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How to Choose the Right Diameter and Durometer for Your Surfskate Wheels
Watch How to Choose Your Surfskate Wheels on YouTube
If you’re not sure which of the four sets of Surfskate Love surfskate wheels are best for you, then let me give you some quick guidelines.
We have two different sizes: the smaller 65 millimeter and the bigger 70 millimeter. And in each of those sizes, we have two different durometers, the softer 78a and the harder 81a.
Choose the Diameter (Size) of Your Surfskate Wheels
Smaller surfskate wheels give you quicker acceleration, but lower top speed. Bigger surfskate wheels give you slower acceleration, but higher top speed.
So if you mostly skate in small areas and over smooth surfaces, then you probably want to go with the smaller 65 millimeter surfskate wheels. These will be quicker, more nimble, and easier to do snaps and slides than the bigger 70 millimeter wheels.
But if you skate over longer distances and rougher terrain, then you probably want to go with the bigger 70 millimeter surfskate wheels. These won’t be quite as nimble for tight carving, but they’ll go faster and feel smoother on rougher surfaces.
How to Choose the Durometer (Softness) of Your Surfskate Wheels
Duromter is the softness or the hardness of the urethane. The durometer scale rating goes from 75a to 100a and the higher the number, the harder the wheel.
Softer surfskate wheels, like the 78a, will give you more grip, while harder surfskate wheels, like the 81a, are easier to slide.
Softer wheels will also feel more plush and comfortable when riding over rougher surfaces. Harder wheels are better for smooth surfaces because they’re faster.
So if you prefer having a lot of grip to feel confident through tight carving, then you probably want to go with the softer 78a durometer surfskate wheels.
But if you like to do a lot of snaps and slides and if you want your wheels to release a little bit better, then you probably want to go with the harder 81a durometer surfskate wheels.
If you ride on mostly rough surfaces, then the 78a will feel more comfortable for you. But if you ride on smooth surfaces such as parts and bowls, then you probably want to go with the harder 81a.
Bottom-Line Recommendations for Surfskate Wheels
So let me put all this together into some bottom-line recommendations for particular riding styles and environments.
65mm 78a Surfskate Wheels
I recommend the 65 millimeter 78a durometer surfskate wheels for riders who ride over shorter distances and rougher surfaces and who favor grip over slide.
I recommend the 65 millimeter 81a durometer surfskate wheels if you do a lot of park and bowl riding, you want higher speeds, and your riding style is sharp, tight performance riding with a lot of snaps and slides.
I recommend the 70 millimeter 78a durometer surfskate wheels for riders who like to ride their surfskate from point A to point B, you cover a fair amount of distance, you’re riding over rougher surfaces, you like to go fast, and you favor grip over slide.
And finally, I recommend the 70 millimeter 81a durometer surfskate wheels for riders who ride longer distances, you favor slide over grip, and you want to go as fast as possible.