Wheel hardness is one of the most important attributes of a roller skate wheel. The hardness or softness of a wheel determines how you should best use that wheel and what surfaces you should skate on with that wheel.
Wheel hardness is determined by an A scale rating. The lower the number, the softer the wheel. The higher the number, the harder the wheel.
- Indoor wheels are firmer (higher numbers) and roll more easily than outdoor wheels. Indoor wheels glide quickly over smooth, hard ground, but they are liable to slipping and sliding over rough or irregular terrain.
- Outdoor wheels are softer (lower numbers) and roll well in unfriendly environments like surfaces with small pebbles and bumpy outdoor surfaces. When skating outdoors you should try to use a wheel with a hardness of 88A or less.
And don’t forget that if you need help picking your next pair of wheels, we’ll be more than happy to help you at Roller Kingdom!