Our Verdict:
If you love to take your ‘gnarly’ ride out for a cruise, then you might be very familiar with what cruises does to the wheels. The continuous drifting and turning will make it chunky, and lose grip. And you have to choose the right size based on your style, otherwise, your trip buddies will zoom past you!
So, my dude, if you are looking for the best longboard wheels for cruising, carving or sliding, dive right into my list. Who knows, maybe you’ll get the wheels that’ll offer a ride of a lifetime!
Also Read:
| IMAGE | Wheels | Diameter & Durometer | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Cruising, Carving
| Cruising, Carving |
| Click for price | |
Cruising, Sliding
| Cruising, Sliding |
| Click for price | |
Electric Longboard Cruising, Carving
| Electric Longboard Cruising, Carving |
| Click for price | |
Mountain Cruising
| Mountain Cruising |
| Click for price | |
Carving, Sliding
| Carving, Sliding |
| Click for price |
Top 10 Best Longboard Wheels for Cruising, Sliding, Carving
There are so many great options in the market that it’s easy to get confused. But if you know your priorities and the terrains then picking wheels for your longboards is child’s play. Take a look at my list of the top 10. Maybe you can choose the right one from here!
1. Orangatang Kegel 80mm Longboard Skateboard Wheels for Carving, Cruising
With great diameter, comes great top roll speed!
Kegel comes with a massive 80 mm diameter. Large wheels have a disadvantage of accelerating slowly. But they have a higher top speed than the small guys. So, when you get to the top speed, it'll win you races.
Gave you noticed how wide the wheel is?
It’s 56mm to exact! The width of the wheel gives it a superior balance and reflex.
It has three durometers option: 77a (blue), 80a (orange), and 83a (purple). 80a orange version will be better for most people.
Kegel is a master of traction, you know?
The square-lipped wheels are built for traction. But it also has a cantilevered outer lip that gives it a massive grip. When you’re drifting, this will make sure that you're in control. Even when the wheel wears down, there’s simply no compromise on the grip!
The valley shaped cross-section gives it a splendid advantage. It cuts down the weight of the wheels. But that’s not all, the shorter inner lips also add to the grip and control on drifting. It's a grip master!
Since it’s an Orangatang, it also comes with their superb happy thane formula. This peculiar polyurethane texture will give a good top speed, plush handling, and add smoothness to every ride.
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2. Shark Wheel 70 mm 78a Longboard Wheels for Cruising, Sliding
Before you break into laughter watching its peculiar design, let me explain why the Shark Wheel was made this way.
I bet the first thing you noticed is its sinusoidal contact patch, right?
Like tire tracks, these are here to channel the mud water out of the wheels to offer better traction. Also, they kick out the small pebbles or slide over small cracks. So, you can slide without any major jerks.
However, the large pebbles and deep puddles may still pose problems, so it’s better if you avoid that. This still can be considered a major evolution of skateboard wheels. The sine curves offer a better grip and great speed compared to other wheels of 70 mm diameter.
I loved the sine curves, they’re just great. They can give you better traction in all seasons and safe cruising in rough terrains. And even if the bearings come off, and even if the lips wear, it’ll still offer a pretty good grip. These wheels are no joke!
They’re not all rough and rugged you know. It’s 78a durometer rating means it’s still soft enough to give you smooth rides all day long.
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3. Orangatang Caguama 85mm Longboard Wheels for Cruising, Carving
When it comes to big wheels, they all take time to reach the top speed. But when they reach them, they become really fast! If you love sliding with your skateboard at a high speed, this is one wheel you shouldn’t miss.
Even though it has a huge 85 mm diameter, it’s still good at gaining acceleration and momentum quickly, letting you reach top speed in no time.
It has three durometers option: 77a (blue), 80a (orange), and 83a (purple).
The core shrinks down to 46 mm, giving it a valley shape and cutting down the weight. This feature allows the wheels to fit nicely with electric skateboards as well.
