The 10 Best Skateboard Wheel Brands (Ultimate List)

When you’re shopping for a new set of skateboard wheels, the number of brands to choose from will hit you like a tidal wave. Soon enough, you’ll be drowning in options, not knowing which is the best wheel brand to go with. I remember that feeling vividly when I first got into skating well over a decade ago. But over the years, I’ve gone through a heap of brands and have come out with some of the favorites that I’m going to break down for you here.

The top 10 best skateboard wheel brands in order are:

1. Spitfire Wheels
2. Bones Wheels
3. Ricta
4. OJ Wheels
5. Powell Peralta
6. Santa Cruz
7. Mini Logo
8. DGK
9. Darkroom
10. Orbs

Now skating is entirely subjective, so what I have loved to skate on might be something you’re not a huge fan of. So rather than picking off an ordered list that I’ve chosen as the “best” and “worst,” you should have the power to pick on your own. That’s why this post will break down all 10 of these skateboard wheel brands and offer a bit of history and insight into each one.

Of course, depending on your budget, skill level, and skating style, some brands will offer more options than others. So let’s see exactly which wheel brands are best for your skating.

The Top 10 Skateboard Wheel Brands

Below is a list of the best and most trusted skateboard wheel brands placed in alphabetical order.

1. Bones

Bones is one of the oldest and most trusted skateboard wheel brands in the industry. Founded in 1977 by George Powell (a name you’ll hear more of later), Bones has been at the forefront of skateboard wheel innovation. George began making these wheels in his kitchen with a hand-crafted formula known as MDI diphenylmethane diisocyanate.

This formula created a solid white color, unlike all of the semi-transparent wheels made at the time. That white color is what gave the company its name “Bones,” after its wheels had a bone-white hue.

Since then, Bones wheels, an offshoot brand of Powell Peralta, has continued to make significant innovations like their patented double-radius design and longer-lasting high-performance urethane. Design features that are often seen as a staple of any skateboard wheel today.

Bones has a wide array of wheel formulas, depending on what and how you skate, unlike some other wheel brands. These formulas are known as STF, SPF, ATF, and Original.

– Bones Street Tech Formula (STF)

The STF is one of the fastest, grippiest, and durable wheels for the price. This formula is one of the best for intermediate to advanced skaters focused on techy tricks. STF wheels come in a 103a or 99a, making them slide and pivot easier while reducing rolling resistance.

– Bones Skatepark Formula (SPF)

The SPF is made to resist flat spots and improve grip on the smooth surfaces found at skateparks. This formula is amazing for any level of skater who focuses primarily on riding skateparks since it’s extremely fast and is one of the grippiest wheels around. With that said, they still slide when you want them to, making steezy tricks a guarantee. These wheels are available in 81B and 84B durometers.

– Bones All Terrain Formula (ATF)

The all-terrain formula is best for cruisers and those who want an enjoyable ride on rougher surfaces. With a far softer urethane than other formulas, these wheels absorb vibrations and feel buttery smooth. They’re available in an 80a durometer in a variety of diameters.

– Original Formula

The Original Formula is the latest version of the MDI urethane, first developed in George Powells kitchen. These wheels are abrasion-resistant, roll smooth, and have a high rebound. Best of all, they are some of the most affordable wheels out there, making them ideal for all skill levels at any budget.

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2. Darkroom

Darkroom is a relatively new brand to the scene, launching in October 2018. With that said, its owner, Don Pendleton, has been one of the most accomplished artists in the industry for over 20 years. Although there aren’t many wheel options to choose from, Darkroom wheels are very reasonably priced.

Since skateboarding can get expensive quickly, Darkroom offers slightly more budget wheels that look awesome and skate great. Available in 92a to 99a durometers between 50mm and 58mm, these wheels have a good range of hardnesses for any type of skating.

The wheels are made with high-quality urethane with excellent rebound and grip. In addition, most of their wheels have a treaded surface that offers some extra grip right out of the box. Whether you’re a tech street skater or a casual park cruiser, Darkroom is a great option to consider.

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3. DGK

DGK (Dirty Ghetto Kids) was founded in 2002 by Stevie Williams and has grown into one of the biggest skate brands today. Focused on a wide range of skate apparel, decks, and wheels, this brand is known for its quality and unique and colorful graphics.

In terms of wheels, DGK tends to focus primarily on street-focused skaters, with wheels in the 101a durometer and 51mm – 54mm in diameter. These smaller but harder wheels are ideal for techy tricks but feel pretty darn bumpy when skating rough concrete.

A great design feature of DGK wheels is the wheel’s flat back profile. This helps you lock into tricks on rails, ledges, or coping way easier than rounded-edged wheels.

DGK has unique urethane formulas that give some wheels a multi-colored swirl look, unlike many other wheel brands. So if you are looking for a more colorful setup, these wheels fit the bill.

