Skateboard Truck Tightness Guide Calculator
Find your ideal skateboard truck tightness based on weight, riding style, and bushing durometer.
Skateboard truck tightness affects turning radius, stability, and responsiveness. The key factor is the interaction between rider weight, bushing durometer (hardness), and the kingpin nut compression.
Bushing Durometer Guide: Bushings are measured on the durometer A scale (higher = harder):
| Rider Weight | Soft (carvy) | Medium | Hard (stable) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 100 lb (45 kg) | 73A–78A | 79A–84A | 85A–87A |
| 100–140 lb (45–64 kg) | 78A–83A | 84A–88A | 89A–92A |
| 140–180 lb (64–82 kg) | 83A–87A | 88A–92A | 93A–96A |
| 180–220 lb (82–100 kg) | 87A–90A | 91A–94A | 95A–97A |
| Over 220 lb (100 kg) | 90A–93A | 94A–96A | 97A–100A |
Riding Style Factor:
- Street / Technical: Medium-tight. Needs stability for tricks but enough turn for manuals. Recommended: medium durometer, kingpin nut flush with top of nut.
- Cruising / Carving: Loose. Maximum turn response for flowing lines. Recommended: soft durometer, kingpin nut 1–2 turns loose.
- Vert / Bowl: Tight. High-speed stability is priority. Recommended: hard durometer, kingpin nut 1–2 turns past flush.
- Downhill: Very tight. Speed wobble prevention is critical. Recommended: hardest durometer for weight, kingpin nut 2–3 turns past flush.
Tightness Formula: Recommended Durometer = Base Durometer (from weight) + Style Offset
Style offsets:
- Cruising: −4A
- Street: +0A
- Vert/Bowl: +3A
- Downhill: +5A
Worked Example — 160 lb street skater:
- Weight range base: 88A (medium for 140–180 lb)
- Street offset: +0
- Recommended: 88A bushings, kingpin nut flush
Bushing Shapes:
- Cone (boardside or roadside): more turn, less rebound
- Barrel: balanced turn and stability
- Eliminator: maximum stability, minimal turn
Common combo: barrel boardside + cone roadside for a balanced street setup. Double barrel for stability-focused riding.
Kingpin Nut Rule: Never tighten more than 3 full turns past flush. Over-tightening crushes bushings permanently and creates a dead, unresponsive feel. If you need more stiffness, get harder bushings instead of cranking the nut.