Skateboard Bearings Keep Your Board Rolling

Skateboard bearings are cylindrical components inside the wheel that rotate the axle. Despite their small size, skate bearings significantly affect how well your wheels roll and your overall performance. Their construction is relatively complex, comprising the inner and outer race, retainer, bearing balls, and the shield.

Skateboard bearings are universal, meaning every skate bearing fits every skateboard wheel. You will need two bearings per wheel, totaling eight per skateboard, along with spacers to fill the space between bearings.

What Skateboard Bearings Should I Get?

When looking for new bearings for a skateboard, consider the following factors: precision (ABEC rating), lubrication, material, and the shield/seal of the bearing.

A common misconception is that you should always choose bearings with a high ABEC rating regardless of your skateboarding style. The scale ranges from 1 to 9, with higher numbers indicating greater precision and “roll”.

However, it’s not always necessary to choose a bearing with a high rating. For instance, if you are into street skating, a regular ABEC 5 bearing should suffice. If you usually ride vert, then using ABEC 7 or 9 bearings might make sense to optimize your speed for enough air time for tricks. Additionally, it is worth noting that not all brands use the ABEC scale to measure bearing precision.

Need more information on which bearings to choose? Feel free to visit our comprehensive Buying Bearings Guide.

When to Replace Skateboard Bearings

Skateboarding can be tough on bearings due to hits, impacts, and dirt from surfaces. These factors can easily damage your skate bearings and negatively impact your performance. Moreover, riding with loud, rattling bearings can be distracting.

Replacing bearings periodically is a good way to keep your board fresh and the wheels rolling smoothly. Bearing sets are relatively inexpensive, so having an extra set at home won't strain your budget.

However, if you are experiencing low performance from your skateboard bearings, you might want to try a good cleaning before buying new ones. You can learn how to do this from our Bearing Cleaning and Lubrication guide.