Spitfire formula four

[pops]

Skated some asphalt spots yesterday, both smooth and crusty. I'm really starting to like these 97s more and more now. I also feel like they go faster now that they're worn down a bit. These wheels unlocked skating hard wheels again for me but cant go back to 99s anymore.

[moonordie]

Skated my Classics 55mm 99 and I'm in love. My OG classics were by 49mm and slow af and catching every possible pebble and not keeping speed at all.
Now I'm in heaven.

[Mbrimson88]

Ok, i gave in and picked up the kader 59s. The marketing with the tray got me, I just needed it. These are 3mm larger than anything ive ever skated lol What deck and truck setups are you all skating these with?

Hoping to avoid risers, so im guessing wheel wells or indy stds might be in my future

So without doing too much looking back over your old posts, what size wheels have you had up to before?  Remember if you had 56 mm, it would only be 1.5 mm higher from the middle of the axle to deck / ground so not that much, but every mm can feel like a mile sometimes to some people too.

Also you are on Ace AF1 trucks or do you have other trucks on other setups besides what you posted?

One guy I know just set up AF1 60s with some 58 mm Conical Full wheels on a DLX 8.75 deck, which I would have thought would have a ton of wheelbite but he is making it work as is, no risers.

My thought would have at least been 1 - 2 mm risers (or 1/8" being more common), as I have on another board with AF1 trucks and what would most likely be 57 to 58 mm wheels (were bigger but now worn down) and that works fine on the rubber 2 mm pads I put on that board.

By cutting out wheel wells on another board, I don't need risers at all for that same size truck to wheel ratio, but everyone is different.

Depends what you have available or what you want to buy, but I would be setting up something you already have first just feeling it out and seeing if any more height is needed, then add a thin riser or something just to try a mm or so more, or run those wheels on something like the Heroin egg if it has wheel wells just to see.

[Fooj]

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Ok, i gave in and picked up the kader 59s. The marketing with the tray got me, I just needed it. These are 3mm larger than anything ive ever skated lol What deck and truck setups are you all skating these with?

Hoping to avoid risers, so im guessing wheel wells or indy stds might be in my future

[close]

So without doing too much looking back over your old posts, what size wheels have you had up to before?  Remember if you had 56 mm, it would only be 1.5 mm higher from the middle of the axle to deck / ground so not that much, but every mm can feel like a mile sometimes to some people too.

Also you are on Ace AF1 trucks or do you have other trucks on other setups besides what you posted?

One guy I know just set up AF1 60s with some 58 mm Conical Full wheels on a DLX 8.75 deck, which I would have thought would have a ton of wheelbite but he is making it work as is, no risers.

My thought would have at least been 1 - 2 mm risers (or 1/8" being more common), as I have on another board with AF1 trucks and what would most likely be 57 to 58 mm wheels (were bigger but now worn down) and that works fine on the rubber 2 mm pads I put on that board.

By cutting out wheel wells on another board, I don't need risers at all for that same size truck to wheel ratio, but everyone is different.

Depends what you have available or what you want to buy, but I would be setting up something you already have first just feeling it out and seeing if any more height is needed, then add a thin riser or something just to try a mm or so more, or run those wheels on something like the Heroin egg if it has wheel wells just to see.

Im usually skating 53-54s, but have been having fun on 56 radial fulls with AF1s lately. 56 seems to me like the upper limit for semi-loose trucks on a 53mm truck. So ill probably end up taking it as an opportunity to try the wood risers and improve my pool skating.

[Frank and Fred]

Anyone else try the dual duo sapphires yet? Seems like we've had one bad review.... Curious to hear more... would like to see an edit of them being skated...

[BL0B]

"Kevin Nice Try" does one on utube...... he doesn't go into the slide at all though, so kinda pointless.

[swellbowed]

[moonordie]

Tried F4 97 (classics 53mm), can't believe how awful they feel.

[pops]

Tried F4 97 (classics 53mm), can't believe how awful they feel.

How so? I have Radials Fulls and after broken in they felt almost like the 99s but grippier.

[moonordie]

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Tried F4 97 (classics 53mm), can't believe how awful they feel.

[close]

How so? I have Radials Fulls and after broken in they felt almost like the 99s but grippier.

Too sticky for my liking

[Nymphicus hollandicus]

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Tried F4 97 (classics 53mm), can't believe how awful they feel.

[close]

How so? I have Radials Fulls and after broken in they felt almost like the 99s but grippier.

