DON'T JUDGE A WHEEL BY ITS COLOUR...

Skaters love to debate gear, and one myth that keeps rolling around is: are coloured skateboard wheels softer than regular ones? The short answer? Not necessarily—but there’s a reason people ask.

Back in the day, some manufacturers used different dyes or formulas for coloured wheels, especially in softer cruiser-style urethane. As a result, some early colored wheels were a bit squishier than their white or natural counterparts. Over time, the myth stuck like grip tape on a fresh deck.

In reality, modern wheel companies have dialed in their formulas. Today, wheel softness (durometer) is what matters—not the color. A bright orange 99a wheel and a plain white 99a wheel will feel the same (unless you’re convinced otherwise by your own placebo effect).

That said, some cruisers or longboard wheels tend to be softer and more colorful—leading to the ongoing confusion. But for your average street or park setup, color is all aesthetics. If it looks good and skates well, roll with it.

Moral of the story: don’t judge a wheel by its color—check the durometer, shred the street, and ride whatever makes you feel fast, smooth, and just a little bit rad.