Wheels are attached to the axels with a single nut (1/2") per wheel. The nuts should be tightened as far as they can be without impeding the spin of the wheel. Generally you should feel only a very minor amount of play if you try to move the wheel side to side.
One of the most frequent issues that produce a slow skateboard is over-tightened axle nuts. How tight should skateboard wheels be? Over-tightening axle nuts causes pressure against bearings, not allowing wheels to spin. We all make this mistake at some point, and a noticeable squeaky rubbing noise results.
As long as they don't stop 2 seconds after you spin them by hand you'll be fine.
Make sure that you don't over tighten your hardware. Tighten them until they are flush with the top of the deck, but don't counter sink them to where the top of the bolt is below the top of the deck.
Your skateboard turns on its own because of bad bearings, faulty bushings, worn down wheels, loose screws, loose trucks, bent axles or it could even be your skateboard deck. A brand new skateboard should go pretty straight unless you have a component that suffers from production failure.
Everything needs to replaced at some time, it's the nature of things. The wheels' diameter slowly decreases over time due to friction and they'll lose rebound. Hard wheels wear down and develop pitting and tears. Softer wheels usually separate or show tears while the diameter decreases faster.
The wheels you will fix on your skateboard all have different prices. The rates of the wheels vary because of the quality of the polyurethane (plastic). For the most expensive one, the prices can go up to $50, while the cheaper ones should cost you about $20. If you are a beginner, it is fine to opt for cheaper wheels.
Replace smaller wheels with larger wheels. Larger wheels will make the skateboard faster. Longboards can have wheels up to 70mm, but for a regular skateboard, try a wheel of 58mm or so for speed. Clean and lubricate all moving parts of the skateboard.
If you don't have a skateboard tool, or it doesn't have a socket, use a crescent or socket wrench. Wheel nuts are usually ½” (13 mm), so use that size. Take the nuts off of all four wheels at once if you are changing all of the bearings. Set the nuts somewhere that you won't lose them.
Mongo pushing means pushing your skateboard using your front foot. It takes more time to get into a proper position and you'll have less balance because the center of your skateboard deck provides less stability. Proper pushing means you put your front foot near the front of your trucks (near the bolts).
when you go to push, shift your weight towards the ball of your foot, and as you bring your pushing leg back onto the board, shift it back towards the heel. The main thing is, lean forward. Use your arms to help you maintain balance while you push. But leaning forward is easily the most important.
The first and the most important thing when pushing skateboard is the stance. If you are a goofy, you will place your right leg on your skateboard, while the left leg will push it off the ground. If you are regular, your left foot will be on your skateboard, while your right leg will push it off the ground.
Tips To Fix Skateboard Bearings
- Remove the nuts that hold the wheels onto the board.
- Carefully push a screwdriver through the middle of the bearings.
- Apply bearing lubricant and pop them back in.
- Reattach your wheels.
There is no right or wrong way to stand on a skateboard (or snowboard, surfboard, or any other board), but most people feel more comfortable riding a skateboard regular, instead of goofy. The dominant foot is often back because it is better able to control the board. Beginners should go with the stance that feels best.
For example 101A would be a very hard skateboard wheel, while 75A would be a very soft one. You can usually see the durometer listed in this manner on a skateboard wheel, along with the wheel's size. Image of a wheel with size and durometer printed on it. Almost all street and transition wheels are harder than 98A.
Harder wheels tend to be faster while softer wheels are slower because they grip better. Harder wheels are better suited for skate parks and rides on smooth surfaces. Some brands offer a dual-durometer wheel where the inside of the wheel measures one way while the outside of the wheel is either harder or softer.
The B durometer gives more scale to the hardness of the wheel. 83B is a very hard wheel, measuring around 103a.
78a to 87a are soft wheels appropriate for rough surfaces like sidewalks, roads and other surfaces with pebbles, rocks, and cracks because they provide a smoother ride and grip better. Longboards or street boards typically have soft wheels. 96a to 99a are good wheels for all-around use.
Soft skateboard wheels are suitable for cruising and a comfortable ride. They don't excel at tricks because they bounce a lot and stick to the surface. They deal better with small objects and rough roads. Hard wheels are more for skateboarders that like to perform technical tricks, but not suitable for cruising.
Small wheels make it easier to land tricks, even when they feel a bit sketchy. Smaller wheels accelerate faster compared to larger wheels which is great when you only have a short distance between you and an object you want to ollie stairs for example.
78a-87a wheels are soft wheels, good for rough surfaces, longboards, or street boards. 96a-99a wheels provide nice speed and grip. Great for beginners skating street, skate parks, ramps, pools, and other smooth surfaces. 100a+ wheels are the hardest and the fastest pro wheels, with the least amount of grip.
Most range between 75a to 104a. Any wheel in the 78a to 90a range is considered a soft wheel, 90a to 98a is in the middle, 99a+ is referred to as a hard wheel. We recommend choosing hard wheels for skate parks and street skating on ledges, rails, gaps and manual pads.
A soft 76a wheel will absorb loads of vibration but it will be slow and hard to push. A hard 83a wheel will roll fast but absorb less road vibration. A wheel around 78a or 80 will be the best of both worlds. Soft skateboard wheels will feel the best after riding harder wheels for some time.
