Longboarding Wheel Clinic - DB Longboards

DB Longboards team rider Nick Di Vona explains the differences between four categories of longboarding wheels: Grip Only, Race / Fast Freeride, Freeride, Tech Freeride. Learn the pros and cons of each longboard wheel and get a good idea of what kind of wheel is good for what set up. If you have any questions or comments leave them in the comments and we'll get back to you as soon as possible!
For more info please visit dblongboards.com

[@KevinCobin]

Awesome video!! VERY informative and put together well... it sounds like you know a lot and have a lot of passion for this. keep up the good work!!

[@wsupduck]

could you put a list of all the wheels in the description please? thanks

[@nigel19803]

hi dad

[@tigoxbrata]

hey guys, good info video, i'd just recommend putting a quick category jump on the "shop" area of your webpage, because, as a user, it's frustrating to say the least, to be scrolling down the whole page and seeing what category i'm currently at, so consider adding a list of all the categories on the top of the page that jumps straight to the subcategory you want, cheers

[@tinkerbots7632]

Hey bro! Thank you, thank you.. I'm new to skateboarding and longboarding.. I really appreciated this info... You know your stuff dude!

[@rayamanelly]

I discover something new every day, there's geeks of all types out there.

[@imCOOL635]

I have the Abec 11 grippins and I have a really hard time sliding with them. Should I go buy some Abec 11 flash backs or orangutang stims? I am mainly going to be cruisin around and sliding and not hitting high speeds.

[@lachiedixon410]

imCOOL635 why do you think there called gripins

[@DeadWolfAlive7345]

I just got the 9 two 5 from landyachtz, and 71 mm zombie Hawgs, rides really smooth and its a great board. Great cruising, and great downhill riding. I recommend either the time machine, 9 two 5, or the top speed. Great boards!

[@CedarCityLongboarding]

Great video guys! keep em coming!

[@jellyfishumbrella]

Dang, I wish I had watched this before my shopping yesterday -____-ʻʻ

[@evoxlbae402]

I want to get a a sector 9 dropper longboard, I'm stuck on that one. I don't know what wheels to get though. I want to cruise around to and from school, etc but I also want to learn how to slide soon so that I can speed check in case I go to fast on a hill. can somebody help me?

[@squirtle53]

Slap on some monster hawg 76mm 88a on your board then. Good for cruising, going fast and sliding

[@rickyhsu146]

Sector 9 Butterballs 80a 74(i think) mm is a great all around wheel

[@Huntersxdrifters]

Sweet video man! Very insightful!

[@skatedivona]

If anyone has any wheel questions please message me on my account and I will get back to you as soon as possible. -Nick @ DB

[@M3iscool]

"it's not really going to slight real well, unless you're going upwards of 40mph..." Thats really fast does anyone go faster than that?

[@NorgeSquad]

Slide real well***

[@calvingiddings1915]

yes

[@haljordan1682]

80 mph yes

[@luci4online]

89MPH

[@erock676]

So I live in a small town and I feel like people might get annoyed when certain places in my routine are just covered with marks. Especially because there are a lot of reeally old people here plus I know the majority of the people here. So, I was wondering if there is a good mostly sliding/freeride wheel(since I do ride in a small hilly town) that either leaves a clear trail or doesn't leave a trail? My current wheels don't leave marks as far as I know and I'm honestly not sure why, my guess was always they're hard enough to just skid and not... rip? or the remains are just clear. it does make a skidding noise so maybe the town folk would prefer silence over marks.

[@gibbsskatesfl4926]

It all depends on the duro your wheel is and how fast you're sliding, a harder duro is generally gonna leave less than, but be icy and more uncontrollable than a lower duro wheel. Usually if you're sliding at 20 mph or up on some nice smooth road you'll leave large thane lines, while if you slide slower you're not creating enough friction for the wheel to thane. So basically wheels that don't thane too easy would be some hard duro wheels, or wheels with a large core. I'd recommend some boss hawgs, (76 a for 160 and up, 78a for 150-130 and 80a for any lighter rider) or some 86a orangatang wheels. Hope this helped!

