Roller Skate Wheel Hardness Explained: The Durometer Guide
Roller Skate Wheel Hardness Explained: The Complete Durometer Guide
Wheels are one of the most impactful variables in how your skates feel and perform — and wheel hardness (durometer) is the single spec that matters most for matching your wheels to your surface. Get it right and your skates feel effortless. Get it wrong and you're fighting your equipment every session.
This guide explains exactly what durometer means, what the numbers tell you, and which hardness to choose for every surface and skating style.
What Is Durometer?
Durometer is a measure of material hardness. For skate wheels, it's measured on the A scale and expressed as a number followed by 'A' — for example, 78A, 82A, 88A, or 97A. The higher the number, the harder the wheel.
Most roller skate and inline skate wheels fall between 74A (very soft) and 103A (very hard). The practical range most skaters work within is 78A to 97A.
Soft Wheels (74A–82A)
Soft wheels compress more on impact, which gives them better grip and more shock absorption on rough or uneven surfaces. They're quieter, smoother on rough concrete, and more forgiving for beginners who are still developing their balance.
The trade-off: soft wheels create more rolling resistance and wear faster, especially on abrasive surfaces like rough asphalt.
Best for: outdoor skating on streets and paths, beginners, skaters on rough or uneven surfaces, and anyone who values grip and comfort over raw speed.
Key examples: Moxi Gummy (78A), Impala standard wheels (82A), Labeda Rocket outdoor wheels.
Medium Wheels (84A–88A)
Medium durometer wheels are the all-rounder option. They work reasonably well indoors and out, offering a balance between grip and speed. They're a sensible choice for skaters who split time between surfaces and don't want to carry two sets of wheels.
Best for: general purpose recreational skating across mixed surfaces, skaters who skate both indoors and outdoors occasionally.
Hard Wheels (88A–97A+)
Hard wheels have less grip but significantly less rolling resistance, making them fast on smooth surfaces. On a smooth wooden rink floor or polished concrete, hard wheels roll effortlessly and feel locked in. On rough outdoor surfaces, they transmit every crack and imperfection directly to your feet and are genuinely unpleasant to skate on.
Best for: indoor rinks, smooth concrete, skate park surfaces, and artistic and jam skating where speed and slide characteristics matter.
Key examples: RollerBones Team Logo (98A), Moxi Fundae (95A), RollerBones Elite (101A).
Should You Have Two Sets of Wheels?
If you skate regularly both at a rink and outdoors, yes — having two sets of wheels and swapping them is absolutely worth it. Swapping wheels takes under 10 minutes with a skate tool, and both sets will last significantly longer when used only on their intended surface. Rink wheels on rough concrete wear down fast. Outdoor wheels on a rink floor feel slow and grippy in a way that makes skating harder than it needs to be.
A single wheel change dramatically changes how your skates feel. It's the cheapest meaningful upgrade you can make to an existing setup.
Wheel Size and Its Interaction with Durometer
Wheel diameter and hardness work together. A larger, softer wheel rolls smoothly over rough surfaces. A smaller, harder wheel is more manoeuvrable but feels every surface imperfection. For most quad skaters, wheels in the 57–62mm range hit the sweet spot for recreational skating.
Inline skate wheels are generally larger (76–125mm depending on the discipline) and the same hardness principles apply: softer for outdoor grip, harder for rink and park speed.
Quick Reference: Which Wheel for Which Surface?
Indoor rink (wooden floor): 88A–101A, 57–60mm
Indoor rink (polished concrete): 84A–92A, 57–62mm
Outdoor smooth paths: 82A–86A, 58–62mm
Outdoor rough streets: 78A–82A, 58–65mm
Skate park (smooth concrete): 88A–97A, 57–62mm
General all-purpose: 84A–86A, 58–62mm
Upgrade Your Wheels at SoCal Skates
We stock wheels from Moxi, RollerBones, Labeda, Impala, Rio Roller, and more — covering the full durometer range for quad and inline skating. If you're not sure which wheels suit your skating, come into our Richmond store or reach out and we'll point you in the right direction.
Free shipping Australia-wide on orders over $90.