Spitfire formula four

[rikki]

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So you guys are buying that 97du wheels to skate indoor parks? Thats NOT really the kind of review i am looking for..


Currently on 57mm 99du radial fulls, love em.
I skate mainly shitty crusty street

Considering about buy a set of 97du dont know if go for the regular 97du radial fulls 56mm or the new 97d conical full 56mm

The info i am looking for is what you thing if we compare this three duros of spitfire 99du 97du and news97du

Dont mind at all bones or powels

[close]

If you love the 99's stick with them

Yeah no reason to ride anything else than F4 99 íf they work. The 97 is a functional wheel for terrain that's not exactly optimal for 99.

[yghartsyrt]

weird question. i just got some f4 in 99a, but they feel a lot softer than the usual f4 99a i have (more like 97 or 93 – slightly harder than those dragon bones ones). did anyone have they same experience. color is also a lot whiter than usual. pretty sure they are not fake, since i bought them from a large skate retailer here in germany.

[Mbrimson88]

weird question. i just got some f4 in 99a, but they feel a lot softer than the usual f4 99a i have (more like 97 or 93 – slightly harder than those dragon bones ones). did anyone have they same experience. color is also a lot whiter than usual. pretty sure they are not fake, since i bought them from a large skate retailer here in germany.

Smaller batches are more often going to be very white and new looking, so if it is a specific shape or pro graphic or something, that is most likely going to be newer than say a regular Classic or Conical Full wheel.

What shape, size, graphic was on them?

Thinking the Pedro Delfino Turbo wheel in 55 or 57 mm is the new 97 duro, or the Last Resort 56 mm Radial Full wheel was the older 97 duro option, just in case you got either of them, but will wait for your reply with more info.

Generally the newer wheels have been whiter and harder, very screechy like the Lock In Full wheels I got recently, which are crazy hard feeling, compared to my usual F4 99 duro Classic, Radial or Conical Full wheels that I tend to get more of on a regular basis.

[yghartsyrt]

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weird question. i just got some f4 in 99a, but they feel a lot softer than the usual f4 99a i have (more like 97 or 93 – slightly harder than those dragon bones ones). did anyone have they same experience. color is also a lot whiter than usual. pretty sure they are not fake, since i bought them from a large skate retailer here in germany.

[close]

Smaller batches are more often going to be very white and new looking, so if it is a specific shape or pro graphic or something, that is most likely going to be newer than say a regular Classic or Conical Full wheel.

What shape, size, graphic was on them?

Thinking the Pedro Delfino Turbo wheel in 55 or 57 mm is the new 97 duro, or the Last Resort 56 mm Radial Full wheel was the older 97 duro option, just in case you got either of them, but will wait for your reply with more info.

Generally the newer wheels have been whiter and harder, very screechy like the Lock In Full wheels I got recently, which are crazy hard feeling, compared to my usual F4 99 duro Classic, Radial or Conical Full wheels that I tend to get more of on a regular basis.

They are conical fulls vnm script (don’t find anything about them on the internet). They feel kind of bouncy - not crazy hard and screechy

[Mbrimson88]

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weird question. i just got some f4 in 99a, but they feel a lot softer than the usual f4 99a i have (more like 97 or 93 – slightly harder than those dragon bones ones). did anyone have they same experience. color is also a lot whiter than usual. pretty sure they are not fake, since i bought them from a large skate retailer here in germany.

[close]

Smaller batches are more often going to be very white and new looking, so if it is a specific shape or pro graphic or something, that is most likely going to be newer than say a regular Classic or Conical Full wheel.

What shape, size, graphic was on them?

Thinking the Pedro Delfino Turbo wheel in 55 or 57 mm is the new 97 duro, or the Last Resort 56 mm Radial Full wheel was the older 97 duro option, just in case you got either of them, but will wait for your reply with more info.

Generally the newer wheels have been whiter and harder, very screechy like the Lock In Full wheels I got recently, which are crazy hard feeling, compared to my usual F4 99 duro Classic, Radial or Conical Full wheels that I tend to get more of on a regular basis.

[close]

They are conical fulls vnm script (don’t find anything about them on the internet). They feel kind of bouncy - not crazy hard and screechy

So these ones, from last catalog:

https://www.spitfirewheels.com/summer-2024/

Should be pretty normal, legit wheels, but I think if you do have issues with them, take them back and check with the shop as to info or if someone in there who skates has a roll on the board and can see what they are like.