[@Rails2Revolution]

Try anything by RAD. They basically chunk instead of thaning :')

[@jaredboards6371]

erock676 don't skate if you worry about that shit

[@johnthomas2877]

This video seems super popular, because it has alot of comments!!! I mean just check it for yourself, you will scroll down many many pages!! Good to read these to learn alot about longboard wheels.

[@lennyerdody]

Helped Sooooo much! Thanks! Great video.

[@rickyhsu146]

What is a 70mm 80a sector 9 butterball good for?

[@waffentreager6286]

+LeafyisThere Slides mate , Freeride

[@rickyhsu146]

+Waffen Treager thx just got a set

[@rickyhsu146]

+Zech 101001011 wut

[@Zech-ij8jm]

+LeafyisThere you know... the stuff people say to the real leafy.

[@rickyhsu146]

+Zech 101001011 oh i thought u were for real

[@kolbystevens1014]

When ur thinking about joint papers u say zig zag instead of big zig

[@gigyfor6899]

Thank you so much for the suggestions :) I absolutely appreciate it, sir ^_^

[@skatedivona]

@BassandLongboardguy Personally my favorite freeride/ cruise wheels are 70mm80a Orangatang 4presidents or 70mm78a Offset Sector 9 Raceforms. Both have a square lip to provide a little bit of grip and a good urethane compound to allow for buttery smooth slides. -Nick

[@waykowagner4434]

no shark wheels

[@ryanross6884]

Shark wheels don't suck they're just not made for sliding really. They special thing about shark wheels that makes them different than other wheels is their ability to roll over pebbles and cracks better than other wheels, not sliding.

[@zachedelic]

they slide nicely though

[@michaelross1339]

They work well.

[@MRibSTEVE]

1:33 Classic zig-zag? I think we have a smoker here, haha

[@TorZAAI]

Yo Nick! Was really helpful dude, appreciate it!

[@johnthomas2877]

About 172 pages!!!! Wow! that's alot of interest in one video about longboard wheels! The longboard community must be looking for more social interaction and comraderie and willing to share their knowledge and experiences.

[@AnthonyMooreIsTerrible]

Why am I watching this? I skateboard.

[@YouRiddler]

Same here😂

[@Justinbowling1]

When you find that smooth 40mph hill that goes on forever... you'll want a spare longboard with tight trucks.

[@shaneortega5902]

did he say nigha

[@SheriffHortixoon]

no, you did...

[@jonoedwards4195]

Great insight DB.

[@salkfun]

great vid man. think im gonna go get myself some grippins now.

[@naypaulm]

i agree with you! stims are awesome. my favorite wheel for sure

[@TurtleTamer]

Softer usually means you are going to have a smoother slide, but it will be harder to break your traction and get into the slide, whereas harder wheels will be less grippy and will go into the slide more easily, but will have more of a choppy feel

[@Giesela0815]

That was really informational. thank :)

[@lukeosland]

No problem dude. Oh, also, you want to consider the size. Typically smaller wheels have smoother slides, while bigger ones have more choppy slides. Hope this helped man!

[@johnthomas2877]

I've discovered that if you put your side set wheels on backwards it actually slides way more but you need wider trucks to make it work and look better.

[@amberramirez1398]

Thank you! Helped me out a lot! :)

[@lukeg295]

Thanks this was alot of help :)

[@ascottzone]

nice man cheers! great video for me as i am starting out :)

[@madmofos]

Been slideing for only a few days and the only wheels I can standup slide on is abec 11 freeriders I got new from a mate! Best wheels ever iv been riding for years all sorts of boards but just never could slide, got the free riders, and I can do it's so easy now!

