Introduction:

I still remember when I was buying a kick scooter for my son and he asked about the scooter wheels. He said, ‘Dad, Why are my scooter wheels different from yours?’ This was quite an interesting question that I wanted to discuss with you guys too! Choosing the right scooter wheel is crucial to improve the scooter’s performance. As a new rider, you may get the question about which scooter wheel size you should get. Each scooter model has different wheels and quality requirements. A right-sized scooter’s wheel for a compatible scooter will help you to have a smooth and safe ride!

 

In this article, I will explain different scooter wheel sizes, their core material, thickness, etc. This informative guide will give you an idea about the right scooter wheel size for your kickscooter.  You will also learn the pros and cons of different wheel types, their compatibility, handling tips, etc. It will help you to make an informed choice to select the best scooter wheel for your scooter!

 

How To Choose The Right Scooter Wheels:

Key Consideration For Scooter Wheels:

The ideal selection of scooter wheels depends on the following components:

1. Wheel Diameter
2. Polyurethane Thickness
3. Polyurethane Hardness
4. Wheel Core Diameter
5. Wheel Core Material
6. Weight Consideration 
7. Bearings
8. Spacers
9. Maneuverability and handling

1. Wheel Diameter:

Scooter wheel diameter includes 100mm, 110mm, 115mm, 120mm, 125mm, etc. It is a main key point for a scooter’s speed. It also enhances the appearance and performance of the scooter. The larger the wheel diameter, the lesser your scooter’s speed. Letsrollscooter.com has described the features of wheel diameters according to their sizes below:

 

Wheel Diameter	Features
100 mm:	Suitable for beginners and young riders Made for ’scooter-to-school” completes. Have less speed and fast acceleration. Have plastic cores commonly.
110mm:	They’re the most compatible wheel sizes for street and park riders. compatible with the speed, style, weight, cost, and durability.
115mm:	less common Popular among hybrid street riders. They’ve slightly higher weight and more speed than 110mm wheels. Provide stability on sharp turns and performing scooter tricks.
120mm:	Faster, bigger, and heavier than 115mm wheels. Scooters may feel heavy due to their high weight For older and professional riders to ride at skate parks. Give the optimum level of speed for executing stunts and flowy rides.
125mm:	They have the fastest speed and highest weight. They are designed for performing stunts, tricks, and high-speed rides.

 

2. Polyurethane (PU) Thickness:

PU thickness determines the amount of rubber coming in contact with the ground. The thicker the wheel, the higher the rubber’s contact. The PU thickness has ranges like 24 mm, 26 mm, 28 mm, and 30 mm.

 

Thinner wheels allow great speed but less control or grip on turns. Park riders prefer thinner wheels to reduce the scooter’s weight and enhance the scooter’s speed while performing tricks. Thicker wheels increase the stability of the scooter on turns. Park and street riders prefer thick wheels for high speed and better control.

 

3. Polyurethane (PU) Hardness:

Polyurethane hardness measures the softness or hardness of the wheels. It is considered the durometer of the kickscooter. It ranges from 85 A to 95A. 100A durometer is the hardest. A low-scale 85 PU hardness gives a softer wheel, less speed, more grip, and less sliding. 

Street riders prefer low-scale PU wheels with a higher grip and low sliding for riding on rough terrains and uneven surfaces. The standard 88A PU thickness provides ideal softness/hardness, optimum speed, and necessary sliding. It is good for regular park-style riders.

4. Wheel Core Diameter

Wheel core diameter shows the compatibility of wheels with your scooter’s forks and decks. It is also called ‘Wheel width’. Wheel core sizes are 24 mm, 26 mm, 28 mm, and 30mm. The 24mm and 30mm are the two most common fork sizes. A set of spacers comes with each fork to fit the wheel to the fork.

24 mm size of spacer fits with all sizes of forks. The 30 mm fork can fit any wheel to any core size if the respective sized spacer is available. Wheels with more diameter have more width. Such wide-surfaced wheels cover more ground surface to provide higher grip and control.

5. Wheel Core Material

The selection of wheel core materials depends on the requirements of riding. Heavy-duty riders can opt for metal wheel cores for longer durability. Plastic scooter wheels are suitable for beginners and children. We have summoned the list of wheel core material below:

 

5.1 Metal Core: 

Metal cores are always the best for kick-scooter wheels. They are durable, non-flexible, and sustainable. They remain sturdy while performing stunts and tricks.

Hence, many stunt scooters come with pre-fitted metal core wheels. If you are learning to become a pro rider or upgrade your scooter’s parts, metal cores are the best solution to enhance your scooter’s performance! 

5.2 Plastic Core:

Plastic cores are for beginner riders or ‘scooter-to-school’ audiences, who are learning to ride basic kick scooter for the first time. Plastic scores are budget-friendly and available at all scooter shops easily.

They are weaker in sturdiness and can break or bend on heavy-duty riding. Plastic cores are lightweight and suitable for regular kick scooters, children’s kick scooters, etc. 

 

We have enlisted some commonly available designs of Kick scooter cores as follows:

• Solid core: This massive core variety has maximum durability. It has a solid and even surface without any perforations. It may come in plastic, alloy, or metal material.
• Hollow core: This wheel core looks solid, but is hollow inside. It is more lightweight and weaker than a solid core.  
• Spoked core: This wheel shows holes and cutouts that appear like spokes. It is lightweight and looks pleasing. But has a weak structure that can break on rough riding.
• Plastic core: The plastic core material is lightweight, cheaper, flexible, and can break sooner.
• Honey core: Honey core is similar to a hollow core. It is hollow inside, has less weight, and perorated holes on its surface. 

