Wheels Explained: Choosing Fingerboard Wheels

Fingerboard wheels are commonly made from either molded/CNC plastic or poured urethane (the same family of material used in real skateboard wheels). The two materials behave differently, and which one suits a setup depends on the rider's goals rather than one being universally superior.^1, 2, 3

• 01Plastic wheels are common on entry-level and starter completes. They are inexpensive and widely available.
• 02Urethane wheels are softer and more flexible, which gives more grip and a vibration-absorbing roll that many riders describe as closer to a real skateboard feel.
• 03Durability differs: plastic wheels are more prone to developing flat spots or cracking under heavy use, while urethane tends to stay round longer.
• 04Some soft urethane wheels produce a 'squeak' during slides, which plastic wheels generally do not.
• 05Feel is subjective and surface-dependent; a wheel that suits a smooth ramp may feel different on a textured park surface.

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Durometer describes a wheel's hardness. Fingerboard urethane wheels are usually rated on the D (Shore D) scale. Documented durometers seen across brands and retailer listings include figures in roughly the 60D–72D range, with specific values such as 60D, 61D, 64D, 65D, 68D, 70D, and 72D appearing on product pages. Importantly, durometer alone does not fully determine feel: brands note that two wheels with the same durometer can feel different because of urethane formula, pigment, and shape.^{4, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9}

• 01Softer urethane (toward the lower end of the documented range) tends to offer more grip; often associated with ramp/park and transition riding.
• 02Harder urethane (toward the higher end) tends to slide more easily; often associated with technical street riding.
• 03Documented examples: Blistered standard wheels are described as a 60D blend, with some models in an exclusive 72D FlatFace urethane formula. FlatFace describes a soft, grippy original 60D and limited harder 72D versions. Dynamic lists 64D 'Butter' wheels. Teak Tuning lists 61D urethane wheels. Maple ULTRA 3.0 is listed at 70D.
• 04Dual-durometer wheels combine two hardnesses in one wheel (FlatFace offers these), aiming to blend grip and slide characteristics.
• 05Durometer labels are not always directly comparable across brands because measurement scales and formulas vary.
• 06Durometer lineups change with limited runs; confirm against the brand's current product page.
• 07No single durometer is universally best; the right hardness depends on riding style, surface, and personal preference.

Wheel diameter (height) and width affect both how the setup rolls and whether bearings and wheels clear the deck and trucks. Documented fingerboard wheel diameters span roughly 6mm to about 8.7mm, with common sizes around 7mm–7.5mm. Width figures such as 4.4mm and 5mm appear on product listings.^{10, 2, 11}

• 01Smaller-diameter wheels (around 6mm–7mm) are often described as lighter and more technical/flip-friendly.
• 02Larger-diameter wheels (around 7.5mm–8mm+) are often associated with more stability for ramps and bowls.
• 03Diameter and width affect clearance: a wheel must clear the deck edges and not rub during deep leans or turns.
• 04Width also relates to bearing fit and how the wheel seats on the axle.

Most pro fingerboard wheels use small ball bearings pressed into the wheel, which is what gives a smooth, free-rolling spin versus a solid plastic wheel. Listings commonly cite an ABEC rating (e.g., ABEC-7 or ABEC-9). Bearings come in single-bearing and dual-bearing configurations, and this affects truck compatibility.^{6, 12, 13, 14, 10}

• 01Single-bearing wheels seat one bearing per wheel; dual-bearing wheels seat two bearings per wheel and require a longer truck axle to fit.
• 02Dual-bearing setups are described as more stable with less wobble, but they only fit dual-bearing-compatible trucks (e.g., Dynamic Dual Bearing Edition, Blackriver Dual Bearing Edition).
• 03Bearings are press-fit into the wheel. Bearings can be damaged during pressing, and a wheel that has lost its grip on the bearing will slip or wobble on the axle.
• 04ABEC ratings (ABEC-7, ABEC-9) appear frequently in listings but are a general bearing-precision standard, not a fingerboard-specific guarantee of feel.
• 05Skate-industry sources describe ABEC ratings as a tolerance standard often used as a marketing label; it does not certify fingerboard-specific quality.
• 06Brands list cross-compatible single-bearing wheel makers — for example, Dynamic's FAQ names FlatFace, JoyCult, Oak, Winkler, Wysocki, Lab, Cartwheels, Peak, and Rolling Fingers as fitting standard (single-bearing) Dynamic Trucks.