[@weab]

The s9 Dual duros are amazing. My favorite wheel ever. They grip like a softer wheel but slide smoothly like a harder wheel.

[@JoaoPedro-kt8in]

thank´s man you really realped me doing this vid.

[@dickensrivers9862]

Thanks for the effort in making vid. I don't already know the terminology so not a lot of information for this newbie.

[@skatedivona]

@ImLyriix I would recommend something with a pre broken in surface for a beginner. Something like a Cloud Ride Slide or Landyachtz Zombie Hawg. Both of these are in stock on our website. Free shipping as well! -Nick

[@outsidekarl2245]

This guy is well spoken and knows his shit!

[@xSoLdieRHD]

89a retro freerides, grip up so well and also good for those long standies!

[@B16ONBOOST]

Thanks! Very helpful!

[@skatedivona]

@intellegantius The flashback is sideset making it a little bit easier to kick out sideways. The flashback also has more urethane on it which leads to a longer life. That being said the freerides do have a super buttery slide as well. Personally they are both very easy wheels to slide on. I would recommend freerides for slower freeriding and flashbacks for faster freeriding. PM me if you have any more questions. -Nick

[@unityelt]

Very helpful thank you

[@cobguitarman666]

I have the In Heats 86a and I can tell you that once they are breaked-in, they slide pretty good. Not as much as the Durians but I like them for carving and for keeping a good amount of grip.

[@manlyboysa]

thanks that helped me alot!

[@johnnyd9991]

Thank you very much!

[@crunchystuff]

I was in the same situation as you about a month ago, get some little for grippy wheels and then when that gets boring go more for freeriding wheels

[@sketchmazda420]

i first learned to do blunt slides with green retro freerides. i love em

[@daynknight6654]

Thank you so much

[@pafreeriders]

Sick nick is on DB!

[@XxBork69xx]

I am pretty new to longboarding but I have the 83a stims, the purple ones, and they slide really nicely. Plus, they also work well with carving because they grip nicely when your not sliding. Its hard to explain, but they are nice wheels and yes they are good for sliding.

[@evoxlbae402]

thanks so much!

[@skatedivona]

@frank12364 infact they are very different. Poured in the mini monster mold for the freerides and then for the slides all we do is cut off the lips at a near 45 degree angle. otherwise the two wheels are identical to each other (slide and freeride). Plus the cloud ride urethane doesn't wear down nearly as fast as fireballs.

[@DaintyCanadian]

Thats awesome, and very true

[@skatedivona]

@Sjanetsky1 We're waiting for those new wheels to get in stock(Baluts and Mini zombies). Keep in mind that DB is a somewhat small shop and we cannot necessarily stock every wheel out there. If we see enough interest in something we might consider stocking it in the future. Let us know! -Nick

[@lizyvonne7811]

i just got an apex 37 diamond drop and am looking for a good setup. this video was a big help but any other advice would be great!! :)

[@uklongboarding3832]

@immortalvizion: grip and technical dh. Its usually down to the hardness or softness of the wheel

[@spottinglyd]

Hey, i have a 42 inch complete board and i've recently decided to upgrade my wheels. The wheels that are already on right now are 77mm but i was wondering what wheels & size you could suggest for mostly cruising, can hit high speeds quickly without the actual wheels being too heavy, and some sliding. I don't use my board everyday so i'm not looking for some crazy expensive wheels. Just good quality and a decent price. Also, in my town is the van's store and the zumiez and both of their selections are horrible, so i'd have to order online.

[@JesusGodHolySpirit3]

Thanks for the review that was awesome and SO helpful cause I want to slide; not cruise :).

