How to Choose Wirtgen Milling Teeth-A Complete Buyer’s Guide in a Changing Tungsten Market
Wirtgen milling teeth – also called road milling picks, planing teeth, or simply wirtgen milling picks – are the most frequently replaced wear parts on any cold planer. They are the cutting tools that actually remove asphalt or concrete. Because they are manufactured with tungsten carbide, global tungsten prices have a direct impact on their cost.
Due to ongoing geopolitical conflicts, international tungsten prices have been rising steadily. However, since April 2026, an interesting divergence has appeared:
- Global tungsten prices continue to climb
- Domestic Chinese tungsten prices have started to fall
This gap has caused a flood of international buyers to turn to Chinese‑made Wirtgen milling teeth. As a result, many overseas distributors and contractors are now sourcing their wirtgen aftermarket parts directly from factories in China – including LongTrust.
If you are looking for high‑quality wirtgen milling teeth and Wirtgen Pick Holder, this guide will help you make the right choice without overpaying or sacrificing performance.
1. Size & Shape – What Really Matters
Diameter: The Two Industry Standards
Wirtgen milling teeth come in two standard shank diameters:
| Diameter | Typical Application |
|---|---|
| Φ20 mm | Smaller milling machines, finer cuts |
| Φ22 mm | Standard for most Wirtgen cold planers (W 100, W 120, W 150, W 200 series, etc.) |
Almost all imported and domestic milling machines use these two diameters. This standardization means you can easily find replacement teeth regardless of the brand.
Shape – Don’t Overthink It
While the diameter is fixed, the external shape of the tooth body varies between manufacturers. Each company designs its tooth profile to:
- Better protect the tungsten carbide tip
- Reduce cutting resistance during high‑speed milling
- Allow the tooth to rotate freely (self‑sharpening effect)
Because every design has its own engineering philosophy, you do not need to obsess over minor shape differences. Whether you buy genuine Wirtgen OEM parts or high‑quality wirtgen aftermarket parts, the cutting performance will be comparable as long as the materials and heat treatment are correct.
2. Materials – The Secret to Long Life
A quality Wirtgen milling tooth is not just a steel body with a carbide tip. Here are the material specifications we use at LongTrust.
Tungsten Carbide Tip (the cutting part)
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Material grade | Equivalent to international grade YG11C |
| Tungsten content | 6% – 14% |
| Hardness | 88 – 89 HRA |
| Transverse rupture strength | ≥ 2400 N/mm² |
| Density | 14.5 – 14.9 g/cm³ |
Steel Body (the shank)
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Material | 42CrMo (wear‑resistant alloy steel) |
| Forming process | Forged, then precision machined |
| Heat treatment hardness | 42 – 44 HRC |
Important: Hardness should not exceed 48 HRC. Excessively hard shanks become brittle and can snap under shock loads, leaving the broken shank stuck in the tool holder.
Washer / Retaining Ring
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Material | Spring steel (65Mo) |
| Typical diameter | 44 mm |
| Function | Protects the tool holder from direct wear; keeps the tooth seated |
3. Wirtgen Milling Teeth Classification
Wirtgen offers different tooth families for different applications. As a supplier of wirtgen aftermarket parts, we reproduce each type with identical material specifications.
Class 1: Concrete‑Specific Teeth – W1 Series
wirtgen milling teeth W1 designed exclusively for cement pavement milling.
- Feature: Non‑dented carbide tip + 42 mm long steel body
- Benefit: Impact‑resistant, does not chip or break. Ideal for high‑hardness concrete.
- Long working life even under severe conditions.
Class 2: Asphalt All‑Round Teeth – A Series (Wirtgen Black Technology)
Optimized for asphalt milling.
- Features: Improved washer + guide groove design
- Benefits:
- Reduces tool holder wear by up to 30%
- Lower fuel consumption
- Smoother cutting action
- 100% original factory fitment
The most common models are wirtgen milling teeth W6/20a and wirtgen milling teeth W7/20a (both Φ20 mm shank or Φ22 mm depending on variant – the “/20a” typically refers to a specific profile). The difference between W6/20a and W7/20a is the carbide tip length:
| Model | Tip Length | Durability |
|---|---|---|
| W6/20a | Shorter tip | Standard life |
| W7/20a | Longer tip | Longer wear life |
For heavy asphalt milling, choose W7/20a – it lasts longer and reduces change‑out frequency.
Class 3: PCD Diamond Teeth – Ultra‑Precision Milling
- Tip material: Polycrystalline diamond (PCD)
- Application: High‑grade asphalt pavements (e.g., highways, airport runways)
- Advantage: Diamond tip wears much slower than tungsten carbide, delivering exceptional life for super‑fine milling.
