
- Not versatile
Shark Wheel DNA Formula 72 mm 78a Longboard Wheels
- HIGH-PERFORMANCE WHEELS: Our long boards skateboard wheels helps you build and maintain speed on rough terrain or skate ramp. The unique wave pattern of the wheels helps to deflect debris and obstacles, so you can keep on rolling.
- LONG-LASTING SKATE TOOL - Built with quality and functionality in mind, these long board wheels will let you cruise with confidence. Gear up and try these wheels out on a nearby road, skateboard rail, or ramps!
- IMPROVED SKATING EXPERIENCE: Shark Wheels offers a variety of skateboard wheels that provide a number of benefits, including reduced friction, increased longevity, abrasion resistance, and improved off-road performance.
- MADE IN USA: All of our wheels are made right here in the United States. Using the best local materials to give the skating community the wheels they deserve. Take your skate sessions to new heights with Shark Wheels.
- Shark Wheels are all-terrain wheels that offer high performance, long-lasting durability, and are made in the USA. They are perfect for skating on any surface, including rocky roads, parks, beaches, ramps, and rails. The unique wave pattern of the wheels helps to deflect debris and obstacles, so you can keep on rolling. Shark Wheels are made with quality in mind and are built to last. They are also made in the USA using the best local materials.
The Shark Wheel DNA Formula longboard wheels offer great slide control, less friction, and perform well over rough terrain. The DNA formula is faster and grippier than the sidewinders, but one downfall is they are more expensive but trust me, they are worth the money!
The DNA Formula wheels waves help guide you through water or over debris, rocks and twigs without hesitation. In addition, the wheels ride faster and grip the pavement when carving.
With these wheels, you will be pushing less but travelling farther. Perfect for those who commute or cruise daily.
Like other Shark Wheels, a thin contact patch is touching the ground, meaning you will have less friction as you ride. However, you will maintain your speed, and the wheels will remain grippy due to the wheels’ wave shape.
Suppose you are looking to use shark wheel longboard wheels on a penny board. I recommend trying the 60mm Shark Wheel California Rolls instead.
I recommend pairing these with the Shiver ABEC 9 bearings.
What We Like
- Durable
- Great Traction
- Fast
- Variety of colors
- It doesn’t get dirty easily
What We Don’t Like
- Prone to bubbles
- It might feel wobbly until broken in
- Vibrates a bit at higher speeds
Freedare 70mm Longboard Wheels
- The longbord wheels 70mm are designed by Freedare, they can modify your longboard or cruiser board. They are very smooth and tough. Multicolor can be choosed by you like.
The 70mm 83a durometer polyurethane longboard wheels by Freedare are one of the best longboard wheels for beginners.
The wheels are very well priced, come in many colors, and roll pretty smooth while street skating or in the skate park. These wheels are solid and smooth, considering they are so decently priced.
One issue is that they tend to chip and wear easily, but if you start and don’t want to shell out a lot of cash while learning how to longboard, Freedare longboard wheels are the perfect start.
One thing to note before purchasing the Freedare longboard wheels is that the inboard side of the wheel is recessed, so they may not extend out past certain concave longboards.
They appear flush with the board and then extended out like most longboard wheels.
Freedare wheels are center set and come equipped with pre-installed spacers and a free set of ABEC-7 Bearings, but the bearings are very cheap. I recommend replacing them with a set of Reds or ABEC-9.
Contact patch: 51mm
What We Like
- Very affordable
- Smooth on rough terrain
- A large variety of colors
- Great for beginners
What We Don’t Like
- A little unbalanced
- Bearings included are low quality
- Wears quickly and easily
The 5 Best Longboard Wheels for Downhill
Bigfoot Longboard Wheels 76mm 80A SHR Mountain Cruisers
Bigfoot Longboard Wheels are perfect for beginner longboarders. The wheels are very reasonably priced but still have outstanding quality.
The wheels are perfect for mountain cruisers, 76m x 53mm 80a Super High Rebound or SHR hardness, which provides great grip and stability at high speeds.
The offset core wheels allow wheels to grip corners and turns with predictability and speed. In addition, the wheels have a rounded lip that is perfect for sliding once broken in.
Considering the size of the wheels, they are lightweight, which is perfect for beginners.
The Bigfoot Mountain Cruisers are large and smooth, gliding over small rocks, sticks and cracks effortlessly. The wheels are soft enough for traction but hard enough for high speeds.
Sometimes the wheels will grip to the ground when you are trying to slide, throwing you off balance. Also, the wheel’s firmness makes it harder to seat the bearings correctly.
Bigfoot’s Longboard Wheels are the best downhill longboard wheels and are great for carving. Suitable for dry riding (not recommended for riding in the rain). The wheels are quiet and offer a smooth ride.
We recommend using Zealous bearings.
Great for penny build boards – be sure to use riser pads for clearance.
