Spitfire formula four

[Mbrimson88]

at that point just get the radial slims

they're slim like the classics, but out the box have a wider contact patch

I get that some people like the profile of Radial Slims and I have had sets, still got one set actually, but I prefer wider wheels in general, about 35mm+ wide is just right, but 34mm is ok too on the Conical Fulls, with 33 and under feeling too narrow.

Used to always ride the 57mm and 59mm bighead shapes (same as the Classic Full shape now) which are between 36 and 39mm wide, wearing some of them down to 50mm in size and rounding off the edges if they got too sharp, so from that it was a trip to see wheel nuts so clearly on some of the thinner wheels on my smaller setups.

That is my preference, but when I have set up something like lightly used 50mm Tablets, Classics or similar wheels on boards just to see what they were like, I can feel the difference and understand why people want small narrow and much lighter wheels for their normal boards.

[roba]

is there a huge difference in the feel of a f4 101 wheel vs a f4 99 wheel? i don't know when i'll be able to get 99s but we have some 101s in the shop and i've never had those. do they feel much worse on rough ground? the difference between the 97s and 99s was noticeable, are the 101s that much harder? and how's the slide?

this has probably been answered multiple times but tbf i don't wanna scroll through 150+ pages so maybe someone here would be able to sum it up for me. thanks :*

[Sedition]

is there a huge difference in the feel of a f4 101 wheel vs a f4 99 wheel? i don't know when i'll be able to get 99s but we have some 101s in the shop and i've never had those. do they feel much worse on rough ground? the difference between the 97s and 99s was noticeable, are the 101s that much harder? and how's the slide?

this has probably been answered multiple times but tbf i don't wanna scroll through 150+ pages so maybe someone here would be able to sum it up for me. thanks :*

IMHO, yes. 101, noticeably faster on park/perfect type terrain, yet very chattery on rougher stuff. 99, good all purpose. Slower on smooth stuff. 97, good for crust. Slow and sticky elsewhere. There is no wheel perfect for all terrain.

[FrenchSkater]

What is the real difference between standard and formula four ?

[Sedition]

What is the real difference between standard and formula four ?

Akin to the difference between lightning and a lightening bug. Only by F4. Repeat, only by F4.

[Weezil]

standards are super white, have the tread when new, slower, don't slide as good. your classic skateboard wheel you probably remember as a kid

f4s are egg white to potato colored, no tread, I think they're faster and smoother in 99 on the same ground, slide great, amazing wheels.

also standards imo it's hard to get the bearings in and out. f4s I never had that problem.

[Sedition]

standards are super white, have the tread when new, slower, don't slide as good. your classic skateboard wheel you probably remember as a kid

f4s are egg white to potato colored, no tread, I think they're faster and smoother in 99 on the same ground, slide great, amazing wheels.

also standards imo it's hard to get the bearings in and out. f4s I never had that problem.

Forget the most important part. Regulars flat spot if you think about doing a power slide. F4s won’t flat spot, even if you try to flat spot them by doing lots of power slides.

[rawbertson.]

so then worn down conical full = tablets ?

[Mbrimson88]

so then worn down conical full = tablets ?

Tablets have a flat wall on both sides from start to finish.

Almost all other wheels have some curving, in or out from the bearing to the edge of the wheel.


Most when worn down do develop a sharper squared off edge, which for Conical Full is very pronounced and can catch more on things, which is why I like to round them off when they are worn down a bit.

I get where your line of thinking is going though.

OG Classic is another one that once worn past the slight rounded edge, goes very sharp and squared, but like Conical Full, it still cuts away down to the bearing seat.

[chris.]

I’d say it’s worthwhile to try the standard formula if you’re curious, just know what you’re getting into. I’ve been skating 57mm bigheads for a while and I love them. They’ve worn down beautifully, big fan of the shape. Yes they flatspot, but I like the feedback you get when you’ve gotta ride out a little flatspot. There’s definitely some nostalgia involved, thats a feeling I hadn’t experienced in so long and it kinda makes me happy.