[@eddievids1]

ok thanks man! that really helped! :)

[@skatedivona]

@MSteinMusic 1. Ensure they are broken in properly. 2. make sure there is no slop in your trucks 3. make sure you have speedrings and a center spacer. 4. go faster -Nick

[@washclothsam]

i personally like the 78a centerset raceforms great for dh, they grip really well around corners, and they slide smooth enough and it kills a lot of speed that predrifts are really good

[@aznsurf98]

Go for them, theyre excellent. Just make sure you have a decent amount of hills, as they require a lot of speed to slide and shed off a lot of speed as well. theyre super buttery though.

[@mtruapehu187]

awesome mate thanks for the speedy reply! what kinda flex does the cosmo have? is it stiffer than the single speed?

[@aznsurf98]

Excellent

[@fishoutawatr7]

thanks bro good to know i think im going to get abec 11 freerides

[@TheHappiPabis]

I think it sounds like a great idea:)

[@Guzubulu]

Especially with s10's and venom eliminators. So smooth!

[@chasepetersen2224]

Hey. I'm new to sliding and having trouble breaking my grip to the road. I want a wheel that I can slide with (mainly just speed checks and 180's) but still have a fair amount of grip. I would also like them to be a quieter type of wheel if that is possible. Could anyone help me out with what wheel I should get?

[@nicholasodonnell1264]

what category would the landyachtz mini zombie hogs be in ? thanks awesome video

[@smokeybear1997]

@JustinCagnassola It means durometer, which is the unit that is used to measure how hard the urethane is.

[@NorgeSquad]

I have Remember lil hoots as stricly freeride wheel, and otang fatfree for fast tech freeride, and Abec11 ZigZags for DH

[@adamsshow4062]

ive had racing wheels (76 mm 81a) which i could practically run over everythimg with... now i want to learn how to slide/speed check while knowing i can ride without a lot of bumps, hitting pebbles and flying off, etc. which wheels would be best to learn and keep for a long time?

[@vGspeeedy]

Any thoughts on what wheels I should get for my apex 40 diamond drop, looking for sliding and carving, any recommendations would help a lot. Thanks!

[@turtleflippers9628]

i was thinking about getting cloud ride freeride so can anyone give me a review on them before i buy them?

[@Seldomsleeper]

Start with the coleman 180, a safer way of breaking your wheels in and building your confidence in doing the turn. You commented 2 weeks ago so hope it's all gone well!

[@DBlongboards]

Otang 4prez are grippy, but after a few hours of riding break in to become a very controllable freeride wheel

[@amangels78]

For offset wheels, does the side with the core nearer to the edge of the wheel go facing the center of the board or outside

[@skatedivona]

@SnakeMaster3531 The flex is more likely to bounce you off of your board when you kick it sideways. Would recommend a stiffer deck for freeride/downhill

[@IpadGamer10]

Thanks

[@MrBAKFIRE]

What is the difference between sliding and free ride wheels,I'm looking to get some but what I'm going to do is going fast and and sliding, what type of wheel should I go with?

[@palleh7742]

Is there a speed difference between 78a and 82-83a? Am looking for best speed on a cruiser board,on pavement. I have 60mm 78a and 66mm 78a but thinking if 82-83 would be better.

[@matthiasschreiner3102]

Helpfull thx

[@wyattloc3641]

What would be the best wheel to go about 25 30 mph that has a great smooth slide with lots of thane marks?

[@matejferenc3402]

What are the first wheels (orange) in the line you have recommended? I want new wheels for my skateboard with good griminess. Thanks Mate_

[@driftattack11]

The higher the "a" the harder the wheel making it easier to slide at low speeds. High duro wheels are good for beginning to slide although more experienced riders learn to appreciate the smooth slides of wheels around 80a.

