Testing the Durometer Claims of Popular Hybrid Skateboard Wheels
Wheel durometer numbers get thrown around a lot, especially with the rise of “hybrid” formulas that promise soft-wheel comfort with hard-wheel slide. To see how close marketing claims are to real-world hardness, we tested several popular wheels using a Shore C durometer under consistent conditions. Same tool, same pressure, same method, multiple readings per wheel. To keep things grounded, we used Orangatang wheels as our control group, since they’re widely respected for publishing accurate durometer ratings across their entire range. From there, we put some of the most talked-about hybrid formulas under the gauge and let the numbers speak.
ORANGATANG 80A (CONTROL)
Orangatang wheels were used as our benchmark, and unsurprisingly, every sample landed exactly where it was advertised. Their 80A read dead-on, which reinforces why they’re trusted as a reference point. Orangatang uses consistent urethane chemistry, controlled curing times, and clear internal standards for hardness testing.
When a company designs wheels for longboarding and downhill where precision matters, durometer accuracy isn’t optional—it’s foundational. This makes them an ideal control when evaluating how other brands interpret (or stretch) their numbers.
BONES X-FORMULA 97A (TESTED ~93A)
Bones Wheels X-Formula is marketed as a true hybrid—hard enough to slide, soft enough to smooth rough ground. On the durometer, however, the 97A tested closer to 93A. This isn’t necessarily a flaw.
Bones has long tuned rebound, grip, and roll speed as much as raw hardness, and X-Formula is designed to behave like a harder wheel while physically measuring softer. Urethane blends with higher rebound can feel faster and firmer than the durometer suggests, which may explain why the ride experience still lines up with the marketing even if the number doesn’t.
POWELL DRAGON 88A (TESTED ~93A)
The Powell Peralta Dragon 88A was one of the more surprising results, testing significantly harder than its stated durometer. Powell has been upfront that Dragon Formula doesn’t behave like traditional A-scale wheels, and this reading helps explain why.
Dragons are engineered to roll like a soft wheel but slide like a hard one, and that duality likely comes from a denser urethane structure with unique rebound characteristics. The number on the package reflects ride intent more than literal hardness, which can be confusing if you expect durometer ratings to be purely technical.
POWELL DRAGON 95A (TESTED ~95–95.5A)
The 95A Dragons were far closer to their stated rating, landing right around where advertised. This suggests that as Dragon Formula moves into harder ranges, the gap between labeled and measured durometer narrows.
The tech still prioritizes slide and speed over traditional feel, but at this hardness level the chemistry aligns more closely with standard expectations. In other words, the harder Dragons behave more like what the number says—both underfoot and under the gauge.
SPITFIRE SAPPHIRE 90DU (TESTED ~92A)
Spitfire Wheels Sapphire wheels are labeled using a “DU” scale rather than standard A-durometer, which already hints that a direct comparison won’t be perfect. When tested, they landed closer to 92A. That discrepancy likely comes from Spitfire tuning Sapphire for speed and controlled slide while keeping vibration low.
Like other hybrid formulas, the feel on pavement can be softer than the reading suggests, especially due to rebound and surface contact patch design. The takeaway here is that DU ratings are more about performance category than strict hardness equivalence.
WHAT THIS ACTUALLY MEANS
Durometer numbers are useful, but they’re not the whole story—especially with modern hybrid urethanes. Rebound, curing process, additives, and intended riding style all influence how a wheel feels and performs. Orangatang proves that published numbers can be dead accurate, but other brands clearly prioritize ride characteristics over literal hardness. That doesn’t make them wrong—it just means skaters should read durometer ratings as guidance, not gospel.
To be continued. Stay tuned for Part 2, where we put even more popular skateboard wheel brands under the durometer to see where they really land when marketing meets measurement.
