Urethane is a magical chemical compund that is poured around a supportive hub. The material creates the form and riding surface of a wheel. At Cloud Ride we chemically modify each of our formulas to perform specifically for our favorite types of skating.
CLASSIC
Our classic formula is world-renowned for it's sugary slides and predictable hookup. This formulation makes for well rounded wheels that are great for sliding, freeriding, and downhill longboarding - the perfect balance of slip and grip. Our classic thane is also miraculously grippy in the wet!
ICE
Our Ice Formula is designed for the long standup slides, putting, and technical slide maneuvers. This urethane has good resiliency and an icy feel. Wheels that use this thane: Iceeez
SLUSH
Our Slush formula is very similar to our Ice formulation but is less resilient. This makes for a wheel that can hold out long slides but sheds more urethane, giving the rider more control. Wheels that use this thane: Slusheez
The contact patch is the width of the wheel is where it is touching the ground while riding. Both the size of the contact patch and the style of the finish will have an impact on how the wheel rides. Most longboard wheels have a contact patch of 25mm to 70mm.
Wheel shape and lip profile plays a big part in how a wheel performs. Wheels are made in a wide variety of heights, widths, and lip shapes. Choosing the right shape is critical to the overall performance of your board.
SQUARE LIP
Square (or Sharp-Lipped) wheels are designed to grip well by providing maximum contact patch. The thinner sharp lip edge deforms more when force is applied and conforms to the riding surface.
ROUND LIP
Round Lip (or Radiused) Wheels have a thicker, rounded lip edge that will keep its shape when force is applied. A round lip will not conform to the riding surface and will allow the wheel to break into a slide easily.
BEVELED LIP
Beveled lips (Chamfer Lip) are machined at an angle to the rest of the wheel are essentially in-between a round and square lip. This provides a balance between the two, offering consistent shape that can grip or slide as needed.
The core is the hard center of a longboard wheel. Stiff and durable, it exists to hold the bearings in place, maintain the circular integrity of the wheel, and support the urethane cast around it.
CORE WIDTH
A wide core will offer more support to the urethane which means that the thane will deform less, making it roll faster and easier to slide. A narrow core will allow the urethane to deform more, creating a softer but slower ride that will also enable the wheel to better conform to the riding surface. Wider cores are better suited to high speeds and sliding, while narrower cores are more capable when riding over rough surfaces and gripping corners.
Centerset
A centerset core will have an equal amount of urethane on either side of the core. Centersets offer the advantage of allowing you to flip the wheel in the case that you should start to cone your wheels when sliding, or just want to adjust the ride characteristics. With your weight distributed more evenly across the width of the wheel, centersets will also wear more slowly than many wheels and offer more traction than other core positions.
Offset
Wheels with offset cores are the most common style available today. In an offset wheel the core is positioned between the center and the inside lip of the wheel, which makes them well-balanced for different types of riding.
Sideset
Sideset wheels have cores that are placed towards the very inner lip of the wheel. These wheels are extremely effective for easy sliding and make for great freeride wheels.
The durometer, or “duro,” refers to the hardness of the urethane. Duro is used to measure wheels, bushings and some risers, and is an internationally recognized scale for all materials. A softer material will be paired with a lower number, while a harder material will be paired with a higher number. Most longboard wheels fall between 75a and 90a.
PERFORMANCE
Soft wheels are typically more grippy and smooth-rolling over road inconsistencies. Hard wheels, on the other hand, will usually slide more easily and generally roll quickly over smoother surfaces.
However, it is a common misconception that the durometer is the sole determining factor in the durability, slide and grip characteristics of a wheel. While durometer does affect these features, it does not directly reflect the rebound, lifespan, or slide characteristics of the wheel and its urethane.