Spitfire formula four

[PrettyRicki]

I'm interested in trying those 56mm Radials. Anyone have any commentary on the difference in riding experience from Conical Fulls?

Radials feel a lot like slightly worn down Classics where Conical Fulls are a very beefy wheel that gives lots of traction.

[moonordie]

Looks like production could have been coming back to almost normal (before urethane shortages cause production issues again, that is).

Interested to see how many of these Radials in 54 or 56mm make it to places too, seeing as some people really liked them or wanted more.

At the end Radials are like Classics full rightm

[Mbrimson88]

At the end Radials are like Classics full right

Radials are almost the same width as normal classics, but a much squarer profile.

Classic Full are a wider wheel overall, so add 1 to 2 mm to the middle width of classics, but yeah only 1 or 2 mm total width difference, to .5 mm difference between classic to radials.

I should take a pic of the Classic Full packaging, but they actually get all the measurements wrong for the larger sizes, the 56 and 58 mm wheels.


Fixed the widths to be more accurate, although I think they were maybe .5 mm wider in the 56 and 58 mm sizes.






Spitfire Chart

[rocklobster]

Bummer there aren't Radial Slims in the catalog, those are my favorite shape. They make Classics feel chunky by comparison.

[Xen]

Bummer there aren't Radial Slims in the catalog, those are my favorite shape. They make Classics feel chunky by comparison.

Same. After riding tablets (which I've determined I don't like at all for curbs), I switched back to radial slims. Easily the most underrated wheel in the line-up; I hope it being MIA from the catalog doesn't mean it's going away/replaced by the Tablets.

[Xen]

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Damn I want those 48mm lil smokies in that first picture! I have some 50mm ones but I didn't know they made them as small as 48mm.

[close]

They are almost the little hidden gems of Spitfire - not in catalogs, not listed anywhere other than shops, supposed to be a pricepoint wheel (although some shops still have them at premium prices) but also come in various shapes too, eg classic, tablet, conical full, etc mostly 50 but also 48mm.

50mm/51mm tablets:

https://www.paradeworld.com/search/?query=lil%20smokies

[tzhangdox]

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Bummer there aren't Radial Slims in the catalog, those are my favorite shape. They make Classics feel chunky by comparison.

[close]

Same. After riding tablets (which I've determined I don't like at all for curbs), I switched back to radial slims. Easily the most underrated wheel in the line-up; I hope it being MIA from the catalog doesn't mean it's going away/replaced by the Tablets.

Facts. Radial slims >>>>>>> tablets by a landslide

[rocklobster]

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Bummer there aren't Radial Slims in the catalog, those are my favorite shape. They make Classics feel chunky by comparison.

[close]

Same. After riding tablets (which I've determined I don't like at all for curbs), I switched back to radial slims. Easily the most underrated wheel in the line-up; I hope it being MIA from the catalog doesn't mean it's going away/replaced by the Tablets.

[close]

Facts. Radial slims >>>>>>> tablets by a landslide

Wish they did more limited run pro graphics on the Radial Slims, this shape never gets the pro colorway love.

[Xen]

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Bummer there aren't Radial Slims in the catalog, those are my favorite shape. They make Classics feel chunky by comparison.

[close]

Same. After riding tablets (which I've determined I don't like at all for curbs), I switched back to radial slims. Easily the most underrated wheel in the line-up; I hope it being MIA from the catalog doesn't mean it's going away/replaced by the Tablets.

[close]

Facts. Radial slims >>>>>>> tablets by a landslide

[close]

Wish they did more limited run pro graphics on the Radial Slims, this shape never gets the pro colorway love.

One assumes that a pro would actually ride them to warrant a colorway right? Maybe no one does? That's how wheel shapes go away...classic slim/full, the A.W.O.L shape (F1 shape, never an F4 shape)...if sales/pros aren't there why make them?

F4 Classic slim:

[white guy in a durag]

RIP classic full. I think it's a bit of self fulfilling prophecy though; more people would probably buy classic fulls if the graphic on big heads wasn't so dog shit.

