The 6 Best Skateboard Wheels for Cruising in 2024
Last Updated on July 4, 2024 by BoardsRiding
If skateboard cruising fascinates but you are searching for the best skateboard wheels for cruising, this article will help you!
Being an integral part of your skateboard, wheels play a direct role in its functioning: let it cruise faster! They not only affect the performance of your skateboard but yours too. It may trigger body fatigue if you feel it is harder to push high durometer wheels. You need to pick them very wisely. If you are a beginner and want all sets in one place, you may check the best skateboard brands as well.
Our TOP 3 Picks
SOFTEST PICK
OJ III Skateboard Cruiser
SPEEDY PICK
Shark Wheel 60 mm 78a
GRIPPY PICK
FREEDARE Skate Wheels
Here are fair reviews about 6 best skateboard wheels for cruising in 2024, followed by buying guide. So, without any delay, let’s begin!
1- Ricta, Clouds 78a Skateboard Wheel
Notable Specifications
Ricta Clouds 78a skateboards wheels stand top on our list for being super soft. It is super fit for all terrains. They are pretty good on rough ground as well. Two main factors play an important role in wheels’ performance; durometer & diameter.
As the wheel size increases, its speed will increase as well. Similarly, shorter wheels are a bit slower but good for tricks. The diameter of these wheels is 54mm, which makes them super bouncy.
Some riders have found these wheels very comfortable and crazy smooth. It is undoubtedly one of the finest wheels they have ever encountered yet. They enjoyed cruising rides over rough surfaces.
The modern shape (not so heavier or bulky) of Ricta Clouds wheels has amused them so much. All that an honest rider may say about the wheels is that these are the same; anyone can wish for downtown cruising with a good grip. If you want good gripping, check the best skateboard grip tape here.
These wheels are best for performing tricks, short-distance cruising, & filming the tricks. They may amuse an average weight ride and 200 Ibs weight riders.
Professional Reviews:
Pros
Cons
2- Powell Peralta Rat Bones Reissue Skateboard Wheels
Notable Specifications
Powell Peralta Rat Bones wheels are relatively taller (diameter is 60mm) than normal street wheels, thus much faster for cruising. The hardness of this wheel is right in the middle as compared to 78A (softest one) and 101A (hardest one).
However, Rat Bones wheels are not very good for slides but are fit for performing tricks on even rough surfaces. You need to push a bit harder for sliding.
As per pro skaters’ reviews, these wheels are well-designed for a stable cruising ride. The wheels are as quieter, grippy, & Swiffer as they were back in the 80s. Rat Bones wheels can assure that you wouldn’t need anything once you have freewheeled.
A rider stated that he felt like gliding in air around. Free-riding with these wheels also entertained him a lot. He just backpacked his skateboard and went on 2-3 hours ride daily. Check best skateboard backpacks for your boards.
Rat Bones wheels are best for cruising, freeriding, and fast tricks. However, you may need to put risers on deck to avoid wheel biting, mainly due to their larger wheel size.
Professional Reviews:
Pros
Cons
3- OJ III Skateboard Cruiser Wheels Mini Super Juice
Notable Specifications
OJ mini super Juice wheels are the fastest wheels for skateboard cruising. Wheel’s durometer is 78A, which is regarded as softest. They come up with various diameters; 50mm or 60mm. The 50mm size wheels are cool for flip tricks like stuff.
The 60mm wheels are fit for sliding as they are a bit faster. These wheels are crazy fast due to 78A hardness formula. If you put OJ wheels on a regular skateboard, it will become a mini-cruiser.
Some skaters have told in reviews that their experience with OJ super juice wheels is amazing. They enjoyed the unstoppable pace OJ wheels were offering. Softness and perfect grip have helped them glide.
According to pro-skaters, they had also done downhill rides to downtown. If you need such super wheels for your longboards, you may check the best longboard wheels as well.
OJ wheels are best for juggling, cruising, and downhill riding. They are best for all terrains. They are even good for rough mountainous surfaces.
Professional Reviews:
Pros
Cons
4- Shark Wheel 60 mm 78a, Skateboard Cruising Wheels
Notable Specifications
One of the best things about Shark wheels is that you feel like you have mastered cruising! Shark wheels are super comfortable for cruising rides. You will love gliding with! They come up with three diameters (sizes); 60mm, 70mm & 72mm.
