Skateboard Grip Tape, Hardware and Risers Explained
Nobody gets excited about bolts. But the small parts are where setups quietly go wrong, and the mistakes are all cheap and completely avoidable.
Grip that has stopped gripping, bolts that are the wrong length, bushings that have never been changed. None of it is expensive to fix and all of it changes how a board feels.
The short version
- Bolt length: 7/8in standard, 1in with 1/8in risers, 1 1/8in with 1/4in risers. Get this right or the board does not go together.
- Grip tape: one sheet does one deck, $12 to $25. Coarse grips better, fine lasts longer on your shoes.
- Risers: only if you get wheel bite or run wheels over about 56mm.
- Bushings: $6 to $15 and the cheapest way to change how a board turns.
- Bearing spacers: skip for street, worth it for sliding on soft wheels.
- Speed washers: eight of them, two per wheel. Do not lose them.
What we cover
Grip tape · Hardware and bolt length · Riser pads · Bushings · Spacers and washers · FAQ
How do you choose grip tape?
Grip tape is sandpaper with adhesive, and the grit grade is the only meaningful variable. One sheet grips one deck.
| Type | Feel | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard coarse (Mob, Jessup) | Aggressive bite, wears shoes faster | Street, tricks, most people | $11.99 to $19.99 |
| Clear grip | Same grip, shows the deck graphic through | Shaped and cruiser decks | $14.99 |
| Printed and graphic grip | Same function, different look | Anyone who wants it | $19.99 to $29.99 |
| Multipacks | Several sheets | Anyone getting through decks | $29.99 |
Coarser grit holds your feet through flips and is what most street skaters run. It also eats shoes, which is the trade-off. Finer grit is kinder to shoes and plenty for cruising, but will feel slippery if you are learning to ollie.
Cheap unbranded grip is a false economy. It loses its bite within weeks and that is exactly when feet start sliding off.
The application method is in our setup guide. It is the one step worth taking slowly.
What length bolts do you need?
This is the single most common ordering mistake in skateboarding, and it is entirely avoidable.
| Setup | Bolt length |
|---|---|
| Standard, no risers | 7/8in |
| 1/8in risers | 1in |
| 1/4in risers | 1 1/8in |
| Thicker shock pads | 1 1/4in |
You need eight bolts and eight nuts. Too short and the nut will not thread far enough onto the bolt to be safe. Too long and the ends protrude past the nut where they catch on things.
Phillips or Allen head is purely preference. Allen heads are less likely to strip, Phillips are more common and every skate tool fits them.
Most sets include one bolt in a different colour so you can mark your nose. Genuinely useful on a symmetrical deck.
Hardware runs $5.99 to $19.99, and the expensive end is buying a look rather than a function.
Do you need riser pads?
Riser pads are plastic or rubber shims that sit between the deck and the truck baseplate. They do two jobs.
Prevent wheel bite. Raise the deck away from the wheels so a hard turn does not bring the wheel into contact with the underside. This is the main reason to fit them, and it is close to mandatory if you are running soft wheels over about 56mm.
Absorb impact. Rubber shock pads take some vibration out of rough ground and reduce stress on the deck around the bolt holes.
Most street setups running 52mm to 54mm wheels do not need risers at all. If you are not getting wheel bite, do not add height you do not need.
Always buy longer bolts at the same time. A set of risers with no hardware is a board you cannot assemble.
When should you change bushings?
Bushings are the urethane rings above and below the hanger, sitting around the kingpin. They compress when you lean, so they determine how a board turns more than the truck itself does.
Trucks ship with bushings suited to an average adult. If you are noticeably lighter or heavier, they are wrong for you from day one.
- Softer, around 88a. Turn more easily with less lean. Lighter riders, cruising, carving.
- Harder, around 94a. More resistance and more stability at speed. Heavier riders, roughly 80kg and up, and anyone getting speed wobbles.
Replace them when: they crack or deform visibly, or the board feels vague and mushy but tightening the kingpin makes it refuse to turn. That combination means worn bushings, not a truck problem.
Mini Logo bushings are $5.99 and Independent conical cushions $14.99. Cheapest meaningful change you can make.
Spacers and speed washers
Bearing spacers are small metal cylinders sitting between the two bearings inside each wheel. They keep the bearings square to each other so you can tighten the axle nut fully without binding the wheel. Optional for street skating. Genuinely worth it if you slide on soft wheels, where they reduce vibration and make slides smoother.
Speed washers are thin washers that sit either side of each wheel, between the bearing and the truck hanger on the inside, and between the bearing and the axle nut on the outside. They stop metal grinding directly on metal.
There are eight in total, two per wheel. They are tiny, they come with your trucks, and losing one on the bench is a common cause of a wheel that will not spin properly afterwards. Keep them in a tray when you strip a board.
Grip tape and hardware FAQ
What length skateboard hardware do I need?
Use 7/8 inch bolts for a standard setup with no risers, 1 inch with 1/8 inch risers, and 1 1/8 inch with 1/4 inch risers. Bolts that are too short will not thread safely and bolts that are too long protrude and catch.
Does skateboard grip tape make a difference?
Yes, more than people expect. Coarse grit holds your feet through flip tricks and wears shoes fast. Finer grit lasts longer on shoes and suits cruising. Cheap grip loses its bite within weeks, which is when most slips start happening.
Do I need riser pads on my skateboard?
Only if you get wheel bite or run wheels above about 56mm. Most street setups do not need them. Risers raise the deck away from the wheels, and they always require longer hardware, so buy the bolts at the same time.
How often should you replace grip tape?
When it stops gripping, which usually shows as polished patches where your feet sit. A grip gum or clean rubber eraser lifts embedded dirt and extends it, but once the texture is genuinely gone it needs replacing. A sheet is $12 to $25.
What do bushings do and when should you change them?
Bushings are the urethane rings around the kingpin that control how the truck turns. Replace them when they crack, or when the board feels vague no matter how you adjust the kingpin. Softer for lighter riders, harder for heavier ones.
Are bearing spacers necessary?
Not for street skating, but genuinely useful for sliding on soft wheels. They sit between the two bearings inside the wheel and keep them aligned, so you can fully tighten the axle nut without binding, which reduces vibration in slides.
Bring it in and we will sort it
If you are unsure what length bolts you need or whether your bushings are done, bring the board to 435A Bridge Road, Richmond. These are two minute answers and we would rather give them than have you order the wrong thing.
Free shipping Australia wide on orders over $90. Call 03 9421 2293.
Keep reading: How to Set Up a Skateboard · How to Choose Skateboard Trucks · How to Choose Skateboard Wheels · Skateboard Problems and How to Fix Them · Skateboard Maintenance Guide
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