How To Make Skateboard Wheels Less Slippery (10 Tips)

Are you tired of your skateboard wheels being too slippery? I know it’s frustrating when you’re trying to do the trick or cruising, and your wheels won’t cooperate. But don’t worry, there are some things you can do to make your skateboard wheels less slippery.

There are a few reasons why your skateboard wheels might be slippery. So in this article, we’ll go over some of the most common reasons for slippery wheels and learn how to make skateboard wheels less slippery.

Most Common Reasons For Slippery Wheels

To learn how to make skate wheels less slippery, you first need to know what makes them slippery. Here are some of the most common reasons you must be aware of:

Your wheels are too clean or new: This might sound counterintuitive, but it’s actually one of the most common reasons for slippery wheels. When your wheels are new or too clean, there’s nothing for the grip tape to grip onto, which makes them slippery.

So the next time you clean skateboard wheels, leave a little bit of dirt and grime on them. This will give a better grip on any surface, which helps you make wheels less slippery.

Your Riding Surface: The surface you’re riding on can also make your skateboard wheels slippery. If you’re riding on smooth surfaces like polished concrete or tile, your wheels will slip more.

On the other hand, rough surfaces like asphalt or sandpaper will give you more grip and make your wheels less slippery. So if you’re having trouble with wheels slipping, try riding on a different surface.

The Wrong Wheels: Not all skateboard wheels are created equal. The wheels are different in their hardness, size, and material.

A wheel’s material is one factor to consider. Skateboard wheels made of urethane usually have a better grip than those made of plastic. The wheel’s hardness is another factor to consider. The grip of softer wheels is generally greater than that of harder wheels. Lastly, the wheel size, which you should choose according to your riding style.

For example, if you like rough roads riding on a longboard, then you’ll need the best longboard wheels for rough roads for the best output. In this situation, the skateboard wheels won’t work.

Old or Worn Out Wheels: Like anything else, your skateboard wheels will eventually wear out and become less grippy with time. So if you’ve owned your wheels for a long time, they might just be too worn out to grip the surface properly.

So far, you’ve learned some of the most common reasons for slippery wheels. Now let’s move on to the tips on how you can make your skateboard wheels less slippery.

How To Make Skateboard Wheels Less Slippery

There are no exact methods for making skateboard wheels less slippery because it depends on the conditions, such as the weather, terrain, wheel condition, quality, and your skating style.

However, there are some ways that you can try to make your wheels less slippery:

1. Skate on the Street Or Sidewalk

One of the best ways to make your wheels less slippery is to skate on the street or sidewalk. Street skating or Sidewalk skating will give you more grip than skating on other surfaces like pools or ramps.

This is because streets and sidewalks have more texture, giving your wheels something to grip onto. So if you’re having trouble with slipping, try skating on a street or sidewalk.

2. Ride on Rough Surfaces

As we mentioned above, the surface you’re skating on can make your wheels more or less slippery. So if you’re having trouble with slipping, try riding on a rough road.

Rough surfaces like asphalt or sandpaper will give you more grip and make your wheels less slippery.

3. Make The Wheels Dirty

Another way to make your wheels less slippery is to make them dirty. When your wheels are too clean or new, there’s nothing for wheels to grip onto, which makes them slippery.

You can make your wheels dirty by skating on a dirty surface or by rubbing them in the dirt. Just make sure to leave a little bit of dirt and grime on them. This will give a better grip on the surface, which helps you make wheels less slippery.

4. Temperature

The temperature can also affect the grip of your wheels. As the temperature drops, your wheels will become harder and less grippy. As the temperature rises, your wheels will become softer and more grippy.

So if you’re having trouble with slipping, try skating in a warmer or cooler temperature.

5. Wipe The Wheels

The most common reason we found for slippery wheels is that the wheels are not wiped even by riding in rain or water. To make the wheels less slippery, wiping them after riding in the rain or water is essential.

You can use a rag or paper towel to wipe your wheels. Just make sure to get all the water off of them.

6. Get Right Size Wheels

The wrong size wheels can also make your wheels less grippy. If you’re skating on too small or too big of wheels, it can make your wheels less grippy.

Hence, make sure you’re using the right size wheels for your skating style and surface. To identify the right size wheels according to your need, you can check our article about what size skateboard wheels should I get.

7. Avoid Hard Wheels

As we mentioned before, the wheel’s hardness can also affect the grip. Softer wheels will usually have more grip than harder wheels.

If you’re having trouble with slipping, try using softer wheels. You can usually find softer wheels by looking for the best skateboard wheels for street skating or park skating. Although wheels durometer up to 99a will also work well and help you make wheels less slippery. Just be sure to avoid 101a durometer wheels. 

8. Change Bearings

Sometimes the bearings can also make your wheels slippery. If your bearings are too old, cracked, or dirty, they can make your wheels less grippy.

So you can also try changing your bearings. You can usually find new bearings at your local skate shop or online.

9. Avoid slippery floor

Some floors can also make your wheels more slippery. Floors like tile, marble, or wood ramp can make your wheels slip more easily. Hence if you’re getting slips frequently better to change your riding surfaces.

10. Check the Wheels Tigthenss

The wheel’s tightness also plays a vital role in making wheels less slippery. If your wheels are too loose or too tight, they can make your wheels slippery.

Hence, it is essential to check the tightness of your wheels before skating. You can usually find the right tightness by looking at the skateboard wheel’s manual and riding around.

You might also find helpful our guide on how to make skateboard wheels spin longer.

Conclusion

We found these tips to be the best way to make skateboard wheels less slippery. If your wheels are good in condition and you’ve tried all of the tips we mentioned, it shows the wheels are good to go, and you don’t need a new one. In this case, it is highly recommended to check your skating technique. Riding with the proper technique can help you make wheels less slippery.