Spitfire formula four

[Xen]

I’d lose lock-ins.

[yourbreakfsat]

random question but if one spitfire model has to disappear forever, which one?

Hi deluxe burner account








Lock ins - I hardly see anyone with these or ask about them, and the few people I know that skate them only got them because they couldn't get tablets

[BartHarleyJarvis]

I will say, Radial Fulls are hilariously big and it's amazing to me guys like kader and tfunk can skate on these as well as they do. It's basically like skating with ankle weights

[big_kev_215]

random question but if one spitfire model has to disappear forever, which one?

Tablets all day

[FuzzGNU]

I will say, Radial Fulls are hilariously big and it's amazing to me guys like kader and tfunk can skate on these as well as they do. It's basically like skating with ankle weights

It really does feel like that with Ace Classics. Some big ol bricks of polyurethane.

I've seen T Funk skate 60mm OG Classics, which I think would actually be lighter weight than these things. But didn't know he rode the radial fulls too.

People have said some interesting things about tablets in here, namely them getting train tracked and struggling with riding parallel to things, and generally getting caught on everything. Sounds like the opposite of radial fulls. They're so good at climbing and overcoming things parallel to them. Though I prefer the more binary stability of a more conical wheel, which do that stuff good enough without getting caught on things.

I've seen so many ledge skater/90s guys rock tablets and make them work that I've wanted to try them too, but you guys are really making a great case against them. Sounds like I'm better off skipping them. Regardless I would kill off lock-ins before tablets on the principality of having to ride them anti-lock-in to get rid of coning and then swap them back.

[GoneWithTheSchwinn]

Tablets were a change of pace back in the day, now they aren't as fun. And yes, I've eaten shit because I caught their fade.

[greenbeans]

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random question but if one spitfire model has to disappear forever, which one?

[close]

Yeah lock ins can go. I don't skate tablets and I don't fully understand them, but they're at least a unique shape and I assume some people have a use for them so I'll allow them to live.

i used to ride locks in before tablets existed. now i can be flexible but i really dont care for radials

[Xen]

I will say, Radial Fulls are hilariously big and it's amazing to me guys like kader and tfunk can skate on these as well as they do. It's basically like skating with ankle weights

I get mini cubic vibes

[LebowskisRug]

I remember hearing Tablets are the other blemish wheels and they just machine down the outside. If that's the case they should stay since they're cutting down on waste.

Frankly I can't see why Conical shapes need to exist. In what scenario is a sharply angled edge profile better than rounded? Ditch those and just have Classics, Radial Slims, Radial Fulls, maybe one other novelty shape.

[rocklobster]

I remember hearing Tablets are the other blemish wheels and they just machine down the outside. If that's the case they should stay since they're cutting down on waste.

Frankly I can't see why Conical shapes need to exist. In what scenario is a sharply angled edge profile better than rounded? Ditch those and just have Classics, Radial Slims, Radial Fulls, maybe one other novelty shape.

Every brand already has a classic and conical shape so they can't lose out on that slice of the market.

Maybe just Conical Full instead of Conical, Radial Slim fulfills the role of a skinnier conical and market it as a hybrid of Classics + Conical Full.

[tzhangdox]

I've ridden a couple sets of regular conicals and they're good. Feels most similar to a radial slim imo. But in the larger scheme of things I do think it makes more sense to keep conical fulls around over conicals if only one could remain.

[FuzzGNU]

I remember hearing Tablets are the other blemish wheels and they just machine down the outside. If that's the case they should stay since they're cutting down on waste.

Frankly I can't see why Conical shapes need to exist. In what scenario is a sharply angled edge profile better than rounded? Ditch those and just have Classics, Radial Slims, Radial Fulls, maybe one other novelty shape.

Yeah there's reasons. It changes how the wheel does certain things.

They're more "stable". They are harder to make tip/tilt, and there is a more binary (definitive yes or no) when they do tip. This makes them very "predictable" when skating.

That stable flatness also makes them better for power-sliding IMO. You can really dig in your heels at speed and not worry about tipping on that radial edge.

They also lock-in more securely, which also gives them more "predictability" in that regard too.

