Longboard Trucks, Wheels and Bushings Explained
Longboard parts are where most riders stop reading, which is a shame, because a $15 bushing change transforms a board more reliably than a $400 deck does.
Three components decide how a longboard actually rides: the trucks, the wheels and the bushings between them. Here is what each one changes.
The short version
- Trucks: reverse kingpin, 180mm, around 50 degrees. That is the versatile default.
- Lower baseplate angle for downhill stability, higher for carving and pumping.
- Wheels for commuting: 70 to 80mm at 78a to 80a. Rolls over everything.
- Wheels for carving: 65 to 70mm at 80a to 86a.
- Bushings by weight, not by feel. Under 60kg soft, 60 to 90kg medium, above that firm.
- Square lips grip, rounded lips slide. That is the whole lip profile decision.
- Cost: trucks $80 to $250, wheels $70 to $90, bushings $6 to $20.
- Cheapest real upgrade: bushings, every time.
What we cover
Reverse vs traditional kingpin · Baseplate angle · Truck width · Wheel diameter · Durometer · Lip profile and core · Bushings · What it costs · FAQ
Reverse kingpin or traditional kingpin?
This is the fundamental split, and it is why you cannot simply bolt street skateboard trucks to a longboard and expect it to work.
| Reverse kingpin (RKP) | Traditional kingpin (TKP) | |
|---|---|---|
| Kingpin position | Faces outward, away from the hanger | Faces inward, tucked under the hanger |
| Height | Taller | Lower |
| Turn character | Deep, progressive lean | Sharp over a short range |
| Stability at speed | Better | Twitchier as speed builds |
| Wheel clearance | More, suits big wheels | Less, wheel bite comes sooner |
| Best for | Longboards, commuters, downhill, carving | Street skateboards, small cruisers |
Almost every longboard deck is designed around RKP trucks. Small cruisers are the exception and often run TKP, which is why a cruiser feels darty and quick where a longboard feels like it leans into a turn.
What does baseplate angle change?
The baseplate angle sets how much the hanger swings for a given amount of lean. It is quoted in degrees and it is the most useful spec on a longboard truck.
| Angle | Behaviour | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Around 43 degrees | Turns less, very stable at speed | Downhill, fast commuting, heavier riders |
| Around 50 degrees | The versatile middle. Turns willingly, stays composed | Most riders, most of the time |
| Higher than 50 degrees | Turns eagerly, pumps well, less settled at speed | Carving, pumping, tight city riding |
A common downhill setup runs a higher angle at the front and a lower angle at the rear, which gives you steering from the front and stability from the back. That is a genuinely useful trick and it costs nothing if you buy trucks with swappable baseplates.
If you are not chasing speed, 50 degrees front and rear is the right answer and you can stop thinking about it.
What truck width do you need?
Longboard trucks are quoted by axle width, and unlike street skateboards the matching is loose. Most longboard decks are built around 180mm.
- 150mm. Narrower, quicker to initiate a turn, less stable. Suits narrower decks and smaller cruisers.
- 180mm. The standard. Stable, predictable, and what most longboard decks assume.
Wider trucks turn more slowly but hold a line better. Narrower trucks respond faster but get twitchy as speed builds. If your deck is 9in or wider, go 180mm.
Longboard trucks · Reverse kingpin trucks
What wheel diameter should you run?
Longboard wheels are bigger and softer than skateboard wheels, and the size range is much wider.
| Diameter | Character | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 60 to 65mm | Quick to accelerate, lower ride height | Compact cruisers, tight city riding |
| 65 to 70mm | The all-round middle | Carving, surf skate, mixed use |
| 70 to 75mm | Holds speed well, rolls over most things | Commuting, freeride |
| 75 to 80mm | Rolls over everything, slower off the mark | Distance pushing, rough paths |
Bigger wheels need clearance. Above about 70mm you want a drop-through deck with cutouts, or riser pads, or you will get wheel bite in a hard turn.
What durometer for longboard wheels?
Longboard wheels live almost entirely in the soft range, between 78a and 86a. That narrow band still makes a real difference.
| Durometer | Feel | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 78a to 80a | Softest. Maximum grip and roll, quiet | Commuting, rough Australian footpaths |
| 80a to 83a | Balanced grip with some release | Carving, all-round riding |
| 83a to 86a | Firmer, breaks traction more predictably | Freeride and learning to slide |
If you are commuting on Melbourne concrete, go soft. The difference between 78a and 86a on a cracked footpath is the difference between gliding and being rattled.
