Your wheels say a lot about you. Are you a competitive downhill rider focused on gripping hairpin turns? Maybe your local is a marble plaza with ledges and mellow hubbas. In either case, having the right wheel is essential for having a good time on your board. Most people pay attention to the obvious things - the size, shape, or color of their skateboard wheels, but there’s one factor that might be more important than any of these: Hardness! What is the best hardness for a freestyle skateboard wheel? Does Waltz make it?
Most skateboard wheels measure hardness using the Shore-A scale. We use a tool called a durometer to test this measurement and most folks refer to hardness as “duro”. The higher the shore-A rating, the harder the wheel. So a 99A wheel is harder than a 92A wheel. Freestyle skateboarders tend to use wheels with a hardness that range from 95A to 100A. The exact number depends on personal preference and the surfaces that you skate.
What does your favorite local freestyle spot look like? For rough, uneven surfaces, a softer durometer is best - a wheel that’s 97a or softer. This will make footwork and rolling tricks much easier, even if you’re dealing with rough asphalt or a little gravel. If you’re riding on smooth, consistent ground like a concrete skatepark or a smooth paved surface, a medium-hard wheel is ideal. Something in a 97-98mm durometer. If you are skating on soft, grippy ground like a tennis court or urethane basketball court, a hard wheel might provide a faster feel. We recommend a durometer between 98a and 99a. This will help to prevent the sluggish, dragging feeling that many people notice while skating on urethane courts.
For me, when I have consistently smooth ground to ride, I prefer a 97a-98a wheel, like the Cicada 1.0 full freestyle wheel. It grips just enough on smooth concrete, without feeling sluggish or slow. It slides just enough on soft urethane courts. Waltz Skateboarding and Cicada brand wheels offer a few durometer options. We’re a little biased, but we think Waltz and Cicada make some of the best freestyle wheel shapes and durometers.
-Mike Osterman