What We Like
- Well priced
- Available in multiple colors
- Long-lasting wheels
- Smooth Ride
- Great quality
What We Don’t Like
- It takes a long time to break in (for sliding)
- Wheels are wobbly
Orangatang Kegel 80mm Longboard Wheels
- DOWNHILL LONGBOARDING WHEELS – Designed for maximum speed and grip for downhill skateboard racing, hard carving, pumping, and long-distance pushing.
- ROLL OVER ANYTHING – With a large 80mm diameter, the Kegels roll with breakneck speed and plow over cracks, rocks, sticks, and the roughest roads.
- MAXIMUM TRACTION – Sharp, square lips provide maximum grip while still sliding smoothly when desired.
- HAPPY THANE – The original Orangatang urethane formula is smooth, plush, and grippy with a buttery-smooth slide.
- LARGE, SUPPORTIVE CORE – The fully exposed 46mm core reduces weight while providing quick acceleration and crisp slides.
If you are looking for downhill longboarding wheels, look no further than Orangatang Kegel 80mm Longboard Wheels. The wheels are designed for maximum speed and grip, which will help with carving, pumping and long-distance pushing.
The large 80mm wheels roll over anything, including cracks, rocks, and sticks. But feel safe riding the roughest roads. Like most Orangatang longboard wheels, the Kegels use the happy thane formula, which provides smooth, plush and is grippy with a buttery-smooth slide.
The Kegels come in three durometers. The 77a (blue), 80a (orange) and 83a (purple.) Depending on what kind of riding you are doing, you may want a softer or harder durometer.
The Orangatang Kegels are super planted, as the wheels are large with a wider and more square edge. As a result, they accelerate slowly but have a higher top speed than smaller wheels. Therefore, the Orangatang Kegel is ideal for heavier riders.
The Kegels are great for sliding but will slide better once the smooth surface is worn down. The huge wheels and core help keep the wheels accelerating where other wheels would lose momentum.
The inner lip of the Kegels has a soft inward bevel that helps traction and allows you to control your drifts while racing downhill.
Make sure you have enough clearance or use risers to avoid wheel bite as the wheels are huge. The Kegels have insane speed and are the best downhill wheels for longboarding.
I recommend pairing these with the Jehu V2 bearings and Venom Eliminator bushings.
Contact patch: 56mm
What We Like
- Durable
- High quality
- Smooth ride
- Predictable slide
- Great pre-drifts
- Really clean hookup
- Great roll speed
- Absorbs impacts well
- Not too much slip
- Great for pumping and hard carving
- Great for cruising as well
What We Don’t Like
- The soft wheel does get chewed up quickly
- A little bit of coning due to being soft
- Dust collects near the axle bearing holes, making them hard to clean
Orangatang In Heat 75 mm Longboard Wheels
No products found.
The Orangatang In Heat Longboard Wheels, while made for downhill riding and cruising, are one of the most versatile longboard wheels on the market. They are designed for high-speed downhill racing, long-distance pushing, hard carving and pumping.
The 75mm wheel easily rides over cracks, sticks and rough roads. The sharp square lip grips the road hard while sliding smooth and buttery. The core is encapsulated, supporting the lips for traction and crisp slides.
The Orangatang In Heat is the best longboard wheels for carving.
The Orangatang In Heat has thick lips and rippled walls, which provide continual energy in and out of turns.
The wheels are offset, so you won’t get wheel bite with a nice rebound. You will get farther with fewer pushes than other wheels. The Orangatang In Heat is the best longboard wheels for downhill riding. You will pick up incredible speed and carve out nicely.
If you ride on rough pavement and want a smooth and grippy ride get the orange 80a durometer wheels, as they are the softest. The purple 83a or yellow 86a will offer a slightly faster roll speed on smoother pavement and an easier slide initiation than the softer durometer wheels.
The In Heats are comparable to Seismic Wheels, although not as fast but way better for carving. In Heats do accelerate slowly and take a bit of energy to push, but you can maintain high speeds for a good amount of time.
If you don’t want to use the Jehu V2 Bearings that come with the In Heats, I recommend getting Bones Super Reds Bearings and Bones Hardcore Bushings in a medium. Be sure to seat the bearing into the wheel properly. Use bearing spacers, and the In Heat wheels will spin like a dream!
What We Like
- Versatile – Ride for speed, hard carving, pumping, downhill, and long-distance pushing.
- Comes with loaded Jehu V2 Bearings, spacers and speed rings.
- Predictable
- Durable
- Great traction
- High roll speed
- Stable
- Great control in wet conditions
What We Don’t Like
- Not built for sliding
- Take a while to break-in
- Will chunk if not broken in
- Heavy
- Pricy
- The wheels will cone easily if you do a lot of sliding
Bigfoot Cored Classics Longboard Wheels
- Measuring in at 97mm x 53mm with a 78A SHR hardness, these are some of the biggest longboard wheels on the market
- The 78A Super High Rebound (SHR) hardness provides a good amount of grip, roll, and slide-ability
- Being as soft and big as they are, they will grip and roll over just about anything you encounter
- The center set core allows the rider to flip and rotate wheels for longevity
- The Cored Classics are designed for the intense downhill riders.These work great on drop through boards or boards with cutouts to avoid wheel bite
If you love Bigfoot’s Mountain Cruisers but are looking for larger diameters – Bigfoot Cored Classics has you covered. These downhill longboarding wheels have a center set core and a 78A Super High Rebound hardness that offers a lot of grip.
