Founded by Primitive pro skater Carlos Ribeiro and BLVD Skateboards king of pop Tiago Lemos, Crupiê Multicultural Skateboard Wheels (to give them their full title) is one of the newest skater-owned wheel brands on the market.

With a team encompassing skaters from North and South America Crupiê’s ‘Multicultural’ tag line is a nod to their embrace of skateboarders from places as diverse as Brazil, Spain and the USA.

Crupiê’s approach to wheels firmly reflects the technically minded talents of their team with an emphasis on the smaller end of the diameter range with their wheels topping the durometer scale at a rock hard 101a, perfect for precision ledge and tech skating.

These Crupiê Apex Iqui Pro wheels are the signature wheels for Brazilian pro Carlos Iqui who is also on BLVD Skateboards along with the brand’s owner Tiago Lemos. At a diminutive 51mm you’ll need a low profile truck to run with these, and at 101a on the durometer, these are among the hardest wheels on today’s market.

“If you’re looking for a small, super hard street wheel to be used on smooth surfaces then Crupiê Multicultural Wheel Co. is worth a look for sure.”

You probably ought to bear this in mind before purchasing however, as wheels this hard will perform exceptionally well with technical skating at speed but may not be entirely suitable for uneven or rough surfaces.

Crupiê’s Apex Technology promises ‘Advanced Flat Spot Resistance’ due their sourcing of their own urethane directly from manufacturers, (rather than buying off the shelf) meaning that they can offer a high performance technical wheel at a lower-than-average retail price. If you’re looking for a small, super hard street wheel to be used on smooth surfaces then Crupiê Multicultural Wheel Co. is worth a look for sure.

• CRUPIE – APEX IQUI
• RRP: £24.95
• Diameter : 51mm
• Durometer: 101a
• CRUPIE.COM