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Anyone tried SML? how do they compare to Spitfires?
Good timing, I'm just about done skating my second pair of SML AG 52mm v-cut 99as, these ones:
https://www.tactics.com/sml/grocery-bag-ii-v-cut-skateboard-wheels
Really like them once the tread goes away (why do wheels still come with tread???), feel slightly softer than 99a f4s, maybe a hair better on rough ground, really like the way they slide, very controlled, just as good as f4s imo. Felt just as good bombing hills and doing bluntslides. Maybe a little less flatspot resistant compared to f4s, I got a few small ones that went away quickly (though for context I also flatspot f4s regularly so...). If we're splitting hairs maybe a tiny bit grippier. The conical ish shape is good too, though would be curious to try the classics lookin og-wides in the future.
My next set of wheels are some f4s just because I wanted to skate radial slims again, but in the future I definitely see myself skating these again regularly and probably over f4s if I can find them either for cheaper or in the og wides. Good to support a smaller company, and I like the colour or the urethane a lot more, much less yellow and ever so slightly translucent like classics kinda. Though if you skate really dirty terrain the dirt seems to stick to the wheel a bit more. If I had to compare them to anything I'd say maybe a hybrid of a spitfire classic and an f4? With the riding feel and appearance leaning closer towards classics, and the slide and performance leaning towards f4s.
Wow! Appreciate the in depth review!
The Grocery Bags are Austyn's preferred formula. We get them from Creative and they're the closest thing to the older Spitfire Classic's. Our OG formula is closer to an F4 or Bones STF from what I have personally tried. Way more flat spot resistant.
As a small brand (pun intended ha) we are really hyped to hear these kinds of reviews and see what people really think.
Much love SLAP fam and Shalom!
Of course! Super hyped on them. If I understand correctly, there are two sml formulas? The AG is the one I skated and then there's the OG which is harder and more flatspot resistant?
I had a set of these a few years ago https://www.nativeskatestore.co.uk/skateboards-c7/skateboard-wheels-c8/sml-wheels-gillette-commies-og-wide-skateboard-wheels-52mm-p31344. I think they were the harder ones. They were noticeably harder, slid great, felt more like an stf or 101 f4. But like the 101 f4s, a bit too hard and a little rattly on rough ground for me. I definitely prefer the AG formula but these would be great for many people too if they value absolute flatspot resistance and the slidyness (though I don't find any of these really lacking in the AG).
If anything to improve on at all, I'd just say lose the tread if possible but thats a minor issue that only lasts a few days. More shapes would be cool (something like a radial slim maybe). But for a two shape selection, the og wide (classic style) and v-cut (conical style) combo both seem like great choices.
Highly recommended, shalom!
Technically they're not harder. Both are 99a (which can also vary slightly from batch to batch because of the chemistry)
The OG's have a higher rebound and are a little harder to power slide. We get them from Aend (use to make the old Darkstar duel duros) Super good quality and are harder to flat spot.
Just to be sure if I understood, the OG ones are more difficult to powerslide than AG formula? Or they are "harder structuraly", in order to improve the powerslides?
I have been riding STFs for years, and would like to try SML wheels, really like the direction of the brand and most feebacks are really great. I just have difficulties to understand the difference between AG and OG formula (nothing on the website). I understand that the AG seems to feel softer than OG, but i'd like to know which ones slides better. The prices on SML wheels in Europe is really interesting so I want to check it.
Cliff's made some interesting wheel tech posts relating rebound and slide/grip and it triggered my inner geek. I think he's talking about hysteresis. I think of it as how the wheel deforms to grip an irregular surface. Rebound is a wheel deforming and returning to its original shape, plays into rolling resistance..
Higher rebound = more energy return, should *feel* faster and that might make ppl think they're harder
Higher rebound = more grip, less slide
http://insideracingtechnology.com/tirebkexerpt1.htmIf you want more info try searching for "friction tire rebound hysteresis"
sml's formula names confuse me a lil but I think I have it right. Or backwards... it's a 50-50 chance..
AG formula is more like old Spitfire Classics. Slide well, don't have crazy high rebound, wear more quickly than OG formula.
My confusion is the name, OG seems more fitting to me.
OG formula has higher rebound and is more flatspot resistant. Doesn't slide as well as AG formula. This sounds like it'd be more like a Bones STF.