Spitfire formula four

[DeepSpace9mm]

Has anyone tried the lil smokes? 50-51mm? They look like a different compond to say the F4s?

Am I right in saying that?

I would love a 51mm f4 Tablet

IIRC someone on here said something like Lil Smokies could be wheels that didn’t pass QC, are shaped into a smaller, usable size/ shape then given a minimal graphic to maintain a lower price point.

I think I read that on here but I’m halfway through my post-work joint and I could be wrong.

[bbk]

Has anyone tried the lil smokes? 50-51mm? They look like a different compond to say the F4s?

Am I right in saying that?

I would love a 51mm f4 Tablet

They are f4.

[Ronnie Rodriguez]

They're indeed F4. Had a pair of standard 99 51mm tablets and a set of lil smokie 99 51mm tablets. They skated exactly the same and were probably the best small wheels I've ever ran.

[Damoforce]

They're indeed F4. Had a pair of standard 99 51mm tablets and a set of lil smokie 99 51mm tablets. They skated exactly the same and were probably the best small wheels I've ever ran.

Cheers, good to know. Interesting theory about the post a couple above about being rejects that have been shaved down.

[tzhangdox]

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Has anyone tried the lil smokes? 50-51mm? They look like a different compond to say the F4s?

Am I right in saying that?

I would love a 51mm f4 Tablet

[close]

IIRC someone on here said something like Lil Smokies could be wheels that didn’t pass QC, are shaped into a smaller, usable size/ shape then given a minimal graphic to maintain a lower price point.

I think I read that on here but I’m halfway through my post-work joint and I could be wrong.

I said that, not 100000% certain but source is reliable.

[Fooj]

They're indeed F4. Had a pair of standard 99 51mm tablets and a set of lil smokie 99 51mm tablets. They skated exactly the same and were probably the best small wheels I've ever ran.

kinda funny reading this earlier, then finding these at the shop right after.

[Cthunderw]

Had my first session on the Radial Full 56mm and these things absolutely GO. I’m usually on a 54mm when on 8.25 and 52mm on 8, but I threw these beasts on my 8.25 and I kinda love it. They’re definitely heavy but they still seem to get off the ground just fine, I felt like I had to really muscle my pop but then it paid off.

I think these will perhaps go on my Couch with some wide and light Thunders, that sounds nice to me right now. I want to experiment with them on trucks that are more narrow than the deck, it seems like they might turn better. Maybe like an 8.5 with 144s and an extra inner washer.

[l1ll1ll1]

Had my first session on the Radial Full 56mm and these things absolutely GO. I’m usually on a 54mm when on 8.25 and 52mm on 8, but I threw these beasts on my 8.25 and I kinda love it. They’re definitely heavy but they still seem to get off the ground just fine, I felt like I had to really muscle my pop but then it paid off.

I think these will perhaps go on my Couch with some wide and light Thunders, that sounds nice to me right now. I want to experiment with them on trucks that are more narrow than the deck, it seems like they might turn better. Maybe like an 8.5 with 144s and an extra inner washer.

56 and bigger are just the best. Riding 57 Oski Radials. Waiting for my next deck to setup the 60 Kader Radial Fulls with Risers, event though they might be too extreme...

[FuzzGNU]

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Had my first session on the Radial Full 56mm and these things absolutely GO. I’m usually on a 54mm when on 8.25 and 52mm on 8, but I threw these beasts on my 8.25 and I kinda love it. They’re definitely heavy but they still seem to get off the ground just fine, I felt like I had to really muscle my pop but then it paid off.

I think these will perhaps go on my Couch with some wide and light Thunders, that sounds nice to me right now. I want to experiment with them on trucks that are more narrow than the deck, it seems like they might turn better. Maybe like an 8.5 with 144s and an extra inner washer.

[close]

56 and bigger are just the best. Riding 57 Oski Radials. Waiting for my next deck to setup the 60 Kader Radial Fulls with Risers, event though they might be too extreme...

I haven't really gotten to skate them much, but I'm liking my 56 Radial Fulls as well. I just feel so much more confident on them. You don't have to be afraid of random little bullshit ruining your day.

I'm still not sure if I like Radial Fulls or Conical Fulls more yet.

[fakiefs180]

First 30 minute cruise through my neighborhood with some new 53mm OG classics.

I was on 54mm classics half my life and man these 53mm OG's handle the crust here so much better. They have the same width as my old classics but just more square edges and a wider riding surface. Might throw a second washer on the insides of my 144s to push the wheels a bit more out (I ride 8.25 decks). I need a while to get used to the different feeling and maybe readjust my ollies a bit.

[Mbrimson88]

First 30 minute cruise through my neighborhood with some new 53mm OG classics.