[close]

Too sticky for my liking

Hi there, I'm new to slap but just wanted to chime in and say its cool reading everyone's differing opinions on the same products. I've been riding Spitfire F4 97a Classics 53mm for the past few months and really like them. I've been mainly just getting the miles in cruising around the streets (I'm in the UK, so have ridden them across a fair mix of surfaces) but I have tried them in a few skateparks too. I do find them very sticky on smooth concrete but still enjoy them on almost all other surfaces. I've noticed that considering they don't actually feel all that soft (and their smallish size- probably worn to about 52ish or just under now), I find that they can handle considerably rougher ground than other similar sized classic shaped wheels. For example, when I've just gone for it and ploughed through fast on really crappy surfaces like weathered concrete/bricks etc. (basically anything where I would expect to almost get pitched off the board), I tend to find they kind of wake-up and just sort bounce over it without too much drama. It sounds a bit too obvious but to me it's almost like you have to really go hard/risky on them to get the advantage of the softer duro perhaps? Until then they feel a bit dead.
Also, as a side note I tend to prefer the classic shape over conical/tablet shapes in general so I like that Spitfire has me covered with that size and shape in the 97 duro.
PS I'm 37 years old and skate a few times a week cruising around (tricks wise I'm more or less a beginner too) so not exactly killing it!
Cheers all

[bombsaway86]

https://www.concretedisciples.com/shop/skateboard-wheels/spitfire-wheels/the-spitfire-f4-og-classic-58mm-skateboard-wheels/

Just found some 58mm F4 OG Classics, says there’s two sets in stock. Go get ‘em!

[FROTHY]

Flatspotted my second pair in a row of 52mm 99 duro classic f4s. I’ll get another pair though. It will take three strikes to have me looking at other options.

[JimmyFive]

You'll have a hard time flatspotting Bones X99 Formula

[Daydream]

Cross posting from photos/video > Pedro delfino vlog. Talks about conical full and radial full differences with sidewall shape and cracks

[al_cvbrera]

anyone else here actually like the spitfire OG formula? yeah they had more grip but it didn’t affect my skating at all. they just had a more controlled slide for me. although i like formula 4’s above any other wheel, sometimes they can feel too slick if that makes sense. after trying the classic formula, i formed the opinion that people just go for formula fours because its marketed as the more premium product.

i was fussy at first when i tried the classic formula, and as time went on, i realized i could still do the same things as i could on them compared to if i was running f4’s.

if anyone’s hesitant about trying the classic formula, give it a shot! plus they’re cheaper.

i tried them out in the classic shape, btw. i’d recommend others do so as well. idek if they offer them in any other shape like a conical or something, but if they did, i would stay away from them. them in the classic shape would be the right amount of grip, but in a conical shape would be too much imo

[Mbrimson88]

anyone else here actually like the spitfire OG formula? yeah they had more grip but it didn’t affect my skating at all. they just had a more controlled slide for me. although i like formula 4’s above any other wheel, sometimes they can feel too slick if that makes sense. after trying the classic formula, i formed the opinion that people just go for formula fours because its marketed as the more premium product.

i was fussy at first when i tried the classic formula, and as time went on, i realized i could still do the same things as i could on them compared to if i was running f4’s.

if anyone’s hesitant about trying the classic formula, give it a shot! plus they’re cheaper.

i tried them out in the classic shape, btw. i’d recommend others do so as well. idek if they offer them in any other shape like a conical or something, but if they did, i would stay away from them. them in the classic shape would be the right amount of grip, but in a conical shape would be too much imo

Re original formula wheels

I still have quite a few sets on boards and yes, from skating them for so long before Formula Four came out, I was very used to them and did like the feel of them, often flatspots and all, but they usually skated out easily enough and that was just part of what they were.

From new, I did have to go very easy on them but once they aged a bit or wore in, I didn't have any issues with them and they skated great for everything for me.


To say we are all so spoilt for good wheels now might be true, but for anyone, finding something that works for you and does what you want is the main thing.

I liked the 56 to 57 mm sizes the most, which were more like Classic Full shapes from back then, Bighead or other graphic options but almost always the same shapes, as well as having quite a few sets of 54 mm Bigheads too on more tech setups.

Still have quite a few sets of barely used original formula Spitfires come through my hands, often from people who had one skate or so and flatspotted, but like always, I can wear them out easily enough and they still work great on boards I have set up for others to ride, or on secondary boards.


Formula Four are just so versatile now though, so I feel like that could be the only wheel I would ever need, if I did have to have only one from now on.

[Weezil]

I still love the way a fresh set of bigheads looks out of the pack but I prefer f4s in every way. classic formula felt too slow, sticky on the spots I skate, and I swear the bearings are hard as fuck to get out to change wheels. I love how they start out super white, but then they get yellow and gross looking, I felt like f4s maintained their color a bit better throughout their life even if they're not as white as the classic formulas.

I got a couple sets of f4s I've been rotating around for a couple years now and they surprisingly still look decent, color on the sides is still pretty the same from when I got them, riding surface though is another story but the second you skate a new set of wheels on the street the riding surface is nasty anyway.

all that said I kinda want to buy a set of bigheads now. I know the "classic full" is basically the same wheel as bigheads but I never understood why they didn't do f4 bigheads.

[texasplant]

Apologies if this has been discussed before… I’ve been skating old F4s for a while now and recently got some new Conical Fulls… I don’t remember them being this white not too long ago? Is this something they changed recently or did I just forget how long it took for my old sets to look like this? I’ve always liked the more “natural” colour to my wheels and I can’t stop thinking about it now. This particular set almost seem a little stickier too in comparison (they’re 99s but have a few pairs of 97s and barely notice a difference.

Did I miss something? Did the formula change?