72mm wheels are super fast, 60mm wheels are grippy, and 70mm wheels are good for sliding. The softness of shark wheels is mainly due to the 78A durometer. These wheels have 57% less friction, which is very less comparatively.
Reviewers who used Shark wheels regard them as ridiculously amazing. According to riders, they have put the wheels on cruiser skateboards for commuting in town. They were surprised by rides on wet roads with so much grip.
Super pace, these wheels were offering, was almost unstoppable while cruising. However, to avoid wheel bits, some used 1.5″ rising pads with 1.25 hardware and nyloc nuts.
These wheels are best for super-speed riding, downhills, & cruising on rough terrains. They are very much comfortable to be used as a skateboard beginner.
Professional Reviews:
Pros
Cons
5- FREEDARE Skateboard Wheels 60mm 83a
Notable Specifications
If you are a pro cruiser and love performing complex tricks, freeride skateboard wheels are the best choice for you! Freedare wheels offer a smooth ride over all terrains, from flat plains to bumpy jumpy grounds.
Their considerable-sized deck with eye-captivating designs is simply adorable. For trick performance in a skate park, freedare wheels are a good option.
These wheels are so stable & comfortable to ride mainly because of their width. Some riders regarded these wheels as well-built for a cruising board (smaller for a regular board). The best thing about the wheels that amuses riders are; they are highly controllable with full grip.
Freedare wheels are best for complex trick performance, skate-parks, cruising, & street-skating. However, they have been designed for super speedy cruising. You can put freedare wheels on a regular skateboard, but the best fit is with mini cruisers.
Professional Reviews:
Pros
Cons
6- Cloud Ride Wheels Cruiser 69mm 78A
Notable Specifications
Cloud Ride wheels are a good choice for cruising to downtown trails as they provide you grip and slip simultaneously due to their wide square lip. Thus, these are great for riding all terrains.
69mm diameter is large enough to give you a good cruising pace. 78A hardness formula works for the softness of wheels, which makes you comfortable for 2-3 hours of the continuous ride.
A pro-skater reviewed that these wheels were well-named, as the rider just felt an actual cloud ride on them. He felt like gliding in the air during his cruising rides downtown. These wheels are best for carving, cruising, and freeriding.
Professional Reviews:
Pros
Cons
Buying guide to picking the best skateboard wheels for cruising
Till now, you’d have slightly made up your mind about what wheels are best for you, as we tried to review all the best skateboard wheels for cruising, so now we will present you with factors which need a special kind of attention, especially from a beginner, so that if you have any confusion in your mind, you could easily clear it out.
All skateboard wheels for cruising have not been made equal; they differ in various terms, like durometer, diameter, prices, etc. so, we’d try to present all important & relevant information for you.
Let’s begin!
1. Diameter:
This is one of the most important factors which needs to be considered in wheels. If you are wondering about the parallel conditions, you should know that it’s okay to use smaller wheels for longer decks.
But it is not okay to use larger wheels for smaller decks as it can cause wheel bite, causing the board to stop suddenly; that’s why it is not suitable to use wheel diameters outside the range. An average size range can be taken as a 40o, or longer skateboard requires 70-75mm longer wheels; this is an ideal situation.
Moreover, a 50-53mm small wheel offers a slower ride with a frequent push but can be easily controlled because it is close to the ground, thus making it good for non-technical skating. Then, a 58-65mm larger set of wheels has a faster ride and offers good stability on relatively rough surfaces.
2. Material:
If the wheel has everything perfect but doesn’t own a good material, all effort goes in vain. A wheel made up of good material appears more appealing. The good material offers good quality and durability. Each kind of skateboard wheel owns a unique material that can assist in controlling performance.
Mostly, wheel manufacturers use polyurethane as it has a quality of abrasion resistance. It also provides a wheel with an excellent grip on a surface. Thus, it makes the wheel run for a long time!
3. Durometer:
Durometer determines hardness in a wheel. It is a measurement of polyurethane. If a wheel’s durometer is high, it means it is sturdy.
If we particularly talk about the best durometer range for cruising wheels, softer wheels would be preferred as they offer more grip and a slower ride. Softer wheels have a durometer range of 78A – 101A if they are only used for cruising purposes.
