You may not know it, but picking the right longboard wheels is trickier than you may think. There’s a ton of options that suit several different styles.
So, to make life just a little bit easier for you, here’s a list of the best longboard wheels available and what styles they work best for.
| Product | Type/Features | Rating |
| MBS’ All-Terrain | Super-high-rebound urethane for unparalleled speed Perfect addition to any long boarder’s quiver |  Check Price |
| Orangatang Kegel 80mm | Includes Loaded Jehu V2 bearings Smooth, plush, and grippy buttery-smooth slide |  Check Price |
| Fireball Beast 76mm | Urethane and 65mm width Slides out the box provide the perfect slip/grip blend | Check Price |
| FREEDARE 70mm | Comes with ABEC-7 high steel bearings and spacers The pro longboard wheels roll pretty smooth | Check Price |
| Orangatang Stimulus 70mm | perfect mid-sized longboard wheel Smooth Slides | Check Price |
1. MBS’ All-Terrain Longboard Wheel
The MBS’ All-Terrain Longboard Wheels are at the top of the list. They come in four different colors: black, blue, red, and green, and are a terrific addition to any longboarder’s toolkit.
Because of their size and precise tread pattern, they’re ideal for muddy trails and grassy grounds. The amazing softness and grip capabilities of these wheels have been praised by many consumers.
They are large, however, so risers may be necessary to properly install and utilize them. Additionally, they don’t include bearings so keep that in mind.
But even with their shortcomings, the MBS’ All-Terrain Longboard Wheels are an all-around superstar set. If you longboard on rough terrain often, or in unpredictable weather, these wheels will be your best buy to keep you rolling happily.
| Specs | |
| Diameter | 100mm |
| Width | 65mm |
| Durometer | 78a, high-rebound urethane |
| Core | Centerset |
MBS All-Terrain Longboard Wheels Ideal for muddy trails and grassy grounds. The amazing softness and grip capabilities of these wheels have been praised by many consumers. They are large, however, so risers may be necessary to properly install and utilize them. Additionally, they don’t include bearings so keep that in mind. But even with their shortcomings, the MBS' All-Terrain Longboard Wheels are an all-around superstar set.
- 100mm x 65mm all-terrain longboard wheels
- Cast with 78a super-high-rebound urethane for unparalleled speed
- Perfect addition to any long boarder's quiver
2. Shark Wheel 72 mm 78a Longboard Wheels | DNA Formula | 4-Pack
Shark Wheels 72mm 78a DNA Formula Longboard Wheels are another great option. Its sine pattern allows dirt, water, and small pebbles to be easily displaced through the wheel.
This then gives the rider more control over the board during high speeds and turns and less worry about these distracting elements.
The sleek design of these wheels gives them superb grip control, making them good for the slides of freeriding and the deep turns of carving.
And, surprisingly, they’re super fast, making them an excellent choice for cruising and commuting. All-in-all, these wheels are a great all-around choice for most styles of longboarders and most experience levels.
| Specs | |
| Diameter | 72mm |
| Width | 54mm |
| Durometer | 78a, high-rebound urethane |
| Core | Offset |
Shark Wheel 72 mm 78a Longboard Wheels Having a sine pattern allows dirt, water and small gravel to be easily moved through the wheels giving the rider more control over the board during high speeds and turns and less worry about these distracting elements
- Best wheels in the world over rough terrain
- Lasts 15% longer than industry leading wheels (scientifically proven)
- Great slide control
3. Orangatang Kegel 80mm Downhill Longboard Cruising Wheels
Up next we have the Orangatang Kegel 80mm Wheels. These wheels are both tall and wide, making them excellent wheels for the high speeds of downhill longboarding. Additionally, their size gives more stability to the rider while enabling them to roll over debris and cracks with ease.
The Orangatang Kegel Wheels come in three different colors with different durometers for each. Loaded Jehu V2 Bearings, known for their incredible speed, can be added to the purchase. Their square lipped edge amplifies grip control, and their large offset core adds more stability to the rider.
As the name suggests, these wheels are a good choice for people who want to do downhill longboarding. What’s more, however, they’re also great wheels for cruising and rough terrain.
With being 80mm tall, they’ll roll for a long time once momentum has been built and will tread over small obstacles with little disruption. If that sounds like your cup of tea, opt to buy the Orangatang Kegel 80mm Wheels.
| Specs | |
| Diameter | 80mm |
| Width | 56mm |
| Durometer | Blue 77a, Orange 80a, Purple 83a |
| Core | Offset |
Orangatang Kegel 80 mm Designed for maximum speed and grip for downhill skateboard racing, hard carving, pumping, and long-distance pushing.