[RichardBarkley]

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Bummer there aren't Radial Slims in the catalog, those are my favorite shape. They make Classics feel chunky by comparison.

[close]

Same. After riding tablets (which I've determined I don't like at all for curbs), I switched back to radial slims. Easily the most underrated wheel in the line-up; I hope it being MIA from the catalog doesn't mean it's going away/replaced by the Tablets.

[close]

Facts. Radial slims >>>>>>> tablets by a landslide

I'm intrigued. What makes them so good.?

[PrettyRicki]

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Bummer there aren't Radial Slims in the catalog, those are my favorite shape. They make Classics feel chunky by comparison.

[close]

Same. After riding tablets (which I've determined I don't like at all for curbs), I switched back to radial slims. Easily the most underrated wheel in the line-up; I hope it being MIA from the catalog doesn't mean it's going away/replaced by the Tablets.

[close]

Facts. Radial slims >>>>>>> tablets by a landslide

[close]

I'm intrigued. What makes them so good.?

The sharp sides on the tablets (and lock-ins) made them grind kind of weird, like it was slowing it down instead of rolling along. The tablets I've tried also made shuvs and some flip tricks behave different as well.

I've only tried Radial slims in 51mm (both 99du and 101du) and it made my board feel like some sort of dead toy but they grinded and slid well. Maybe it was that particular deck or my truck setup, I might try them again in the future with a different setup.

I did really, really enjoy my set of 51mm Radials 99du (not slims) but they were only offered in green for the Skate Like a Girl collab.

[tzhangdox]

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Bummer there aren't Radial Slims in the catalog, those are my favorite shape. They make Classics feel chunky by comparison.

[close]

Same. After riding tablets (which I've determined I don't like at all for curbs), I switched back to radial slims. Easily the most underrated wheel in the line-up; I hope it being MIA from the catalog doesn't mean it's going away/replaced by the Tablets.

[close]

Facts. Radial slims >>>>>>> tablets by a landslide

[close]

I'm intrigued. What makes them so good.?

Unless you really really need that maximum immediate riding surface on the thinnest wheel, radial slims pretty much do everything tablets do but better.

Same width, still a good amount of riding surface (more than classics), lock in pretty much just as good as they're still a square ish wheel (I skate round rails a good amount and the lock in difference is very minimal). But because they taper a teeny bit and have a slight sidecut, they feel a little more nimble, less clunky and slappy better.

[Lloyd Braun]

RIP classic full. I think it's a bit of self fulfilling prophecy though; more people would probably buy classic fulls if the graphic on big heads wasn't so dog shit.

Do y’all really care about graphics? Mine are gone in less than a week.

[white guy in a durag]

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RIP classic full. I think it's a bit of self fulfilling prophecy though; more people would probably buy classic fulls if the graphic on big heads wasn't so dog shit.

[close]

Do y’all really care about graphics? Mine are gone in less than a week.

It's a psychological thing, like getting thrown off because you know your socks are mismatched. Even if no one sees them, and the graphic is completely worn off, I'll know they looked like ass when I bought them and will resent them. This is why I will never buy STFs; the v4 is a great shape but the highlighter green patterns are so putrid my vibe will be wrong for as long as I'm riding them.

[Mbrimson88]

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Bummer there aren't Radial Slims in the catalog, those are my favorite shape. They make Classics feel chunky by comparison.

[close]

Same. After riding tablets (which I've determined I don't like at all for curbs), I switched back to radial slims. Easily the most underrated wheel in the line-up; I hope it being MIA from the catalog doesn't mean it's going away/replaced by the Tablets.

[close]

Facts. Radial slims >>>>>>> tablets by a landslide

[close]

Wish they did more limited run pro graphics on the Radial Slims, this shape never gets the pro colorway love.

I know this has been posted before, but the Daan V L wheel was the last one I recall, maybe the only one of the 99 duro radial slim pro wheel.  I think there were others with coloured options and 101 but I tend not to pay so much attention to them.