 

6. Axle Size:

The axle connects the wheels to the scooter. An 8 mm axle is considered standard and fits to 8 mm bearings and spacers. Regular scooters need an 8 mm axle normally.

Off-road and stunt scooters need a 10 mm or 12 mm axle for strong and sturdy performance. Each axle needs a specific sized/shaped head size such as 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, Lock Nut, Torx, star, etc.

 

7. Bearings:

Scooter Bearings enable smooth connectivity of wheels to run freely without any friction. The higher the price of the bearing, the more the durability, and performance of the scooter. Bearings have 6 to 8 balls in their outer race and inner race. A retainer helps to set these little balls at equal distances from each other. A protective shield keeps the bearings safe from dirt and grims.

 

Each wheel needs 2 bearings and one spacer. Bearings have the ABEC (Annual Bearing Evaluation Committee) system. This system scales from 3 to 9. A larger scale like 9 shows that bearings are made with high precision. Higher precision gives higher tolerance and expensive worth for bearings. Such scooter bearings are less likely to wear out and last longer than low ABEC value bearings. Low-value ABEC bearings are also good for use. 

 

Usually, Off-road and stunt scooters need high ABEC bearings for stability to ride scooters on skate parks and rough terrains. ABEC 4 and 5 bearings are used in regular scooters for beginners. 

 

7.1. Steel Bearings: Steel bearings are made from stainless steel. They are strong, provide sturdy movement, and are cost-effective.

7.2. Ceramic Bearings: These high-quality bearings provide a smoother ride than steel bearings. They can sustain high pressure and extreme temperatures to give reliable performance. Many pro scooters use ceramic bearings for riding at adventurous places. 

8. Wheel Spacer:

A scooter needs one spacer for each wheel. A right spacer enhances the durability of bearings and helps to run the scooter evenly without any friction of its wheels. Spacers keep wheels at the center. Most of the wheels move smoothly with a 10 mm spacer.  According to my experience, your scooter must have spacers for a balanced ride.

The deck spacers are situated between the brake and the deck. They reduce the shaking of scooters during riding. They also make sure that the brakes are placed in the right way. Many stunt scooters require deck spacers along with deck plugs and ends. They help for easy grinding and make your deck more efficient for street riding.

 

What Are The Best Scooter Wheels For Beginners?

Beginner riders and children learning to ride scooters for the first time can use small wheels of 100 mm diameter with a small deck. The wheels should be lightweight and firm. It allows the beginners to ride a scooter and turn easily without any hurdles.

You can opt for wheels having high PU thickness, ABEC 4 or 5 bearings, a 10 mm spacer,  and a plastic core for smoothness and stability during the ride.

What Are The Best Scooter Wheels For Pro Riders?

Letsrollscooter.com suggests the Pro Riders can opt for high-performing wheels having 120mm or 125mm diameter, solid metal core, and ABEC 8 or 9 bearings. Such wheels are expensive and heavy in weight. But, they provide utmost stability and control for performing tricks and stunts. Such wheels last longer too!

Which Type Of Scooter Wheel Should You Purchase?

People who travel on kick scooters daily need the right wheels for the longer sustainability of their scooters. I would suggest the following parameters to consider while buying scooter wheels: 

1. Wheel Diameter: 110mm
2. Wheel Core Type: Metal for pro riders, plastic for beginners.
3. Polyurethane (PU) Hardness: 88A
4. PU Thickness: 28mm
5. Wheel Bearing: ABEC 4, 5, 7 or 9.
6. Wheel Spacers: 10 mm

If you are planning to get an electric kick scooter, you can explore this guide on electric scooter batteries for reference!

FAQs:

1. What do I do if my scooter wheel’s spacer is too wide or narrow?

If the scooter wheel’s spacer is too narrow or too wide, it causes instability in the ride.

A wide spacer causes slow rotating wheels. You have to push the bearings inwards to fix a wide spacer. You will press the outer race inward while the inner race outward in case of a wide spacer. 

If the spacer is too narrow, you may need to re-tighten the shaft continuously for a smooth ride. A narrow spacer causes slow wheel rotation, which results in the slow speed of the scooter.  You will press the inner race inward in case of a narrow spacer. the outer race stays in place in such scenarios.

 

2. When do I need to replace my scooter wheels?

Some scooter wheels may break or tear after long use. Sometimes, a part of the wheel becomes flat or cracked due to temperature changes. Such wheels cause uneven and unstable ride. If you face such hurdles for your kick-scooter, maybe it’s time to change the wheels.

 

3. Can I set 100 mm wheels on a 100 mm scooter deck?

You can put 100 mm wheels on a 100 mm size for a scooter deck. Check the compatibility of wheels with your scooter’s brand and customize the wheels accordingly.

 

Conclusion:

If you are a beginner rider or a pro performer, this guide can help you understand the basic and foundation parameters for scooter wheels. I hope this guide on ‘how to choose the right scooter wheels’ has given you an overall idea about scooter wheel selection.  The scooter wheels are one of the main components for scooters. The main agenda to understand the scooter wheel is that a high-quality and expensive scooter wheel can last longer with high performance. A right scooter wheel can improve the scooter’s performance many times.