The cored classics are some of the biggest Perfect for downhill riding. The cored classics feature a center-set core and round lip profile, allowing the rider complete control.
Just be aware that cored classics are designed for intense downhill riders but aren’t the best for freeriding. However, you won’t lose traction while you carve, and the large wheel size rides like a dream over rubble, cracks and road debris.
The wheels are soft and huge, so you may need risers to have wheel clearance. Otherwise, be sure your board is a drop-through or boards with cut-outs to avoid wheel bite.
The color determines the size of the wheel. You can get the 83mm in red, 90mm in green and the largest 97mm in black. The Core Classics do come with bearings, but they aren’t fantastic.
Be sure to purchase better bearings to have a smoother ride and prevent wheel chipping. I recommend pairing these with the Bones Reds 608 bearings.
What We Like
- Grippy
- Great for rolls and slide-ability
- It carves like a dream
- It gives lots of distance for your push
What We Don’t Like
- Extremely hard – feels harder than a 78A due to cored center
- Wheels hold bearings looser than other wheels
- Wheels are prone to chipping if the wrong size bearing used
The 9 Best Longboard Wheels for Sliding and Freeriding
Orangatang Stimulus 70mm Longboard Wheels
- VERSATILE FREERIDE WHEELS – The Orangatang Stimulus is the perfect mid-sized longboard wheel for freestyle tricks, dancing, and freeriding. Includes Loaded Jehu V2 bearings with integrated spacers and speedrings.
- PERFECTLY SIZED – At 70mm in diameter, the Stimulus is large enough to carry plenty of speed and roll over debris while still being light and quick for tricks and slides.
- SMOOTH SLIDES – Rounded lips and a stone-ground contact patch ensure smooth, predictable slides right out of the box and throughout the life of the wheel.
- HAPPY THANE – The original Orangatang urethane formula is fast, smooth, plush, and grippy with a buttery-smooth slide. Now available in four durometers: 77a (blue), 80a (orange), 83a (purple), and 86a (yellow).
- STRONG, SUPPORTIVE CORE – The encapsulated core maintains a smooth ride and supports the lips for crisp slides and even wear.
The best sliding longboard wheels go the Orangatang Stimulus Longboarding Wheels. They are perfect for freeriding, tricks and longboard dancing.
The wheels have a rounded edge and are best for mid-sized longboards but are large enough to roll over debris and carry a lot of speed. The Stimulus wheels are made with the happy thane formula, which offers a smooth, fast, grippy, fluffy buttery-smooth slide.
If you are learning to slide, the Stimulus is for you. It’s offset, so when you turn really hard, the wheels will stay grounded, making it easy to throw cross-steps and dance. In addition, the board will never flip over on you!
These wheels give you the smoothest, controlled slides that will allow you to roll fast enough to get all your tricks done in one push.
Most longboard wheels need to be broken down before sliding, but the Stimulus is ready to go right out of the package. It is like the perfect blend of a perfectly broken-in race wheel and a drifty freeride wheel right away.
The Stimulus has a strong supportive core, which supports the wheels’ lips and prevents chipping from wear and tear. These wheels are also perfect for shuvits, flip tricks and grabs as they are a lighter wheel.
The Stimulus is the jack of all trades.
The wheels are perfect for sliding, doing tricks, dancing and commuting. Hard enough durometer for sliding but still grippy enough for cruising. Velvet smooth and quiet riding
The freeride is fast and drifty but locks up seamlessly when needed. The 70mm with rounded edges keep accelerations brisk and cornering predictable.
The Stimulus comes in four durometers. The 77a (blue), The softest wheels are the Orange 80a, and the 83a purple is slightly harder, which is better for those looking to cruise and easier to slide.
The 86a in yellow is the hardest durometer, which is great for cruising and sliding, but you will feel more bumps in the road than the softer durometers.
I recommend pairing these with the Dragon Spaces and Speed Rings.
I recommend using the Loaded Bearings or Bones Super Red Bearings to ride like butter.
Contact patch 42mm
What We Like
- Versatile
- Great for learning to slide
- Grips the road
- Soft Carving
- Do not need to be broken in
- Buttery Slides
What We Don’t Like
- Not great for grip runs
- Air bubbles in wheels
- Bearings are hard to fit/fit too tightly and can be hard to install
Orangatang 4 President 70mm Longboard Wheels
- CARVING / RACE WHEELS – High-traction longboard wheels for pumping, hard carving, slalom, downhill, and general cruising and commuting.
- FAST AND LIGHT – At 70mm in diameter, the 4 Presidents carry speed and accelerate quickly between carves and out of turns.
- MAXIMUM TRACTION – Sharp, square lips provide maximum grip while still sliding smoothly when desired.