As for these ones, I actually had a very lightly used set come through my hands and they were a great little wheel to skate, before they went to someone else.





I am not such a big fan of graphics on wheels (and usually machine them off before I skate them) but that graphic is pretty cool and I would be lying if I said I have never bought wheels just for the graphic alone.

[Xen]

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Bummer there aren't Radial Slims in the catalog, those are my favorite shape. They make Classics feel chunky by comparison.

[close]

Same. After riding tablets (which I've determined I don't like at all for curbs), I switched back to radial slims. Easily the most underrated wheel in the line-up; I hope it being MIA from the catalog doesn't mean it's going away/replaced by the Tablets.

[close]

Facts. Radial slims >>>>>>> tablets by a landslide

[close]

I'm intrigued. What makes them so good.?

[close]

The sharp sides on the tablets (and lock-ins) made them grind kind of weird, like it was slowing it down instead of rolling along. The tablets I've tried also made shuvs and some flip tricks behave different as well.

I've only tried Radial slims in 51mm (both 99du and 101du) and it made my board feel like some sort of dead toy but they grinded and slid well. Maybe it was that particular deck or my truck setup, I might try them again in the future with a different setup.

I did really, really enjoy my set of 51mm Radials 99du (not slims) but they were only offered in green for the Skate Like a Girl collab.

I thought it was just me, the tablets made everything but ledge skating and straight ollies feel off

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Bummer there aren't Radial Slims in the catalog, those are my favorite shape. They make Classics feel chunky by comparison.

[close]

Same. After riding tablets (which I've determined I don't like at all for curbs), I switched back to radial slims. Easily the most underrated wheel in the line-up; I hope it being MIA from the catalog doesn't mean it's going away/replaced by the Tablets.

[close]

Facts. Radial slims >>>>>>> tablets by a landslide

[close]

I'm intrigued. What makes them so good.?

[close]

Unless you really really need that maximum immediate riding surface on the thinnest wheel, radial slims pretty much do everything tablets do but better.

Same width, still a good amount of riding surface (more than classics), lock in pretty much just as good as they're still a square ish wheel (I skate round rails a good amount and the lock in difference is very minimal). But because they taper a teeny bit and have a slight sidecut, they feel a little more nimble, less clunky and slappy better.

Clunky is the right way to describe the tablets, especially the taller you go.

Anyone know how the OG classics compare to radial slims?

[Ok]

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Bummer there aren't Radial Slims in the catalog, those are my favorite shape. They make Classics feel chunky by comparison.

[close]

Same. After riding tablets (which I've determined I don't like at all for curbs), I switched back to radial slims. Easily the most underrated wheel in the line-up; I hope it being MIA from the catalog doesn't mean it's going away/replaced by the Tablets.

[close]

Facts. Radial slims >>>>>>> tablets by a landslide

[close]

Wish they did more limited run pro graphics on the Radial Slims, this shape never gets the pro colorway love.

[close]

I know this has been posted before, but the Daan V L wheel was the last one I recall, maybe the only one of the 99 duro radial slim pro wheel.  I think there were others with coloured options and 101 but I tend not to pay so much attention to them.

As for these ones, I actually had a very lightly used set come through my hands and they were a great little wheel to skate, before they went to someone else.





I am not such a big fan of graphics on wheels (and usually machine them off before I skate them) but that graphic is pretty cool and I would be lying if I said I have never bought wheels just for the graphic alone.

This graphic is too nice. Reminds me somewhat of a Zoo York board that I had: I wanna say Jeff Pang, tiger balm. Venture mids (at least I think they made a mid truck somewhere in the 95-97 ish years).

As to f4s: fave wheels. I tried to do the conical full thing, and just never like them. I pretty much just like the classic shape. I liked the Mike Anderson sfw wheel tho, and that was chunkier….whatever. Pretty big fan of the 97s I have, hopefully they make them smaller.
Anyone have some pros and cons to the classic formula vs the f4s? Meaning, is there any pros to the classic formula?
Wheels have gone from not an afterthought, but they certainly weren’t my first consideration with a setup, to being the thing that changes the rest of the parts: switched from skating the deck size and truck style I like, to accommodate bigger wheels.

