Every day skateboarders come across new questions that need answers. What size wheel should you get? What hardness is right for me? Are the wheels good enough to do their job of rolling over rough surfaces without cracking under pressure? Skaters want to know the answers to these questions because they push them off obstacles at speeds up to 20 miles per hour. Catching air and sliding give them a thrill, but it does require a lot of effort from their equipment.
The most important part of any skateboard is the deck, which you stand on to control the board as it moves. Next, come the trucks that hold the wheels to be able to turn and keep stability while going at high speeds over rough roads. The wheels are the final point of contact and can make or break your skate session depending on what you use.
Hard Skateboard Wheels: Durometer
Skateboarders should always keep their eyes peeled for hard skateboard wheels because these things will last far longer than others and be much safer to ride with. The hardness of a wheel is called the Durometer and is rated on a scale of 1 to 100, with 100 being the hardest. A durometer reading of 80 or higher means that it can be used by skateboarders everywhere without reservation. Wheels with hardness ratings between 50 and 80 are ideal for commuting purposes while still having the ability to ride over rough surfaces.
Some boards with this rating are the Orangatang Caguama, Blood Orange Liam Morgan Pro, and Orangatang Kilmer. The wheels that fall between 30 and 50 on the durometer scale will give you trouble when trying to go fast or over rough surfaces because they aren’t stiff enough to absorb the shock of high speeds. A durometer rating of 29 or below means you should stay clear of these wheels because they are simply not safe to use.
A lot of skateboarders will think that the lower the durometer rating, the faster it can go, but this is an incorrect assumption. Take for example the Orangatang Moronga with a reading of 30 on the durometer scale. It has an extremely high roll speed but can’t be used on rough roads efficiently because of its small size and flimsy build, so it should only be attempted at slow speeds after taking the time to test it out in a safe place.
Summary: The hardness rating for skateboard wheels is called the durometer and is rated on a scale of 1 to 100, with 100 being the hardest. Wheels that are 30 or below should not be used for skateboarding because they aren’t safe enough to handle high speeds and rough roads. Wheels from 30-50 can be attempted at slow speeds but will give you trouble when trying to go fast. The best wheels range from 50 to 80 and can be used for commuting and riding over rough surfaces.
Why would you want hard skateboard wheels? What are the benefits?
There are many reasons to want hard skateboard wheels on your longboard. The biggest reason is so they don’t flat-spot on turns, especially tight turns. Flat spots can happen for a lot of reasons but one common cause is because the curve of the wheel slopes up towards the center, which means that you have to lean the board even further in order to compensate for that curvature. This is most evident when riding a longboard on extremely tight turns.
But if you have hard skateboard wheels instead, you won’t have any flat spots, so your turns will be nice and smooth. You won’t have to worry about getting thrown off balance by having to lean in too much or accidentally slip out due to wheels that are just a little bit too big for the tightness of the turn.
Another advantage of having hard skateboard wheels is that they’re fast! If you have soft, small wheels then you’ll be lucky if you’ve got any speed at all when riding on an incline. Hard wheels aren’t affected by bumps or cracks in the road and so they will stay planted on the ground and still roll fast. The smaller and harder your wheels are, the faster you’ll go!
And finally, let’s say that you’re a speed demon but you don’t want to go too fast for fear of falling off your longboard. If you just want to skate for fun and not be too serious about it, then having small, hard wheels will do the trick. You don’t need large wheels to keep you safe and stable when going at a slow speed so you can have all the fun of fast turns and low speeds without worrying about your safety!
Why would you not want Hard skateboard wheels?
Now, there are some disadvantages as well. If you want to ride on rougher asphalt, for example, having small and hard skateboard wheels won’t do much good because they’ll just get stuck in cracks and craters that large wheels can simply rollover. You might not be able to enjoy riding on rougher terrain if you have extremely small and hard wheels.
And then, you might not be able to avoid going very fast if you have extremely small and hard skateboard wheels because they won’t give much grip on the road. But this is a disadvantage only if you don’t want to go fast! If your goal is to go as fast as possible, then having hard wheels will help, but if you’re concerned about speed, then it might be best to have larger wheels.
So in conclusion, there are many reasons to want hard skateboard wheels which is why so many longboarders use them. They help with tight turns, keep your board planted on inclines, and can give you a little boost of speed when needed.
However, they’re not perfect and you might want to consider having a combination of large and small hard wheels so that you can have the advantages of both. Now you know what hard skateboard wheels are good for!
