Full Guide: Wheels for Surfskate
What Is The Best Wheels For SurfSkate?
Did you know that choosing the right wheels for your surfskate is extremely important because it can influence your enjoyment and performance?
There are several properties in surfskate wheels that can be utilized depending on your skill level, track shape, and type of terrain. Read this complete “Surfskate Wheels” guide we offer for free, which will clarify all your doubts on the subject.
Topics Of Article
So that you can easily understand, let’s engage in reflective exercises together regarding the 7 main characteristics that wheels influence in your surfskate:
- How efficiently do the wheels pump?
- How well do the wheels grip the ground during carving?
- How do they handle rough surfaces, cracks, and asphalt?
- How fast are the wheels?
- How comfortable are the wheels?
- How well do the wheels slide?
- How do the wheels perform in radical maneuvers?
In this surfskate wheel guide, I will address the main questions that athletes have and provide detailed insights into the key practical characteristics, the numerous options available in the market, and finally, I will suggest the right choice of the best wheels for your surfskate. Read more!
Wheels Attributes
There are many aspects of surfsimulator wheels that can influence their performance, including:
- Diameter: The diameter determines the wheel’s height, which directly affects the speed the athlete can achieve in the medium to long term.
- Durometer: The softness or hardness of the wheel, which determines whether it will provide better grip or slide on the contact surface.
- Contact Face: Refers to the width of the wheel that makes contact with the ground.
- Surface: Smooth provides more grip, while rough provides more slide.
- Edge: Square for more grip, rounded for more slide.
- Core Placement: Offset for more grip, centerset for more slide.
- Urethane Thickness: Thicker provides a smoother ride.
Diameter Of SurfSkate Wheels
The SMALLER the wheels on your surfskate, the faster they can accelerate at the start. The LARGER the wheel on your surfskate, the slower they will accelerate initially, but the higher the speed they can achieve in the medium to long term.
The ideal surfskate wheels fall within the diameter range of 65 millimeters to 70 millimeters.
To choose the right diameter for your surfskate wheels, consider your riding style and the terrain you’ll be skating on.
Durometer Of Wheels
The durometer refers to the softness or hardness of urethane.
The scale for measuring the durometer of urethane ranges from 75a to 100a. The LOWER the number, the softer the urethane. The HIGHER the number, the harder.
Softer wheels provide more grip on the ground and consequently stability. Harder wheels are easier to slide on the surface and produce expressive sounds during maneuver execution.
The recommended hardness range for surf skate wheels is between 78a and 84a.
However, this is just a relative reference because each manufacturing company formulates a specific urethane chemical composition. In other words, two different urethane formulas can have the same hardness rating, but one may be softer than the other, respectively.
In practice, if you like to perform precise surf-style maneuvers that require a lot of grip, you can use surf skate wheels with a lower scale, probably 78a. However, if you enjoy performing wider maneuvers while sliding on the surface, you should opt for harder wheels, closer to 84a in hardness.
If you plan to practice surf skate in bowls and parks, you should choose wheels of intermediate size and intermediate hardness. For this environment, I suggest using 83a wheels, as their versatility will provide grip during curves while allowing you to slide on the surface during critical maneuvers.
Contact Patch
When it comes to measuring the width of wheels, there are two parameters to consider: The actual width of the wheel and the surface contact area.
The contact area is the part of the wheel that rolls on the surface. Typically, wheels are slightly wider than the contact area. But, in general, the contact area refers to the width of the wheel.
In surfskate, the wheel’s contact area is important because the narrower it is, the more agile your carving will be. On the other hand, the larger the contact area, the more challenging it will be to pump and carve.
I suggest that you choose surfskate wheels with a contact area between 42 millimeters and 53 millimeters at the upper limit. Typically, high-performance athletes use wheels with a contact area within this range, around 48 millimeters.
Wheel Surface
Surfskate wheels can have two types of surfaces: smooth or rough.
Stoneground wheels are factory-ground with a rough surface to enhance sliding on the ground. However, remember that smooth wheels provide more grip!
These types of wheels, “smooth or rough,” can be combined with durometer parameters, allowing athletes to customize their best choice.
Wheel Edge
The edge of a wheel, or the edge profile, affects grip and sliding characteristics. Some wheel edges are sharp, while others are rounded. Sharp edges provide more grip, while rounded edges make sliding easier.
Core Placement
Core placement refers to where the bearings are positioned in the middle of the wheel. Wheels can be positioned one of three ways:
Sideset: The core in sideset wheels is placed very close to the inner edge of the wheel, providing more grip and control. For example, during turns and high-speed carving.