Does sound weird for sure.

[Troubadour26]

I just got some 55mm 99duro Classics and they actually look and feel a lot softer or at least soggier than my last set of wheels (I had 54mm 99 duro Grimple Lock In Fulls).


They feel fine but yeah, definitely something I’ve noticed since I set them up last Monday, the sound is way off. Powerslid silently on skatepark ground yesterday.

[yghartsyrt]

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weird question. i just got some f4 in 99a, but they feel a lot softer than the usual f4 99a i have (more like 97 or 93 – slightly harder than those dragon bones ones). did anyone have they same experience. color is also a lot whiter than usual. pretty sure they are not fake, since i bought them from a large skate retailer here in germany.

[close]

Smaller batches are more often going to be very white and new looking, so if it is a specific shape or pro graphic or something, that is most likely going to be newer than say a regular Classic or Conical Full wheel.

What shape, size, graphic was on them?

Thinking the Pedro Delfino Turbo wheel in 55 or 57 mm is the new 97 duro, or the Last Resort 56 mm Radial Full wheel was the older 97 duro option, just in case you got either of them, but will wait for your reply with more info.

Generally the newer wheels have been whiter and harder, very screechy like the Lock In Full wheels I got recently, which are crazy hard feeling, compared to my usual F4 99 duro Classic, Radial or Conical Full wheels that I tend to get more of on a regular basis.

[close]

They are conical fulls vnm script (don’t find anything about them on the internet). They feel kind of bouncy - not crazy hard and screechy

[close]

So these ones, from last catalog:

https://www.spitfirewheels.com/summer-2024/

Should be pretty normal, legit wheels, but I think if you do have issues with them, take them back and check with the shop as to info or if someone in there who skates has a roll on the board and can see what they are like.

Does sound weird for sure.

Thanks. Don’t know how I missed them in the catalogue. I’ll talk to the shop.

[rawbertson.]

to be honest i personally dont think the soft sliders are that good in a slippery indoor park. They are fine, but they are not really what i would call a grippy wheel. the main selling point of them is they are meant to slide... I find the 93a slides BETTER than the 99a.

if you put on a normal 95a wheel from OJ or whatever, you would feel a significant difference in being able to make turns. But then you gotta wax the shit out of everything

[Lepanto]

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So you guys are buying that 97du wheels to skate indoor parks? Thats NOT really the kind of review i am looking for..


Currently on 57mm 99du radial fulls, love em.
I skate mainly shitty crusty street

Considering about buy a set of 97du dont know if go for the regular 97du radial fulls 56mm or the new 97d conical full 56mm

The info i am looking for is what you thing if we compare this three duros of spitfire 99du 97du and news97du

Dont mind at all bones or powels

[close]

If you love the 99's stick with them

[close]

Yeah no reason to ride anything else than F4 99 íf they work. The 97 is a functional wheel for terrain that's not exactly optimal for 99.

I care about my knees, thats why i am wondering the differences on how them three feel on street
considering about get a softer option for those days i feel like that lol

[nurkdurk]

So you guys are buying that 97du wheels to skate indoor parks? Thats NOT really the kind of review i am looking for..


Currently on 57mm 99du radial fulls, love em.
I skate mainly shitty crusty street

Considering about buy a set of 97du dont know if go for the regular 97du radial fulls 56mm or the new 97d conical full 56mm

The info i am looking for is what you thing if we compare this three duros of spitfire 99du 97du and news97du

Dont mind at all bones or powels

How crusty are we talking? A bit rough with light aggregate showing the new 97 are a little smoother and a bit faster than the 99f4.
If you get into mega crust, like old asphalt and big exposed aggregrate (those driveways that look like pebbles) then the 93s make it skateable. They're not cloud cruiser soft, but pretty damn smooth.

The old 97 didn't slide that well, I wouldn't opt for that. The new 97s slide at least as well as the 99f4. If you're not skating smooth concrete I don't see any reason to not run the new 97.

[Unkle Fleak]

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I wanna continue to ride the old 97s. Scratch that just seen the sticker above.

Have any y’all seen the video by Tony Gail on the Dragon wheels? Powell wheels are not made in the USA. Only bones wheels are made here.