What are soft Skateboard Wheels?
Soft Skateboard Wheels are very important to riders who care about their set-up. Soft skateboard wheels are beneficial for a lot of different reasons, the first being that they have more grip than harder wheels. Secondly, softer wheels help reduce stress on ankles and knees because the impact from riding is not as harsh on the body. Lastly, soft wheels are well-suited for skateparks, pools, and other concrete obstacles.
There is a trade-off with soft wheels though; they wear out faster than their harder counterparts. It is important to bear that in mind when choosing which kind of wheel to use as the only way to replace them once they wear out will be to buy a whole new set.
Some great examples of soft skateboard wheels are the Orangantang 4 President Soft Skateboard Wheels, Blood Orange Liam Morgan Pro Series Soft Skateboard Wheels and the RAD Release Hi Rebound Cruiser Wheels. All three of these soft skateboard wheels have a rating of at least 88a on Amazon, which is the highest rating that soft wheels are assigned. The latter two also have very high opinions from many other sources as well, with both having a 9/10 star review on Amazon and 4.5 stars for RAD Wheels and 4 Stars for Orangatang Skateboard Wheels on their official site.
While it is important to pick the right set of wheels for your riding style and preferences, these three sets are some of the highest quality soft skateboard wheels on the market. Trucks and bearings can be changed out easily enough once they wear down, but it is good to invest in a well-made set of soft wheels right from the start. The high-quality soft wheels that these three sets of wheels have been designed to will not only have a better grip on the ground, but they will also last longer and be more comfortable for beginners and experienced riders alike.
Why would you want soft skateboard wheels?
Softer skateboard wheels grip the ground better, allowing users to do tricks with ease. In addition, riders report they have less vibrations when riding on softer Skateboard Wheels.
Soft Skateboard Wheels also provide a rider with a smoother ride, as it has more grip on the ground.
Why would you not want soft skateboard wheels?
Some riders claim hard Skateboard Wheels are better for tricks as they allow for faster acceleration and speed than soft wheels. Also some people report that hard Skateboard Wheels feel less bumpy than soft Skateboard Wheels. Also, some people claim that softer wheels are less durable than hard ones.
Who should get soft skateboard wheels?
People who want a smooth ride and to do tricks with their board. In addition, skaters who wish to cruise at lower speeds would benefit from having soft Skateboard Wheels instead of hard.
Who should not get soft skateboard wheels?
People who are looking for a hard wheel that accelerates faster or allows for higher speeds, as well as skaters who want to ride their board at high speeds would be better off with harder Skateboard Wheels.
Soft Wheels vs Hard Wheels
Soft skateboard wheels are usually made of polyurethane (PU) and come in widths of between 52mm and 70mm on average. These wheels can be taken on rough surfaces, like cracks in the pavement or small stones on the road, because they absorb most of the shock which is produced by hitting these obstacles with your board. This makes them ideal for use in busy areas where there are many obstacles, like the streets of a city. Soft wheels also allow you to ride on wet surfaces without slipping.
Hard skateboard wheels are usually made out of polyester urethane (PE). They offer much less shock absorption than PU wheels, but they provide more traction when doing tricks. This increase in grip allows for performing tricks with much more control. Hard wheels have a much smaller contact patch, which means that they produce less traction the faster you go. This means that there is a higher risk of slipping when going fast on hard skateboard wheels, so unless you’re looking to perform stunts and acrobatics it may not be the best idea to use them.
Hard skateboard wheels are much smaller than soft ones, usually between 48mm and 56mm wide. They come in different hardnesses as well; these hardness ratings convey how much resistance that particular wheel has against wear and tear. For example, harder wheels last longer but they also offer less traction than softer ones. Since they are smaller, harder wheels also tend to be lighter than soft ones. They are ideal for performing tricks because the harder wheel reduces the chances of slipping during spins and flips.
Hard skateboard wheels usually come in bright colors, which makes them visually noticeable on the street. Because they do not absorb much impact when hitting cracks or stones on the road, hard skateboard wheels are not as good as soft ones for riding on rough surfaces.
Soft Wheels vs Hard Wheels: Which is best?
In conclusion, hard skateboard wheels provide more traction and control when performing tricks, but they come with a higher risk of slipping when going fast. Soft skateboard wheels absorb shock better and offer more grip on wet surfaces, but they provide less control while performing tricks. They are ideal for cruising around town, while hard wheels are perfect for stunts and acrobatics.
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