97A vs 99A Skateboard Wheels for Street Skating

Introduction: The Question Almost Every Street Skater Eventually Googles

At some point every street skater ends up typing the same thing into Google.

“97A vs 99A skateboard wheels for street skating.”

Usually it happens after a frustrating session.

Maybe the pavement felt rougher than usual.
Maybe the board felt slower than it should.
Maybe every crack in the sidewalk felt like it traveled straight through your knees.

You push harder.
You adjust your trucks.
You blame the ground.

But the real issue is usually the wheels.

If you’re looking for the best glow in the dark skateboard wheels for street skating, start here: Full Moon Glow Wheel Guide.

Dual glow 97A skateboard wheels designed for smoother street skating and night sessions.

Skateboard wheels look simple, but the hardness rating changes everything about how your setup feels. The difference between 97A and 99A wheels might only sound like two small numbers, but in real street skating those numbers affect speed, control, comfort, and how your board reacts to rough pavement.

Most skaters automatically assume harder wheels are better.

Hard wheels slide easier.
Hard wheels feel faster.
Hard wheels are what the industry pushes for street skating.

But that does not always mean they are the best choice.

Street skating is not always perfect concrete plazas or polished skateparks. Most real sessions happen on cracked sidewalks, rough parking lots, and unpredictable asphalt.

That is where wheel hardness starts to matter.

The real question is not just which wheel is harder.

The real question is which one actually makes your street sessions better.

Once you understand how hardness affects speed, pop, and control, the answer becomes a lot clearer.

And it might surprise you.

Why Most Wheels Fail in This Situation

When skateboard wheels feel bad, it usually comes down to a few common problems.

The issue is rarely the bearings or the board. It is almost always the urethane.

Wheels That Are Too Hard

Most street wheels sit around 99A hardness.

Hard wheels slide easily and feel fast on smooth ground. That is why they are so common.

But when you take those wheels onto rough streets, the ride becomes brutal.

You feel every crack.
Every pebble stops you.
Every rough patch slows you down.

Hard wheels do not absorb vibration well. Instead they transfer that vibration directly into the board.

That is why a setup can suddenly feel slow and uncomfortable even though the wheels are technically harder.

Dead Urethane

Not all urethane is created equal.

Some wheels lose rebound over time. Instead of bouncing back and maintaining speed, they feel sluggish.

That is what skaters call dead urethane.

Dead wheels might still roll, but they do not carry momentum. Pushes feel heavier and tricks feel less responsive.

Wrong Wheel Shape

Street skating requires balance.

Too wide and the wheel feels sluggish.
Too narrow and it becomes unstable.

A poorly designed shape can make an otherwise decent wheel feel terrible.

Flat Spots

Flat spots are the nightmare of every street skater.

A hard wheel with poor urethane quality can flat spot after a few aggressive slides.

Once that happens the wheel vibrates every time it spins. It feels like riding on a tiny square instead of a circle.

Overhyped Marketing

The skate industry loves hype.

Pro endorsements.
Fancy graphics.
Promises of “the fastest wheel ever made.”

But hype does not change physics.

The reality is that the best wheel is the one that matches the terrain you actually skate.

And most street skaters today are skating rougher ground than the industry likes to admit.

The Technical Breakdown

Let’s break this down simply.

Understanding wheel performance does not require complicated engineering. You just need to understand a few key factors.

Hardness

Hardness is measured on the durometer scale.

For street skating, most wheels fall between 97A and 101A.

Here is what those numbers actually mean.

97A vs 99A glow skateboard wheels. Softer 97A urethane rolls smoother on rough street pavement.

99A Wheels

Very hard urethane.

Pros:
• Slide easily
• Great on smooth concrete
• Fast in skateparks

Cons:
• Rough ground feels terrible
• Pebbles stop you easily
• Less grip when pushing hard

97A Wheels

Slightly softer urethane.

Pros:
• Roll smoother on rough pavement
• Maintain speed better on bad streets
• More forgiving on cracks

Cons:
• Slightly less slide

That two point difference might not sound like much, but in real skating it changes how the board feels under your feet.