With all that said, DGK is another reputable skate wheel brand that’s good if you primarily skate smoother surfaces like the skatepark.

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4. Mini Logo

Mini Logo is one of the cheapest wheel brands around, coming at nearly half the price of most wheels. This wheel brand would be an excellent option for those just getting into skating and not wanting to spend big money on a setup.

The company is an offshoot of Powell skateboards, acting as the “no-name brand” of skateboarding. In 1996 Powell began releasing blank decks and wheels, which soon became branded as “Mini Logo” instead of Powell Blanks. Today they continue to do what they’ve always done, providing extremely affordable products to skaters without all the branding.

Made with a pretty standard urethane, these wheels range from 80a – 101a durometer and 50mm – 64mm, depending on the formula. Compared to any other skateboard wheel brand, Mini Logo has some of the widest arrays of options available.

These wheels come in a few different formulas known as the standard mini logo wheel, the hybrid formula, and AWOL formula.

– Mini Logo Standard Formula

The standard formula is wheels meant for smooth surfaces like skateparks with a 101a durometer, ranging from 50mm – 60mm. What makes this formula unique is the two different wheel cut options known as the A-cut and the C-cut.

The A-cut wheels have a much wider contact patch and sidecut profile offering more grip and stability. On the other hand, the C-cut wheels have a slimmer profile design that’s much lighter-weight and ideal for technical skating.

– Hybrid Formula

The hybrid formula creates a much softer wheel that’s more versatile in terms of terrain options. So whether you’re riding a rough road or smooth concrete, the hybrid formula works in both situations. Coming in 90a or 95a durometers and 52mm – 58mm, these wheels come in options for both street skating and casual cruising.

– AWOL Formula

The AWOL formula is the softest wheel the Mini Logo sells with an 80a durometer. These wheels come in 55mm, 59mm, and 63mm, making them less ideal for technical tricks and more suitable for getting around town on your board. With an A-cut wheel shape, there’s a much wider contact patch on this wheel that has some of the best grip and stability of any wheel they sell.

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5. OJ

OJ has recently become one of my favorite wheel brands since they roll super fast and have a ton of wheel shapes to suit your skating. Although I’ve only recently started skating OJ’s, the wheel brand has been around since 1977, offering tons of unique wheel shapes from the very start.

Today OJ has a wide array of wheel formulas ranging from 78a to 101a to cover all kinds of skating. However, the wheel formula they use directly relates to the wheel cuts, which are the Mini Combo Shape, the Hardline, the EZ Edge, the Nomads, the Super Juice, and the Keyframes.

*Deep inhale to catch breath*

Wow, that was a lot of names. Let’s break them down.

– The Mini Combo Shape

This wheel cut is their standard skateboard wheel shape, ranging between 53mm and 58mm. These wheels are suitable for tech tricks without sacrificing grip with a more narrow contact patch. These wheel cuts have a rounded back and a conical front with a 101a durometer.

– The Hardlines

The hardline wheel has a much wider riding surface with a primarily flat front and back to the wheel. They come in sizes between 53mm to 58mm and are great for riding transition and bowl. These wheels come in 99a and 101a durometers.

– The EZ Edge

The EZ Edge wheels have the slimmest profile and are ideal for tech tricks where you need a responsive wheel. The contact patch is also very narrow in smaller sizes between 52mm and 56mm, making these super easy to slide and pivot. These wheels typically have a 101a durometer.

– The Nomads

The Nomads have a perfectly straight cut on either side of the wheel, making locking onto ledges, rails, and coping a lot easier. Ranging in size between 53mm and 57mm with a 95a durometer, these wheels could be used to skate your local park or have a comfortable cruise around town.

– The Super Juices

The Super Juices have more of a classic longboard-style wheel shape, but in smaller diameters like 55mm or 60mm that you could fit on your skateboard. With a 78a durometer, these wheels aren’t great for tricks but are some of the best for cruising.

– The Keyframes

Lastly, the Keyframes are a more in-between soft skate wheel with an 87a durometer ranging between 52mm and 58mm. If you want a set of wheels that you could get away with at the skatepark that is also great for cruising on rough roads, this should be your pick.

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6. Orbs

Orbs are the sister company of Welcome Skateboards, first established in 2010. Although the skateboard brand thrives on creating uniquely shaped decks, the wheel shapes they’ve created in Orb are pretty standard. Now that isn’t to knock on Orbs, as they are an excellent pick for general skating at the park or in the street. However, if you want a ton of options from a wheel brand, this one probably isn’t going to thrill you.

Orbs wheels have a classic wheel shape with a medium contact patch. This gives them decent grip while also sliding and pivoting easily for tech tricks. The wheels also have a treaded surface pattern that helps improve friction with the ground and keep you stable on tight turns. This tread does wear out over time, though, as with any wheel.