They also do flip tricks differently. I would argue they flip worse (again, more stable) but some people like how they flip more than rounded. While more rounded/teardrop wheels have a smooth easy flip, conical wheels have a bit more of a delayed "snapped" flip off of that more "binary" edge.

On top of all of this, if they are cut deep enough, they are more lightweight than rounded wheels. Conical wheels are typically more cut out on the sides, while radial wheels tend to have more convex volume outside of the ride surface (hence higher weight:width ratio).

They're definitely worse in other ways... but overall I feel more in my comfort zone with conical wheels. I feel more in control and confident due to the above differences.

[fakiefs180]

I really like the regular Conical wheels. That cut sides are great for grinds I feel. If we could regularly get 99a Radial Slims, that would be great.

Radials, OG Classics and Lock-Ins feel a bit too clunky for me personally but i haven't tried Conical Fulls yet.

Tablets look rad, but they don't work for me and I find they drag a bit on grinds. I could do without them.

Classics feel a bit too round when new, but they are nice when they are worn down 2mm.

[goodatmeth]

I learned front crooks on tablets so I'll always love them.
Ultra locked in. And I also love the way flip tricks feel with them, feels like an inbetween of a wide wheel and a v3 shape I'd say

[Gene_Harrogate]

I'd have to join those saying lock-ins.  As they are the two sides don't differ enough to justify them.  Maybe a more rounded shape like radial on one side would give them more purpose.

[LebowskisRug]

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I remember hearing Tablets are the other blemish wheels and they just machine down the outside. If that's the case they should stay since they're cutting down on waste.

Frankly I can't see why Conical shapes need to exist. In what scenario is a sharply angled edge profile better than rounded? Ditch those and just have Classics, Radial Slims, Radial Fulls, maybe one other novelty shape.

[close]

Yeah there's reasons. It changes how the wheel does certain things.

They're more "stable". They are harder to make tip/tilt, and there is a more binary (definitive yes or no) when they do tip. This makes them very "predictable" when skating.

That stable flatness also makes them better for power-sliding IMO. You can really dig in your heels at speed and not worry about tipping on that radial edge.

They also lock-in more securely, which also gives them more "predictability" in that regard too.

They also do flip tricks differently. I would argue they flip worse (again, more stable) but some people like how they flip more than rounded. While more rounded/teardrop wheels have a smooth easy flip, conical wheels have a bit more of a delayed "snapped" flip off of that more "binary" edge.

On top of all of this, if they are cut deep enough, they are more lightweight than rounded wheels. Conical wheels are typically more cut out on the sides, while radial wheels tend to have more convex volume outside of the ride surface (hence higher weight:width ratio).

They're definitely worse in other ways... but overall I feel more in my comfort zone with conical wheels. I feel more in control and confident due to the above differences.

Let me be clear I meant specifically an angled sidewall vs a rounded one. I don't think it specifically does any of the things you note to a degree that actually matters. It seems pros just ride Classics when they want a narrow wheel and Conical Fulls when they want a wide one. A rounded sidewall won't train track as much and on some micro level that doesn't matter will lock in on crooks and similar grinds easier. The rest is some anal retentive Slap neurosis to justify our micro madness. When I watch pros talk about setups and refer to conicals locking in better they're always on wider trucks and I have wondered if where the ledge sits on say a 151 and Conical Fulls would be exactly where it sits on a 149 and Classics or something.

[LebowskisRug]

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Yo what?! 50mm conical fulls? That sounds great. Thanks for the heads up.

* I currently have some 50mm classics on Indy 159s and that looks a bit ridiculous ^^

[close]

I wanted some early 90s energy on my Huffer, and I had a set of 50mm Classics, but I hear you on the tiny Classics looking funny on wide trucks, so I just snagged the 50mm/101A Conical Fulls. Here’s the look with AF1 60s.

[close]

This is reminding me of all the EMB raw footage I've seen on YouTube of Mike Carrol and friends.

You've got to skate a ledge and barely grind in honor of them. Maybe dance between a crook and a nose slide.

Not sure how they were able to skate bricks with such small wheels.

