Spitfire formula four

[Eric Dolphy]

You made the right choice, enjoy!

[gsosa]

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Aight gods Im stuck in a decision. Im rocking the Tablets right now and they are getting really worn down. I fucking love these love the lock-in for transition skating and love the fact that the slide is so controlled. Was wondering is there much of a difference between the Tablets and the Radial and Conical Full shapes? Was just seeing some really cool options in those two shapes that are tempting me to change.

[close]

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Hi, there! I read great reviews of the F4 here. I've never tried it before but now my shop got some wheels. The options are kind of limited and i am in between tablets 52 99 and classics 54 99. I skate only street and don't know what would be best. They also have conicals full 52 but in the 101. Can you give any suggestions what would feel better on the asphalt and would last longer? Greetings!

[close]

Tablets are a very skinny wheel with a very sharp edge, so will lock in more and have a lot more truck contact.

Conical full are a very wide wheel, so less truck width between wheels, with a slightly rounded edge but still lock in.

Radials are a medium width wheel, so pretty much in between the first two, with a wide surface area but still a moderately rounded edge, so about the medium ground.


Just for comparison, Classics are a medium width wheel across the widest point around the bearing seat, with a very rounded edge and minimal surface contact.

Some people say rounder wheels are easier to slide, flip and wear more evenly, but others I know prefer the wider profiles and sharper edges to lock in on rails and ledges more than anything else.


With regard to 99 or 101, I feel like 99s are always a more well balanced and an all rounder for duro than 101, especially if you are going to skate rougher surfaces, vs 101 on smoother faster surfaces.


@El Freegano I would be taking the 54mm classic 99s as they are a bit bigger so will last longer and skate more easily on rough roads, but that is just me.


The choice is yours...

@Mbrimson88 Thanks dude! After years of skating Classic shapes the wider wheels with sharper edges are my new drug. Which would you say is a better option for locking in and having good stability when bombing hills? Og Classics or Conical Fulls? Sorry to be so annoying about this.

[Mbrimson88]

@Mbrimson88 Thanks dude! After years of skating Classic shapes the wider wheels with sharper edges are my new drug. Which would you say is a better option for locking in and having good stability when bombing hills? Og Classics or Conical Fulls? Sorry to be so annoying about this.

This has the specs, size width, riding patch info for all the types of wheels, and is definitely a good one to check out:

https://www.spitfirewheels.com/formulafour/


In looking at it again, I realise it doesn't have the OG Classic info, but the backing card of a set of wheels posted previously does so I will link that too - cannot find the one I wanted, but this one shows enough when zoomed in.

Depending on what size wheel you are after, the OG Classics are slightly slimmer overall but are way more square looking and have about the same contact patch up to 54mm but then the conical full wheel really gets a lot wider in 55 and up sizes.

Conical full 54mm, 34mm wide with 22mm contact

OG Classics 54mm, 32.5mm wide with 22mm contact


Conical full 56mm, 36mm wide with 25mm contact

OG Classic 56mm, 33.5mm wide with 23mm contact


From that, it definitely changes it up depending on wheel sizes, but the OG Classics are a much more squared off shape than the conical full and would still do everything you wanted, so it is just down to availability and sidewall preference.

OG Classics in F4 are out in 52, 53 and 55mm but not much else, and Conical Full are more available in 53 or 54, minimal 56 around but there are some if you look hard enough, but they are starting to get big.

[sketchyrider]

what exactly is the difference between conical and og classic? is it basically double conical vs single conical?

[camel filters]

mbrimson88 ive suggested this before but a youtube channel with this kind of nerdery would be up my alley. Ben Degros needs competition.

[sharkin]

Nice that's my pic and I'm riding those 56 classic fulls now and really like them.

Comparing them to the 56mm radials I had before, these are similar but don't lock in as well of course. I think the radial is the best all-around shape spitfire makes. If you want more lock in, go for conicals. If you want less, go for classics. Both classic and conical are offered in full varities if you want a wider wheel, but classic fulls are rarely produced.
 

[moonordie]

mbrimson88 ive suggested this before but a youtube channel with this kind of nerdery would be up my alley. Ben Degros needs competition.

Couldn't agree more.
But to not lose before starting you need to say ASPHALT like him.

[Mbrimson88]

Nice that's my pic and I'm riding those 56 classic fulls now and really like them.

Comparing them to the 56mm radials I had before, these are similar but don't lock in as well of course. I think the radial is the best all-around shape spitfire makes. If you want more lock in, go for conicals. If you want less, go for classics. Both classic and conical are offered in full varities if you want a wider wheel, but classic fulls are rarely produced.

Thanks again for posting that! 

Classic Full is my favourite shape and I might have enough to last me for the rest of my life and then some, but I have also been skating quite a few different wheels, including a lot of machined down second hand ones.

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mbrimson88 ive suggested this before but a youtube channel with this kind of nerdery would be up my alley. Ben Degros needs competition.

[close]

Couldn't agree more.
But to not lose before starting you need to say ASPHALT like him.