Rebound

Rebound is how well the urethane bounces back after impact.

High rebound wheels keep speed better because they return energy instead of absorbing it.

Low rebound wheels feel sluggish and slow.

This is why two wheels with the same hardness can feel completely different.

Wheel Shape

Street wheels usually have a rounded edge and medium width.

This gives you enough grip for pushing but still allows controlled slides.

Shape also affects how the wheel locks into grinds and ledges.

Wheel Size

Most street skaters ride wheels between 52mm and 54mm.

Smaller wheels accelerate faster and feel lighter.

Larger wheels carry speed better on rough ground.

Terrain Matters

This is the part many skaters overlook.

Perfect skatepark concrete is smooth.

Most streets are not.

Cold pavement, rough asphalt, and cracked sidewalks change how wheels behave.

Hard wheels that feel amazing in a skatepark can feel terrible on real streets.

That is why choosing the right hardness matters more than people think.

Why Full Moon Wheels Solve This Problem

Here is where things get interesting.

Most brands stick to the traditional formula. Hard wheels designed for perfect terrain.

But street skating today happens everywhere.

Parking garages.
Empty basketball courts.
Night sessions in rough city streets.

That is why Full Moon Wheels uses 97A urethane for street skating.

97A keeps the snap and pop skaters want while rolling smoother on real pavement.

97A vs 99A glow skateboard wheels. Softer 97A urethane rolls smoother on rough street pavement while keeping street pop.

The wheel still slides when you need it to.

But it does not punish you for skating rough terrain.

There is another advantage.

Full Moon wheels use glow urethane.

That glow is not just for style.

It actually makes sense for how people skate today.

Many sessions happen at night. Parking lots after work. Late street missions. Empty sidewalks when the city quiets down.

Glow wheels make the board visible without ruining the street feel.

The result is a wheel that feels built for real sessions instead of marketing photos.

No pro hype.

No fake promises.

Just wheels designed by people who actually skate streets.

97A keeps the board responsive.

The urethane rolls smoother across rough pavement.

And the glow makes night sessions feel like their own world.

That combination solves the exact problem most skaters are trying to fix when they search for better street wheels.

👉 Try Full Moon 97A Glow Street Wheels and feel the difference yourself

Who These Wheels Are For and Not For

Being honest about this matters.

Not every wheel is for every skater.

These Wheels Are Perfect For

Street skaters dealing with rough pavement.

People who skate parking lots, sidewalks, and crusty city spots.

Night skaters who ride after work or after sunset.

Anyone who wants a wheel that rolls smoother without sacrificing street performance.

If you have ever had a session ruined by rough ground slowing you down, these wheels will feel like an upgrade immediately.

These Wheels Are Probably Not For

Skaters who only ride smooth skateparks.

People who want the hardest wheel possible for constant power slides.

If your entire skating life happens on polished concrete, a harder wheel might feel slightly better.

But that is not how most people skate.

Most sessions happen outside real skateparks.

That is where a balanced wheel actually shines.

Final Push: The Wheel Debate That Actually Matters

The 97A vs 99A debate exists for a reason.

Both wheels have strengths.

But when you step outside perfect skateparks and into real street skating, the advantages of 97A start to become obvious.

Smoother roll.
Better momentum on rough ground.
Less vibration through the board.

And when that urethane is paired with glow technology, it creates something even better.

A wheel built for night sessions and real streets.

Street skating is not supposed to feel perfect.

It is supposed to feel alive.

If you have ever ended a session early because rough ground killed your speed, switching to the right wheels changes everything.

👉 Upgrade your setup with Full Moon 97A Glow Wheels and bring your street sessions back to life

Your friend who always complains about rough pavement is going to want these the second they see them.

Keep Reading

If you want to dial in your setup even further, these guides will help.

What Skate Shops Won’t Tell You About Wheel Performance

The Best Skateboard Wheel Durometer for Rough Streets
Street skating rewards the right equipment.

And sometimes the difference between a frustrating session and an incredible one comes down to something as simple as two points on the durometer scale.