Offset: The core in offset wheels is placed off-center, closer to the inner edge of the wheel, providing a balance between grip and controlled sliding.
Centerset: The core in centerset wheels is placed exactly in the middle of the wheel, ensuring even wear of the wheels and enabling controlled slides.
For surfskate, it’s ideal to use offset or centerset wheels.
Note: Most aftermarket surfskate wheels available in the market are offset, but wheels manufactured by the Carver brand are centerset.
Urethane Thickness
An important factor to consider when choosing a surfskate wheel is the thickness of the urethane.
The smaller the wheel’s core, the thicker the urethane, resulting in a softer riding experience. On the other hand, if the wheel’s core is larger, the urethane thickness will be thinner, providing a firmer riding experience.
I recommend using small cores and thick urethane, especially when dealing with uneven surfaces.
The Best SurfSkate Wheels On The Market
I conducted an advanced survey on the surf skate wheels currently available in the global market and subjected them to performance testing. Check out the following best options with a brief description of each!
Blood Orange Morgan 70mm
If you’re seeking the ultimate blend of grip and slide capability, look no further than Blood Orange wheels.
The wheel that imitators strive to emulate!
Durometer: 80a, 82a, and 84a
Contact Patch: Variable
Lip Profile: Rounded
Core Placement: Centerset
Surfskate Love 70mm
Surfskate Love created their wheels after experimenting with various alternatives available in the market.
These wheels were designed for speed, with a special focus on enhancing deep carving and pumping styles.
Durometer: 78a, 81a, 83a
Contact Patch: 46mm
Lip Profile: Square
Core Placement: Offset
Orangatang 4 President 70mm
Elevate your surfskating experience with Orangatang 4 President wheels, excelling in pumping, hard carving, cruising, and commuting.
With their sharp lips and smooth slide, these wheels offer unparalleled grip and agility for surfskating.
Durometer: 83a
Contact Patch: 53mm
Lip Profile: Angular
Core Placement: Offset
Orangatang Love Handles 65mm
The Orangatang Love Handles feature a high rebound and offer excellent speed.
Their sharp, square edges are perfect for making deep turns and pumping without losing traction.
Durometer: 77a
Contact Patch: 50mm
Lip Profile: Square
Core Placement: Offset
Bravord Ninja 70mm
If you’re looking to elevate your radicality criteria, try the BRAVORD Ninja-70 wheels for SurfSkate.
This model offers a trio of versatility to surfskating: carving, slashing, and sliding.
Durometer: 82a
Contact Patch: 51mm
Lip Profile: Rounded
Core Placement: Centered
Fireball Tinder 70mm
Manufactured in California/USA with R-Type ‘thane, The model of wheels Fireball Tinder for surfskate offers fast and smooth riding, so effortlessly cruise over cracks and debris with the comfortable 81a wheels!
Designed for maximum strength and predictable slides, Fireball Tinder wheels for surfskating ensure consistent performance from start to finish.
Durometer: 81a
Contact Patch: 40mm
Lip Profile: Rounded
Core Placement: Centerset 50%
Cloud Wheel Lollipop 70mm
Enhance your surfskating adventures with the innovative Iwonder CloudWheel Lollipop 70mm wheels.
These wheels feature high wear resistance and a unique Dual Formulation, Dual Hardness design, along with a Spiral Shock Absorbing Support Structure through exclusive patented MFD technology.
Durometer: 83a and 80a
Contact Patch: 52mm
Lip Profile: Sharp with stoneground
Core Placement: Offset
Powell Peralta Snakes 69mm
If you’re looking for a wheel that provides speed and the potential for surfskate slides, the Powell Peralta Snakes can be considered a good choice!
However, be aware that these wheels are not ideal for those who want to perform deep carves or aggressive pumping due to the slip provided by the rounded edge.
Durometer: 75a
Contact Patch: 44mm
Lip Profile: Rounded
Core Placement: Centerset
Carver Roundhouse 69mm
Carver Skateboards offers a unique wheel model, the Carver Roundhouse, featuring a concave profile designed to enhance traction on the surface.
Excellent for deep pumping and the ability to perform powerslides.
Durometer: 78a
Contact Patch: 52mm
Lip Profile: Square
Core Placement: Offset
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Bonus Suggestion
Taking into account everything that has been mentioned, here are the criteria I look for when considering the purchase of new wheels for surfskating:
- Diameter: 68 mm
- Durometer: 83a
- Contact Patch: 48 mm
- Surface: Smooth
- Edge/Lip Profile: Round
- Core Placement: Offset
Tag:review, setup, wheels surfskate
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