- Kegels roll with breakneck speed
- Sharp, square lips provide maximum grip
4. Fireball Beast 76mm Longboard Skateboard Wheels
Coming in at a durometer of 87a, the Fireball Beast 76mm Longboard Skateboard Wheels are some of the hardest longboard wheels you’ll find. They’re a bit smaller than the Orangatang Kegels, but they still work in a similar fashion.
They handle small debris like a charm, and due to their incredible hardness, they’re easier to initiate slides with.Their sideset core also adds to this easy slide initiation, making these babies an ideal choice for the freeriders out there.
From an overglance, they don’t provide much grip since their core is sideset and they’re durometer is so high. Still, the beveled edge and stone-ground contact patch increase the stability of the boards to counter how much the Fireball Beast Wheels slide. When it’s all said and done, these are some of the best wheels for freeriders.
| Specs | |
| Diameter | 76mm |
| Width | 49mm |
| Durometer | 87a |
| Core | Sideset |
Fireball Beast 76mm Coming in at a durometer of 87a, the Fireball Beast 76mm Longboard Skateboard Wheels are some of the hardest longboard wheels you’ll find
- Gives optimal grip during carves and corners
- Designed and manufactured in California for casual cruising, freeride and
5. FREEDARE 70mm Longboard Wheels
Here’s a pick for the value hunters. Coming in at 70mm tall x 51mm wide, with a durometer or 83a and centerset core, the FREEDARE 70mm Longboard Wheels offer a nice blend of pretty much everything. And, they do so at an extremely reasonable price.
Their height, while not the tallest on this list, is a good size for casual skating, dancing on your longboard, and pumping. The 83a durometer of this wheel does increase its ability to initiate slides; however, its centerset core and rounded edge limit that aspect’s full ability.
Still, because it has a centerset core and rounded edges, slide control, which normally is harder to maintain with harder durometers, is increased.These wheels are all about balance. If you’re looking for a wheel that will serve you well for multiple styles the FREEDARE 70mm Longboard Wheels are the way to go.
| Specs | |
| Diameter | 70mm |
| Width | 51mm |
| Durometer | 83a |
| Core | Centerset |
FREEDARE 70mm Their height, while not the tallest on this list, is a good size for casual skating, dancing on your longboard, and pumping. The 83a durometer of this wheel does increase its ability to initiate slides; however, its centerset core and rounded edge limit that aspect’s full ability.
- Very durable for street skating
- The wheels are fast and smooth
6. Orangatang Stimulus 70mm Freeride Longboard Wheels
Last on our list we have another set of wheels from Orangatang, the Orangatang Stimulus 70mm Freeride Longboard Wheels.
They may say freeride in the name, but given the various durometers of these medium-sized wheels, they suit a bunch of styles like dancing, freestyle, and cruising. Similar to the Orangatang Kegels, the different colors of these wheels represent different durometers, with 77a being their softest and 86a being their hardest.
The rounded lips and offset core help keep the board stable for dancers while still giving some sliding leeway to freeriders.
And, having a narrower contact patch, the Orangatang Stimulus Wheels can easily initiate slides; though they do lose some of their stability here. Anyone looking for a smooth dancing, freestyle or freeride experience would do well to buy these wheels.
| Specs | |
| Diameter | 70mm |
| Width | 42mm |
| Durometer | Blue 77a, Orange 80a, Purple 83a, Yellow 86a |
| Core | Centerset |
Orangatang Stimulus 70 mm Last on our list we have another set of wheels from Orangatang, the Orangatang Stimulus 70mm Freeride Longboard Wheels
- Perfect mid-sized longboard wheel
- Rounded lips and a stone-ground contact patch ensure smooth
A Buyer’s Guide to Picking the Right Longboard Wheel
To know what wheels are best for you, it’s helpful to know the different qualities of wheels and how they affect your performance.
This section will explain the many different elements of longboard wheels such as size, durometer, wheel contact patch, and more.
It’ll also explain which wheels are the best for the different styles of longboarding like downhill, freestyle, and cruising, to provide a full-on buyers guide so that you can shop confidently.
Elements of a Wheel
Wheel Size
When it comes to longboarding, wheel size is quite essential. It has a big impact on how quickly your longboard rolls, what sort of terrain it can manage, and what kinds of moves it can do.
The majority of longboard wheels are between 64mm and 88mm in diameter, with 70mm being the most popular.
Small vs Large Wheels
Smaller wheels accelerate more quickly than larger wheels, however, they have lower top speeds. This is because smaller wheels require less force to achieve one full rotation. Larger wheels, on the other hand, cover more ground after one full rotation, but they require more initial force to begin rolling.
When you’re looking for a more responsive pop and quick acceleration, small wheels are the way to go. However, if you want more speed, look at larger wheels.
Larger wheels are also great for handling small cracks, debris, and rough terrain, but their size can sometimes cause wheel bite.
Wheel Bite
Wheel bite refers to when the underside of your deck comes into contact with your wheels during turns. It can be very dangerous and lead to some pretty abrupt stops.
