Choosing the right skateboard wheels can be overwhelming, with countless options and brands available. This guide breaks down the top skateboard wheel brands, from premium to budget-friendly, helping you make an informed decision. We’ve tested these brands across various skateboarding styles, from street to transition, to provide practical insights.
Finding the best skateboard wheel depends on your needs and budget. Some brands excel in technical street skating, while others are better for cruising or transition skateboarding. This list provides a detailed overview of 10 brands, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses.
Top 10 Skateboard Wheel Brands (Ranked):
- Spitfire Wheels
- Bones Wheels
- OJ Wheels
- Powell Peralta
- Ricta
- Welcome Orbs
- Mini Logo
- Santa Cruz
- DGK
- Haze
While personal preference plays a role, the quality and performance of skateboard wheels vary significantly between brands. Unlike decks, where brand preference is often subjective, wheels directly impact your ride, making it crucial to choose wisely.
skateboard wheels collection
The Best Skateboard Wheel Brands
Let’s examine the top 10 skateboard wheel brands, starting with the newer and more affordable options, and building up to the premium brands. This doesn’t mean the lower-ranked wheels are bad, but they might not offer the same value or performance as the top contenders.
10. Haze
Haze, a relatively new brand based in Paris, was founded in 2010. Though they haven’t yet made a major impact in the US, they offer quality wheels that are more affordable than premium brands like Spitfire and Bones.
Haze wheels are known for their flat spot resistance, rivaling even top brands. However, the harder 101A wheels might crumble slightly on the sides after extensive use, a common issue for many wheel brands.
Pros of Haze:
- More affordable than premium brands
- Solid for skateparks and technical street skating
- Excellent grip while still allowing for power slides
Cons of Haze:
- Can crumble on the sides with heavy use
- More expensive than Mini Logo
Haze skateboard wheels
9. DGK
Founded by Stevie Williams in 2002, DGK (Dirty Ghetto Kids) is known for its bold graphics, although these tend to fade quickly on wheels. DGK wheels are designed for street and park skating, typically featuring harder 101A wheels with diameters ranging from 48mm to 54mm.
A key feature of DGK wheels is their wider profile, which provides added stability, making them suitable for street skaters. The wheel profile includes both a flat and rounded side, which aids in locking into grinds.
Pros of DGK:
- Excellent for locking into grinds
- Smaller sizes ideal for technical tricks
- Hard and fast wheels
- Affordable compared to premium brands
- Flat spot resistant
- Threaded contact patch for extra grip
Cons of DGK:
- Primarily for street and park skaters
- Very hard, not ideal for beginners
- Not suitable for cruising
DGK skateboard wheels
8. Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, the oldest skateboard company in the world, is part of NHS (a major distribution company). Originally a surfboard company founded in 1973, Santa Cruz is renowned for its durable decks (like the Santa Cruz VX) and wheels (especially the Slimeballs).
Santa Cruz offers a range of wheels suitable for beginners, kids, and bowl riders. However, they are less suitable for technical skaters, as none of their wheels exceed 100A hardness. They have a rich history, introducing the popular Road Rider wheel back in 1974.
Pros of Santa Cruz:
- Small selection, simplifying choices
- Great for bowl skating with ample grip and stability
- Suitable for beginners and kids
- Slimeballs available in various sizes and hardness
- Many options for cruiser trick setups
Cons of Santa Cruz:
- Not ideal for technical skaters requiring small, hard wheels
- Limited selection
- Relatively expensive
Santa Cruz Flame dot wheels
7. Mini Logo
Mini Logo is a budget-friendly brand that offers quality wheels for skaters who can’t afford premium options. Part of Powell Peralta, Mini Logo started as a brand for blank setups in the mid-90s.
Mini Logo wheels are an excellent choice for beginners, offering reliable performance without the high price tag. You’ll often find these wheels on complete setups, providing good value for money.
Pros of Mini Logo:
- Affordable, the cheapest for decent quality
- Good selection for different styles
- Excellent for technical skaters and cruising
- Wide range of color options
Cons of Mini Logo:
- Wear faster than premium brands
- Prone to flat spots when power sliding
Mini Logo skateboard wheels
Mini Logo offers three main types of wheels:
- Standard Formula: Hard and fast (101A) for skate parks and smooth surfaces. Includes C-cuts (small contact patch) and A-cuts (wider contact patch) suitable for technical tricks.