4. How to Choose the Right Wirtgen Milling Teeth
The selection rule is simple:
| Surface Type | Recommended Teeth |
|---|---|
| Asphalt pavement | A‑series (e.g., W6/20a, W7/20a) |
| Concrete pavement | W1 series |
| High‑grade / super‑smooth asphalt | PCD diamond teeth |
Inspection & Replacement Guidelines
- Check every 50 working hours – Look for white spots or a shiny polished tip. That means the carbide is worn and the tooth must be replaced immediately.
- Tool holder wear – If the holder wear exceeds 2 mm, replace the holder. Otherwise, the tooth may fall out and damage the rotor.
5. How to Choose Quality Aftermarket Wirtgen Milling Teeth
Choosing aftermarket wirtgen milling teeth is harder than buying genuine OEM. A good choice saves you a lot of money; a bad choice can damage your machine.
Here are four proven tips:
1. Start with Reputable Brands or Trusted Suppliers
Big brands like Kennametal are always a safe choice. But even better: find a reliable factory supplier like LongTrust. You get the same quality at a much lower price – and you avoid the risk of counterfeits.
2. Inspect the Workmanship
Good aftermarket teeth have:
- Precise machining, clean edges, no burrs
- Tight and even bonding between the carbide tip and the steel body
- Consistent geometry across the whole batch
3. Check Carbide Content & Material Quality
- Higher tungsten content generally means better wear resistance (6–14% range is standard)
- The steel body, washer, and retaining ring must also be high quality. Cheap retaining rings break easily, causing lost teeth and extra downtime.
4. Test the Fit & Rotation
A good tooth should fit tightly in the holder but still be able to rotate freely. Rotation is essential to prevent one‑sided wear (so‑called “half‑moon” wear). If the tooth cannot rotate, it will wear out much faster.
6. Buying Options – OEM vs Aftermarket vs Bargain Teeth
At LongTrust, we offer several options for wirtgen milling teeth (prices based on W7 model, April 2026):
| Option | Source | Typical Price (USD) | Quality & Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genuine Wirtgen OEM | Wirtgen factory | ~$16 | Perfect, but expensive |
| LongTrust aftermarket part | Our own production | 8–8–11 | Same materials, same performance |
| LongTrust OEM‑spec (pre‑price‑rise inventory) | Bought before tungsten price spike | 9–9–12 | Identical to genuine OEM at a discount |
| Very cheap “bargain” teeth | Unknown source | $5–7 | Not recommended – we do not sell them because they cause trouble |
Important: We could also sell very cheap teeth (under $7), but we choose not to. Cheap teeth fail quickly – they break, wear out in hours, or damage tool holders. The cost of downtime and repairs far exceeds any small saving.
Our philosophy: All the teeth we supply – whether OEM or aftermarket – use the same material grade, same heat treatment, and same carbide quality. Performance is identical. The only difference is the price.
Why Global Suppliers Are Switching to Chinese‑Made Wirtgen Milling Teeth
Since April 2026, international tungsten prices have continued rising, while Chinese domestic tungsten prices have fallen. This means:
- Chinese‑produced tungsten carbide is now significantly cheaper
- Wirtgen milling teeth made in China offer the same quality at a much lower cost
- International parts distributors are shifting their sourcing to China
At LongTrust, we manufacture wirtgen milling picks for many overseas suppliers who rebrand them for their local markets. When you buy directly from us, you get:
- Factory‑direct pricing
- Massive inventory – including W1, W6/20a, W7/20a, and PCD teeth
- Fast worldwide shipping – air freight 5–8 business days
- 1‑year warranty on every tooth
- Identical material & performance as OEM at 30–50% lower cost
Quick Selection Summary
| Your Need | Choose |
|---|---|
| Concrete milling | W1 series |
| Asphalt milling (standard) | A‑series: W6/20a or W7/20a (prefer W7/20a for longer life) |
| High‑grade asphalt / super‑fine milling | PCD diamond teeth |
| Best value for money | LongTrust aftermarket (same as OEM, half the price) |
| Absolute lowest price – but risky | Not recommended (we don’t sell them) |
Order Your Wirtgen Milling Teeth from LongTrust Today
We are the source factory. Many foreign suppliers already buy from us. Now you can too.
Email: longtrustcn@gmail.com
Website: https://longtrustcn.com/
Facility: 6,000㎡ Manufacturing & Warehouse Center
In stock now:
- wirtgen milling teeth W1 – Concrete series
- wirtgen milling teeth W6/20a – Asphalt, standard tip
- wirtgen milling teeth W7/20a – Asphalt, long tip (recommended)
- PCD diamond teeth (on request)
Fast shipping: Air freight 5–8 business days worldwide.
1‑year warranty on all wirtgen aftermarket parts, wirtgen milling teeth and wirtgen milling picks.
Send us your machine model, required tooth type, and quantity. We will confirm compatibility and send a quote within 24 hours.