Lip profile and core placement
Two specs that sound like detail and genuinely are not, once you ride hills.
Lip profile is the shape of the wheel's outer edge. Square lips grip hard and hold their line, which is what you want commuting or going fast. Rounded lips let go predictably and slide smoothly, which is what you want learning freeride. A square-lipped wheel does not want to slide, and forcing one to is how people get thrown.
Core placement is where the plastic hub sits inside the urethane.
- Centreset. Core in the middle, so the wheel is symmetrical and can be flipped to even out wear. The most versatile and the best choice for freeride.
- Offset. Core slightly to one side. A middle ground of grip and slide.
- Sideset. Core hard to one side. Slides most easily, wears fastest and cannot be flipped.
Centreset for most people, because being able to flip the wheels doubles their life.
How do you choose bushings?
Bushings are the urethane rings around the kingpin, and they are the single most cost-effective change on a longboard. Every truck ships with bushings chosen for an average rider, so if you are not average they are wrong for you out of the box.
Start with your weight.
| Rider weight | Bushing hardness |
|---|---|
| Under 60kg | Around 78a to 82a |
| 60 to 75kg | Around 82a to 87a |
| 75 to 90kg | Around 87a to 92a |
| Over 90kg | 93a and up |
Then the shape. Barrels have more urethane in contact, so they resist more and give stability. Cones have less, so they turn more easily. A common setup is a barrel on the bottom for support and a cone on top for turn, especially on the front truck.
If your board feels vague and mushy but tightening the kingpin makes it refuse to turn, the bushings are wrong or worn. That is the fix, not new trucks.
What should you expect to pay?
| Part | Price range |
|---|---|
| Longboard trucks, pair | $80 to $250 |
| Longboard wheels, set of four | $70 to $90 |
| Bushings | $6 to $20 |
| Bearings, set of eight | $22 to $80 |
| Grip tape | $12 to $35 |
| Slide gloves | $80 to $95 |
Ranges current as at August 2026. Brands worth knowing: Paris and Bear for trucks, Orangatang as the benchmark for longboard urethane.
Longboard parts FAQ
What is the difference between reverse kingpin and traditional kingpin trucks?
Reverse kingpin trucks have the kingpin facing outward and sit taller, giving a deeper, more stable lean that suits longboards. Traditional kingpin trucks are lower and turn more sharply over a short range, which suits street skateboards and small cruisers.
What baseplate angle should longboard trucks be?
Around 50 degrees is the versatile default and what most longboard trucks ship with. Lower angles near 43 degrees turn less and stay calmer at speed, which suits downhill. Higher angles turn more eagerly, which suits carving and pumping.
What size longboard wheels do I need?
For commuting and rough paths, 70 to 80mm at 78a to 80a. For carving, 65 to 70mm at 80a to 86a. Bigger and softer rolls over cracks and gravel, smaller and harder is quicker to accelerate and more responsive through turns.
How do you choose longboard bushings?
By rider weight first. Under 60kg wants softer bushings around 80a, 60 to 90kg suits the mid 80a to 90a range, and heavier riders need 90a and up. Barrel shapes give more stability, cone shapes turn more easily.
What is wheel lip profile and does it matter?
Lip profile is the shape of the wheel edge. Square lips grip hard and hold a line, which suits downhill and commuting. Rounded lips release predictably into a slide, which suits freeride. It changes how the wheel behaves at the limit.
How much do longboard trucks and wheels cost?
Longboard trucks run $80 to $250 a pair, with precision and cast-performance options at the top. Wheels are around $70 to $90 a set of four. Bushings are $6 to $20 and are the cheapest meaningful change you can make.
Not sure what your board needs?
Bring it into 435A Bridge Road, Richmond. Most complaints about how a longboard rides come down to bushings or truck angle, and both are cheap fixes we can talk you through in a few minutes. Nobody here works on commission.
Free shipping Australia wide on orders over $90. Call 03 9421 2293.
Keep reading: How to Choose a Longboard, Cruiser or Surf Skate · What Size Longboard Do I Need? · How to Choose a Surf Skate · How to Choose Bearings
Shop: Trucks · Reverse Kingpin Trucks · Wheels · Bushings · Bearings · Grip Tape