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4. Bigfoot 76mm Longboard Wheels for Mountain Cruisers
If you want to make your longboard look cool, why not get transparent wheels?
This longboard wheels from Bigfoot, just like its name, is humungous when it comes to size. The 76 mm diameter allows it to get a really good top speed. In fact, these wheels are great for carving and cruising skating. For all of you who like speed, get ready for an adventure you’ll never forget!
But to cope with all that, you need a good grip as well. The Wheels come with an offset core, which generates tremendous traction and allows you to get a good grip.
The wide 50 mm contact patch will grab the ground for a swift yet safe turn. After the turn, the rounded lips will let you break the deadlock of traction and drift to top speed quickly!
But when you stop, in order to hinder the movement of the wheels, tremendous weight crashes down on it. You need a wheel that can withstand that load. This monster has got that covered! With an 80a durometer, the wheel can give you stability when you’re rushing at full speed. All that at such an affordable price!
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5. Orangatang Stimulus 70 mm Freeride Longboard Wheels for Carving, Sliding
A common dilemma skaters face is whether to go for speed or grip. I say, why not go for both?!
With the offset bearing that Orangatang Stimulus comes with, you can get a considerable grip and enough smoothness to slide. It’s the best of both worlds!
It has three durometers option: 77a (blue), 83a (purple), and 86a (yellow).
This magnificent wheel also boasts a wide contact patch. This gives it enough grip. You see, the more the wheels are in contact with the road, the better your applied force can control the ride.
But when it's time to unleashing the top speed, the rounded lips will come into play. They’ll let you break the grip and just slide. The 70 mm diameter of the wheel makes it large enough to have a great top speed. But, it’s still light enough to let you show your mad freestyle skill!
When you buy an Orangatang, you’ll be getting their happy thane formula. This ensures high speed, smooth ride, and soft feel giving you better control when you’re drifting. The brand even claims that these have the best thane line in history!
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6. Shark Wheel 72mm DNA Formula Longboard Wheel for Cruising, Carving
When you see the squiggly lines on it, you know it’s a Shark Wheel!
Because of the sine curves, the wheels face less friction and can glide smoothly. That’s why it’s fast. And with its great size (72 mm diameter), it has considerable top speed. Therefore, the speed demons have to give this one a try! And with less friction, you can break into top speed in no time!
This wheel can offer better handling and grip. The squiggly lines can take out the debris effortlessly. With its greater size, it can run over bigger debris and cracks.
However, the 78a durometer rating of the wheel allows it to withstand the press while turning. Shark Wheels are known to wear faster since all the damage is faced by the three lines. But this one is tested to last 15% longer than any other industry-leading wheels. Overall, it’s a great deal!
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7. Orangatang In Heat 75mm Longboard Wheels for Carving, Cruising
How about a wheel just for cruising on a nice sunny day?
This longboard skateboard from Orangatang was mainly made for downhill racing as it is one of the most durable wheels on the list. The 75 mm diameter of the wheel makes it large enough for cruising, carving and pumping. With such a huge size, it can run over cracks, rocks, branches, etc. without taking much damage!
Aside from durability, this one has great traction. Its sharp square lips provide maximum grip. The offset bearing and a strong core further add to its ability to catch traction almost like a Cadillac!
Orangatang longboard wheels also kept the comfort of riders into concern and made the wheel good for long-distance pushing. The rippled walls and thick lips will return energy and reduce the effort of turning. However, on a rough road, all these mean you'll need some extra effort to push the wheels around.
Of course, it also comes with the Orangatang’s trademark Happy Thane Technology which ensures excellent reactions, smooth drifts, and great speed.
The wheels have 4 different durometer ratings: 77a, 80a, 83a, and 86a, so you can have plenty of choices while shopping. They all come in different attractive colors!
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8. Shark Wheel 60mm 78a California Roll Skateboard Wheels for Cruising
If the previous Shark wheel was an evolution of skateboard wheels, this one is an upgrade!