- Hybrid Formula: Softer (90A and 95A) for rougher roads and comfortable rides. Sizes range from 52mm to 58mm.
- AWOL Formula: Cruiser wheels (80A) designed for smooth, comfortable rides. Available in 55mm, 59mm, and 63mm.
6. Welcome Orbs
Orbs, part of Welcome Skateboards, was founded in 2010 and offers a curated selection of wheels, simplifying the decision process. Orbs wheels are known for their wider contact patches, making them great for street and transition skateboarding, especially for beginners.
Orbs are quite affordable, typically around $27 per set, offering a good alternative to Spitfire wheels for budget-conscious skaters.
Pros of Orbs:
- Versatile, suitable for beginners
- Great for park and street skating
- Affordable, a good Spitfire alternative
- Easy to choose, limited options
Cons of Orbs:
- Limited shape choices
- Not ideal for bowl skating
- Limited durometer variation
- Not designed for cruising
Orb Specters skateboard wheels
Orbs offers four main types of wheels:
- Orbs Specters: Affordable all-around wheels for park and street, great for beginners.
- Orbs Coral: Full rounded shape, good for sliding with a 99A durometer.
- Orbs Apparitions: Similar to Corals but less rounded, suitable for technical flip tricks.
- Orbs Ghost Lights: Hardest (102A) with a large plastic core for faster rolling.
5. Ricta
Ricta, another brand under the NHS umbrella, is a controversial choice in the skateboarding community. Some regard them as “filmer wheels” not meant for technical skating, while others appreciate their smooth ride and stability, making them great for beginners.
Ricta offers both softer wheels for beginners and a line-up of small, hard wheels for technical skaters. This brand provides a wide variety of options for different skating styles.
Pros of Ricta:
- Good variety in style and hardness
- Excellent beginner wheels
- Solid for trick/cruiser setups
- Good performance on rough roads
Cons of Ricta:
- Softer wheels can be sticky and flat spot
- Limited options for experienced skaters
Ricta Clouds Wheels
Ricta’s key wheel types include:
- Naturals: All-around beginner wheels (99A and 101A) for street skating, available in slim and wide versions.
- Cores: Wheels with large plastic cores for speed and stability, available in various hardnesses (78A to 99A).
- Speedrings: Hybrid cored/non-cored wheels for smooth rides.
- Clouds: Comfortable and stable, suitable for beginners and cruiser setups (78A to 92A).
4. Powell Peralta
Powell Peralta, founded in 1979, is a company known for its innovation and high-quality urethane. They offer a broad range of wheels for different styles, from soft cruiser/longboard wheels to hard street skateboard wheels.
Powell Peralta is the parent company of Bones and provides a variety of wheels, ranging from 53mm to 72mm, for cruising, longboarding, downhill, and technical skating.
Pros of Powell Peralta:
- Wide range of options
- Good for cruising, downhill, and cruiser/trick setups
- A brand with a rich history
- Offers re-issues for old-school skaters
Cons of Powell Peralta:
- Limited choices in the street skating category
- Softer wheels prone to chunking
Powell Peralta Snakes
Powell Peralta’s key formulas:
- Soft Slide Formula (SSF): Multi-hardness wheels for durability, speed, and comfort (75A and 85A).
- All Terrain Formula: Similar to Bones ATF, great for cruising (78A and 80A).
- Pro Series Formula: Homage to old-school skaters (90A and 103A).
- Bomber Formula: Versatile wheels for different surfaces (85A or 90A).
3. OJ Wheels
OJ Wheels, part of NHS Inc. (Santa Cruz), has been producing wheels since 1977. They are a reputable brand with a long history, offering quality wheels for street, park, vert, bowl, and cruising.
OJ wheels were very popular in the 1980s and have recently seen a resurgence with a killer lineup, providing stable and versatile wheels for all types of skaters.