Tony’s channel is called Freestyle trick tips. I like to see him look at thesecstreet wheels

[close]

Dragons are made in USA, so they say.

Only if they say bones on it I think. I will ALWAYS believe Tony about urethane origin. He’s tested a ton b of shit. And I do remember a soft wheel that slid in like target

[rawbertson.]

i feel like dragons would be better for slippery indoor than the spitfire soft slider actually. i dont find dragons OR soft sliders particularly cruisery to be honest. i dont think the wheels are gonna save your knees that much. they are really fast though and i would say superior slide. for the type of skating i do it does make a lot of sense to ride only these wheels cause i hardly ever go to skateparks or skate transition.

if you skate good ground a lot it is hard to say what is better because the speed and slide is actually better on the softs. there is something to be said about riding hards that gives extra feedback and has a really nice feeling. but its definitely more grippy and slower!

i had to really re-evaluate my definition of what i considered good ground. I am getting away with just using 99a for everything. theres really only 2 spots that i regularly visit that I have a seperate board set up with softs for which is kinda silly

[pops]

i feel like dragons would be better for slippery indoor than the spitfire soft slider actually. i dont find dragons OR soft sliders particularly cruisery to be honest. i dont think the wheels are gonna save your knees that much. they are really fast though and i would say superior slide. for the type of skating i do it does make a lot of sense to ride only these wheels cause i hardly ever go to skateparks or skate transition.

if you skate good ground a lot it is hard to say what is better because the speed and slide is actually better on the softs. there is something to be said about riding hards that gives extra feedback and has a really nice feeling. but its definitely more grippy and slower!

i had to really re-evaluate my definition of what i considered good ground. I am getting away with just using 99a for everything. theres really only 2 spots that i regularly visit that I have a seperate board set up with softs for which is kinda silly

To be honest, I was not that happy with my Soft Sliders after a couple sessions indoors. I'm just gonna switch back to dragons I guess. It is the wheel I use at every spot anyway.

[Mbrimson88]

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i feel like dragons would be better for slippery indoor than the spitfire soft slider actually. i dont find dragons OR soft sliders particularly cruisery to be honest. i dont think the wheels are gonna save your knees that much. they are really fast though and i would say superior slide. for the type of skating i do it does make a lot of sense to ride only these wheels cause i hardly ever go to skateparks or skate transition.

if you skate good ground a lot it is hard to say what is better because the speed and slide is actually better on the softs. there is something to be said about riding hards that gives extra feedback and has a really nice feeling. but its definitely more grippy and slower!

i had to really re-evaluate my definition of what i considered good ground. I am getting away with just using 99a for everything. theres really only 2 spots that i regularly visit that I have a seperate board set up with softs for which is kinda silly

[close]

To be honest, I was not that happy with my Soft Sliders after a couple sessions indoors. I'm just gonna switch back to dragons I guess. It is the wheel I use at every spot anyway.

I think it really does come down to the individual and how each person skates, but the soft sliders will definitely slide more than some people want them to, especially considering it is in the name, but also when most people want a softer wheel, they want more grip, at least that is usually what I find.

People slipping out on skatelite or smooth surfaces want something that can hold their board, but soft sliders work great on the more rough and nasty type of surface, from what I felt too with sets I have tried.

I guess some people will skate them everywhere, other people will mix and match a bit and others will not really enjoy them at all.  That's all part of the differences of skateboarding.  If all I skated were the indoor park and wood I don't think I would keep a set of Soft Sliders on a board at all, but skating some carparks and other places they work well and make things a little more fun, but even then I think I often find normal wider 99 duro wheels work nicely on most of those places too.

Yet to try the new 97s but that will be soon as they just arrived in shops in AU now too.

[rawbertson.]

Looking to simplify the wheel shapes for people without getting overly complicated.

How I would describe each shape :

Classic: the cut radius is large and makes them looks like a donut. Has a skinny riding surface with a wide overall width. Contender for most popular wheel. These wheels are really easy to scoop up onto their sides and pinch well on square ledges. There used to be a classic full which has the same cut but wider overall width.

Conical full:  smallest possible radius without being a tablet . Overall width slightly bigger than the classic but the riding surface is massive. Very good for locking in on more rounded edges but I’d say just locking in grinds in genera. I would say 2nd most popular shape. Normal conical is just skinner overall with the same cut. They dont seem to make these as much anymore.