[rocklobster]

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Bummer there aren't Radial Slims in the catalog, those are my favorite shape. They make Classics feel chunky by comparison.

[close]

Same. After riding tablets (which I've determined I don't like at all for curbs), I switched back to radial slims. Easily the most underrated wheel in the line-up; I hope it being MIA from the catalog doesn't mean it's going away/replaced by the Tablets.

[close]

Facts. Radial slims >>>>>>> tablets by a landslide

[close]

I'm intrigued. What makes them so good.?

[close]

Unless you really really need that maximum immediate riding surface on the thinnest wheel, radial slims pretty much do everything tablets do but better.

Same width, still a good amount of riding surface (more than classics), lock in pretty much just as good as they're still a square ish wheel (I skate round rails a good amount and the lock in difference is very minimal). But because they taper a teeny bit and have a slight sidecut, they feel a little more nimble, less clunky and slappy better.

Lock better than Lock-Ins - less side wall rub for a more natural grind
Wider riding patch than classics
Narrower than a Classic or Conical
Slight curve to the lip makes scoopy tricks easier, albiet less than a classic

TLDR- technical like a Classic, grippy like a Conical, but skinnier like a classic should be

[Mbrimson88]

I thought it was just me, the tablets made everything but ledge skating and straight ollies feel off

Clunky is the right way to describe the tablets, especially the taller you go.

Anyone know how the OG classics compare to radial slims?

I went and dug them out and have all of them now sitting on my desk to compare - Tablets, OG Classics, Radial slims and Conical wheels.

Why Conicals?  Well just to compare all of them and I would almost say the normal Conical wheels are the closest to Radial slims for the side profile and overall size, width and riding surface, with OG Classics closer to Tablets in the side profile, even though the OG cut in and Tablets do not.

As for the specs, diameter / width / riding surface as follows:

Radial slim  ....  52  /  30     /  18.5
Conical       ....  52  /  31.5  /  19.5
Tablets        ...  52  /  29    /  20
OG Classics  ..  52  /  31    /  21.5
Classics      ...  52  /  32    /  15.5



EDIT:  I know I often do things that others might think crazy, including taking an angle grinder to wheels to shape them into slightly rounder wheels (usually from old Conical Full wheels) but when I am looking at the Conical wheels, if you took a touch off each side at the widest point they would pretty much be Radial slims, but I probably would not recommend doing this unless you are fairly confident of what you are doing.

[moonordie]

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Bummer there aren't Radial Slims in the catalog, those are my favorite shape. They make Classics feel chunky by comparison.

[close]

Same. After riding tablets (which I've determined I don't like at all for curbs), I switched back to radial slims. Easily the most underrated wheel in the line-up; I hope it being MIA from the catalog doesn't mean it's going away/replaced by the Tablets.

[close]

Facts. Radial slims >>>>>>> tablets by a landslide

[close]

Wish they did more limited run pro graphics on the Radial Slims, this shape never gets the pro colorway love.

[close]

I know this has been posted before, but the Daan V L wheel was the last one I recall, maybe the only one of the 99 duro radial slim pro wheel.  I think there were others with coloured options and 101 but I tend not to pay so much attention to them.

As for these ones, I actually had a very lightly used set come through my hands and they were a great little wheel to skate, before they went to someone else.





I am not such a big fan of graphics on wheels (and usually machine them off before I skate them) but that graphic is pretty cool and I would be lying if I said I have never bought wheels just for the graphic alone.

[close]

This graphic is too nice. Reminds me somewhat of a Zoo York board that I had: I wanna say Jeff Pang, tiger balm. Venture mids (at least I think they made a mid truck somewhere in the 95-97 ish years).

As to f4s: fave wheels. I tried to do the conical full thing, and just never like them. I pretty much just like the classic shape. I liked the Mike Anderson sfw wheel tho, and that was chunkier….whatever. Pretty big fan of the 97s I have, hopefully they make them smaller.
Anyone have some pros and cons to the classic formula vs the f4s? Meaning, is there any pros to the classic formula?