Bearing Shark wheel's trademark squiggly tracks, this one is an absolute masterpiece. Each wheel has 3 lips that offer a great lateral grip, but they also lose excess friction so that it slows the wheel down.
And we all know; less friction means more speed. Speaking of speed, it’s comparatively small 60 mm diameter lets it accelerate quickly to top speed. So just keep your eyes on the first prize!
The sine waves can maneuver around the grit, twigs, or cracks offering a smooth ride. But it also eliminates any hydroplaning (formation of a water plane against the wheel contact patch). This is why you may slip while moving on muddy water. But the sine waves take care of that, so you can move on wet roads effortlessly.
However, it shares a similar disadvantage with the previous Shark wheel, that is, it can’t handle large cracks, pebbles, branches, etc. Too much of that might cause damage.
It may be a bit on the pricier side, but it definitely will last long so that you can get your money’s worth.
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9. Sector 9 Slide Butterballs Skate Wheels for Sliding
This attractive looking wheel from Sector 9 has almost all the qualities of the wheels above, minus the extra cost. It’s great for freeriding.
The cosmic counter set core has a good grip on the core. The 38 mm contact patch is wide enough for gripping but it’s still small enough to slide. Hence it has both great speed and grip. A balanced combination!
The wheels come in 75a and 80a durometers. Both of them let you freely roam in
rough surfaces. The debris can’t stop this one! Also, the rounded lips will let you drift and slide effortlessly!
The contact patch is stone ground, which imparts a smooth appearance. Since there’s less traction, sliding is much, much easier.
Well, now you know why it got the name ‘Butterball’! Each slide is smooth as butter. This feature is especially useful for freeriding. Whether in the skatepark or in rough roads, Butterballs can hold its own.
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10. TGM Longboard Cruiser Skateboard High Rebound Wheels for Sliding, Cruising
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, then you might want to consider the Bigboy Gel Skateboarding Wheels for your board. Here’s why we think this is a good fit, and not just because it costs $20,98.
We know. Many of you would dismiss the option of buying something slippery-slope, and going for the expensive option because it promises quality. That’s not the case with this option, though. The TGM Longboard Cruiser Rebound Wheels are perfect for those who want a smooth slide with their board.
Within the package, you get 4 wheels, all bearing and spacers. The ABEC7 bearings can be retained by a self-lubricating Delrin crown. They are also suitable for deep-groove race-ways. The spacers, on the other hand, can be adjusted and tightened to avoid wheel wobbling and keep them spinning smoothly.
These TGM wheels are intended for multiple purposes. You can add them to your board for cruising, or downhill riding. They’re pretty resistant and can withstand different surfaces.
Still, since this is a budget-friendly option, we’d put them in the “cruising category.” They’re perfect for someone looking to change things up on their board and stay within budget limits.
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Verdict
Choosing one or two among all these amazing wheels is a tough ask. They all have great ratings and magnificent features. If I have to pick one, it has to be the Orangatang Kegel Wheel for cruising and carving.
For sliding, go for Shark Longboard Wheel, no need to look for other options.
Longboard Wheels for Cruising, Carving, Sliding Buying Guide
When you are looking for longboard wheels for cruising, carving, sliding there are some important factors you should consider which include kingpin skateboard trucks, skateboard bearings, wheels, deck, grip tapes, axle, hardness, baseplate, spacers, deck ply, bushings, etc.
The wheels of the longboard play a vital role in the excellency of cruising. That's why you should pay proper attention while choosing your longboard wheel.
Whatever choosing the longboard wheel for cruising is also a tough job with so many sizes and styles available in the market. Here, I have explained the factors to help you pick the right wheels for cruising.
1. Size of the wheel
| Longboard Deck Size | Recommended Wheel Size |
| 40" or above | 70mm - 75mm |
| 34" to 42" | 68mm - 72mm |
| 34" or below | 60mm - 67mm |
As you know that the long longboard works fine with the big wheels and the smaller one is smaller wheels. Although you can use smaller wheels for the longer skateboard deck, the performance matters much. The larger wheels will be the best one for larger decks.