Coming in a 99a durometer for most of their wheels, ranging between 52mm and 56mm, they offer the ideal “skate whatever you want” wheel specs. A bonus is the wide array of vibrant colors Orbs come in, including some awesome two-tone wheels.

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7. Powell Peralta

Powell Peralta is the parent company of Bones, founded by George Powell and Stacey Peralta in 1978. Although one of the longest-standing companies in skateboarding, they aren’t one of the most forefront brands of the modern-day. However, that doesn’t mean their skateboard wheels don’t kick butt.

Unlike Bones wheels, an offshoot brand of Powell Peralta, Powell Peralta focuses more on soft, cruiser-style wheels perfect for skateboards and longboards. Ranging in sizes between 54mm and 72mm and durometers between 75a and 104a, their selection is one of the most diverse of any wheel brand.

The only downside? They’re kind of expensive.

There are four formulas within their collection of wheels known as the SSF, the Classic Formula, the Pro Series Formula, and the Bomber Formula.

– Soft Slide Formula (SSF)

The SSF wheels are made with multiple hardness’s (soft on the outside, harder in the middle), making them roll extremely fast and outlast most other soft wheels. In addition, these wheels have a softer durometer than most, around 85a, making this formula ideal for riding around town, bombing hills, or skating rough concrete.

– Classic Formula

The classic formula is the same design as one of the first wheels that George Powell created back in the ’80s. These wheels have a retro look and come in 90a, 95a, and 97a durometers, ideal for cruising, skateparks, road skating, or bowl.

– Pro Series Formula

The pro series formula has a variety of wheel profiles, typically in the harder range of 103a. With that said, there are some pro series wheels with a softer compound rated at 90a. They are changing constantly and based on the specs chosen by their team’s pros.

– Bomber Formula

The bomber formula is one of the best skateboard wheels for those who want to do tricks on rough roads. With 85a and 90a durometers, these wheels significantly reduce vibrations and make more rough skateparks feel smooth.

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8. Ricta

Ricta is one of the most popular skateboard wheel brands around. It’s operated by NHS Inc, the owner of OJ wheels, Santa Cruz, and Independent too! What makes Ricta so popular is their “NRG” Hi-Energy Urethane Formula that is very flat spot resistant while rolling faster than any comparable durometer wheel.

Or so they say.

In all honesty, I can’t tell the rolling speed difference myself, but these wheels are super comfortable to skate on and don’t wear out quickly. With three different profiles called slim, wide, and rounded, Ricta has wheel shapes ideal for street, tech flat ground, or transition.

Within the Ricta family of wheels, there are four main designs known as Naturals, Cores, Speedrings, and Clouds.

– Naturals

The Naturals wheel formula strikes a balance between smooth rolling and high speeds. It is super grippy but still slides when you want it to. Known as one of the most durable wheels Ricta offers, the Naturals are great for any type of street-focused skating on smoother concrete.

– Cores

The Cores have a special wheel design to reduce rolling resistance and maintain their shape even during the hardest impacts. This means you’ll keep your momentum longer without worrying about a crack in the pavement. These wheels are typically softer, coming in around the 95a durometer range, but are great for park and street skating on rough roads.

– Speedrings

The Speedrings have urethane around the bearing bore that helps reduce rolling resistance and make for a quieter ride. They are an average hardness at 99a, making them a great all-around skateboard wheel.

– Clouds

The Clouds are a cruiser-specific wheel with a 78a, 86a, or 92a durometer. These wheels smooth everything out for getting around town or skating on rough surfaces. What’s most surprising about these wheels is how fast they roll despite being softer. It’s easy to see why these are some of the most popular skate wheels Ricta sells.

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9. Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is another skateboard wheel brand owned by NHS, making them closely related to Ricta and OJ wheels. The company was first started in 1973 by a group of surfers who used old surfboards to create skateboard decks.

After the first urethane wheels hit the markets in 1970, Santa Cruz came out with their own Road Rider Wheels in 1974 and soon sold over a million sets within the following year.

Today their wheels are known for being super smooth, grippy, and fast-rolling on all surfaces.

Although Santa Cruz has a few different wheels, they are most known for their Slime Balls. The Slime Balls are a softer wheel that’s a classic choice for cruising, carving bowls, or skating rough concrete. These wheels come in various durometers from 78a – 99a, offering loads of options for any type of skater.

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10. Spitfire

Last but certainly not least on this list comes Spitfire. This company is the top skateboard wheel brand in close contendings with Bones. Their Formula Four urethane rolls crazy fast, doesn’t flat spot, and they have a massive selection of wheel types.

