We all know Sector 9 make sweet skateboards, but what about their wheels? Well they’re just as good too! Sector 9 has tweaked and perfected a whole range of wheels to suit different styles, so whether you’re looking for a downhill racing wheel built for speed and stability or a a small soft wheel that lets you slide all over the place, Sector 9 has you covered. We’re going to look at three of the most popular skateboard wheels from Sector 9, the Butterballs, Steamrollers and Skiddles, so that you’ll know which is best for your skating.
Butterballs
These are some of the smallest wheels available from Sector 9, but still plenty soft enough for you to slide and skid. They’re pretty versatile, and even Sector 9 says that they’re ‘Good for just about anything!’ They are centre set with rounded lips, and an ample 38mm contact patch making sure that almost all of the wheel is in contact with the ground. The 80a slide formula allows you to really push into turns and skids without them catching. Butterballs are stone ground and come in 65mm and 70mm sizes. For everyday riding, hills and sidewalks, these are a great all-rounder wheel.
Skiddles
Part of the Shred Thane series, Skiddles are skid machines through and through. Their small contact patch of 29mm means that these pick up speed quickly, but leave you with little stability when going fast on an uneven surface. They come in one size, 70mm, with a durometer of 78a, but are available in five funky colors. Sliding and skidding is most definitely the name of the game when using Skiddles, and you can see just how good they are in the next video.
Steamrollers
If downhill racing is your thing, then look no further than the Steamrollers from Sector 9. These Race Formula Wheels provide one hell of a chunk of urethane under your board and are all about speed. With a mammoth contact patch of 70mm these are around twice as wide as regular skateboard wheels. What this gives you is extra stability at high speeds, perfect for soaking up the bumps and cracks in the hill you’re screaming down. Just one diameter is available, 73mm, but two durometers can be chosen from, 78a and 80a.
So there you have it, three very different sets of wheels that all come into their own when you skate them right. Sector 9 also have a couple of excellent bearing maintenance products that make sure your wheels keep rolling the way they are supposed to. To keep your bearings in top shape use the Sector 9 Antiseize Bearing Cleaner when switching wheels and bearings. If you’re out on the hill and you want a little extra speed, just grease up your bearings with a tube of Sector 9 Bearing Lube. Now get out there and shred!