Radial: radius is in between the classic and conical full. If you ask me this is the perfect shape but it’s not as popular. Radial full is just a fatter version and this is the widest wheel that spitfire makes.

Tablet: almost no radius at all, like a tablet of stone. These were super popular when super hard wheels were the craze and have seemingly the best lock in, but no scoop action at all. They are not very wide either, I think the idea is less drag on a nose slide.

Lock ins: one side is like a radial, one side is like a tablet. The idea is you have a sick turn on one edge, and then dope lock in on the other side. But since spitfires are quite expensive people like to rotate their wheels they are less popular.

[rikki]

You forgot:

Radial Slim: the best wheel in existence but WHY CAN'T WE F*CKING GET IT ANYWHERE ANYMORE JEEZ DLX C'MON

[Scab Picker]

You forgot:

Radial Slim: the best wheel in existence but WHY CAN'T WE F*CKING GET IT ANYWHERE ANYMORE JEEZ DLX C'MON

When they were in the lineup, people probably were not buying them as frequently as other shapes. Shops and even Zumiez were sitting on them for a while after they were discontinued.

[back smith]

i feel like dragons would be better for slippery indoor than the spitfire soft slider actually. i dont find dragons OR soft sliders particularly cruisery to be honest. i dont think the wheels are gonna save your knees that much. they are really fast though and i would say superior slide. for the type of skating i do it does make a lot of sense to ride only these wheels cause i hardly ever go to skateparks or skate transition.

if you skate good ground a lot it is hard to say what is better because the speed and slide is actually better on the softs. there is something to be said about riding hards that gives extra feedback and has a really nice feeling. but its definitely more grippy and slower!

i had to really re-evaluate my definition of what i considered good ground. I am getting away with just using 99a for everything. theres really only 2 spots that i regularly visit that I have a seperate board set up with softs for which is kinda silly

I tried the Dragons indoors today and they were indeed ok but a little slow.

For birch and coated cement floors indoors the best I've tried is old formula F4 97A. Get 'em while you can.

[Daydream]

Yeah with 93a marketed (and made) for rough ground not sure why indoor parks are even in question

[Too Frank To Fred]

Yeah with 93a marketed (and made) for rough ground not sure why indoor parks are even in question

This.

Spitfire were pretty clear these are wheels that will soak up shit ground (and old man lower back/ knee pain) but still slide really well. Which they are perfect for. I use mine at a slippery indoor spot also and they are better than 99s in that environment but like @back smith said, not great and the old 97s are even better for that...

I'm not a urethane scientist but I've read some longboard/ downhill forums where they describe wheel formulas as either 'sitting on top of the road' aka 'buttery' and 'sinking into the road' aka 'sugary' when sliding... There are pros and cons to both types but I'd say F4 93s fall into the buttery category when sliding, so there won't be much bite on smooth surfaces at all... I could be wildly off here but it seems to make sense to me...

[pops]

My 93s still have that bearing slipping happen everytime heel side back wheel gets pinched. Rotated the wheels to try out if it happens for every wheel and it did. Not sure if it's the formula itself or just a faulty set. Im gonna hit that warranty today. Dragons worked perfectly today, no issues. I need to try my other wheels as well.

[rawbertson.]

Got those new formula 97a
57mm Pedro Delfino
Had to

• First wheel available in the new 97a
• got to meet Pedro at Tampa pro this year
• 2x insane switch hill bomb this year
• Black Friday sale

[Sloppy Krooks]

Just a note in the X-formula/Dragon tech vs Spit (and what it means for indoor surfaces)

The Powell bones stuff comes from the downhill program, designing soft wheels that slide. From what I understand way Powell did it was to engineer a wheel that was softer but not so damp.

Harder wheels do this naturally, that’s the screech. But it’s not enough grip or absorbtion on rough ground.

 The Dragon/X are specifically designed to vibrate on rough surfaces when slid, so it’s more the tiny vibrations letting them glide over rough surfaces rather than the quality of the urethane being ground down (which is what I think how softer slide wheels were designed, to wear down and eventually come and flat spot)

So they are designed pretty much just for rough surfaces. If the surface is too flat and perfect (like a skatepark), they just grip and there’s too much surface sticking to start a good vibration and slide. That’s how it feels to me at least when I take them in the park.

So in that case, they would probably be good for an indoor park.


