Skateboarding originated in the 1950s as a way for California surfers to "surf" the concrete sidewalks and roads when there weren't any waves in the ocean. Wheels back then were made of clay, and as a result were incredibly unstable and hard to control. In 1972, Frank Nasworthy invented skateboard wheels made out of urethane, and the modern skateboard wheel was born. The four main types of skateboarding -- street, vert, slalom and longboarding -- each have their own specific wheel type.
Street
Street skating is the most technical form of skateboarding, where flip tricks, complex grinds, and steep jumps or "ollies" make up a skateboarder's bag of tricks. The wheels used in street skating are the smallest of all the styles, with wheels measuring anywhere between 48 and 55 mm in diameter. These small wheels are lightweight and allow the skateboarder to perform flip tricks and ollies much easier than with other wheels. Street skating wheels are also very hard, which allows for the very high speeds needed to clear large gaps and obstacles.
Vert
Vert skateboarding is a much more fluid and elegant form of skateboarding, where skateboarders perform aerial maneuvers, complex spins, grinds and even flip tricks on sometimes massive half-pipe ramps. Vert skateboard wheels are the hardest variety because great amounts of speed are needed to perform these types of tricks. Vert wheels are also much larger than street wheels, ranging from 55 to 65 mm in diameter. The larger wheels allow for high speeds to be maintained longer, which is essential for besting gravity in order to perform aerial tricks.
Slalom
Slalom skateboarding is probably the most unique of the four styles, as it is essentially a completely separate sport -- slalom racers lie feet first on specially designed skateboards and weave in and out of cones on a down-hill course. Because of the high speeds reached during slalom racing, slalom wheels are softer than vert and street wheels to allow for better control during turns. They are also larger than street and vert wheels, averaging between 60 to 75 mm in diameter.
Longboarding
Longboarding is the most casual and relaxed style of skateboarding, where the skater focuses less on flashy tricks and more on the love of the ride. As the name implies, longboards are large, streamlined skateboards that have the largest wheels out of the four styles, ranging between 65 to 100 mm in diameter. Longboards are mainly used for transportation and cruising around, and the large wheels allow for maximum speed and comfort with the least amount of effort put towards propulsion.
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