The wheels on your skateboard are a crucial part of the machine. So it’s important to keep them in good condition.
To make your skateboard wheels spin longer, clean them with dish soap and warm water, and a scrub brush. If that doesn’t do the trick, try loosening the axle nuts slightly. If your wheels still aren’t spinning well, it’s probably time for new skateboard wheels set.
Let’s take a look at some steps you can take to keep your wheels turning smoothly. Keep reading
How To Make Your Skateboard Wheels Spin Longer and faster?
Here’s how you can do that:
- Clean your skateboard wheels and bearings
- Lose your axle nuts slightly
- Upgrade your skateboard wheels and bearings
- Master your riding skills
You can make your wheels spin longer and faster with our simple tips.
Skateboard wheels get dirty quickly, and when dirt builds up on the wheels it reduces the speed and lifespan of the wheels. You may think that keeping a clean skateboard will keep your wheels from getting dirty, but this is not true.
Dirt gets on the bottom of the skateboard, and when you do tricks like kickflips or heelflips, the dirt flies off your board and onto the wheels.
Dirt also gets on the edges of your skateboard deck, and when you do ollies or other tricks that use the nose or tail of your board, dirt can get onto the bearings.
Also if you don’t tighten your axle nuts enough, then dirt can get in between your bearings. If this happens, then every time you roll on your board, dirt gets pushed into the bearings and starts to clog them up.
Here are some tips to fix this problem:
Step 1: Clean your Skateboard Bearings and Wheels
We all know that clean and well-maintained equipment runs better. One area where this is particularly true is bearings, which are critical to the performance of your skateboards.
Dirt buildup on your wheels can cause your bearings to slip and slow down your speed.
You should also clean your bearings and wheels whenever you notice them getting slower or when you’re changing your grip tape or plates.
Here are some things you can do to keep your bearings and wheels clean and spinning faster:
How To Clean Your Skateboard Bearings
Your skateboard bearings are tiny ball bearings that are constantly rubbing against each other. Over time, the grease inside them can get dirty, which slows down their speed and makes them less responsive.
Below is a step-by-step guide on how to clean skateboard bearings
- Step 1. Get your bearings out of the wheels and inspect the bearings for any metal debris or grit. Remove any dirt you find.
- Step 2. Put them in a bowl or small jar with your chosen cleaner (a solvent, rubbing alcohol, or lemon juice is recommended).
- Step 3. Soak them for one to two hours.
- Step 4. Rinse in water until you don’t see any more dirt coming off of them.
- Step 5. Dry them off with a towel (or just let them air dry).
- Step 6. Re-lubricate as needed, and put them back in your skateboard.
Also, check out what are the best lubricants for skateboard bearings here.
How To Clean Your Skateboard Wheels With Household Items
Dirt and dust build up over time and eventually affect how you ride because the wheels don’t grip the ground properly.
It’s important to clean your skateboard wheels to run smoothly on every surface.
You can easily clean the wheels with water, dish soap, and a brush at home.
- Step 1. Remove the wheels from the skateboard.
- Step 2. Rinse off any dirt or debris on the wheels with warm water and a gentle brush, such as an old toothbrush.
- Step 3. If your wheels are especially dirty, apply some dish soap to the brush and scrub to remove stuck-on grime.
- Step 4. Let the wheels dry completely, and then place them back on your skateboard.
Step 2: Lose Your Axle Nuts Slightly
When you buy a skateboard, it will come with wheels already on it. But the problem with pre-built skateboards is that the axle nuts might be too tight.
In general, the tighter the axle nut is, the less rotational speed the wheels will have. A tighter axle nut contributes to more bearing pressure, causing your wheels to spin slowly.
Loosen the axle nut slightly, and the wheels will spin longer, but make sure the nut doesn’t fall off.
Step 3: Upgrade Your Skateboard Wheels and Bearings
If your skateboard wheels are spinning at a good speed, but not for long, then it is time to upgrade. The speed will decrease as you continue pushing, and the bearing will get dirty.
It’s important to upgrade your skateboard wheels and bearings regularly — especially if your board is more than 3 or 4 years old.
You can save yourself a lot of money by doing this. When you do this, you’ll get more speed and better grip.
Use High-quality Skateboard Wheels
The wheel is the most important part of your skateboard. If you skate at skate parks, the wheels you choose should be suited to your riding style.
Most experienced skaters use skateboards that have wheels with relatively soft durometers because the wheels roll slower but softer.
The softer wheels allow skaters to maintain control at high speeds. Some experienced skaters will also use harder wheels for longer runs when speed and control are not a concern.
The most common skateboard wheel material today is urethane. Urethane wheels are generally considered to be better in performance than plastic or composite wheels.
Urethane wheels also typically cost a bit more than their plastic or composite counterparts, but urethane is extremely durable, it can also become brittle over time.
Use High-quality Skateboard Bearings
The easiest way to make your skateboard wheels spin smoother is to change their bearings. A high-quality bearing (such as an SKF bearing) will last longer, spin longer, and have less friction.
To calculate how long skateboard bearings last, you need to consider the quality of the bearing, the quality of the hub, the quality of the rim, and the type of riding you do.
Quality bearings are measured by ABEC rating. ABEC stands for “American Bearing Engineers” and it’s a measure of a bearing’s smoothness and how much friction it creates. Bearings that have an ABEC rating above 7 will last longer than bearings with lower ratings.
Bearing hubs are only as good as their bearings. A high-quality bearing hub will have a precision-ground raceway, precision-machined shaft, and sealed ball bearings.
The quality of a wheel’s rim depends on the quality of the wheel. A high-quality wheel will have a high-quality aluminum or carbon fiber rim. Some wheels have a urethane-coated rim that will last longer.
The type of riding you do also affects how long your bearings will spin. A street rider will spin their bearings longer than an endurance rider because street wheels need to stay tight, while endurance wheels can spin looser.
The key to getting the most life out of your bearings is to keep up with maintenance.
Clean bearings regularly. Dirt and debris can build up in your bearings and cause friction.
Step 4: Master Your Riding Skills
You need to learn how to ride a skateboard. if you don’t, you won’t make your skateboard wheels spin better.
First, you need to learn and master your riding skills, starting with the most basic techniques.
If you want to enhance your riding skills, you have to learn to fall. If you fall gracefully, you will avoid injury. If you try to avoid falling, you will only make it more difficult.
“To learn how to ride a skateboard well, you can watch skateboard videos of pro riders on YouTube or get tips from skateboard Elite.”
Once you have learned to fall properly and mastered a slower speed, it’s time to learn how to ride faster and make your skateboard wheels turn better by practicing these skills, so you will enjoy skateboarding for life.
Also Read: Hard vs Soft Skateboard Wheels (How To Select – Beginners Guide)
(Other tips) How do I make my Skateboard wheel spin longer and turn more?
- Avoid riding on rough surfaces
- Use wheel bearings that are in good condition
- Lubricate your wheels regularly
- Inspect your wheels for damage
- Replace your wheels when they are worn out
Wrap-Up
The majority of people’s problems on how to make skateboard wheels spin longer are only solved with step first.
By following our steps you will be able to make the wheel spin faster and more efficiently. But You may consider purchasing quality new wheels and bearings that are automatically fast.
Thank you for reading this article and I hope you found it useful.