Whatever the larger wheels will not work with the smaller longboard decks. Here I am giving the common rules about choosing the wheel size for your longboard.
For the Larger decks 40" and above:
For the larger longboards about 40" or more than it, you need to choose a larger wheel ranging from 70 and 75mm. This is the perfect size for longer longboards. Although the bigger wheels are the best choice for longer longboards, you can choose the smaller wheel if you are fond of slow and calm speed.
Again, for a bit high speed, you can go for a large one within this range. The difference is not so much though.
For the Medium Decks ranging between 34" to 42":
Then, for the medium longboards ranging between 34" to 42", the best selection will be between 68-72mm size. As usual, choose a medium-size wheel for your medium longboards.
For the Shortest Decks 34" and less than it:
Lastly, for the longboards that range from 34" and less than it, you need to select wheels between 60-67mm. As the wheelbase of your board is a bit smaller, you should select a smaller longboard skateboarding wheels so your board isn't as top-heavy.
2. Durometer
| Riders Weight | Durometer |
| 135 lbs or below | 78a - 80a |
| 135 to 175 | 80a - 83a |
| 175 or above | 83a - 86a |
Wheel durometer plays an important part in your longboarding experience. This is something you can't avoid. There is a common rule that "you should go for a heavy wheel to deal with a heavier rider".
It is recommended going for the softer with cruising wheels, ranging between 75A and 85A. You can go for the slightly harder version of the wheel shape and diameter are suitable for this purpose.
However, there is a common measurement related to riders weight and choosing the compatible wheel I am providing below:
- Riders with 135 lbs weight and below, the cruising wheel will be between 78a-80a.
- For the riders weight ranging between 135 to 175 lbs, the cruising wheel will be between 80a-83a.
- For the riders weighing more than, the cruising wheel will be between 83a-86a.
3. Shape
The last one is the shape. Yes! The shape is another important factor that should come under consideration while choosing the longboarding wheels for cruising.
In most of the cases, any shape will be fine as well as any other when it comes to a decent cruising shape. But it is better to follow a specific guide.
Selecting a "Round-lip" Shape:
The wheels having round lips are a good choice for the longboarding fans who are looking for performing carves and surf-inspired slides. Round lip shape is a good choice that is looking for learning powerslide, mini cruiser.
This shape wheels offer a predictable slide from starting and finishing for skateboarders.
Selecting a "Sharp-lip" Shape:
Choosing a sharp-lip shape is the best choice for general cruising, craving, sliding. Selecting sharp-lip will allow you to have more gripping power than the "round-lip" wheels while applying force during difficult turns.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Best Longboard Wheels
Q: What type of wheels are best for longboards?
Ans: For longboard applications, where you are on rough roads a lot of the time, a softer wheel (75a) will be grippier, with a “grabby” slide, and a harder wheel (85a) will be slidier but also can be hard to control and bring back into grip.
Around the middle (78-82a) is the best balance for most longboard wheels.
Q: Are Bigger wheels better for longboarding?
Ans: Smaller wheels result in a slower ride, and larger wheels result in a faster one. If you want to commute quickly and smoothly, a big wheel longboard or cruiser is a good choice.
Wheel diameter also affects how quickly you accelerate and how tightly you can turn.
Q: How big should longboard wheels be?
Ans: Most longboard wheels are between 64-80mm in diameter with 70mm being the most common size. The most important thing to consider is whether the wheels will fit on your setup without causing wheelbite.
TIP: A set of 65mm longboard wheels and a ¼'' riser pad will turn any park deck into a great city cruiser.
Q: When should I replace my longboard wheels?
Ans: There are a couple of signs to see it's time to get new wheels. It's time to replace your skateboard wheels when they are irregular shaped, show signs of flat spots, coning, or major flat spots.
Irregularly shaped wheels are very uncomfortable to ride can make the difference in landing a trick or not.