As much as it would be fun to do, I like NOT talking a whole lot more than anything, even though I probably talk way too much when in the shop and helping people.

Being able to post pics and text is a bit more comfortable really, video how to only when really needed, but I think I will stick to typing and taking pics.

what exactly is the difference between conical and og classic? is it basically double conical vs single conical?

OG Classics are almost a square edge when I look at the ones I have, a tiny bit of rounding and stay flat down the side of the wheel a bit, then go in towards the bearing in a more gentle way than Conical full wheels.

Conical wheels (normal conical and conical full) have a slightly wider rounded edge that comes to a sharper point or line round the wheel and then tapers in to the bearing.

[Mbrimson88]

I got it together and took some pics of the most recent packaging I have, posted it on Instagram and this is the text I put on it, so you don't have to go into it to see.  * Sorry it is a bit long.


Spitfire Wheels

The size and spec chart on the packaging of the wheels is so small I can hardly see it, along with not wearing my glasses much, but it helps to take pics of them all individually for comparison. The other thing with this particular version is the wheel shape is very visible too, which makes it a lot easier when trying to describe the wheel shapes, even if there seems like almost no difference in a few of them.

Some people would say they all feel quite different to ride and have specific properties for specific types of skating, which I find to be fairly accurate. Rounder edges will get on and off coping more easily whereas sharper edges or flat faces on the wheels will lock you in more on coping or rails, ledges, etc. Thinner wheels will have less grip on surfaces whereas wider wheels will have more grip on surfaces, be it the side of or top of a ledge, the ground, or ramps or skateparks.

Not included are Classic Full / Bighead shape, Classic Slim, or some of those other OG or Lifer shapes that came out a while back, but these represent all the current shapes and sizes for the Formula Four range.

Each has the name of the shape, a brief description, then the size (diameter), the width at the widest point and the riding surface which is the part that touches the ground.

In order of wheel shape pics:

Classic
Radials
Radial Slims
Tablets
Lock Ins
Conical
Conical Full
OG Classics

[PrettyRicki]

^That's some good info right there. Thanks for posting it.

After trying several different shapes and sizes of the Formula Four, I'm enjoying the 54mm Classic 99 duro the most. They feel like a smaller wheel with the pop of a bigger wheel. They are lightweight for the size but still heavier than a 52mm.

The narrow contact patch makes the wheels responsive during slides and helps turning even with tight trucks. But as the contact patch wears down, it seems like it will get bigger because of the shape.

Does anyone have a picture of their F4 classics worn down a bunch into a small, wide wheel?

[chris.]

Here are some 53mm Classics worn to 46-47mm. On a 9” board with Ace 55s. They get so good once they’re under 50mm. I thought i had some up close pics of the wheels but just the whole set-up, but it gives some scale.

[Frank and Fred]

Classics wear down so good. I love the amount they get wider as they get smaller. It just works proportionally so well. I've had 58s I wore down to about 49s in the past.

[FrozenIndustries]

I have a set of 53s that I retired at 49. You guys are making me want to put them back on. Selling me on giving the classics another try for sure (been on a Tablet & CF kick forever).

[fakiefs180]

^That's some good info right there. Thanks for posting it.

After trying several different shapes and sizes of the Formula Four, I'm enjoying the 54mm Classic 99 duro the most. They feel like a smaller wheel with the pop of a bigger wheel. They are lightweight for the size but still heavier than a 52mm.

The narrow contact patch makes the wheels responsive during slides and helps turning even with tight trucks. But as the contact patch wears down, it seems like it will get bigger because of the shape.

Does anyone have a picture of their F4 classics worn down a bunch into a small, wide wheel?

These 53mm are now around 49/50mm.

[Mbrimson88]

^That's some good info right there. Thanks for posting it.

After trying several different shapes and sizes of the Formula Four, I'm enjoying the 54mm Classic 99 duro the most. They feel like a smaller wheel with the pop of a bigger wheel. They are lightweight for the size but still heavier than a 52mm.

The narrow contact patch makes the wheels responsive during slides and helps turning even with tight trucks. But as the contact patch wears down, it seems like it will get bigger because of the shape.

Does anyone have a picture of their F4 classics worn down a bunch into a small, wide wheel?

Ha yeah, probably too many pics, but it is easier to link old posts:

[PrettyRicki]

Damn, all these pics make me want to ride my F4 classics until they're worn down that much.

What is that measuring tool called in that first picture?

[skateviewer]

Damn, all these pics make me want to ride my F4 classics until they're worn down that much.

What is that measuring tool called in that first picture?

calipers

[moonordie]

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Damn, all these pics make me want to ride my F4 classics until they're worn down that much.

What is that measuring tool called in that first picture?

[close]

calipers

And if you want to go the extra nerd mile get a digital one.

[listentoaheartbeat]

Alright, impulse-bought a set of F4 56mm Conical Fulls. Been extremely happy with my switch to F4 54mm Tablets from Bones SPF as mentioned elsewhere in this thread. However, I have this hunch that I’ll like super wide F4s even more. It’s been ages since I used a wheel larger than 54mm so that will be interesting, too.

