Having a slow longboard can be frustrating.
Here are some reasons why it might be slow.
Overtightened Wheel Nuts
The first thing to test is spinning your wheels with your hand. Do all of them spin? If not, then it could be that the wheel nut is overtightened. Loosen it slightly and try spinning it again.
If it works, that was your issue. If not, go on to the next one.
Cheap Wheels
The most common reason your longboard rides slow is that the wheels are made of a cheap urethane formula. Most beginners will automatically assume it’s their bearings, but it’s most likely the wheel’s urethane formula.
Usually, longboards $100 or below will have poor-quality wheels. The urethane formula is vital to how your longboard performs; most cheap longboard brands don’t consider this.
Upgrading to a quality set of longboard wheels will be a game-changer.
Worn Out Bearings
As briefly mentioned above, most people put too much emphasis on bearings. They don’t increase your speed that significantly.
However, there are cases where you need to perform maintenance or get a new set.
If you spin your wheels, do you hear a loud noise? If so, you should clean and re-lube them to see if that makes a difference.
If they’re really old and rusty, pick up a new set.
