Sliding is an essential skill for any longboarder looking to control their speed, especially when tackling hills at speeds over 30mph. While mastering the art of sliding takes time and practice, the right set of wheels can make the learning process much smoother and more forgiving. This guide will explore the best longboard wheels for sliding, focusing on what makes them ideal for beginners, and which ones to avoid.
What Makes a Longboard Wheel Good for Sliding?
Understanding the key features of a longboard wheel is crucial for selecting the right ones for sliding. These characteristics affect how the wheel interacts with the road and how easily it transitions from grip to slip.
Radiused Lips: The Key to Smooth Slides
The lip, or edge, of a wheel plays a significant role in its sliding performance. A radiused lip, also known as a rounded lip, is crucial for initiating slides easily. The round shape allows the wheel to smoothly transition from gripping to slipping, preventing the edges from catching or resisting the sideways motion. This allows for a more fluid and predictable slide.
Radiused, rounded longboard wheels for sliding
Rounded edge slide wheel – best longboard wheels for sliding
In contrast, wheels with square or sharp lips are designed for maximum grip. These lips create a 90-degree angle with the ground, digging into the pavement and resisting sideways movement. While excellent for cornering at high speeds, square-lipped wheels make it much harder to initiate and control slides, making them unsuitable for beginners.
Square lipped longboard wheels
Contact Patch: Less is More for Sliding
The contact patch refers to the area of the wheel that comes in contact with the ground. A smaller contact patch is generally better for sliding. With less surface area gripping the road, the wheel can break traction more easily and slide smoothly without slowing down too abruptly. Conversely, a larger contact patch provides more grip and can make sliding feel more resistant and less controlled.
Slide wheels vs downhill wheels
Urethane: The Formula for a Smooth Slide
The urethane formula used in the wheel’s construction significantly affects its sliding characteristics. Some urethanes are designed to grip the road, providing more braking force, while others are formulated to glide easily over the pavement. Look for wheels with urethane that is described as “slidey” or “buttery.” This type of urethane will transition smoothly from grip to slip and provide a more controlled slide.
Durometer: Hardness Isn’t Everything
Durometer measures the hardness of a wheel’s urethane. While harder wheels generally slide more easily, the relationship is not always direct. Some wheels with softer durometers may still slide very well due to their unique urethane formula, and above 80a, hardness has diminishing returns when it comes to sliding performance. It’s best to focus more on the type of urethane and the other features of the wheel.
Flat Spot Resistance: Crucial for Beginners
Flat spotting occurs when a wheel slides at a 90-degree angle, causing one side to flatten. Wheels that are resistant to flat spotting are ideal for beginners because they are more forgiving of improper technique, which is common when learning to slide. Denser urethanes and higher durometer wheels tend to resist flat spotting more effectively.
Flat spot on a longboard wheel
Size Matters: Opt for Smaller Diameters
Larger wheels can be more difficult to slide due to their increased inertia and grip. For beginners, choosing wheels under 70mm is recommended. A diameter around 66mm offers an ideal balance of speed, weight, and leverage, making it easier to initiate and control slides.
Buying Guide for Slide Wheels
When buying slide wheels, consider these additional factors to ensure you’re getting the best setup for your needs:
Wheel Surface Finish: Stone Ground is Key
The surface finish of the contact patch makes a big difference. Wheels with a stone-ground finish are ready to slide straight out of the box. Smooth-finished wheels or those with their original “skin” are much gripper and require a break-in period before they can slide well, which is not ideal for beginners.
Temperature: How It Affects Your Ride
Some wheels can behave differently in varying temperatures. It’s essential to consider the climate you’ll be riding in and choose wheels that perform well under those conditions. While not a primary concern, it’s good to keep this in mind if you find your wheels behaving differently than expected.
Optimizing Your Setup
A good setup enhances your ability to slide. Here are some areas to consider:
- Griptape: Use coarse griptape for better grip, helping you resist sideways forces and stay secure on the board during slides.