As for the newer softer spits, I really don’t know how they are sliding, by vibration, breaking down, or what combination of both.

I had the first iteration of 97 spits when they came out, and hated them. They just felt gummy and damp, like a regular 97a.


I haven’t tried the new formula, but let me know if you think they are a vibrating wheel or a wheel that wears down.

[Mbrimson88]

.

I got some of the new Pedro 97 duro wheels as well.  Had a bit of a roll around on them, seems good so far, but I haven't had a chance to really get out to many usual places as it has been raining on and off the last few days.

They were grippy enough on skatelite but could also slide well enough too, when it came to it, not feeling slow either, the way some other softer wheels do after riding a normal 99 or so wheel.

[Fifty8mm]

Just a note in the X-formula/Dragon tech vs Spit (and what it means for indoor surfaces)

The Powell bones stuff comes from the downhill program, designing soft wheels that slide. From what I understand way Powell did it was to engineer a wheel that was softer but not so damp.

Harder wheels do this naturally, that’s the screech. But it’s not enough grip or absorbtion on rough ground.

 The Dragon/X are specifically designed to vibrate on rough surfaces when slid, so it’s more the tiny vibrations letting them glide over rough surfaces rather than the quality of the urethane being ground down (which is what I think how softer slide wheels were designed, to wear down and eventually come and flat spot)

So they are designed pretty much just for rough surfaces. If the surface is too flat and perfect (like a skatepark), they just grip and there’s too much surface sticking to start a good vibration and slide. That’s how it feels to me at least when I take them in the park.

So in that case, they would probably be good for an indoor park.


As for the newer softer spits, I really don’t know how they are sliding, by vibration, breaking down, or what combination of both.

I had the first iteration of 97 spits when they came out, and hated them. They just felt gummy and damp, like a regular 97a.


I haven’t tried the new formula, but let me know if you think they are a vibrating wheel or a wheel that wears down.

This is the info i love to read here.

[Meathook]

Just a note in the X-formula/Dragon tech vs Spit (and what it means for indoor surfaces)

The Powell bones stuff comes from the downhill program, designing soft wheels that slide. From what I understand way Powell did it was to engineer a wheel that was softer but not so damp.

Harder wheels do this naturally, that’s the screech. But it’s not enough grip or absorbtion on rough ground.

 The Dragon/X are specifically designed to vibrate on rough surfaces when slid, so it’s more the tiny vibrations letting them glide over rough surfaces rather than the quality of the urethane being ground down (which is what I think how softer slide wheels were designed, to wear down and eventually come and flat spot)

So they are designed pretty much just for rough surfaces. If the surface is too flat and perfect (like a skatepark), they just grip and there’s too much surface sticking to start a good vibration and slide. That’s how it feels to me at least when I take them in the park.

So in that case, they would probably be good for an indoor park.


As for the newer softer spits, I really don’t know how they are sliding, by vibration, breaking down, or what combination of both.

I had the first iteration of 97 spits when they came out, and hated them. They just felt gummy and damp, like a regular 97a.


I haven’t tried the new formula, but let me know if you think they are a vibrating wheel or a wheel that wears down.

Very interesting. Thanks for the info.  Explains why I keep getting turned off of x99 and go back to FF.

[rikki]

Really liked the new 97 duro Delfino Radials (55mm) at my dusty indoor (lotsa plywood) recently. Grippy enough, fast enough, barks nicely, no sticking on grinds. Yesterday I tried the Bones X99s at the same spot, and found myself slipping out more. Seems like they gather that shitty gummy indoor park dust more.

Back to the new 97s. Seems I've found my new fave indoor wheel.

[rawbertson.]

i honestly think that wheel is just gonna work good anywhere 

[Jewel Runner]

Been daydreaming about conical fulls 99a for over a year now and I'm finally gonna get some

First spitfire wheel too I've been riding these wheels I can't even remember the brand for like 5+ years

Any dirt on 'em?

[yozzlebot87]

Been daydreaming about conical fulls 99a for over a year now and I'm finally gonna get some

First spitfire wheel too I've been riding these wheels I can't even remember the brand for like 5+ years

Any dirt on 'em?

Interesting to note, Conical fulls become even fuller above 54mm. The 55mm CF is way wider than the 54, I ride 55mm conical fulls pretty much exclusively. Feels like a conical full full, +8% riding surface or so