Spitfire formula four

[uwedinho]

for thanksgiving i got myself a set of f4 99a 52mm tablets. i usually skate lockins and classics for my two setups.  these tablets have been amazing so far and i think i would skate these over lockins since i could flip them.

I was flipping them tablets today finally and looked at it closely and realized that the side with no graphics doesn't seem to have as sharp of an edge comparing it to the graphic side. it is still straight cut but it is kinda asymmetrical to my eyes although extremely slightly. the rounding off from the flat wall to the riding surface happens earlier than the graphics side and this is consistent on all four wheels (no i aint mistaking them as my lock-ins).

is this the case with anyone else here?

[Fifty8mm]

for thanksgiving i got myself a set of f4 99a 52mm tablets. i usually skate lockins and classics for my two setups.  these tablets have been amazing so far and i think i would skate these over lockins since i could flip them.

I was flipping them tablets today finally and looked at it closely and realized that the side with no graphics doesn't seem to have as sharp of an edge comparing it to the graphic side. it is still straight cut but it is kinda asymmetrical to my eyes although extremely slightly. the rounding off from the flat wall to the riding surface happens earlier than the graphics side and this is consistent on all four wheels (no i aint mistaking them as my lock-ins).

is this the case with anyone else here?

I think the have a slight convex. A really small convex area, but i noticed it at the center of the wheel.

[rikki]

Crossposting from the Wheels thread –– hadn't tried powersliding the new duro 97s on warm asphalt before, but got to finally try it a couple of days ago at a mellow downhill and man they slide reeeeally good, was almost slipping out here and there before I adjusted to the slide. Once they break free they GO. Really controllable potential for e.g. hillbomb purposes.

[Mbrimson88]

Crossposting from the Wheels thread –– hadn't tried powersliding the new duro 97s on warm asphalt before, but got to finally try it a couple of days ago at a mellow downhill and man they slide reeeeally good, was almost slipping out here and there before I adjusted to the slide. Once they break free they GO. Really controllable potential for e.g. hillbomb purposes.

They sure do!!!!

I think that is maybe the most fun on a fresh road surface with a few mellow hills, as we also found out.

Oddly grips more on concrete, but on bitumen / asphalt or similar they just slide for days.


What I am curious about is how long they would last doing a whole lot of that, but right now I am not worried about it on these new 55 mm wheels, as I like them a little smaller than that most of the time now anyway.

[back smith]

I am also finding the classics actually too grippy. i notice people who skate transition really like these wheels which makes sense. if i can ever get to the indoor soon i am going to try those next.

lol the 95a OJ I have were really awesome for that indoor though i might just set those up again. its all metal and plastic stuff anyway, i dont think i need to worry too mcuh about sticking. when you get enough of that crap on your wheels it kinda helps slide anyway 

at CJ's skatepark in mississauga Ontario, they have carpets all along the walls for people to rub their yucky wheels against to clean them off 

Yeah the wheels get caked up on the inside with dusty wax quick so the sticking on grinds is maybe a non-issue. Well some parks have a ban on wax.

[rikki]

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Crossposting from the Wheels thread –– hadn't tried powersliding the new duro 97s on warm asphalt before, but got to finally try it a couple of days ago at a mellow downhill and man they slide reeeeally good, was almost slipping out here and there before I adjusted to the slide. Once they break free they GO. Really controllable potential for e.g. hillbomb purposes.

[close]

They sure do!!!!

I think that is maybe the most fun on a fresh road surface with a few mellow hills, as we also found out.

Oddly grips more on concrete, but on bitumen / asphalt or similar they just slide for days.


What I am curious about is how long they would last doing a whole lot of that, but right now I am not worried about it on these new 55 mm wheels, as I like them a little smaller than that most of the time now anyway.

Yeah, they are REALLY grippy on smooth concrete, can't properly break them into a controlled slide in a concrete park environment. Bark like mad too.