[Mbrimson88]

is there a huge difference in the feel of a f4 101 wheel vs a f4 99 wheel? i don't know when i'll be able to get 99s but we have some 101s in the shop and i've never had those. do they feel much worse on rough ground? the difference between the 97s and 99s was noticeable, are the 101s that much harder? and how's the slide?

this has probably been answered multiple times but tbf i don't wanna scroll through 150+ pages so maybe someone here would be able to sum it up for me. thanks :*

In general there seems like there is a stable feeling of 99s no matter how many sets I have had, but between different sets of 101, some were more grippy and some were more slippery, so I don't quite know what was going on there.

The last few sets of the 101 Formula Four wheels I have skated from various trade backs or even one set from new did feel more on the harder, slightly slipperier side, but still very little difference in one step up from 99, compared to half a dozen steps down to the 97s, if that makes sense.


Given you have access to 101s and no 99s, I would say get a set and see how you go.

Curious to hear what you think of them too, but I don't think you would be disappointed in them, compared to getting a lesser quality / brand wheel and then wishing you had set up any other Formula Four option if you could have.

IMHO, yes. 101, noticeably faster on park/perfect type terrain, yet very chattery on rougher stuff. 99, good all purpose. Slower on smooth stuff. 97, good for crust. Slow and sticky elsewhere. There is no wheel perfect for all terrain.

Meant to add, yes I agree with all this too.

Well said.

That's why I have multiple setups all pretty much the same with different wheel duros, but sometimes it can be a bit more funny more than functional.

[Sedition]

That's why I have multiple setups all pretty much the same with different wheel duros, but sometimes it can be a bit more funny more than functional.

I sort of do. I have different hardness wheels on different hangers. Depending on where I am skating, I'll just swap out the hanger (takes seconds to do). Yeah, it's kind of OCD, but I can get a smooth/fast ride on a metal mini ramp with 101s, and then head over to a crusty barrier with 97a, and get the best of both worlds. That said, the vast majority of the time I am riding with the 99s.

[rocklobster]

I’d say it’s worthwhile to try the standard formula if you’re curious, just know what you’re getting into. I’ve been skating 57mm bigheads for a while and I love them. They’ve worn down beautifully, big fan of the shape. Yes they flatspot, but I like the feedback you get when you’ve gotta ride out a little flatspot. There’s definitely some nostalgia involved, thats a feeling I hadn’t experienced in so long and it kinda makes me happy.

They aren't terrible but don't handle crust as well as the F4 99a. I'm riding SML's AG formula which is supposed to be similar to the Classic formula, very decent wheels I could ride till they got too small (50mm).

[yourbreakfsat]

Spitfire website is showing wheel sizes that aren't available this season.

https://www.spitfirewheels.com/








Hoping this availability isn't permanent.

[chris.]

Expand Quote

I’d say it’s worthwhile to try the standard formula if you’re curious, just know what you’re getting into. I’ve been skating 57mm bigheads for a while and I love them. They’ve worn down beautifully, big fan of the shape. Yes they flatspot, but I like the feedback you get when you’ve gotta ride out a little flatspot. There’s definitely some nostalgia involved, thats a feeling I hadn’t experienced in so long and it kinda makes me happy.

[close]

They aren't terrible but don't handle crust as well as the F4 99a. I'm riding SML's AG formula which is supposed to be similar to the Classic formula, very decent wheels I could ride till they got too small (50mm).

Maybe it’s the bigger size, but I’m happy with how mine handle crust. I’m really long forward to trying some AG formula soon. There’s some Mike Arnold swirl wheels I’ve been eying.

[rocklobster]

Expand Quote

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I’d say it’s worthwhile to try the standard formula if you’re curious, just know what you’re getting into. I’ve been skating 57mm bigheads for a while and I love them. They’ve worn down beautifully, big fan of the shape. Yes they flatspot, but I like the feedback you get when you’ve gotta ride out a little flatspot. There’s definitely some nostalgia involved, thats a feeling I hadn’t experienced in so long and it kinda makes me happy.

[close]

They aren't terrible but don't handle crust as well as the F4 99a. I'm riding SML's AG formula which is supposed to be similar to the Classic formula, very decent wheels I could ride till they got too small (50mm).

[close]

Maybe it’s the bigger size, but I’m happy with how mine handle crust. I’m really long forward to trying some AG formula soon. There’s some Mike Arnold swirl wheels I’ve been eying.

I'm riding the 53mm OG Wide / AG formula, next set I'll try is the OG Formula, their version of the 101a much whiter like Bones

[chris.]

