Skateboard Wheel Hardness: What Should You Ride?
A rough UK pavement can turn a great-looking skateboard into a rattly, slow ride in seconds. Before changing your deck, bearings or trucks, check your wheels. Skateboard wheel hardness affects how much grip you have, how easily you roll over cracks, how hard landings feel and how your board responds in a skatepark.
Wheel hardness is shown as a durometer rating, usually followed by the letter A. A lower number means a softer wheel. A higher number means a harder wheel. There is no single best rating for every rider - the right choice depends on where you skate, the tricks you want to learn and how smooth the ground is beneath you.
What skateboard wheel hardness means
Most skateboard wheels use the A durometer scale. You will commonly see ratings from around 78A to 101A. Soft wheels compress more when they hit uneven ground. That gives them extra grip and helps them absorb vibration. Hard wheels compress less, so they feel faster and more precise on smooth concrete, but they transmit more of the surface through the board.
Hardness is only one part of wheel choice. Diameter, width, contact patch and urethane formula all change the ride too. A 99A wheel from one brand may not feel exactly like a 99A wheel from another, because the shape and compound can differ. Treat the rating as a useful starting point, not a promise that every wheel will ride identically.
You may also see D-scale ratings on certain wheels. The A and D scales are measured differently, so do not assume a number such as 84D is directly comparable to 84A. Check the manufacturer information before comparing them.
Soft skateboard wheels: 78A to 87A
Soft wheels are made for comfort, control and getting across imperfect ground. At 78A to 87A, they are a strong choice for cruising, commuting, filming, long rides and relaxed sessions around streets, promenades and park paths. They grip well and make cracked tarmac, paving joins and small stones far less punishing.
For younger riders and beginners, softer wheels can make the first few sessions more enjoyable. A board that rolls smoothly encourages confidence, especially when a rider is still learning balance, pushing and turning. Parents choosing a first complete skateboard should think about the surface it will actually be used on. If it is mainly a driveway, path or local pavement, very hard skatepark wheels can feel unnecessarily harsh.
The trade-off is that soft wheels are less suited to technical street skating. They can feel slower on smooth ramps and may grip too much during powerslides. Their wider, softer contact with the ground can also make some flip tricks feel less crisp. That does not mean you cannot ollie or learn tricks on soft wheels - you can - but a trick-focused setup will usually benefit from harder urethane.
Medium wheels: 88A to 97A
Medium-hard wheels sit in the useful middle ground. They offer more comfort than standard hard street wheels while still feeling responsive enough for basic tricks, small ramps and mixed-use skate spots. If your local area includes smooth paths, rough car parks and the occasional skatepark, this range is often the practical all-round option.
A wheel around 92A to 95A can work well for riders who do not want to own separate cruiser and park setups. It will not glide over poor pavement like a 78A cruiser wheel, and it will not slide as freely as a 101A skatepark wheel. What it does offer is a balanced ride that lets you travel to the spot, practise tricks and handle less-than-perfect UK surfaces without changing wheels every session.
This category is particularly useful for progressing riders. You may be learning ollies, riding kerbs and trying ramps, while still needing your board to get you around. Choose a medium wheel with a shape that matches your style: a wider wheel gives more stability and grip, while a narrower profile can feel quicker edge to edge.
Hard wheels: 99A to 101A and above
Hard wheels are the familiar choice for street skating, technical tricks and smooth skateparks. At 99A, 100A or 101A, wheels roll fast on polished concrete and provide a lively, direct feel underfoot. They are also easier to slide, which matters for powerslides, reverts and certain ramp tricks.
On smooth ground, hard wheels make it easier to feel what the board is doing. Pop can feel sharper, flip tricks can feel more predictable and landings tend to be more responsive. This is why many experienced skateboarders choose hard wheels for ledges, ramps, indoor parks and well-kept outdoor skateparks.
The compromise arrives the moment the surface gets rough. Hard wheels can catch on stones, chatter across paving and lose speed quickly on coarse tarmac. They also send more vibration into your feet and ankles. If the route to your skatepark is rough, carrying your board or using a second set of cruiser wheels can make more sense than forcing one hard-wheel setup to do every job.
Match wheel hardness to where you skate
Start with your most common surface, not your ideal one. A rider skating smooth ramps twice a week but travelling around rough streets every day has different needs from someone whose board never leaves an indoor park.
For rough pavements, streets and casual cruising, look towards 78A to 87A. For mixed surfaces and riders who want one dependable board, 88A to 97A is often the sweet spot. For smooth skateparks, technical street spots and riders who value slide and response, 99A to 101A is the usual direction.
Wet ground changes the equation. No wheel hardness makes skateboarding safe in the rain. Water reduces grip, hides debris and can damage bearings. Softer wheels may feel grippier in dry conditions, but they are not a reason to skate through puddles or on slick concrete. Wait for dry ground, particularly when learning or skating ramps.
Diameter and hardness work together
Do not choose hardness in isolation. Wheel diameter affects speed, acceleration and how well a wheel handles cracks. Larger wheels, usually 56mm and above, carry momentum more effectively and roll more easily over uneven ground. Smaller wheels, often 50mm to 54mm, are lighter and popular for street tricks, but can feel slower on rough surfaces.
A 60mm, 78A wheel is a classic cruiser combination: fast, comfortable and stable, but not usually the best choice for technical flip tricks. A 52mm, 101A wheel is almost the opposite: responsive and trick-ready on smooth ground, but demanding on broken pavement. Mixed setups often land around 54mm to 56mm with a mid-range durometer.
As wheels get larger, check for wheelbite. This happens when the wheel touches the deck during a sharp turn, which can stop the board suddenly. Riser pads can create extra clearance, while tighter trucks reduce turning room. Make adjustments carefully and test the board before skating at speed.
When should you replace your wheels?
Hardness does not change dramatically overnight, but wheels wear down and their shape can affect performance. Replace them when they become heavily coned, develop deep cracks, chunk badly or are worn so small that they no longer suit your setup. Unevenly worn wheels can make the board feel unpredictable, especially when turning or landing.
Rotate your wheels periodically if you notice one side wearing faster. This is common for riders who regularly slide or turn in the same direction. Keeping the wear even helps the board feel more consistent and gets more life from the set.
If your ride suddenly feels slow, inspect your bearings as well as the wheels. Dirt, moisture and damaged shields can create drag that has nothing to do with durometer. A clean, correctly fitted set of bearings and properly tightened axle nuts make a real difference.
A practical choice for every skill level
Beginners do not need the hardest wheels because experienced skaters use them. Choose wheels that make your local ground easier to ride. A comfortable, controllable board builds better habits than a setup that constantly catches on cracks.
More experienced riders can be more specific. Keep a hard set for park or street sessions and a softer set for travelling, cruising or rougher spots. Swapping wheels is straightforward with a skate tool, and it lets one deck serve more than one purpose. Proline Skates stocks skateboard wheels and the practical parts needed to keep a setup rolling properly.
Your wheels should help you spend more time riding and less time fighting the ground. Pick the hardness that suits the surface under your feet, then get out there and wear them in.