I was on 54mm classics half my life and man these 53mm OG's handle the crust here so much better. They have the same width as my old classics but just more square edges and a wider riding surface. Might throw a second washer on the insides of my 144s to push the wheels a bit more out (I ride 8.25 decks). I need a while to get used to the different feeling and maybe readjust my ollies a bit.

It was funny how narrow they looked to me when I first got some in 55, 58 and 60 mm sizes (only a mm or two thinner than others like Classics or Conical Full wheels for the same diameter really) but as you said, the contact area is about the same as Conical Full right from new, so they start with that wide profile and have maybe shaved a bit of the overall width and cut weight down too, which I can see are both a plus for people who like them.

They definitely skated well for me too, when I did have a roll on some, from the boards of people who bought them, that is.

I haven't seen any worn down yet, but I know from well used Conical Full wheels, the edge becomes a bit more sharp and can chip off more easily, which is why I often round them off a bit with the grinder when I get some back from people who have upgraded to new ones.

There is definitely a place for them in the current lineup, along with Classics and others that are well liked.

[BartHarleyJarvis]

Does anyone ride tablets? I don't think I've seen a pair in the wild. Can anyone speak to their benefits?

[FuzzGNU]

Does anyone ride tablets? I don't think I've seen a pair in the wild. Can anyone speak to their benefits?

What I've heard is, they feel like a thin light wheel (Classic) but with a wider riding surface for handling rougher terrain. Don't wear down as quickly. All those benefits of a wider riding surface. It's like a tech/flip wheel with more ride patch.

They lock in super well, but drag with a ton of friction once they lock in.

I've heard people say they are amazing at first, but once they wear down and lose their shape, they start to become noticably worse, and don't slide as well.

This is only what I've heard. Hope it helps.

[goodatmeth]

Does anyone ride tablets? I don't think I've seen a pair in the wild. Can anyone speak to their benefits?

I've seen a few and have been riding the 53mm 99a ones for a long time. Amazing lock in, great for tech moves. A skinny light wheel that can handle a bit of crust due to the wide riding surface. I'd definitely get them again.

[Frank and Fred]

I've had 54s and 55s. I liked them both and didn't really notice a drag on grinds but I can see that being a potential issue due to the sidewall. 55s are really close to the OG Classic 55s. But the OG classics have a more cutaway shape to eliminate the drag. So in the bigger sizes it might be worth looking at OG Classics for the same benefits without the potential grind drag...

[tzhangdox]

I'm not the biggest fan of tablets.

Look weird, sidewall drag when locking in, and the lack of taper makes scooping tricks/breaking into slides a little trickier. Also easier to get caught in cracks when rolling parallel to them vs say a classic.

Radials slims had a similar slim profile, locked in pretty much just as well, but had some taper and didn't have a completely flat sidewall. Felt pretty much better in every way to me unless you absolutely need maximum contact patch no matter what.
Wish they made that shape again.

[JugeL]

Does anyone ride tablets? I don't think I've seen a pair in the wild. Can anyone speak to their benefits?

Skated couple sets (52 & 54mm)

To me they are classics that lock better. Prefer classics though but mostly because thats the shape i've run with most.

[rocklobster]

Radials slims had a similar slim profile, locked in pretty much just as well, but had some taper and didn't have a completely flat sidewall. Felt pretty much better in every way to me unless you absolutely need maximum contact patch no matter what.
Wish they made that shape again.

Radial Slims > Tablets

Tablets are (I think) Spitfire's skinniest wheel, good choice if you're not a fan of their chunkier wheels versus Bones.

[LebowskisRug]

I’ve also had and not really liked Tablets. They have a wider riding surface than Classics, close to Conical width I think. The comparison to Radial Slims has already been made, but I’d rather ride Conicals over them as well.

[Space Cowboy]

I’ve also had and not really liked Tablets. They have a wider riding surface than Classics, close to Conical width I think. The comparison to Radial Slims has already been made, but I’d rather ride Conicals over them as well.

The Tablets are a slimmer wheel due to them being fully flat on the sides of the wheels; giving them a squared out look. Conicals are wider than tablets, Conical fulls are wider than both of the previous wheels.

(52mm):
Tablets: Width-29, Riding Surface-20
Conical: Width-31.5, Riding Surface-19.5
Conical Full: Width-32.5, Riding Surface-21

Personally I prefer wider riding surface so i'll be on the F4 OG classics or the F4 Conical Full, the tablets didn't seem appealing to me with the flat sides, but I definitely see the appeal for other people.

[Ok]

I appreciate the last few posts on this. I’m still looking for the ultimate 52.

[Space Cowboy]

I appreciate the last few posts on this. I’m still looking for the ultimate 52.

Spitfire is continuing to pump out new shapes for the F4 so ive got a feeling your perfect wheel will come down the pipeline soon or you just haventquite found it yet haha

My ultimate 52 was when I saw OG Classic shape come out in Formula Four a year or 2 ago.