[JimmyFive]

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Crossposting from the Wheels thread –– hadn't tried powersliding the new duro 97s on warm asphalt before, but got to finally try it a couple of days ago at a mellow downhill and man they slide reeeeally good, was almost slipping out here and there before I adjusted to the slide. Once they break free they GO. Really controllable potential for e.g. hillbomb purposes.

[close]

They sure do!!!!

I think that is maybe the most fun on a fresh road surface with a few mellow hills, as we also found out.

Oddly grips more on concrete, but on bitumen / asphalt or similar they just slide for days.


What I am curious about is how long they would last doing a whole lot of that, but right now I am not worried about it on these new 55 mm wheels, as I like them a little smaller than that most of the time now anyway.

[close]

Yeah, they are REALLY grippy on smooth concrete, can't properly break them into a controlled slide in a concrete park environment. Bark like mad too.

This is the strange thing about the Powell/Bones Dragons/X Formula wheels as well. They grip well on smooth concrete but on crust/asphalt they can really slide to the point of slipping out. I'm get to try the new Spit 93/97's but sounds like they are similar in that regard...

[rawbertson.]

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Crossposting from the Wheels thread –– hadn't tried powersliding the new duro 97s on warm asphalt before, but got to finally try it a couple of days ago at a mellow downhill and man they slide reeeeally good, was almost slipping out here and there before I adjusted to the slide. Once they break free they GO. Really controllable potential for e.g. hillbomb purposes.

[close]

They sure do!!!!

I think that is maybe the most fun on a fresh road surface with a few mellow hills, as we also found out.

Oddly grips more on concrete, but on bitumen / asphalt or similar they just slide for days.


What I am curious about is how long they would last doing a whole lot of that, but right now I am not worried about it on these new 55 mm wheels, as I like them a little smaller than that most of the time now anyway.

[close]

Yeah, they are REALLY grippy on smooth concrete, can't properly break them into a controlled slide in a concrete park environment. Bark like mad too.

that sounds really ideal for the type of skating Pedro likes to do. huge hill bombs and ripping big at skate parks. I dont like setting up new wheels this time of year in Canada but I am tempted to set up the Pedros anyway cause I want to see what they are like so bad. We are gonna have a week of no snow coming up from the looks of it.

[back smith]

Bought some 56mm 93A Radials hoping they'll be a good wheel for traveling able to handle anything I come across. Maybe I should pack some 80HD Chargers too just in case though.

Think I'll go graphics out with these, they are reasonably subtle.

[back smith]

Tried the 93s indoors today. Very good wheel for that purpose, straight out the pack (no break-in needed). Not too slippery but fast.

[rawbertson.]

Finally got around to trying 93a at an indoor skatepark and it is crazy how much it grips on a smooth surface (hockey rink) compared to when you are on the street. It felt pretty slow though. This is all stuff that’s been said in here before.

I could see why some people would like this in there cause you can just lean as hard as you want like a normal floor, but I like the 99a a lot for perfect surface. 97 probably just gonna be what I will get from now on cause I think you will lose less speed and it would be pretty much perfect.

[back smith]

Finally got around to trying 93a at an indoor skatepark and it is crazy how much it grips on a smooth surface (hockey rink) compared to when you are on the street. It felt pretty slow though. This is all stuff that’s been said in here before.

I could see why some people would like this in there cause you can just lean as hard as you want like a normal floor, but I like the 99a a lot for perfect surface. 97 probably just gonna be what I will get from now on cause I think you will lose less speed and it would be pretty much perfect.

Didn't feel slow at all to me, definitely faster than Dragons. 97 is also good though.

[logjammin]

ive still been on the 88a dragons for solving my indoor slip issue but I don't think I ever tried out the 93a spits for indoor now that I think of it. I actually found them to be pretty slippery using them outdoors, they reduced vibrations but still had me slipping out sometimes.

do they grip really well on dusty indoor wood and cement floor though? waiting for the ok to go into the basement and drag them out of the junk box and equip them lol

[Dmng]

What do you think is the best all around shape on f4 99 ? There’s so many that’s it’s difficult to choose from. Classic or non full conical I guess ?
I like my radial 93, they just feel slightly heavy and a bit too grippy on perfect skatepark floors, appart for that I enjoy the softness for my back and riding in the city without the fear of a tiny pebble !