- HAPPY THANE – The original Orangatang urethane formula is fast, smooth, plush, and grippy with a buttery-smooth slide. Now available in four durometers: 77a (blue), 80a (orange), 83a (purple), and 86a (yellow).
- STRONG, SUPPORTIVE CORE – The encapsulated core maintains a smooth ride and supports the lips for excellent traction and crisp slides.
The Orangatang 4 President Wheels are the perfect carving racing. The 4 President longboard wheels are made for pumping, hard carving, slalom, and downhill riding with a fast acceleration.
Ride smoothly with a good grip. They absorb any crack that comes your way and does not need much of a push to get going.
The 70mm Longboard wheels are made with the happy thane formula giving you a fast, smooth and grippy ride. The sharp square lips hold grip while sliding, and the encapsulated core supports the lips for great traction and crisp slides.
They are similar to the Stimulus but are wider, making them grippier. It’s a perfect mid-range downhill wheel.
Small in size and has faster acceleration than the Orangatang In Heat. The 4 Presidents are great for carving, cruising, sliding, and downhill riding.
The offset bearing is sharp and angled, allowing the wheels to stay railed in hard carves and downhill runs, but the solid lip leaves you with a smooth and predictable drift when kicked sideways.
The Orangatang 4 Presidents are smaller wheels, which are perfect for penny boards.
The wheels need to be broken in, but once you scrub the skin, it will give you the perfect slides and one of the best longboard wheels because they give superb grip and ease of sliding because of the durometer. Pair them with some Reds Bearings for a smooth ride.
The 70mm wheels seem to be a good compromise between acceleration and cruising speed. In addition, the 80A hardness rating seems accurate.
They are not the fastest wheel but are wonderful for safe downhill riding if you are not ready to ride at wicked speeds. The lightweight wheels do pick up speed quickly, though.
I recommend Zealous Bearings on a set of Paris V2 180s or some Reds Bearings.
What We Like
- Versatile
- Very stable
- Vibrant color
- Variety of Colors
- Easy to install
- Great traction
- Lighter Wheel
What We Don’t Like
- Chattery when taking turns at high speeds
- Edges of wheels chip and get small craters along inner and outer edges
Cloud Ride! Slusheez 78a 62mm Lime Jelly
- Slusheez are a thaney, slide way, freeride wheel perfect banging out those long standups you've been longing for. Along with our special "slush" Urethane formula, we rounded The lips and Stoneground these puppies to make the first few slides even sweeter.
- Slusheez are a perfect new addition to any complete longboard setup for sliding or freeriding. Our super smooth urethane formula gives a buttery ride on any surface & features a rounded lip to offer a slide that is easy to kick out yet controllable.
- Slusheez come pre-ground, offering consistent slides right out of the package. They feature an offset bearing mount that makes them well-balanced for different types of riding as well as a rounded lip for easy slides and speed checks.
- Cloud ride pours quality urethane into every wheel they produce, manufactured to focus on durability with an amazing attention to detail. Leave your mark on the hill with some Insane thane under your board & grab your next set of wheels from cloud ride
- Beyond Compare: cloud ride's full line of wheels compares favorably to products from orangatang, sector 9, hawgs, powell-peralta, blood Orange
If you spend your time sliding or free riding, check out Slusheez by Cloud Ride! The wheels are made with a super-smooth urethane formula that gives you a buttery slide on any surface.
Slusheez is your go-to wheel for freeriding, stand-up sliding, and freestyle dancing.
The 78a 62mm wheels have an offset bearing mount, which makes them well-balanced, while the rounded lip makes way for easy slides and speed checks.
The high-dense urethane formula allows for a high acceleration rate, so you won’t constantly be pushing. In addition, the rounded lip of the Slusheez will let you do a slide that is easy to kick out but is controllable for the rider.
The wheels come pre-ground, so there is no need to break them in for smooth riding. However, due to the wheel’s small size, you will feel some bumps when riding versus a larger, softer wheel compared to other longboarding wheels.
These wheels wear fast, are super controllable considering how slidey they are, and leave a lot of thane. They are great for short hill riding over long mountain runs as they burn out fast.
The Slusheez are similar to the 86a Mini Ozone, Orangatangs, Sector 9’s and Blood Orange wheels for comparison.
I recommend pairing these with the Fireball Dragon Precision 608 Bearings.
What We Like
- Durable
- Consistent
- Great for slides
- Pre-ground, so there is no need to break them in
- No wheel bite – perfect for dancing
What We Don’t Like
- Wear quickly if doing a lot of slides
Orangatang Cage 73mm Freeride Longboard Wheels
- FREERIDE / FREESTYLE WHEELS – The Orangatang Cage is a mid-sized longboarding wheel designed for downhill freeriding, freestyle tricks, and dancing.
- FAST YET NIMBLE – Large enough to handle bumpy roads with speed and ease yet still compact and light for agile slides and tricks.
- SMOOTH SLIDES – Rounded lips and a stone-ground contact patch ensure smooth, predictable slides right out of the box and throughout the life of the wheel.