Short answer: No, unless you like flat spots.

[Xen]

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I thought it was just me, the tablets made everything but ledge skating and straight ollies feel off

Clunky is the right way to describe the tablets, especially the taller you go.

Anyone know how the OG classics compare to radial slims?

[close]

I went and dug them out and have all of them now sitting on my desk to compare - Tablets, OG Classics, Radial slims and Conical wheels.

Why Conicals?  Well just to compare all of them and I would almost say the normal Conical wheels are the closest to Radial slims for the side profile and overall size, width and riding surface, with OG Classics closer to Tablets in the side profile, even though the OG cut in and Tablets do not.

As for the specs, diameter / width / riding surface as follows:

Radial slim  ....  52  /  30     /  18.5
Conical       ....  52  /  31.5  /  19.5
Tablets        ...  52  /  29    /  20
OG Classics  ..  52  /  31    /  21.5
Classics      ...  52  /  32    /  15.5



EDIT:  I know I often do things that others might think crazy, including taking an angle grinder to wheels to shape them into slightly rounder wheels (usually from old Conical Full wheels) but when I am looking at the Conical wheels, if you took a touch off each side at the widest point they would pretty much be Radial slims, but I probably would not recommend doing this unless you are fairly confident of what you are doing.

Thanks for that, very helpful. Guess I need to find a set of radial slims in 99a somehow as I was looking at the OG classics.

[Mbrimson88]

Anyone have some pros and cons to the classic formula vs the f4s? Meaning, is there any pros to the classic formula?

Most people prefer the F4 over the original formula, but there are still lots of people who prefer the original for whatever reason, the least of all being the "white colour" of original compared to the "natural colour" of the F4 nowdays, which is quite dark compared to a brand new set of the originals, as per an interview with Brian Anderson (9 club?).

I guess some of those guys who get however many wheels a month don't need to worry so much about flatspots or how long a set of wheels last, but I know I still have a lot of old originals and although they feel different to F4, I still know exactly what they feel like and could ride them easily enough if there were no more F4 wheels, which is also the appeal to many pro riders - they know what they feel like as they have been riding them for so long and don't want to change.

That said, the F4 is far superior in every way and I have no issues with the colour, certainly they last longer, have fewer issues with flatspots (any wheel will flatspot if you push them hard enough) and actually retain their colour more so than the older originals too, which turn very dark yellowy brown after some time.

Originals when brand new were way more susceptible to flatspots and wear issues (they wear down way faster than older weathered originals) which is why I really like skating the older sets I have, but if there was one wheel you had to stick with forever more, the F4 99 duro would be it.

[manysnakes]

In my opinion, there’s nothing special about pre-F4 Spitfire wheels. You might as well just get Mini Logo at that point, they’re fairly standard polyurethane. F4 absolutely cranks it up and it becomes the best all around wheel you can buy.

[Mbrimson88]

Just doing a bit of digging, as I wanted to find the Spitfire shape guide from 2013 when they first came out.

Pretty minimal, only four shapes, but kinda cool at the same time.

[Mbrimson88]

Then for a while they had these options, not sure exactly when but maybe more like 2015-2016

Measurements are out for the Classic Full shape - they were wider than listed.

[Brad Breath]

I came here to say that, I, too, have never bought wheels for a graphic but those Fabiana Spits with the Led Zepp graphic are my shape/size and I’m a Zeppelin fan.

I’d skate them graphics out.

[Xen]

I had forgotten they launched with a tablet, then discontinued it.

[listentoaheartbeat]

Has anyone seen Radials in 99A and 52mm being available anywhere?

[fakiefs180]

Has anyone seen Radials in 99A and 52mm being available anywhere?

https://www.vamos-skateshop.com/p/spitfire-f4-embers-52mm-radial-black-99a

These were the only one I could find. I understand if you don't feel like black wheels.