[@mukhtarsharmarke251]

I just got a downhill drop through complete longboard with 71mm wheel and 78a urethane. I ride mostly on sidewalks and what not. I also got super red bearings but I'm still not cruising for as long as I want to. I was thinking about changing my wheels. What type and side should I get

[@johnthomas2877]

Dude this is your lucky day, month, year, decades?! What I can share with you will will have you flying in no time! I've tested it and proven that it works since 2006! The only problem is that not many skateboarders have taken the time to try it out. Instead of wasting your money on buying set after set of wheels and being disappointed just do what I did and take one wheel of each 4 different sets and install it on your board. I know it sounds crazy but hear me out. Move 1 wheel at a time to a different location on the trucks (there are 4 possibilities) then do a short test ride. Keep moving 1 wheel at a time, test ride and repeat. Do this for 1 to no more than 2 hours. Most of the time you will notice an increase in speed and rolling distance with each wheel change. Often I bring a bag of up to 9 different extra wheels of all the same size whether 65, or 70 mm to add to the mix. This increases my chances of fitting on a super fast combination of wheels. Think of it like a rubix cube puzzle, you need to keep it moving, changing, switching, rotating, and testing until you feel a faster better glide. And believe me you will feel it. Just keep a skate tool in your pocket or hand because you will need to change wheels at least 2 dozen times! Good luck and tell others about it when you're successful.

[@maxversanes112096]

I have the sector nine race formula and bought new bearings but the bearings are loose inside the wheels ? like the bearings fall out with me taping it idk why ir makes noise when I ride

[@chancerbob95]

hey nick, ive been watching ur vids 4 ever and what is ur opinion on the 81a flashbacks? im thinking about getting them on my freeride setup. besides thane, like do they last longish and r they good for sliding far without shaving off all ur speed?

[@KnJ-G4M1NG]

just some nobbie question i receive my new wheels but i notice theres a "scotch tape" around the wheels do i need to remove it?? i saw some kids having those tape on while others dont?

[@oldskooldeano]

Take that tape off brother. It serves only to protect the wheel before use.

[@scottsmith1272]

Um, are you talking about the "glossy" look of the wheels? That is just because they are fresh and the mold release has not worn off them yet. It wears off in a few slides.

[@rustynugget2288]

i like 83A durians. they're heavy wheels that rip the road up and they're pretty good for sliding

[@skatedivona]

@stinkyloveproduction Well the more you get into free ride specific wheels the less I would recommend them for downhill just because when going fast a freeride wheel is not going to be as predictable at high speed sliding as a more downhill oriented wheel. That being said a good all around wheel is a 70mm78a Abec 11 classic zigzag or a 70mm sector 9 race formula wheel! -Nick

[@crudochen5970]

I have been looking for some cruiser wheels between 60mm to 65mm, 78a to 85a duro (rough pavement). I was looking at the Hawgs mini monster, blood orange Liam's, Abec no skoolz, Otang skiffs, and sector 9 omegas. I want the wheels to last a long time and be very fast. Which would you recommend out of these, strictly for cruising. If you think something within this range is better, let me know.

[@gavinwilliamson5008]

i have blood oranges and they slide like crazy but dont last very long but i would highly recommend them

[@crudochen5970]

Thanks man! How big would my risers have to be so that I could ride 70mm wheels without wheelbite?

[@gavinwilliamson5008]

+Moist Pickle i have a board with wheelwells but i have 1/8 to 1/4 risers

[@farhanmuhammad793]

hello guys. what do you think about 76mm 82a zombie hawgs yellow wheels? i ride those wheels and i found it a bit harder for sliding

[@Haydenmusic]

I got sector nine 70mm and 70a wheels what would they be best for? I also got sector nine 69mm and 80a wheels what would these be best for?

[@BluntTraumaz]

if your looking to drift around corners doing downhill id suggest abec 11 flasbacks or big zigs if you want even more grip

[@Shaddizzle]

little advice: I have a pair of 76mm 84a zombie hawgs and they're actually mad legit for sliding. I like a lot of standup slides and freeride stuff, and they work out great. Compared to a zombie (ridden 82 and 84a), I would say they throw longer slides, but are more chattery as they have a square lip. Still stable for DH. and I don't see how a 78a can be considered an exlusively freeride wheel.