[Ok]

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I appreciate the last few posts on this. I’m still looking for the ultimate 52.

[close]

Spitfire is continuing to pump out new shapes for the F4 so ive got a feeling your perfect wheel will come down the pipeline soon or you just haventquite found it yet haha

My ultimate 52 was when I saw OG Classic shape come out in Formula Four a year or 2 ago.

Haven’t skated those yet. I like the flip with classics a lot. I got 52 conical fulls, but they are 101s, and are not ideal for the terroir. Tbh the og classics kinda confused me, as they seemed a little too close to the conical fulls…? What the key difference/advantage?

[pops]

I'm not the biggest fan of tablets.

Look weird, sidewall drag when locking in, and the lack of taper makes scooping tricks/breaking into slides a little trickier. Also easier to get caught in cracks when rolling parallel to them vs say a classic.

Radials slims had a similar slim profile, locked in pretty much just as well, but had some taper and didn't have a completely flat sidewall. Felt pretty much better in every way to me unless you absolutely need maximum contact patch no matter what.
Wish they made that shape again.

I remember not liking my tablets at all. First wheel to make my skating feel so off and weird  Also have skated radial slims and liked them much more than tablets for same reasons.

[BartHarleyJarvis]

I appreciate the last few posts on this. I’m still looking for the ultimate 52.

Me too. I've convinced myself that my perfect wheel is an F4 Radial or Radial Full, 99du, 52mm. There was a recent swirl wheel that was basically exactly this but they were black and I can pretty much only handle the potato color wheels. Hoping the next drop has something for me to try.

I have 52 classics and 52 conicals on my set ups right now, and the radial *seems* like the blend of both that I want but they seem to be more common in larger sizes or harder durometer.

[Space Cowboy]

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Expand Quote

I appreciate the last few posts on this. I’m still looking for the ultimate 52.

[close]

Spitfire is continuing to pump out new shapes for the F4 so ive got a feeling your perfect wheel will come down the pipeline soon or you just haventquite found it yet haha

My ultimate 52 was when I saw OG Classic shape come out in Formula Four a year or 2 ago.

[close]

Haven’t skated those yet. I like the flip with classics a lot. I got 52 conical fulls, but they are 101s, and are not ideal for the terroir. Tbh the og classics kinda confused me, as they seemed a little too close to the conical fulls…? What the key difference/advantage?

Conical fulls have a more rounded edge, the OG classic shape has a more square edge, like the OG Classic concaves inward with no roundness that sticks out like the conical full if that makes sense. (OG Classics riding surface:21.7, conical full:21, so only 0.7 more)

The conical full can give you a closer flip feeling to the classic due to the more rounded edge while giving the lock in of a more square wheel, the OG Classic flips like a square wheel but I prefer the sharper edge for lock ins (The main key differences for me). (The conical full locks in fine as well, just slightly less "locked" due to the more rounded edge but it wont make you fall off if you can lock in well)

The OG classic locks in hard but dosent have as much surface rubbing against the obstacle like the tablet due to only the edge of the wheel touching the obstacle rather than the whole side of the wheel if that makes sense haha

[braksabbath]

53 OG Classics compared to 56 Classics. Going to exchange one or both  for something else but don’t know what. Riding on 52mm conical fulls (was 54) but not liking the squareness for slappies and fat coping and extra clunkiness. I do like the smoothness of the wide surface area. Maybe keep the 56 classics and endure the crust or pick up some 55 radials. Need a wheel that feels right in parking lots and full pipes.

[Ok]

53 OG Classics compared to 56 Classics. Going to exchange one or both  for something else but don’t know what. Riding on 52mm conical fulls (was 54) but not liking the squareness for slappies and fat coping and extra clunkiness. I do like the smoothness of the wide surface area. Maybe keep the 56 classics and endure the crust or pick up some 55 radials. Need a wheel that feels right in parking lots and full pipes.

@Space Cowboy Thanks for that write up!

@braksabbath yeah, fuck. I’m in a room of pain, of my own construction: recently purchased both 51 mm classics, and 57 mm radials. Which feels like, viewed as a singular data piece, would easily allow the profiler to point to the unsub. I too want something that will work for really varied terrain, but maybe that’s just not a thing. There has been people I’ve skated with, and then numerous instances of pros that can rip on both transition and flatground shit on 50s, or different folks that can still do tech stuff with their 58s, whilst being able to skate large ramps as well. Captain obvious here. A round, yet wider shape, in a 52 might be as close as I get to the best of both worlds. 

[disclosed]

i think Tablets are very comon where i live. see a ton of people ride them. i think they're 3th place most common spitfires i see here after Classics and Conicals.

[Fooj]

I really believe if Spit released more regular Radials that that shape would be higher up in the popularity polls