Longboard wheels durometer?

What is all this talk about hard wheels and soft wheels and everything in between? 75a longboard wheels, 80a, 78a, 96a. What are they talking about? All are hardness ratings for your longboard wheels, and those numbers, though they may seem like random numbers are very clear indicators of how your wheels will perform. The lower the number, the softer your wheel. The softer your wheel the smoother the ride yes, but that's just the beginning, the hardness of your wheels will affect how your board handles. The harder the wheel the less grip, which is very important for those riders looking to slide their board. Others look for a softer wheel, which gives you much more grip and the chance to carve quickly back and forth and maintain your grip on the road. Look for the wheel rating that best fits your style of riding and what you want out of a board.