I’ve got some OGs. Grippy and they last forever. They’re what got me on my non-F4 kick to begin with. Good wheels for sure.

All this being said, I did catch myself thinking about how nice some fresh 53mm 99 classics would be the other week.

[modern life is war]

does the og spitfire formula hold a candle to F4s or newer bones wheels at all? it's been like 15 years since i've ridden them.

[Xen]

does the og spitfire formula hold a candle to F4s or newer bones wheels at all? it's been like 15 years since i've ridden them.

Depends on what you are doing? Big heads are still very popular.

F4s slide better, last longer, come in more shapes, and are harder to flatspot; the exact opposite of the OG classic formula (F1)

[DERBY]

Spitfire website is showing wheel sizes that aren't available this season.

https://www.spitfirewheels.com/








Hoping this availability isn't permanent.

this drop sucks for folks who skate anything above 56mm

[Pasta Monster]

Expand Quote

Spitfire website is showing wheel sizes that aren't available this season.

https://www.spitfirewheels.com/








Hoping this availability isn't permanent.

[close]

this drop sucks for folks who skate anything above 56mm

Most of the wheels have a 58, other than the Lock-Ins with 57 being the maximum while Classics go up to 60. The font for 58 is nearly the same color as the background.

Edit:

I’m down to try the Radial Full shape.

[rocklobster]

Spitfire website is showing wheel sizes that aren't available this season.

https://www.spitfirewheels.com/








Hoping this availability isn't permanent.

The catalog makes me feel like I haven't completed enough skate side missions to unlock new graphics and wheel sizes.

[modern life is war]

I wonder if spitfire riders just aren't going above 56 very often and it's not worth it to produce them

[BALARGUE]

I wonder if spitfire riders just aren't going above 56 very often and it's not worth it to produce them

it's not about riders. It's about customers

[roba]

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

Spitfire website is showing wheel sizes that aren't available this season.

https://www.spitfirewheels.com/








Hoping this availability isn't permanent.

[close]

this drop sucks for folks who skate anything above 56mm

[close]

Most of the wheels have a 58, other than the Lock-Ins with 57 being the maximum while Classics go up to 60. The font for 58 is nearly the same color as the background.

Edit:

I’m down to try the Radial Full shape.

58mm classics weren't included in preorder forms, the blacked out numbers mean that they're not in this drop for some reason.

[Idk]

Does no one skate 50 or 51 mm anymore??!!!!

[kneebone]

Does no one skate 50 or 51 mm anymore??!!!!

50 gang here! They've been producing 50mm wheels as part of the lil smokies line (which are blemish re-grinds/pricepoints) but for some reason they don't include them in the catalog (presumably because the supply chain is unpredictable)

[notinternetfamous]

Expand Quote

Does no one skate 50 or 51 mm anymore??!!!!

[close]

50 gang here! They've been producing 50mm wheels as part of the lil smokies line (which are blemish re-grinds/pricepoints) but for some reason they don't include them in the catalog (presumably because the supply chain is unpredictable)

if i had excess cash to blow, i'd only skate 51mm tbh. for longevity purposes, it just makes more sense to ride 52-53

[FROTHY]

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

Does no one skate 50 or 51 mm anymore??!!!!

[close]

50 gang here! They've been producing 50mm wheels as part of the lil smokies line (which are blemish re-grinds/pricepoints) but for some reason they don't include them in the catalog (presumably because the supply chain is unpredictable)

[close]

if i had excess cash to blow, i'd only skate 51mm tbh. for longevity purposes, it just makes more sense to ride 52-53

Just bought me some 50mm smokies in the classic shape. Gonna go great on my throwback flipstick I'm putting together.

[Pasta Monster]

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

Spitfire website is showing wheel sizes that aren't available this season.

https://www.spitfirewheels.com/








Hoping this availability isn't permanent.

[close]

this drop sucks for folks who skate anything above 56mm

[close]

Most of the wheels have a 58, other than the Lock-Ins with 57 being the maximum while Classics go up to 60. The font for 58 is nearly the same color as the background.

Edit:

I’m down to try the Radial Full shape.

[close]

58mm classics weren't included in preorder forms, the blacked out numbers mean that they're not in this drop for some reason.

Ah, good to know. I’m glad I stocked up around NYE, but may try to scoop up some of the bigger sizes for summertime, while they’re still in shops.