For starters, Spitfire has a variety of wheel shapes known as Classics, Lock-Ins, Radials, Conical, Conical Full, Radial Slims, and Tablets.

– Classics

The classic wheel has a medium contact patch with symmetrically rounded edges on either side. This shape is perfect for any type of skating and comes in various sizes between 50mm and 60mm with 99a or 101a durometers.

– Lock-Ins

The Lock-In wheel design has a flat edge on one side of the wheel, making locking into tricks super easy. Since the flat edge of the wheel sits flush against ledges, rails, or coping, you can hold onto grinds for longer. This shape comes in 52mm, 53mm, and 55mm diameters, with a 99a or 101a durometer.

– Radials

The Radials have a standard rounded edge on both sides but a wider contact patch for improved grip. These are great all-around wheels for any type of skating. They’re available in 52mm, 54mm, and 56mm sizes with a 99a or 101a durometer.

– Conical

The Conical wheel shape has some of the best grip from a wheel with quick responsiveness and reduced weight. They have a wider contact patch to keep you secure on tight turns but still work great for techy tricks. They come in 51mm, 52mm, and 54mm sizes in a 99a and 101a durometer.

– Conical Full

Similar to the Conical, the Conical Full wheels are just beefier, with a significantly wider contact patch and more size options. So if you want the most control at high speeds and next-level grip when turning, these are your wheels. They come in sizes ranging from 52mm – 58mm in a 99a or 101a durometer.

– Radial Slims

The Radial Slims are best for tech tricks where sliding your board is essential. With the thinnest and lightest design of any Spitfire wheel, they’re an awesome option if you love flat ground tricks or techy grinds. The radial slims range from 51mm to 56mm in a 99a or 101a durometer.

– Tablets

Finally, the Tablets have a straight cut profile that locks in well to tricks, slides well for tricks, but doesn’t sacrifice speed or grip. These wheels are a great all-around option and come in sizes between 51mm and 55mm with a 99a or 101a durometer.

As you can see, Spitfire has a ton of wheels to choose from, but their durometer options aren’t very exciting. For most skating, especially skateparks and bowls, this wheel brand is one of the best. However, they won’t feel great while riding rough concrete or trying to cruise.

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How To Choose The Right Wheel Size

Picking a brand of wheel to skate is only half the battle. Next, you need to figure out what wheel size is right for your skating.

To make it easy, let’s talk about a smaller diameter wheel versus a larger diameter wheel.

A small-diameter wheel such as a 50mm – 54mm wheel will be lighter weight and better for technical tricks. The downside is that a smaller wheel will roll slower, which isn’t ideal for things like skating transition.

On the other hand, a larger diameter wheel such as 55mm – 60mm+ will be heavier but rolls way faster while also holding speed. For cruising around town or skating bowl, a larger diameter wheel is ideal.

Now, if you’re the type of skater I am who likes to skate a bit of everything, opting for an in-between wheel size is best. The range of 53mm to 55mm is ideal for general skating and gives your wheel some room to wear down without issue.

How To Choose The Right Wheel Durometer

Now slightly more important than the wheel diameter is the wheel durometer. The durometer measures the hardness of a wheel on a 100 point scale known as the A-scale. The closer the rating is to 100, the harder the wheel will be. So, for example, a 97a wheel will be softer than a 99a wheel.

Some companies measure their wheel hardness using the B-scale, which is the equivalent of 20 points less than the A-scale. That means an 84b wheel is the same as a 104a wheel, which is super hard.

This scale means how grippy a wheel will be and how smoothly it will roll on different surfaces.

With a softer wheel (lower durometer), you can roll on rough concrete without as much vibration making them ideal for cruising or street skating. However, with that said, a softer wheel also doesn’t roll as fast and is harder to slide, making it less than ideal for techy tricks.

On the other hand, a harder wheel (high durometer) will slide much easier and roll faster on smooth surfaces like a skatepark. The downside is that they transfer a lot of vibration on rough concrete and can flat spot easier than a soft wheel. That’s why you should only choose a high durometer if you plan to skate on smooth concrete or are doing more technical tricks.

The average skateboard wheel durometer is 99a which is excellent for all types of skating but a bit bumpy on rough roads. So if you plan to skate on rough concrete, opting for something in the 92a – 97a range would be best.

So Which Wheels Should You Choose?

After going through this post and still feeling overwhelmed by your options, let me make it easy.

For general skating at the skatepark or the streets, go with Spitfire or Bones.

If you want a wheel that’s great on a variety of terrain, go with Ricta.

Lastly, go with Mini Logo if you want a set of skateboard wheels on a budget.

To help you with more specifics on different skateboard wheels from these brands, I wrote a few other guides on the best wheels for skateparks and the best wheels for bowls & pools that will make choosing easy!

Happy Shredding

Brendan 🙂