- Bushings: Adjust your bushings to control your lean and turn. A proper bushing setup can make slides easier and more controlled.
- Bearing Spacers and Speed Rings: These components prevent wheel chatter and bouncing, which helps provide smooth and predictable slides.
Top Longboard Wheels for Sliding: Recommendations
Here are some of the best longboard wheels for beginners looking to learn how to slide:
EZ Hawgs
These wheels are praised for their forgiving nature, allowing for a smooth transition into and out of slides. Their 63mm size strikes a great balance between speed and control, making them a top contender for the best slide wheel.
Powell Peralta Snakes
The Snakes are considered by many to be the ultimate slide wheel, offering a smooth, predictable slide with minimal effort. They are available in 66mm and 69mm sizes, with the 66mm being the most beginner-friendly. They are known for being durable and flat spot resistant.
Remember Collective Lil Hoots
These wheels are known for their buttery slide and ability to break traction with minimal effort, making them suitable for learning slides at slower speeds. With a narrow contact patch, radiused lips, and slidey urethane, the Lil Hoots are a great choice for beginners.
Remember Lil Hoots Longboard Wheels – 65mm
Slide Perfect Supremini Classic
Designed for colder climates, the Supremini Classic is durable, slidey, and affordable, making it a great choice for riders in the UK and Europe. They are available in a 65mm diameter and feature a narrow contact patch.
Slide Perfect Supremini Classic Longboard Wheel
Freewheel Co Free Quincys
These 66mm wheels have a very narrow 29mm contact patch and are poured with durable, slow-wearing urethane. They are also stone-ground, making them ready to slide straight out of the box, and are very affordable.
Cloud Ride Iceez
The Iceez come in a small 59mm size and feature a wide contact patch. Made from a slidey urethane that’s also resistant to flat spotting, these wheels are a good option for those looking to easily slide and break traction, but are better suited to smooth roads.
Orangatang Skiffs
These hybrid skate/longboard wheels come in a soft durometer and a small 62mm size with a narrow 25mm contact patch. The Skiffs are ideal for manhandling and breaking traction, but are best suited for smooth surfaces.
Other Noteworthy Slide Wheels:
- Remember Hoots
- Cuei Sliders
- Cult Chronicles
- Cult Creators
- Sector 9 Skiddles
- Powell G-slides (great for slow speed slides)
Wheels to Avoid When Learning to Slide
To ensure a smooth and enjoyable learning experience, steer clear of these wheels:
Venom Magnums
With a massive 78mm diameter, wide contact patch, and square lips, Venom Magnums are designed for grip, not sliding. Beginners will find them challenging and difficult to control due to their powerful braking force.
Venom Magnums downhill longboard wheels
Orangatang Kegels
These wheels come in a large 80mm diameter with a 56mm contact patch. Their size makes them unsuitable for sliding, as they are built for speed and grip, not easy break out.
Seismic Alphas
Designed for fast downhill runs, Seismic Alphas have a large diameter, wide contact patch, and sharp square lips. These features make them ill-suited for learning to slide.
Seismic Alphas downhill wheels
Blood Orange Morgans
Despite having a narrow contact patch, Blood Orange Morgans wear down too quickly and feel more grippy than other beginner wheels, making them a poor choice for learning to slide.
Hawgs Tracers
Similar to the Morgans, Hawgs Tracers wear down rapidly and are prone to flat spotting, making them unsuitable for beginner riders.
Wheels from Cheap Knock-off Brands
Avoid wheels from unknown brands with no reputation. These wheels are often made with low-quality materials and have designs that are not conducive to sliding. They will have a choppy, uncontrollable slide and will make the learning process very frustrating.
Conclusion
Choosing the right longboard wheels is crucial for learning to slide effectively. By understanding the key features that make a wheel slide well, and by selecting from our recommended wheels, beginners can greatly improve their learning experience.
If you are still unsure, we recommend starting with the Powell Snakes for their forgiving nature, durability and slide performance. Remember, learning to slide takes time and practice, but with the right gear, you will get there. Happy skating!