EDIT

First session with these new wheels was interesting. As with my Tablets before, I am impressed with how good 99A F4s feel right from the start. They grip and slide in a controlled way even before they get a bit of a texture.

Even though my setup felt quite different with the 56mm Conical Fulls at first (Tablets were down to barely 52mm), I didn't have much trouble getting a good pop out of it. The increased angle might even work in my favor.

Speed and control with these large, wide wheels are insane. Like riding on a rail track, but with the ability to break out and adjust when needed. If that makes sense. The difference on rough ground is astonishing.

Feels like my setup (Gonz 9.81, 169 Indys) has really come together with these wheels, however I am not sure if I can really get myself to flip it. The weight and size has gotten to a point where it's just really painful to miss a flick and hit your ankles.

[Kevve]

Im looking to size down for my next set, found the radial slims but unfortunately they were 101a. I like how the 99s are still manageable on asphalt and think id like to stay with that. Anyone went from 99s to 101 and stayed?

I wrote down the dimensions of the wheels the shop have and they're pretty similar. Anyone know if ones is lighter than the other?

radial slims 52mm   W29.5 18

conical 52mm W31.5 19.5

OG classic 52mm W31 21.5

[Mbrimson88]

Im looking to size down for my next set, found the radial slims but unfortunately they were 101a. I like how the 99s are still manageable on asphalt and think id like to stay with that. Anyone went from 99s to 101 and stayed?

I wrote down the dimensions of the wheels the shop have and they're pretty similar. Anyone know if ones is lighter than the other?

radial slims 52mm   W29.5 18

conical 52mm W31.5 19.5

OG classic 52mm W31 21.5

The 99s are just perfect overall, (and just perform so much more evenly than 101s) so that is what I would be sticking to.

As for Conical vs OG Classic, they are almost the same wheel, only the OG is a little thinner and more boxy than the Conical, so either or would be fine, maybe more so the OG if you wanted something closer to Radial Slim shape, but there is almost nothing in it.

[drinny]

Really wanna try these 97a Conicals... waiting for stock to hit UK again, see how they roll vs. Keyframes (which I love but can stick on ledges/board slides if you’re not a bit careful)

I am *loving* the 97’s. Been to most rough spots where I’d have only used my crust board (Keyframes) before (and 99s were only negligibly better than 101 still basically a stop dead and die job.... )and they have rolled through it all... bit of a risk but but very pleasantly surprised!!

I might still yet find a spot that I need proper soft softies on but so far I only sentimentally miss those OJs  :'(

[PrettyRicki]

Im looking to size down for my next set, found the radial slims but unfortunately they were 101a. I like how the 99s are still manageable on asphalt and think id like to stay with that. Anyone went from 99s to 101 and stayed?

I wrote down the dimensions of the wheels the shop have and they're pretty similar. Anyone know if ones is lighter than the other?

radial slims 52mm   W29.5 18

conical 52mm W31.5 19.5

OG classic 52mm W31 21.5

In terms of weight, the lightest will be the radial slim between those choices. I rode 51mm F4 radial slims 101a for a while and they slid nice and lightened my setup, but skinny wheels made my skateboard feel like a toy or like it was waterlogged. I ended up switching to 54mm F4 Classics 97a for a more well rounded setup.

[listentoaheartbeat]

Here’s a high res scan of the latest leaflet including OG Classics and illustrations showing the cut outs / inner shape:

[Mbrimson88]

Here’s a high res scan of the latest leaflet including OG Classics and illustrations showing the cut outs / inner shape:

Sure is HI res!!!

That is good though, as I would often struggle to see the small details on the card in person (so took pics of it to zoom in on) and although others have posted the card before, to have a super hi res version is definitely good to see very easily.

[listentoaheartbeat]

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Here’s a high res scan of the latest leaflet including OG Classics and illustrations showing the cut outs / inner shape:

[close]

Sure is HI res!!!

That is good though, as I would often struggle to see the small details on the card in person (so took pics of it to zoom in on) and although others have posted the card before, to have a super hi res version is definitely good to see very easily.

Haha, yeah I found it a bit hard to see things on the existing photos. Also this has different illustrations than the ones I have seen posted here.

[sketchyrider]

i feel like i will never truly understand the difference between OG classics and conicals but that's okay.

[Kevve]

Same here, og classics sporting the classic swirl graphic which is way cooler if u ask me. I tvink it was @mbrimson that explained that the only diffrence is the sidewalls of the wheels

[Bold]

Same here, og classics sporting the classic swirl graphic which is way cooler if u ask me. I tvink it was @mbrimson that explained that the only diffrence is the sidewalls of the wheels

I'd have to hold one of each and even then I'm not sure I could tell them apart.

[Mesteezo]

i feel like i will never truly understand the difference between OG classics and conicals but that's okay.

Classics are like that hot curvy chick that’s also cool as fuck and is down for anything.

Conicals are like that squared hip big girl thats always down to eat Korean bbq for 2 hours+ and is an aggressive power bottom.