Fortunately, however, there are a few things you can do to avoid it.
One of the first things you can do is make sure your board has wheel wells, wheel flares or wheel cutouts.
Wheel wells refer to when the underside of the deck is sanded in near the wheel areas. These maintain much of the board’s natural shape but may not be compatible with extremely large wheels or very loose trucks.
With wheel flares, the deck is bent upwards near the wheel areas. These boards have small foot pockets on them that may or may not suit your preferences, so it’s best to try out a few decks first before committing to buying one with wheel flares.
And wheel cutouts refer to decks where the wood is removed from the wheel areas. These typically come in drop-through or drop deck style and give the rider significant leeway to turn without concern for wheel bite.
Riser pads are another thing you can use to help prevent wheel bite. Riser pads are plastic rectangular objects that are installed between the deck and trucks. As the name suggests, they raise the height of the board, thus giving you more room to turn toeside and heelside.
Finally, getting smaller wheels or tightening your trucks will also help. However, if you’re a fan of these features, your best bet would be to go for one of the different deck designs or to buy some riser pads.
Wheel Contact Patch
The wheel contact patch refers to the area of the wheel that constantly comes into contact with the ground. The width of a wheel’s contact patch influences how fast it slides, how easy your board is to control during slides, and how long your wheel will last before you need to replace it.
Wide Contact Patch
Wider contact patches provide more grip than narrow ones. They also enable you to slow down quicker with more control during slides. Being wider, your weight will be distributed over a larger area; a feature that typically gives wider wheels more longevity because the wheels wear more evenly.
Narrow Contact Patch
Narrow wheels provide less grip but are easier to initiate slides and maintain your speed while doing so. Narrow wheels tend to wear down quicker than wider ones because they don’t support the weight of the rider as well.
Wheel Shape
The shape of a wheel refers to the way the lip or edge of the wheel looks. There are three main types: square, beveled and rounded.
Square Edge
Square-edged wheels have sharp, square lips and provide great grip. They are typically preferred by downhill and slalom riders.
Beveled Edge
Beveled edge wheels are the middle ground between square and rounded. They have a sharp roundedness to their edge, making them suitable for multiple styles of longboarding. They’re especially useful for turning while bombing hills.
Rounded Edge
Rounded edges give wheels less grip but offer smoother transitions into slides. Their edge is rounded and causes less friction when sliding across the floor.
Wheel Hardness (Durometer)
A durometer is a tool for determining the hardness of various materials such as rubber, polymers and elastomers. The majority of longboard wheels are in the 75-88a range.
Soft wheels (75a-80a)
Soft wheels are grippier and slow you down more when sliding. They’re generally less durable than harder wheels but easier to control when going fast. When sliding, these will typically leave lines in the floor as the urethane from the wheels scrapes off.
Soft wheels are a good option if you plan on cruising or commuting often. They’re ideal for college students, beach cruisers and people who use their boards to go to work or visit friends.
Hard Wheels (83a-88a)
Hard wheels are less grippy and harder to control during slides. However, they’re faster than softer wheels and are easier to initiate slides with. Also, their harder shell makes them more durable than their softer counterparts.
Hard wheels are great for freeriding.
Wheel Core
Most quality longboarding wheels have a core that houses the bearings. It spreads heat throughout the wheel instead of just in the bearings, which tend to get hot with high speeds. It also provides additional structural support to the wheel which helps prevent flat spots and egging.
Wheel cores have three main placements inside the wheel: centerset, backset, and sideset.
Centerset
These cores are positioned in the wheel’s center. Centerset cores have the advantage of being able to be flipped, which means that after one side has gotten worn down after several slides, you can swap sides to get more mileage out of the wheel. They provide more control during slides but it’s more difficult to initiate them.
Offset
In terms of location, offset cores fall in between centerset and sideset cores. They’re a good blend between the two and work well for downhill and freeriding due to their happy medium of easing sliding initiation and slide control. Additionally, wheels with offset cores can be flipped inside out to provide more grip.
Sideset
Finally, there are sideset cores. Wheels with these cores tend to have the least amount of grip because the core’s design limits the lip’s presence. They do, however, make initiating slides easy, making them the optimal choice for beginners learning to slide.
Conclusion
Longboard wheels take some time to get the hang of but learning about them is vital to picking the ones for your specific needs.
With that in mind, consider the information in this guide in your next purchase so that you get what’s right for you.
Remember to consider your style, whether that’s dancing, freestyle, downhill or a different variation; and, remember the factors like durometer and wheel size that go into play for your board’s performance.
With that information, you’ll be more than ready to confidently shop and build a longboard perfect for your needs.
I’ve been riding longboards for a little over 13 years now, mainly bombing hills and cruising through beach towns. I’m also a journalist and content writer with a special interest in learning and relaying what ignites people’s inner fires.