Which wheel for me?

[McPhenius]

First, thanks to the guys in Resources / Q&A New Riders for helping me with getting a starter setup. I've also been researching the forums on other suggestions for wheels, but below I've outlined my specific riding style, basically, just cruising around the neighborhood.

One of the recommendations for a upgrade was with the wheels.

I got a Gravity Mini Carve 42 with tracker trucks and Fu Manchu 76mm / 82a wheels and Tracker trucks. I added some Reds bearings.

The only thing I will mainly be doing with my board is just cruising along side my 9 year old son who has a 38" board. I'm in South Florida, so it's all flat and I would be skating on streets (asphalt), sidewalk & brick pavers. Right now, my Fu Manchus feel great and perhaps I don't need an upgrade, but I am curious on recommendations.

Some of the wheels I was thinking about were:

Abec 11 Gumballs 76mm
Abec 11 Fly Wheels 90mm
Kryptonics 85mm
or should I just stay with the Fu Manchu 76mm / 82a?

I want a wheel that will require little push & lots of cruising. I'm not into carving and will want to learn pumping to ride. I also want a wheel that will go over cracks on a sidewalk easily as well as small pebbles and other debris on roadways.

Also, I am not sure which durometer is good for what I am wanting to do. My Fu Manchus are 82a, but I see the Gumballs around 75a. I know small durometer is softer / better grip. Is there a big difference between the 75 & 82?

Thanks!

[crawdad62]

For what you're wanting I'd say Gumballs. Soft 75 or 78 Gummies should treat you well.

[Anonymous]

You definitely DON'T want to go big if all you gonna do is cruise. Stay within the 70-76mm range.

[large goat]

For what you said you'd be doing I'd say jsut stick with the wheels you have now. If you wanted to upgrade id go with the Gumballs 75 or 78a as crawdad62 said

[worldwide]

gumballs are slow. i think 76mm flywheels or grippins in a harder duro would be great

[GPymp]

...stay with what you got..later on I would change to Rockin Ron bearings..you will notice it will be easy to push then the Reds.

[Mac]

Gumballs on the mini carve ROCK with trackers. That is what I rode up in 4 mile canyon this summer with the WAC crew and is what my son rides in the garage all the time. Good stable all around feel.

[silversurfer]

Those 76mm 75a Sector 9 Goddess of Speed wheels that you saw at your shop would be killer. I have a set. They are fast and roll over anything.

Put the fu manchu's on your son's board so he'll have a chance to keep up with you.

Or keep what you have. The difference is noticable but not huge.
You could wear out what you have and then upgrade.
Or upgrade and keep the unused parts for spares or trade them on
the buy/sell/trade forum.

Flashbacks, grippins and gumballs are good too.

[Partyboypowell]

Everyone should have a set of 78a Flashbacks ! EVERYONE

[TheFuzz]

i cruise more than anything too and I got to tell you that a humungus wheel is not what you want. Abec 11 70's falshback. Can't go wrong there. I use them one my 46' Sector and I think you should go for the lowest duro possible to absorb the vibrations of the road.

[Anonymous]

Those 76mm 75a Sector 9 Goddess of Speed wheels that you saw at your shop would be killer. I have a set. They are fast and roll over anything.

They said "Nineball" on them, but had the Goddess of Speed graphic. So those are the same? I almost bought them, but opt'd for the Fu Manchus.

Put the fu manchu's on your son's board so he'll have a chance to keep up with you.

My son still has his 70mm Krypto Classic K's that came with his Dregs board. We skated to his bus stop and then home this afternoon and he kept up fine.

But I'm curious. I guess I won't go any higher than the 76mm that I am at now, but I wonder if I should have left my 73mm on.

Although if I ever switch to the Gumballs, which seem to be highly recommended, those are 76mm. But what Durometer for me? As far as flat asphalt road, sidewalk, etc. I saw 75a, 78a ,etc.

Or upgrade and keep the unused parts for spares or trade them on
the buy/sell/trade forum.

My wife and I were actually talking. She started decorating his room last year with surf/skateboard stuff. Bed covers, a surfboard & skateboard against his wall, some knick knacks on the shelves & a couple posters. We were talking about using a piece of bamboo or something and arranging a few different skateboard wheels on it to make it look nice.

So while I plan on keeping the Fu Manchus for awhile before trying Gumballs, i can always "store" one of the manchus on the display in his room!

Flashbacks, grippins and gumballs are good too.[/quote]

[McPhenius]

Sorry, I forgot to sign in for the above post

[Lit]

80mm krpts on my daily driver and they work great

[Longbord1]

trimmed avilas in the 72a duro. fast and cruise forever! they also handle bumps nicely

[Mile_High_Mark]

Pink Powerballs are an excellent, all-around wheel. The 72mm size is just right, and the 78a hardness works well in a variety of terrain.

[McPhenius]

Pink Powerballs are an excellent, all-around wheel. The 72mm size is just right, and the 78a hardness works well in a variety of terrain.

I just stopped by your site Mark and checked those out. I am not sure if I want the pink powerballs though.

What is the difference between the Gumballs & Flywheels? If both were in 76mm and same duro, what is the pro-con of each?

Thanks

[Mile_High_Mark]

Gumballs -- More urethane depth, softer ride, can't be "flipped" for more wear.

Flywheels -- Stiffer ride (can be faster in some terrain), easier to "drift," and can be flipped for more wear.

I, personally, prefer the 77mm Strikers over Gumballs and 75mm Flys, as I feel they're more versatile. I do, however, run 90mm Flys on my Kebbek.

[McPhenius]

Thanks for the info! Not sure if you caught my original post in the newbie area, but being almost 40 and almost 200 pounds, I want a ride that is going to give me distance with little effort (lazy ). Plus, I am in South Florida, so I have no hills and the terrain is level, so there is a degree of pushing or pumping that I will have to do.

The 76mm Fu Manchus I got are 82a and they are fine, but I like my son's Classic K's which are 70mm, but I am not sure of the durometer. But when have the front end of his board up and let it down, it bounces up quite a bit. I like the softness of his ride.

[Mile_High_Mark]

Kryptonics almost always measure softer than the stated hardness. This goes for Kryptonics-made wheels like the cored Gravity wheels, too.

Some other wheels to look at are the 3dm and Seismic wheels. Something like a 77-80a hardness in the 68-69mm size will work quite well for what you want. Not cheap, but very good wheels.

[EBasil]

I outweigh you a little, and have to tell you: the first time you hit rough pavement at speed while riding 75 or 78a Gumballs, you will laugh out loud at how well they absorb, control and maintain speed through that mess. I think they're pretty fast wheels, but for pure pushing I might swap on the 78a, 77mm Strikers, since they're a little narrower.