- PEACHY THANE – The Orangatang Peachy Thane urethane formula offers a balanced blend of buttery speed control, long slides, and a cush ride with excellent durability and flat-spot resistance.
- LARGE, SUPPORTIVE CORE – A proprietary 38mm centerset core with a deep “valley”-shaped cross section keeps the lips firmly supported, promoting smooth, consistent slides and even wear.
The Orangatang Cage wheels are made for freeriding. The mid-sized wheel is built for downhill freeriding, freestyle tricks and longboard dancing. The cage is the biggest of the centerset lineup from Orangatang.
The 73mm 86a durometer cage wheels are made with the Peachy Thane urethane formula, which provides buttery speed control, cush rides with long slides and is durable.
The round lips and stone-ground contact patch offer predictable slides without having to break in the wheel.
The Peachy Thane formula is slightly grippier than euphorethane and slipperier than the popular Happy Thane. However, these wheels don’t thane too much, so they are long-lasting. The wheels roll over anything and maintain a breakneck roll speed.
The centerset core firmly supports the lips, providing smooth, consistent, controlled slides and even wear while being large enough to handle bumpy roads quickly. Be sure to get 608 bearings to fit into the centerset wheels.
Cages are perfect if you need to do a stand-up slide to slow down – they slide perfectly, keeping you safe. If you are into riding safely, check out the best skateboard helmets for your protection.
Orangatang Cage longboard wheels come in different softness levels. The yellow 86a is slidey and easy to kick out. Purple 83a and the orange 80a wear perfectly, slide predictably and go super fast.
Contact patch 41.5mm
What We Like
- Buttery Smooth
- Vibrant Colors
- Supportive
- Incredible Roll Speed
- Speedy ride
- Great for sliding
- Durable
What We Don’t Like
- Pricy
- Not great for beginners
Cloud Ride Wheels Cruiser 69mm 78A Longboard Wheels
- Our Cruiser Wheels were designed to be ideal for carving & cruising but also one heck of a freeride wheel! They measure 69mm in diameter, 78a in hardness & are sold in a set of 4 wheels. The high rebound urethane is well-suited to any type of riding.
- The square-lipped design grips when you need it but can still be pushed out for a smooth slide thanks to characteristics of the urethane itself. These wheels will leave fat thane lines but are surprisingly resilient. Each set weights roughly 1.45 pounds
- These 78a wheels have great grip for cornering & easily roll over cracks, small rocks, & rough surfaces. When sliding, they offer great control, slow you down rapidly, wear quickly, & leave thane lines. Ideal for cruising, carving, freeride & downhill
- Cloud Ride pours quality urethane into every wheel they produce, manufactured to focus on durability with an amazing attention to detail. Leave your mark on the hill with some insane thane under your board & grab your next set of wheels from Cloud Ride
- BEYOND COMPARE: Cloud Ride's full line of wheels compares favorably to products from Orangatang, Sector 9, Hawgs, Powell-Peralta, Blood Orange
Cloud Ride Cruisers feel like you are riding on clouds. The 69mm 78A hardness is designed for carving and cruising.
The square-lipped wheels offer a smooth ride and great grip for cornering and rolling over small debris and rough terrain.
The Cloud Ride Cruiser set provides great control when sliding and gives you enough control to slow down rapidly.
These wheels are perfect for all riding but are ideal for carving, freeride and downhill. They are super consistent, and they break away out of a slide really nicely and hook up really well.
One downfall of the Cloud Ride Cruisers is they are a bit harder to power slide due to the amount of grip. The wheels are sugary and leave thick juicy thane lines if you are into that sort of thing – but be wary that it means the Cruisers wear quickly.
I recommend pairing these with red bearings.
What We Like
- A large variety of colors
- Smooth Ride
- Great for carving and cruising
What We Don’t Like
- Wears quickly
Fireball Tinder 60mm 81a Longboard Wheels
- LONGBOARD SKATEBOARD CRUISER WHEELS - USA Made, designed for longboards skateboards & cruisers. Perfect for cruising, dancing & downhill freeride. These fit popular small cruiser boards & penny boards
- CRUISE OVER ROCKS, CRACKS & DEBRIS - Skate any terrain with our 81a ‘B-Type’ Formula, manufactured in California. A buttery high-rebound polyurethane that provides a fast & smooth riding experience
- DUMP THANE - Our formula is SlidePrepped(TM) for leaving massive urethane lines. The rounded lips break in the wheels progressively & allow for consistent slides right to the core
- PREDICTABLE SLIDES & EVEN WEAR - The big centerset urethane/fiberglass core gives maximum strength & predictable slides throughout the life of the wheel. Downhill longboard wheels designed to shred
- SET OF 4 x 60 MM SKATEBOARD WHEELS - Diameter (60mm), Width (40mm), Durometer (81a), Contact Patch (35mm), Core (Centerset: 50%) → 65mm and 70mm Tinder Wheels are also available separately
Fireball’s Tinder 60mm wheels will suit your board if you ride a smaller board. They have an 81a durometer and are perfect for cruising, freeriding, dancing and sliding.
