Wheel bite on a skateboard is what happens when the wheels of your skateboard or longboard run out of room to roll. If you’ve experienced this problem and want to know how to fix your wheel bite, then you’ve come to the right place.

If you’re reading this, then you’ve probably had the displeasure of experiencing wheel bite. It can be extremely frustrating when all you want to do is ride your skateboard, but each time you attempt to push, your wheels start to slash against your trucks instead. This can severely injure your feet and legs, not to mention ruin your day!

What is wheelbite?

Wheelbite is one of the most important elements of skateboarding. It is a term which refers to when the wheels of your skateboard hit an obstacle and stop before your body does. For example, when you are doing an ollie, and then land off of a ledge only for the wheels to run out from underneath you.

Wheelbite on a skateboard occurs when a skateboard gets caught on the edge of a curb while turning. This is not a common issue in newly developed cities, where well paved roads are still the norm. Wheelbite can completely ruin your day while skating as you may be thrown off balance and propelled forwards onto the road resulting in serious injury. 

The most common form of wheelbite is on-ramp wheelbite, which can result in getting thrown into traffic. Other types include street and construction site wheelbite, which could potentially be fatal if you land on concrete.

How And Why Wheelbite Happens

Wheelbite is a common problem in skateboarding. It is typically caused by the trucks being too loose, the wheels being too big for your board, or not having any wheel wells. Wheelbite occurs when your wheels come into contact with the deck, stopping your board from moving. 

The trucks on a skateboard need to be tight enough that they don’t move around too much, but not too tight that it is difficult to turn. The wheels will also dictate the amount of bite you get and when you start to get more of it. 

If you have big soft wheels, like those used for street skating, then there is less grip on edges and more carving ability. If the wheels are hard with sharp edges, like those used for vert or pools then there will be more grip on your board and less carving ability.

How To Prevent Wheel Bite On A Skateboard

To prevent wheel bite on a skateboard, some fixes are easier than others. Wheelbite occurs when the wheels of your skateboard hit the deck and cause your board to slow down or stop. There is no standard space between your wheels and deck to prevent wheel bite.

So it depends on how you ride, the softness of your bushings, your weight, and the type of skating. Here are a few ways to fix wheel bite on a skateboard.

Method # 1 | Get Smaller Wheels

Getting smaller wheels is an easy way to prevent wheel bite on a skateboard, which is when the wheel of a skateboard catches on the ground and causes the board to stop. This is common if you have a longboard, but it can also happen on any type of skateboard.

If you’re new to skating, or even if you’ve been doing it for years, wheel bite can be frustrating and annoying. Luckily, there are some things you can do to prevent wheel bite from happening.

To avoid this issue, choose your wheels wisely! Smaller wheels will give you more traction on slippery surfaces like wood or tile floors—which means less chance of wheel bite happening.

If you don’t want to change the size of your whole board, simply get smaller wheels for one or two of the trucks—this will allow you to have a more consistent ride experience without having to spend a lot of money on new hardware or replacement cores.

Method # 2 | Tighten The Skateboard Trucks

One of the easiest solutions to prevent wheel bite on a skateboard is by adjusting the tightness of your skateboard trucks.

It’s a simple fix that will take you less than five minutes, and it can save you from some serious frustration.

You’ll need to:

Remove the wheels from your skateboard (if they’re already attached). If they’re not, skip this step!

Take a look at your skateboard deck. You should see two bolts sticking out from either side of the truck. These are called kingpin bolts, and they connect your deck to your truck (and keep it from falling off). You’ll use these two bolts to adjust how tight your board is on the ground.

Use a screwdriver to loosen each kingpin bolt by about 1/4 turn in either direction, until both sides feel evenly tightened. You’ll know when you’ve got it right because the board won’t move or wobble when you try to rock back and forth on it with full weight on both feet (so try this before reattaching any wheels).

Method # 3 | Add Riser Pads

 Riser pads are probably the best way to prevent wheel bite on a skateboard.

There are two types of riser pads: one that attaches to the deck of your board and one that attaches under the trucks. Both types will help you avoid wheel bite, but if you want to be able to customize how much clearance you get, then you should go with the second option.

The first option is really easy to install because it just snaps into place over top of your existing deck. You don’t even have to remove it when you’re not skating. However, this option doesn’t give you much room for customization—you’ll just have whatever amount of space is available between your deck and trucks when you buy it.

The second option requires more time and effort but gives you more control over how much room there is between your board and wheels. This type also allows you to change out different sized risers depending on what kind of wheels or trucks you have or whether or not they’re drilled for mounting hardware (some aren’t).

Method # 4 | Replace The Harder Bushings

Another way to prevent wheel bite on a skateboard is to replace the harder bushings with softer ones. This will make it easier for you to turn your feet and will increase your turning radius, which can make it easier for you to maneuver around obstacles.

However, this method is not always effective and may not be worth it because it also makes it harder for you to stop quickly. If you are going too fast and need to stop abruptly, this could cause you to lose control over your board and fall off of it.

Method # 5 | Get a deck with wheel wells And Wheel Flairs

Wheel wells are cutouts in the deck, which allow for clearance between the wheels and board. They are either created by sanding that part of the deck down or cutting it out with a CNC machine or wood router. 

Wheel flares are raised parts of the deck that increase clearance by raising where your wheels will hit. Some decks have only wheel wells, while others have both wheel wells and wheel flares.

Final Verdict

To prevent wheel bite on a skateboard, keep your bearings clean and lubricated and use a larger wheel if you are experiencing the problem. You can also apply wax to the spot of the wheel bite. 

While this can be effective, it also has drawbacks: Waxing your wheels can make them less responsive and harder to control when performing tricks on bowls and other smooth surfaces.

Frequently Asked Questions