When I was a kid growing up in the Bay I was fascinated by setups from that era and that whole scene. A local shop ordered me all the videos with that EMB footage (no clue where they got Questionable from in 2001) and somehow got me some 40mm wheels from around that era. The shape was really similar to a slimmer Radial Full with a more gentle arc to the sidewall. Got me a football shaped blank from somewhere and I paired it with Venture Lo Featherlights and it was comically easy to inward heel on.

Anyways, long story short I'd watch how much they push in that footage. Usually 3-4 pushes between tricks and by the time they pop they're going way slower. What's insane from that era is how much faster Daewon skated in general than most people.

The original EMB ledges were quite rough too.

[Xen]

I really like the regular Conical wheels. That cut sides are great for grinds I feel. If we could regularly get 99a Radial Slims, that would be great.

Radials, OG Classics and Lock-Ins feel a bit too clunky for me personally but i haven't tried Conical Fulls yet.

Tablets look rad, but they don't work for me and I find they drag a bit on grinds. I could do without them.

Classics feel a bit too round when new, but they are nice when they are worn down 2mm.

All of this; I honestly feel like I could have written that. Twinsies!

99a Conicals have become my staple spit with the lack of Radial Slims in 99a.

[YMCMB]

I learned front crooks on tablets so I'll always love them.
Ultra locked in. And I also love the way flip tricks feel with them, feels like an inbetween of a wide wheel and a v3 shape I'd say

Tablets should be kept, lock ins can go.
Why have a wheel you can't benefit from rotating?

[Lee Ralphs Dear Old Mum]

Tablets are (for the) sick because you have max riding surface per wheel width ratio. Although OG classic do that also but with more of a sidecut to reduce weight and friction (nothing I notice). In some sizes there is very little difference between OG classic and  tablet dimensions.

Classics have a beautiful radius whereby as they wear down they the proportion to which theyriding surface increases is just beautiful to look at and use.

All to say I like Classics for the way they wear and OG classics for max use of wheel width, durability, and smashing crust.

the F4 99a is far superior to any other duro.

If I could only have one wheel for the rest of my life it would be a 55mm Classic wide 99a F4.

[BartHarleyJarvis]

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I learned front crooks on tablets so I'll always love them.
Ultra locked in. And I also love the way flip tricks feel with them, feels like an inbetween of a wide wheel and a v3 shape I'd say

[close]

Tablets should be kept, lock ins can go.
Why have a wheel you can't benefit from rotating?

Who has EVER rotated their fucking lock ins for a spot??? PRESENT THEM TO ME

[fakiefs180]

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I really like the regular Conical wheels. That cut sides are great for grinds I feel. If we could regularly get 99a Radial Slims, that would be great.

Radials, OG Classics and Lock-Ins feel a bit too clunky for me personally but i haven't tried Conical Fulls yet.

Tablets look rad, but they don't work for me and I find they drag a bit on grinds. I could do without them.

Classics feel a bit too round when new, but they are nice when they are worn down 2mm.

[close]

All of this; I honestly feel like I could have written that. Twinsies!

99a Conicals have become my staple spit with the lack of Radial Slims in 99a.

I am glad to hear that. I swear by the 52mm 99a Conicals. Even the colors are awesome. Have you had experiences with Conical Fulls in 52mm? I think that would be the next wheel to try for me, then i had them all at some point.

[BartHarleyJarvis]

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I really like the regular Conical wheels. That cut sides are great for grinds I feel. If we could regularly get 99a Radial Slims, that would be great.

Radials, OG Classics and Lock-Ins feel a bit too clunky for me personally but i haven't tried Conical Fulls yet.

Tablets look rad, but they don't work for me and I find they drag a bit on grinds. I could do without them.

Classics feel a bit too round when new, but they are nice when they are worn down 2mm.

[close]

All of this; I honestly feel like I could have written that. Twinsies!

99a Conicals have become my staple spit with the lack of Radial Slims in 99a.

[close]

I am glad to hear that. I swear by the 52mm 99a Conicals. Even the colors are awesome. Have you had experiences with Conical Fulls in 52mm? I think that would be the next wheel to try for me, then i had them all at some point.

52mm 99 conicals are the perfect wheel.

[greenbeans]

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Fucking hell, those things are massive.

[close]

The 56mm already felt comically large to me. I can only imagine the 60mm.

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random question but if one spitfire model has to disappear forever, which one?