They feel a bit harder than 81a, but they still ride smoothly over bumpy roads, rocks and cracks. The centerset core and rounded lips give you predictable slides and even wear patterns.
The Fireball Tinder Longboard wheels are the best longboard wheels for commuting and carving as you cruise. These little fireballs are relentlessly fast and will not lose any speed as they roll effortlessly over rocks. The grip to slip ratio is on point every ride!
The round lips allow you to slide easily, which is great for beginner longboarders looking to learn how to slide.
They never get grabby while sliding, breaking loose, and locking in seamlessly as you ride. They do leave thick thane lines but don’t wear as quickly as other wheels that dump thane.
The wheels are made with the dump thane formula, which leaves massive urethane lines.
I recommend pairing these with Bones Red Bearings Indy 169s.
If you want to do some wicked carves, pair these with the sidewinder’s trucks.
33mm contact patch
What We Like
- Inexpensive
- Great roll speed
- Great for sliding
- Sturdy for their size
- Predictable and stable
What We Don’t Like
- Wears easily
- Hooks up harsh
Orangatang Durian 75 mm 80a Freeride Longboard Wheels
No products found.
Orangatang’s Durian’s large size is great for freestyle longboarding as the larger wheel is created for setups where riding comfort and rollover ability are important.
The Durians are less grippy than other Orangatang longboard wheels, making it easy to carve, dance and slide. In addition, the Durians are faster than their Orangatang counterparts, which come in at 70mm.
They are driftier due to the narrow contact patch and hard durometer. However, the wheels are mildly textured right out of the box, so there is no need to break them in before sliding.
Although some say the purple durians are a little chattery at first, even though they are already textured. Just be wary and keep riding if they chatter at first – they will stop, and your rides and slides will be smooth like butter.
These wheels are great for beginners looking to learn to slide. They have an easy hookup, but you still need to learn how to control the slide.
If you do a lot of sliding, you will want to buy some spacers for your board. The spacers will remove the slop from the loads you place on the board during slides.
I recommend pairing these with Bones Swiss Bearings for ultimate rolls. Contact patch 45mm.
Are you looking to start longboarding? Then, why not check out the post on finding the best longboards for beginners or the best longboards under 100 dollars.
What We Like
- Absorbs a lot of roads vibrations
- Buttery slides
- Predictable slides
- Less grippy, making carving and sliding easy
What We Don’t Like
- Heavy
- Spacers are required to avoid wheel bite
Blood Orange Liam Morgan Pro Series Freeride Longboard Wheel
- 🍊 THE WHEEL THAT THE FAKES TRY TO COPY - Made in the USA, Blood Orange has been the industry standard for cruising, dancing, freeride (sliding), downhill, etc., since its inception in 2010.
- 🍊 GREAT FOR SHORTBOARDS, LONGBOARDS, SURFSKATES, E-BOARDS - These wheels provide the perfect amount of grip and slip, roll smoothly over all types of pavement and have a high roll speed.
- 🍊 SMOOTH ON ALL PAVEMENT - These wheels roll over all cracks, rocks and debris. Most wheels sacrifice roll speed for a smooth ride, the fiberglass cores provide extra speed, without reducing dampening.
- 🍊 EASY TO SLIDE, BUT STILL GRIPPY - This wheel was designed to be to easy to slide, but provide grip where you need it. These leave thane lines everywhere, and kill speed only when you need them to.
- 🍊 3 DUROMETERS - 80a provides the most grip and the smoothest ride. 82a is the best middle of the road. 84a is the fastest and slides the easiest.
The Liam Morgan Pro wheels are stone ground with round lips, so you can slide smoothly on them right out of the box.
They leave thick thane lines when sliding, so they wear down to the core quickly. As a result, they feel like a mix between sugary and buttery. The tiny contact patch makes the Liam Morgans easy to kick out.
If you want to use the Liams for freeriding alone, get a higher durometer as it will last longer. The Blood Orange Morgan Pro wheels are very grippy unless you want to slide.
The wheels come in either a 65mm 82A durometer or a 70mm 82a durometer with an offset core.
These wheels can be bumpy, so if you want to use them for cruising, I suggest getting a larger diameter that will glide nicely over bumps and rocks. The slides are consistent and controlled, with a great roll speed perfect for freeriding.
These wheels are better for lightweight riders up to 200lbs. However, if you are a heavier rider, check out the Orangatang Caguama or Kegels.
I recommend pairing these with a set of built-in Zealous bearings.
Contact patch: 31 to 33mm
What We Like
- Slides are extremely controlled
- Very consistent
- Grippy even in wet conditions
- It comes with a bonus sticker!
What We Don’t Like
- Not long-lasting
- Gets dirty quickly
Sector 9 Skiddles 70mm 78A Longboard Wheels
- Imported
Sector 9 Skiddles come in a 70mm diameter, 78a durometer, 29mm contact patch and offset/nearly side set hub. The wheels have a thick rounded lip and inner and outer edges that are stone ground.
