What size wheels are best for an electric skateboard?

The right wheel size depends on where you ride. Street wheels in the 97mm to 107mm range work best on smooth pavement, while all-terrain pneumatic tyres around 175mm handle dirt, grass and rougher ground. Choosing the wrong size for your surface is one of the most common reasons riders feel like their board isn't performing the way it should.

Here's a practical breakdown of how wheel size affects your ride, and how to pick the right setup for your terrain.

How wheel size changes the riding experience

Diameter is the first number to understand. A larger wheel rolls over cracks and surface imperfections more easily, but adds weight and changes your top speed. A smaller wheel accelerates faster and feels more responsive, but transmits more vibration through the deck.

For electric skateboards specifically, wheel size also affects range. Street wheels roll more efficiently on sealed surfaces, so you'll typically get more miles per charge compared to running all-terrain tyres on the same battery. The trade-off is grip, comfort on rough terrain and the ability to ride off-pavement entirely.

• 85mm: Agile and lightweight, good for technical riding and smaller boards
• 97mm: The most common street size, balanced acceleration and roll speed
• 107mm: Larger roll diameter, slightly smoother on imperfect pavement
• 175mm (7-inch pneumatic): All-terrain, absorbs serious vibration, handles dirt, gravel and grass

Street wheels: what the numbers actually mean for your ride

The 97mm urethane wheel is the standard for a reason. It's the size that balances quick acceleration, efficient rolling resistance and enough diameter to handle small cracks without getting caught. Most Evolve boards ship with 97mm 76a wheels as the default street setup, and for the majority of pavement riding, it's the right call.

Going up to 107mm adds a small amount of roll smoothness and can feel more planted at higher speeds. The difference is noticeable but not dramatic. If you ride on surfaces that are mostly well-maintained, 97mm is lighter and more responsive. If your usual route has a lot of road imperfections, 107mm gives you a bit more cushion without switching to pneumatics.

Durometer, the hardness rating, also matters. A softer wheel like 76a grips the road better and absorbs vibration. A harder compound rolls faster but gives less feedback through the deck. The 76a rating on Evolve's street wheels sits in a range that works well across most urban surfaces.

All-terrain tyres: when bigger is genuinely better

At 175mm, the pneumatic all-terrain tyre is a different category entirely. These are air-filled tyres, not solid urethane, and the difference in ride quality on rough terrain is significant. Gravel paths, packed dirt, grass and even light trail riding become genuinely comfortable rather than something you're just tolerating.

The trade-off is real, though. All-terrain setups are heavier, slower and use more battery. On a board like the GTR Bamboo, you're looking at a top speed of 38 mph on street versus a lower figure on all-terrain, and the range drops accordingly. That's not a flaw, it's physics. You're moving a heavier assembly through more resistance.

Where all-terrain wheels earn their place is when smooth pavement isn't guaranteed. In a city like Austin where you might start on bike paths and end up on a packed gravel trail, or in Los Angeles where some of the best coastal routes mix sealed paths with softer surfaces, having the right tyre under you changes what's possible.

The case for running both setups

The GTR Bamboo 2-in-1 is the most practical answer to the wheel size question for riders who don't want to commit to one terrain type. It ships with both the 97mm street wheels and the 175mm all-terrain tyres, so you can set up the board for what's in front of you rather than compromising on either end.

In New York, you might run street wheels Monday through Friday for commuting and swap to all-terrain for a weekend session in a park. In San Francisco, the hills and mixed surface quality can make the all-terrain setup the better daily choice. In Miami, where coastal paths are long and mostly sealed, the street setup maximises range and speed.

The swap requires a conversion kit rather than just swapping wheels, since the drive gears and belts differ between setups. But once you've done it a few times, it takes around 20 minutes and opens up a genuinely different ride experience. The GTR Bamboo 2-in-1 includes both sets out of the box, which removes the guesswork on what you need to get started with either configuration.

Picking the right size based on your riding

If you ride exclusively on smooth pavement, 97mm is the sweet spot. It's fast, efficient and light enough that the board stays manageable. If your commute in a city like New York or San Francisco regularly takes you over cracked asphalt, rough concrete or anything uneven, moving up to 107mm or adding softer durometer wheels can reduce fatigue over longer sessions.

If your riding extends beyond sealed surfaces at all, pneumatic all-terrain tyres are worth it. Not because they're more capable on pavement, they're not, but because they open the board up to terrain that urethane simply can't handle comfortably.

For most riders who want flexibility without buying two separate boards, the 2-in-1 configuration is the practical choice. You get the speed and efficiency of street wheels on clean pavement and the grip and comfort of all-terrain when the surface calls for it.

People also ask

Do bigger wheels make an electric skateboard faster?

Not necessarily. A larger wheel covers more ground per rotation, but electric skateboards are governed by their motor and controller settings rather than wheel size alone. Running 107mm street wheels versus 97mm will give you a slightly higher roll speed at the same motor output, but the difference is small. Switching to all-terrain tyres typically reduces top speed due to the added weight and rolling resistance.

Can I put any wheels on my electric skateboard?

Not quite. Changing between street and all-terrain setups on an Evolve board requires a full conversion kit, including the correct drive gears and belts for that wheel type. You can swap between street wheel sizes more easily, but going from urethane to pneumatic is a more involved change. Using incompatible components can damage the drivetrain.

What wheels does the GTR Bamboo come with?

The GTR Bamboo Street comes with 97mm 76a urethane street wheels. The All Terrain version ships with 175mm (7-inch) pneumatic tyres. The GTR Bamboo 2-in-1 includes both wheel sets so you can run either configuration depending on the terrain.

Are all-terrain wheels worth it for city riding?

It depends on your city. In places with well-maintained bike paths and smooth pavement, street wheels are faster, lighter and more efficient. In cities where infrastructure is more variable or you want to ride beyond sealed surfaces, all-terrain tyres make the ride significantly more comfortable and capable. If you're unsure, the 2-in-1 setup lets you try both without committing.

How do I know when to replace my electric skateboard wheels?

For urethane street wheels, look for flat spots, significant wear on the contact patch or a noticeably rougher ride. Rotating wheels diagonally during regular maintenance extends their lifespan. For pneumatic all-terrain tyres, check tyre pressure regularly and inspect for cuts or uneven wear. Evolve recommends keeping AT tyres at 40 to 45 PSI.

See the GTR Bamboo 2-in-1 in action