Pros of OJ Wheels:
- Wheels for all disciplines
- Reputable brand with decades of experience
- Great for skateparks, street, bowl, and cruising
- Beginner-friendly stability
Cons of OJ Wheels:
- Softer wheels can chunk on sharp ledges
- Wide variety makes choosing difficult
OJ super juice wheels on a cruiser board
OJ’s wheel formulas and models include:
- OJ Mini Combo Shape Formula: For street and park skaters, offering flat-spot resistance and stability.
- OJ Hardlines: Designed for transition skateboarding, with a wide contact patch.
- OJ EZ Edge: Narrow wheels for technical flat tricks.
- OJ Nomads: Great for grinds and ledge tricks (95A).
- OJ Super Juice: Affordable cruiser wheels with smooth rides (78A).
- The Keyframes: Smooth-riding wheels suitable for beginners and rough surfaces (87A).
2. Bones Wheels
Bones, founded by George Powell in 1977, is an innovative brand known for its high-quality skateboard wheels. They have developed unique formulas that provide excellent performance and durability.
Bones wheels are known for their reliability, durability, and speed, and are highly regarded by skaters for their advanced technology and varied formulas. They offer different formulas including STF, SPF, ATF, and the Original Formula.
Pros of Bones:
- Wheels for almost all disciplines
- Grippy for most styles
- One of the fastest wheels available
- Lasts longer than most brands
Cons of Bones:
- Hardest formulas aren’t great for bowl and vert
- SPF and ATF not comfortable on rough surfaces
- Harder wheels can be challenging for beginners
- Expensive
Bones SPF P5 – 58mm and 56mm
Key Bones Formulas:
- Bones STF (Street Tech Formula): Durable for street and skate parks (99A and 103A).
- Bones Skatepark Formula (SPF): Extremely fast for transition (101A and 104A).
- Bones All Terrain Formula (ATF): Smooth wheels for cruising and basic tricks (80A).
- Original Formula: Budget-friendly option with flat-spot resistance.
1. Spitfire Wheels
Spitfire, founded in 1987 by Jim Thiebaud, is part of Deluxe Distribution and is renowned for its high-quality wheels. Though their lineup is smaller than Bones, Spitfire wheels are widely considered to be among the best in the market.
Spitfire wheels are known for their exceptional quality, flat spot resistance, and performance across all skateboarding styles (except cruising). They are a top choice among skaters and provide the highest level of performance and durability.
Pros of Spitfire:
- Reliable wheels
- Durable even on gritty surfaces
- Very grippy for most styles
- Great for almost all styles except cruising
Cons of Spitfire:
- Expensive, but worth the investment
worn skateboard wheels
Spitfire’s main wheel types include:
- Classics: The best street and park wheels with a slim to medium contact patch (99A and 101A).
- Lock-Ins: Flat shape on the inside, ideal for grinding (99A and 101A).
- Conical Full: Wide contact patch, suitable for bowl skating (97A, 99A, and 101A).
Spitfire Conical Fulls skateboard wheels
Do Skateboard Wheel Brands Matter?
Yes, the quality of skateboard wheel brands significantly impacts your skateboarding experience. Premium brands like Spitfire and Bones offer superior urethane formulas, resulting in better performance and longevity compared to cheaper options.
Which Wheel or Brand Should You Choose?
Choosing the right wheel depends on your skateboarding style and preferences. There’s no single “best” wheel, but some come close. Here are some recommendations for different styles:
Wheels for Technical Street Skating & Skate Parks
Premium options: Bones STF, Spitfire Classics. For a faster ride go with 100A/101A. For more grip, 97A or 99A are better.
Budget options: Mini Logo C-cuts and Orbs Specters.
Wheels For Bowl Skating
Larger, slightly softer wheels for speed and grip. Consider Spitfire Classics or Conical Fulls at 56mm/97A, or Santa Cruz Slimeballs.
Wheels for Cruising
Large, soft wheels for a smooth ride. OJ Super Juice 60mm/78A or Orangatang Fat Free 65mm 77A are great.
Wheels for Cruising and Tricks
OJ wheels or Ricta wheels. Ricta Clouds 56mm/92A offer comfort with some trick capability. OJ Nomads 54mm/95A is better for tricks while still providing a smooth ride. Any wheel between 54mm to 56mm and hardness between 92A and 95A will work.
Thanks for reading this comprehensive guide. Remember to consider your specific needs and preferences when choosing your next set of skateboard wheels.