While hard wheels may not move on rough paths, they offer a low grip. Thus, they may cause a injuries to the rider; hence these are suitable for downhill riding on a smooth surface.
Durometer hardness is also affected by the rider’s weight. If you are light in weight, then you’d not be able to provide enough pressure on the skateboard so that a lesser grip will be produced; hence soft wheels will be preferred in this case. If you are on a heavier side, then hard wheels would be ideal, as softer wheels can slow down, affecting the flow of the ride.
4. Wheel Shape:
Wheel shape mainly depends on your choice, like what kind of appearance you want on your wheels. The wheel shape controls performance as well.
Two types of shapes exist in skateboard wheels; some wheels are round-shaped, while others are square wheels, which are suitable for cruising. But, the square-edged lid wheel provides better traction on paths than round ones.
5. Contact Patch:
Contact patch refers to contacting area between board and paths. It is mainly related to the wheel that rolls on the skating surface. Contact patch in skateboards with larger wheels is also large. On the other hand, if wheels are smaller in size than definitely, they’ll have less contact patch.
Talking about the impact of shape, it is observed that the square lid wheels have more contact patches, while the wheels have a lesser quantity of them.
6. Bearings:
Bearings are considered additional features as they are not readily available in all reviewed (maybe in some but not all); hence, they are not a common product.
Although it is uncommon, these prove to be very useful in providing wheels with an ample amount of speed precision and may improve the efficiency of your wheels. Therefore, it is important to consider while opting for kind of bearings if you want them on your wheels.
Speaking about their types, these bearings usually are used in two types, ABEC7 or ABEC9. Both of these bearing types prove to be useful in almost all skateboards.
7. Clearance:
It is the area between the wheels and decks of the skateboards. It is determined with the presence of the riser pad in the skateboard.
A riser pad is considered the main ingredient of clearance in the wheels, preventing wheel biting. Without the riser pad, wheel-biting may occur. Your choice can choose the riser pad.
If the wheels are above 60mm in diameter, there is a greater chance that the riser pad would be needed to fill up the space between the wheel and the deck. Mostly, a ¼ or ½ riser pad tends to be suitable enough for a smooth ride while cruising.
8. Decks and Trucks:
Trucks are T-shaped metallic pieces that connect wheels with decks. Skateboard decks are the long wooden pieces on which a rider stands for riding.
The size of wheels depends upon the size of decks. However, if the larger boards have smaller wheels, that would reduce the balance of the rider. Similarly, if the smaller board has large-sized wheels, then there is a possibility that the deck can catch the board.
So, it is essential to have synchronization in the size of the wheels and the boards to avoid any mishap.
9. Price:
Last but not least, or maybe the foremost important factor to consider, is the prices offered by the skateboards. You don’t have to buy an expensive product; you can look for a cheaper product with convenient features.
The expensive ones differ by having some extra features, which are not always required to be honest. All in all, you should look for the board according to your price range.
According to our searches, the average price range is 39-50$ for a normal product and 60-80$ for a higher range.
FAQs Section
What type of skateboard wheels are suitable for cruising?
Usually, soft wheels of 78A to 85A are good for cruising. However, medium durometer wheels like 85A to 90A are good for beginner cruisers.
What size wheels are best for cruising?
The best wheels for cruising are between 56mm to 60mm. If you go for 60mm+, you should use rising pads on your deck to avoid wheel bites.
Is 99a good for the street?
Yes, it is good not only for the street but also for all terrains. The durometer up to 96A gives you more grip. A little hardness to push is suitable for beginners.
Final Thoughts:
Skateboard cruising is an art, and wheels are the main driving force for cruisers. Picking the right set of wheels for your skateboard is a great concern for skateboarders. In this article, we have presented the best-picked skateboard wheels for cruising by the pro-skaters.
We not only provide you with the best picks but have also analyzed the various aspects that you need to know before buying them. As per the best of our knowledge, Shark Wheel 60 mm 78a Skateboard Cruising Wheels have been our best-picked wheels due to their super amazing softness and comfortable cruising rides.
We hope that this article will satisfy your concerns about skateboard wheels for cruising!
I’m Mike Dave & Focused on Riding Boards we are on a mission to grow the love for different types of board riding. We want to build interest by providing complete guides of boards so, if you want to increase your knowledge about riding boards, this website is a perfect selection for you, do hit a survey on this website and you will surely love it.