They are shaped to make it easy to initiate slides, and the rounded inner and outer edges keep you from getting stuck on cracks providing a consistent, smooth and predictable slide.
The wheels are smooth, quiet and consistent right out of the box. However, if you do a lot of sliding, the wheels may cone due to their side set hub. The Skiddles come in a single pack of colors or a multipack so that each wheel will be different – like real Skittles!
You can cruise with the Skiddles, but they are better for slides. These leave thane marks when you slide, but you won’t lose so much that these will wear down easily, so you can slide for years without replacing the Skiddles. However, they do have an icy kick out when you slide.
Due to the softness of the Skiddles at 78a, you lose a good amount of speed in the slide but still slide super well. The Skiddles are also great for heavy riders.
These are comparable with the Butter Balls – but just more aesthetically pleasing.
I recommend pairing these with super reds ceramic bearings in size 608.
29mm contact patch
What We Like
- Predictable slides
- Smooth
- Super controllable
- Decent roll speed
- Thane in different colors
What We Don’t Like
- Expensive
- Not great for cruising
- Wears quickly
How to Choose the Best Longboard Wheels
Certain factors come into play when you are choosing what wheel to buy. For example, are you a beginner or a pro? Do you want to cruise, slide, dance or downhill race? Find out what you should look for before considering buying longboard wheels.
How to choose the best longboard wheels for your ride? Here are 5 things to look for in a good longboard wheel
Size – Diameter
The wheel’s diameter will affect how fast you accelerate, the momentum, and how easily you can ride over debris like rocks and sticks.
Longboard wheels vary in size from 64mm to 90mm, with most wheels averaging at 70mm. The smaller wheels are slower and better for cruising, but if you want to race downhill, you should opt for a larger wheel as they are faster.
The size of the deck is also important when choosing wheel size. You will be prone to wheel bite if a wheel is too big or installed on a longboard without cutouts.
Wheel bite can stop your wheels from moving as they rub against the board, which can cause you to fly off of your board.
If your wheels are too large for your longboard, you can install ¼ riser pads to help reduce wheel bite.
The size of your wheel will affect your speed and acceleration. Larger wheels take longer to accelerate, but once they get going, they can reach top speeds and roll over debris easily, which is great for downhill riding.
If you are cruising through the city and don’t want to push to start and want to gain speed quicker, a smaller wheel will give you more control but less overall speed.
However, having a bigger wheel will allow you to roll over debris a lot easier. If you prefer this, you should get a longboard with cutouts.
Just know that the size of your deck matters. The larger the deck, the larger the wheel. Check out the best longboard decks post here.
Hardness – Durometer & Urethane Formula
If you wondered what the A meant next to the numbers when choosing the wheel, it is the wheel’s softness. The lower the number next to the A, the softer the wheel.
The softer wheels are grippier, but that extra grip does mean a slower ride.
Softer wheels will leave thick thane lines, which wears them out quickly. Why would someone want that in a wheel? The wheels that leave thane lines are great for progressive controlled slides meaning a safer ride.
The wheels with a harder durometer have more speed but a lot less grip. These wheels are great for gliding.
Each company has a different urethane formula, such as Orangatangs Happy Thane or Fireballs Dump Thane.
The formulas are built for either freeriding – like cruising and smooth slides or the formula built for downhill riding, which favors durability and grip.
The durometer of the wheel you want may also differ depending on the rider’s weight. If you are a heavier rider, you should aim for harder wheels. If you are over 200lbs, you should purchase a wheel with a durometer of 83a to 90a.
Lip/Edge Shape
The lips are the outer edge of the contact patch on the wheels. The shape of the lip instructs how easily the wheel moves sideways.
Square Lip – Best lip for maximum grip
Square lips are thick sharp lips. This type of lip shape is focused on constant grip and traction for downhill riders. It is also perfect for deep carves and taking tight corners.
Rounded Lip – Best Longboard Wheel for Sliding
The rounded shape focuses on breaking traction. You will want a round lip on your wheel if you want to transition easily from sliding to gripping – as many free riders do. The rounded lip is super predictable when sliding.
Bevelled Lip – Best for cruising rough terrain
Wheels with a bevelled lip increase the smoothness of your ride. If you are riding over rough terrain and debris while cruising, you should invest in a bevelled lip.
The bevelled edge is a combination of square and round-lipped wheels. They perform similarly to a square lip but with more comfort.
Acute Angled Lip – Best for slalom course riding
To do slalom, you should pick up a wheel with an acute-angled lip. The wheel is angled, which allows them to stick turns harder and conform to the surface you are riding on. Avoid the acute-angled lip if you want to slide.
Contact Patch Size
The contact patch is the width of the wheel from lip to lip. Therefore, the larger the wheel, the larger the contact patch.
The less contact patch means the wheels are faster due to less friction.
Narrow contact patches have less grip, while wider contact patches have more grip.