[iw0]

Apologies if this has been discussed before… I’ve been skating old F4s for a while now and recently got some new Conical Fulls… I don’t remember them being this white not too long ago? Is this something they changed recently or did I just forget how long it took for my old sets to look like this? I’ve always liked the more “natural” colour to my wheels and I can’t stop thinking about it now. This particular set almost seem a little stickier too in comparison (they’re 99s but have a few pairs of 97s and barely notice a difference.

Did I miss something? Did the formula change?

sounds like you might've psyched yourself out. 99.9% sureformula is the same, just color is different on the more recent batches & haven't noticed a difference in performance personally

[texasplant]

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Apologies if this has been discussed before… I’ve been skating old F4s for a while now and recently got some new Conical Fulls… I don’t remember them being this white not too long ago? Is this something they changed recently or did I just forget how long it took for my old sets to look like this? I’ve always liked the more “natural” colour to my wheels and I can’t stop thinking about it now. This particular set almost seem a little stickier too in comparison (they’re 99s but have a few pairs of 97s and barely notice a difference.

Did I miss something? Did the formula change?

[close]

sounds like you might've psyched yourself out. 99.9% sureformula is the same, just color is different on the more recent batches & haven't noticed a difference in performance personally

Don’t get me wrong, they perform absolutely fine and I wouldn’t ever skate another wheel - just some observations. Like I said it’s been a while since I’ve had brand new ones so I wasn’t sure if it was just that.

[moonordie]

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Apologies if this has been discussed before… I’ve been skating old F4s for a while now and recently got some new Conical Fulls… I don’t remember them being this white not too long ago? Is this something they changed recently or did I just forget how long it took for my old sets to look like this? I’ve always liked the more “natural” colour to my wheels and I can’t stop thinking about it now. This particular set almost seem a little stickier too in comparison (they’re 99s but have a few pairs of 97s and barely notice a difference.

Did I miss something? Did the formula change?

[close]

sounds like you might've psyched yourself out. 99.9% sureformula is the same, just color is different on the more recent batches & haven't noticed a difference in performance personally

[close]

Don’t get me wrong, they perform absolutely fine and I wouldn’t ever skate another wheel - just some observations. Like I said it’s been a while since I’ve had brand new ones so I wasn’t sure if it was just that.

Probably you got used to the yellow after all that time

[Mbrimson88]

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Apologies if this has been discussed before… I’ve been skating old F4s for a while now and recently got some new Conical Fulls… I don’t remember them being this white not too long ago? Is this something they changed recently or did I just forget how long it took for my old sets to look like this? I’ve always liked the more “natural” colour to my wheels and I can’t stop thinking about it now. This particular set almost seem a little stickier too in comparison (they’re 99s but have a few pairs of 97s and barely notice a difference.

Did I miss something? Did the formula change?

[close]

sounds like you might've psyched yourself out. 99.9% sureformula is the same, just color is different on the more recent batches & haven't noticed a difference in performance personally

[close]

Don’t get me wrong, they perform absolutely fine and I wouldn’t ever skate another wheel - just some observations. Like I said it’s been a while since I’ve had brand new ones so I wasn’t sure if it was just that.

I think you are right in that the newer ones are not as "natural" as older ones, which will also yellow with age, so it is a two fold thing there.

New wheels always feel a bit more slick from the first session when compared to older more worn in wheels as well, not a huge difference, but I can feel it on a set of new ones I put on a board recently, compared to way too many older ones on older setups I have around, that I am more used to skating every other day.


As to the formula, that is still the same, but as per new wheels vs old wheels, as said above, some can feel quite different to others, but I always feel like I am home on the Formula Four 99s - just the right amount of grip, slide and everything else.

[moonordie]

Kitty approved.

[shawngreg]

i normally skate 54mm classics.  i just ordered 54mm radial FULLS, but i didnt realize they were the fulls i thought just standard radial.  are these things going to be noticeably larger than a 54mm classic?

[Painted Baby]

i normally skate 54mm classics.  i just ordered 54mm radial FULLS, but i didnt realize they were the fulls i thought just standard radial.  are these things going to be noticeably larger than a 54mm classic?

Classics are 33.5mm wide with a 16.5mm riding surface
Radial Fulls are 38/25
for a frame of ref Conical Fulls are 34/22
They're gon be big'ns

[Samsquantch]

i normally skate 54mm classics.  i just ordered 54mm radial FULLS, but i didnt realize they were the fulls i thought just standard radial.  are these things going to be noticeably larger than a 54mm classic?

You're going from Spitfires narrowest regular production wheel to their widest. They're going to be way different. Radial fulls are rrrrreally big.

[shawngreg]

sheeesh ok thanks boys.  i'm riding a 9" eagle which is a step up for me, so maybe these will be fitting

[yourbreakfsat]

Kitty approved.

[Radim]

Flatspotted my second pair in a row of 52mm 99 duro classic f4s. I’ll get another pair though. It will take three strikes to have me looking at other options.

exactly same here, man. I love the formula, though. been thinking about different shape than classic-maybe flatspots are due to narrow contact patch. my friends with conicals doesn t have this issue..