[close]

You trying to start a war in this thread? Lol. I'll bite.

Lock-ins: just skate tablets instead (in theory I'm a fan of these, but the asymmetry sucks once your wheels need to be rotated due to coning)

Radial slim: just skate classics instead (I know these have massive fans, so not these... But radial slim fans, I'm going to need you to explain why you like these better)

Radial full: selfishly because they're too big for me to put on a standard setup (but they make perfect sense for 95-97a cruiser wheels).

haha not starting anything bad

[Mbrimson88]

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I learned front crooks on tablets so I'll always love them.
Ultra locked in. And I also love the way flip tricks feel with them, feels like an inbetween of a wide wheel and a v3 shape I'd say

[close]

Tablets should be kept, lock ins can go.
Why have a wheel you can't benefit from rotating?

[close]

Who has EVER rotated their fucking lock ins for a spot??? PRESENT THEM TO ME

I forget who it was - some spono am dude who had lock ins and skated street (fifty on a big rail) in one clip with them the "normal" way, then had them turned around with the conical full side in when he skated transition in another clip, which makes sense as they would have way better coping contact.

The fact that he even said in reply comments that he turned them around for that made perfect sense - lock in on the street rail, then not so grippy on the coping or something.

Makes me want to go looking now, but I doubt I would find it.

[Xen]

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Fucking hell, those things are massive.

[close]

The 56mm already felt comically large to me. I can only imagine the 60mm.

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random question but if one spitfire model has to disappear forever, which one?

[close]

Radial slim: just skate classics instead (I know these have massive fans, so not these... But radial slim fans, I'm going to need you to explain why you like these better)

@FuzzGNU

Radial slim vs Classics

Overall wheel width, Radial slims are slimmer than classics of the same MM (just wider contact patch)
Radial slim have both a rounded lip (getting in/on/out of curbs/coping) and a straight cut profile (locking into ledges/rails).

I find that I roll out of certain grinds much too easily on classics, plus, personally, the rounded golf ball look doesn't appeal to me (EXCEPT when paired with ACEs, I don't know why but that combo is *chefs kiss*; I'm also not a fan of hesh wheels (anything past regular conical seems useless to me, starting from Radials and moving into the fulls).

[munchbox]

if you were to get one spitfire shape in 53mm what would it be?
personally id go with the og classics

[fakiefs180]

if you were to get one spitfire shape in 53mm what would it be?
personally id go with the og classics

Radial Slims or Conicals

[Sedition]

As a general rule, IMHO, the three most critical/crucial Spitfire wheels are Classics, Radial Slims, and Conicals, with the Radials being a great half-way point between Classics and Conicals. It blows my mind that Spitfire has had such minimal production of the Radial slims in recent times. Serious ball drop. Those things should be in constant production.

As to what to ditch...yeah, lock-ins, mostly because they are not reversible. Moreover, if you want a decent lock-in, go for conicals. Beyond that, Tablets and OG Classics wouldn't be missed by me. The Radial Fulls are...laughable. Full Connies...I can't understand those things for anything other big transition where'd you what some decent traction/big contact patch.

Classics. Radial Slims. Conicals. DLX, focus your production powers there.

[Xen]

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if you were to get one spitfire shape in 53mm what would it be?
personally id go with the og classics

[close]

Radial Slims or Conicals

As a general rule, IMHO, the three most critical/crucial Spitfire wheels are Classics, Radial Slims, and Conicals, with the Radials being a great half-way point between Classics and Conicals. It blows my mind that Spitfire has had such minimal production of the Radial slims in recent times. Serious ball drop. Those things should be in constant production.

As to what to ditch...yeah, lock-ins, mostly because they are not reversible. Moreover, if you want a decent lock-in, go for conicals. Beyond that, Tablets and OG Classics wouldn't be missed by me. The Radial Fulls are...laughable. Full Connies...I can't understand those things for anything other big transition where'd you what some decent traction/big contact patch.

Classics. Radial Slims. Conicals. DLX, focus your production powers there.

Honestly, I think I'd add the Classic FULL to that line up, that way the Radial crowd would still have a fat wheel.

Radial slims are such an underrated wheel...wide patch, slim profile, nice lip, straight cut edge...