Some wheels are stone-ground, which means they have a skin on the wheel that provides maximum grip. If you have issues sliding on one of these wheels, you must keep riding to break in the wheel.
Other wheels are ready to slide straight out of the box. These wheels have a bare contact patch but should only be used by riders used to sliding.
If you are a beginner, stick with the stone-ground wheels so you can learn as you go.
Wheel Core
The Center set core sits in the center of the wheel and provides traction due to having the strongest grip and the easiest core to control. I highly recommend centerset cores for beginner riders.
Side set cores are close to the wheel’s inner lip, which reduces traction, making it the perfect core for doing epic slides.
The offset core is a combination of the side set and centerset core. It has a good grip while maintaining great control during slides.
One thing to note is that if a wheel is offset, you cannot flip them if they start to cone. However, a center-set wheel can be flipped, extending the wheel’s life as it can wear evenly.
The Different Types of Longboard Wheels
There are several different types of longboard wheels, depending on what riding style you plan on doing.
There are a few factors you should look for in a wheel if you want to slide, ride rough roads, cruise, commute, do downhill racing or freeriding.
Here are a few features you should consider when picking a longboard wheel.
Best Longboard Wheels for Sliding and Freeriding
When looking for a sliding wheel, look at the hardness and the roundness of the wheel—the rounder and harder, the better. You want a wheel with a rounded lip that offers control for predictable slides.
If you are more experienced, going with a smoother wheel is better. That way, you can slide right out of the package without breaking in the wheels.
If you are a beginner, I would advise you to get a wheel that has more grip when learning how to slide. The harder the durometer, the better.
Some people like it when wheels leave urethane lines (thane lines), which offer control and progressive, predictable sides. The downside is the wheels wear down to the core a lot quicker.
The best longboard wheels for sliding are the Shark Wheel Sidewinder Longboard Wheels and the Orangatang Stimulus 70mm Longboard Wheels.
Best Longboard Wheels for Rough Roads
When looking for the best longboard wheel for rough roads, you should think about size, softness and the lip.
You will want a large wheel that easily absorbs many shocks to slide over debris and all-terrain. The wheel should have a bevelled lip to help the smoothness, offer great control, and allow you to slow down quickly.
It would be best to look for wheels with high stability and a firmer grip.
My recommendations for the best longboard wheels for rough roads are the Shark Wheel Sidewinder Longboard Wheels, MBS All-Terrain Longboard Wheels and the Orangatang Caguama 85 mm Longboard Wheels.
Best Longboard Wheels for Commuting and Cruising
A lot of people getting into longboarding do it for commuting or cruising.
The wheel features you should be looking for are a wheel with a harder shell for more traction and a smaller contact patch, so it’s easier to push and accelerate quickly.
You will also want a wheel that absorbs shocks, rolls over debris, and can get up a curb without tripping you up.
I recommend the Sector 9 Nine Ball and the Orangatang Caguama.
If you do a lot of cruising, you will want to pick up the best skateboard backpack to help carry all of your longboard gear with you.
Best Longboard Wheels for Downhill
The object of downhill longboarding is safety and speed.
If you are looking at downhill longboarding, you need a larger wheel with a good grip and a sharp lip.
The wheels are built to accelerate and go super while maintaining stability.
I recommend the Orangatang Kegel 80mm Longboard Wheels, and Blood Orange Liam Morgan Pro Series Freeride Longboard Wheel.
Best Longboard Wheel Brands
This is a personal preference question, but the most popular brand of longboard wheels is Orangatang.
They have perfected the urethane formula with the happy thane formula and make loads of wheels that offer different options for sliding, cruising or downhill.
Shark wheel is really making waves with its unique shape. People either love or hate shark wheels, but they are high quality and some of the best longboard wheels you can buy.
Sector 9 dominates in the world of sliding wheels for longboards. They are ready right out of the box and produce some of the best thane lines.
Benefits of Using Different Longboard Wheels
Many riders have different decks and setups for cruising, freeriding, dancing or downhill racing. If you are a beginner, I advise you to focus on the one longboard you will ride most often.
Trying out different wheels on different decks will also allow you to feel the difference between wheel softness and hardness, how the wheel cores are set, and what lip shape feels best for you.
Check out the best longboard bearings to pair with your longboard wheels. I recommend checking out the post about the best longboard brands to help you pick the perfect longboard.
To change out your longboard wheels, you will need a skate tool. Be sure to get the best skate tool for you.
Conclusion
The best longboard wheel for you is totally dependent on what style of riding you want to do. Like picking out the best grip tape for your board, your longboard wheels are also very important to your ride. Your goals should be improved performance, safety and budget.
The number one wheel I recommend for cruising is the Orangatang Caguama.
The best longboard wheel I recommend for sliding is Orangatang Stimulus.
The best longboard wheel I recommend for downhill is the Orangatang Kegel 80mm Longboard Wheels.
And most budget-friendly longboard wheels are the Big Boy 70mm Gel Solid longboard wheels or the Freedare 70mm longboard wheels.
About SkateboardWiz