The shape of a wheel's contact face changes how it grips and slides. Brands use a range of named profiles. The terms below are documented across brand and retailer pages, though naming is not standardized across the whole market.^{15, 16, 17, 14, 10}

• 01Flat-face / street profile: a flat contact face, associated with a classic street-wheel feel and technical riding.
• 02Conical: a tapered face. Dynamic sells a 'Conical Cruiser' line; conical shapes are often described as offering a wider contact patch for grip and stability.
• 03Rounded / standard: rounded edges for versatile all-around use.
• 04Bowl / slim bowl: wider or taller profiles associated with transition and bowl riding. JoyCult sizes its line to scale-equivalents of real skate wheels (Lite ≈ 50mm, Classic ≈ 54mm, XL ≈ 58mm).
• 05Shape naming differs by brand (e.g., Igloo's 'R1' bowl-style vs. 'R2' flat-faced), so the same word can mean slightly different profiles between makers.

Several wheel brands publish specs on official or retailer pages. The notes below reflect documented facts; buyers should verify current models directly, as lineups change and limited runs come and go.^{3, 18, 4, 19, 20, 7, 14, 5, 12}

• 01FlatFace (Massachusetts, est. 2003): long-running US brand with multiple wheel generations; offers soft 60D and limited harder 72D urethane, plus dual-durometer bearing wheels.
• 02Blistered (USA, est. 2022): hand-poured urethane wheels; standard 60D blend with some 72D FlatFace-urethane models; collaboration shapes with FlatFace and Blackriver. In 2025, Blistered states it was sold to / partnered with Mike Schneider of FlatFace.
• 03Blackriver (Germany, est. 1999): distributes and collaborates on urethane wheels (e.g., Blackriver x FlatFace x Blistered) and lists Maple Pro wheels including a 70D ULTRA option.
• 04JoyCult (handmade in Brantford, Ontario, Canada by Matt Watkinson): premium urethane with bearings locked into the wheel; line scaled to real skate-wheel equivalents (Lite ≈ 50mm, Classic ≈ 54mm, XL ≈ 58mm); offers dual-durometer options.
• 05Dynamic (Southern California): sells its own wheels (e.g., Conical Cruiser, 64D 'Butter') designed around its single- and dual-bearing trucks.
• 06Other documented single-bearing brands named by Dynamic include Oak, Winkler, Wysocki, Lab, Cartwheels, Peak, and Rolling Fingers.

Used wheels can be a good value, but specific wear modes affect roll quality and bearing fit. These checks are documented across buying guides.^{10, 2, 21}

• 01Flat spots: look for a flattened section that causes a stutter or bump in the roll. Ask for a spin/wobble video for higher-value sets.
• 02Bearing fit: a wheel that has lost its grip on its bearing will wobble or slip on the axle. Ask whether bearings still seat tightly.
• 03Bearing smoothness: gritty, stiff, or noisy bearings indicate wear or contamination.
• 04Color fading / yellowing: clear and lighter urethane can yellow or fade over time. This is cosmetic but worth disclosing.
• 05Cracks or pitting: surface cracking or pitting indicates heavy wear or lower-quality urethane.
• 06Set consistency: confirm all four wheels match in diameter, shape, and color, and none has been swapped.

A complete wheel listing lets a buyer evaluate fit and condition without guessing. Combine confirmed specs with honest condition notes.^{11, 6, 4, 10}

• 01Brand and exact model/generation/shape name.
• 02Material (plastic / urethane / CNC).
• 03Durometer, only if confirmed from packaging or the brand page (otherwise state 'unknown').
• 04Diameter and width if measurable.
• 05Bearing type (single vs. dual) and bearing condition.
• 06Color/colorway and whether the wheels are faded or yellowed.
• 07Condition notes: flat spots, cracks, bearing slip, set consistency.
• 08Whether original packaging is included (packaging claims should be backed by photos, not memory).