Cruising on a longboard is one of the most enjoyable and relaxing ways to experience the streets and roads around you. Whether you’re using your longboard for commuting, exploring new neighborhoods, or just enjoying a leisurely ride, having the right set of wheels can make all the difference.
In this article, we will take a look at the 5 best longboarding wheels for cruising, highlighting their features and benefits to help you find the perfect set for your cruising adventures.
What To Consider When Buying Longboarding Wheels:
Wheel Diameter
Wheel diameter is the most important thing to consider when you buy longboarding wheels for cruising. This important factor affects everything from your speed to how smoothly you roll. Longboarding wheels with a smaller diameter offer more speed, but less control and smoothness.
Wheels with a larger diameter between 60 and 80 millimeters sacrifice speed but are perfect for cruising. Cruising isn’t about speed, but it requires a great amount of control. Wide-diameter longboarding wheels are typically softer than wheels meant for downhill riding and speed.
Wheel Hardness
Wheels on a longboard are made of polyurethane and the hardness can be measured. You will see a number rating and the higher the number the harder it is, and the lower the softer that material is. This standard way of measuring is also known as the durometer rating.
You want a softer wheel for cruising and commuting on a longboard. Typically, the best wheel durometer for cruising ona longboard is between 76a and 83a
A softer wheel makes it easy to cushion the roughness that sometimes comes along with cruising on streets and sidewalks.
Wheel Shape
The shape of the wheel can affect the way it performs on the road. Round wheels with beveled edges or square lips provide more grip and stability, while conical or asymmetric shapes offer more maneuverability and slide control.
For cruising you are going to want square lip, beveled edges or round edge wheels for ultimate control.
5 Best Longboard Cruising Wheels
1. Orangatang in Heat 75mm
- 75mm
- 77a hardness rating
Look no further than the Orangatang in Heat 75mm to put on your cruising longboard. These soft, wide-diameter cruising wheels aren’t ideal for speed, but they are perfect for cruising. You can reach high speeds with these wheels, but their soft nature and large size are best for casual rolling.
They are made of the Happy Thane formula (urethane), these cruising wheels should last you a long time as you ride across several types of terrain. Slipping is a common problem with some longboard wheels, but that’s not a problem with these.
The texture of these wheels means that you don’t have to worry about slipping. These wheels can firmly grip the ground whether you ride over flat ground or bumpy sidewalks.
2. Fireball Tinder 60mm Longboard Wheels
- 60mm
- 81a hardness rating
The Fireball Tinder 60mm longboarding wheels are soft yet durable which makes them ideal for cruising. Measuring 60mm wide, these wheels can roll over any surface without getting hung up on light debris. That is essential as pebbles and rocks are largely unavoidable when cruising in high-traffic areas.
These wheels offer plenty of control, especially if you don’t over-tighten your trucks. I recommend these wheels for any longboarder that wants to cut down on vibration when cruising.
3. Sector 9 Nineball Wheels
- 65mm, 70mm
- 78a hardness rating
Leave it to Sector 9 to make some of the best longboarding wheels for cruising. It’s well known that they make some of the best longboards in the world, but you shouldn’t overlook their wheels. Sector 9 Nineball wheels come in a variety of sizes, and the larger ones are best for cruising.
The 65mm and 70mm Sector 9 Nineball wheels in particular make it easy to gently cruise on any type of terrain. Sector 9 did a great job of making sturdy cruising wheels that won’t negatively weigh down your board setup. They aren’t light compared to skateboard wheels, but they aren’t heavy enough to impact your mobility.
These are also among the most affordable longboarding wheels for cruising that are good. The low-cost but high-end value is in line with Sector 9’s complete longboards and decks alike.
4. Shark Wheel 72mm
- 72mm
- 78a hardness rating
If you want to minimize friction while cruising, you should consider a Shark Wheel 72mm set. These wheels come in handy if there is lots of rough terrain in the area where you typically go cruising. Shark Wheel emphasized reducing friction and accommodating harsh surfaces with these wheels.
You won’t find many longboarding wheels on the market with this unique shape. The strange, curved shape lets you roll over debris without losing speed or control. Soft, curved wheels also make it easy to quickly carve or turn which is often necessary when cruising.
The durable polyurethane construction means that you won’t have to worry about these wheels giving out anytime soon.
5. Lucid 70mm Longboard Cruising Skate Wheels
- 70mm
- 83a hardness rating
Lucid offers some of the best value on the market with their 70mm 83a Cruising Skate Wheel. These wheels come with bearings and spacers, so all that you need is trucks, grip tape, and hardware to finish setting up your board. Measuring 70mm, these wheels have a large enough diameter that you should be able to push most debris that you roll over out of your way.
These finely-ground wheels arrive ready for cruising without a long break-in period. The visual design of these wheels is just as impressive as the construction. Lucid offers four colors to choose from that are each slightly translucent.
I recommend using the spacers that come with this set of wheels and bearings. They can help even out your wheel’s weight distribution which is essential when longboarding. The wheels combined with the bearings and spacers make it easy to turn without having to shift your weight too much.
Do Longboard Cruisers Need Spacers?
Longboard cruisers don’t always need spacers, but they can help give you more control. Spacers aren’t typically needed for standard skateboards, however. That is because skateboards have smaller wheels and trucks so they are naturally easier to control, as long as the trucks aren’t too tight.
Longboards are inherently harder to control with spacers because of the truck and wheel size. You have to shift your weight more on a longboard to make a quick turn than you would on a skateboard. Put a spacer between the bearings on each wheel to make them more sensitive to how you shift your weight.
This is especially helpful when cruising as you typically have to move out of the way of various obstacles. If you don’t notice a difference or like the sensation, you can always remove the spacers by taking the wheels off and popping out the bearings.
How To Put Wheels on a Longboard
Putting wheels on a longboard is easy and only takes a few minutes. Before you can install the wheels you must insert the bearings into the wheels. Slide an inward-facing bearing and speed washer onto each truck hanger first.
Line up each wheel carefully and push it onto the axle to secure the bearings. This will effectively pop the bearings into your wheels.
Check that all of the rims are tight and even. From the outside of the wheels, slide one more speed bearing onto each hub. Use a skate tool to tighten or loosen your wheels and the speed washer.
Here is a video you can watch to add new spacers and wheels to your longboard:
Final Thoughts
The right set of wheels can make all the difference when cruising on a longboard. Wheel diameter, hardness, and shape are important factors you need to consider. For cruising, larger diameter wheels between 60 and 80 millimeters and a softer durometer between 76a and 83a are recommended.
Square lip, beveled edge, or round edge wheels provide the best control too.
Consider investing in high-quality wheels as they will last long and your riding experience will be much more enjoyable.
Have a best wheel recommendation for longboard cruising? List it in our comment section below.
Nick Durante is a professional writer that primarily focused on action sports. Skateboarding and Longboarding are his particular areas of expertise. When he isn’t writing about action sports, he is catching up on the world of skateboarding and spending time outside.