[back smith]

Personally I like the Conical Full but the Classics are much lighter if you're worried about that.

[Dmng]

The 75euros price point make me double think haha. What about the regular conical ? Could it be best of both worlds ?

[Lou Strux]

Chiming in to say that I love the regs conical shape.
Full is great too, but it turns out I don’t actually need the extra weight/width.
Full profile wheels seem to wear a bit slower, but standard conis have ample enough riding surface.
Similar in profile, I really like the OG Classic shape when I can find them in a 54-56mm range. 
Maybe look into those if you can’t find your other choice? 

[Dmng]

I’ll try to find regular conical or classics I guess depending what I find when back home in 53/54.
Are both weight similar ?
There are so many shapes that it’s difficult to choose !
Thanks for the recommendations

[rawbertson.]

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Finally got around to trying 93a at an indoor skatepark and it is crazy how much it grips on a smooth surface (hockey rink) compared to when you are on the street. It felt pretty slow though. This is all stuff that’s been said in here before.

I could see why some people would like this in there cause you can just lean as hard as you want like a normal floor, but I like the 99a a lot for perfect surface. 97 probably just gonna be what I will get from now on cause I think you will lose less speed and it would be pretty much perfect.

[close]

Didn't feel slow at all to me, definitely faster than Dragons. 97 is also good though.

Dragons feel very slow to me too. I skated most of the session on 99a though and the exact same wheel size and it felt noticably faster than the 93a. when i skate street though, its always the opposite. the 99a feel slow and the 93a feel insanely fast.

[back smith]

Not even gonna try the 99s indoors. People way better than me slipping out on them all over the place all the time.

[bombsaway86]

What do you think is the best all around shape on f4 99 ? There’s so many that’s it’s difficult to choose from. Classic or non full conical I guess ?
I like my radial 93, they just feel slightly heavy and a bit too grippy on perfect skatepark floors, appart for that I enjoy the softness for my back and riding in the city without the fear of a tiny pebble !

Regular conicals are the best all around shape. They’re lightweight like classics but have a bigger contact patch and lock into grinds better. They’re narrow enough that they still flip and slide easily

[Too Frank To Fred]

What do you think is the best all around shape on f4 99 ?

Radials. Perfect balance between a rounded edge classic and a wider contact patch conical.

[Dmng]

Say no more bombsaway86!

Aren’t radial actually wider than reg conical ? That’s what I read from spitfire charts Too Frank ?

[rawbertson.]

What do you think is the best all around shape on f4 99 ? There’s so many that’s it’s difficult to choose from. Classic or non full conical I guess ?
I like my radial 93, they just feel slightly heavy and a bit too grippy on perfect skatepark floors, appart for that I enjoy the softness for my back and riding in the city without the fear of a tiny pebble !

 I personally like Radial Full. Just give me as much wheel as possible without going stupid.

Not even gonna try the 99s indoors. People way better than me slipping out on them all over the place all the time.

well depends how clean it is. it is very clean at my indoor and i also usedclassic shape. on top of that, this particular batch seems extra grippy. in theory the classic shape has less traction so it should grip less, but when i actually skate i find that the classics grip more than radials, conical full, radial full. it might be because when you go onto an edge there is more to bite into or something because it can sit on its side more nicely. i cant really explain it. if your particular indoor is realy dusty then i would be also looking for all the grip i could get.

[camel filters]

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What do you think is the best all around shape on f4 99 ? There’s so many that’s it’s difficult to choose from. Classic or non full conical I guess ?
I like my radial 93, they just feel slightly heavy and a bit too grippy on perfect skatepark floors, appart for that I enjoy the softness for my back and riding in the city without the fear of a tiny pebble !

[close]

 I personally like Radial Full. Just give me as much wheel as possible without going stupid.

I have 56mm Radial fulls right now and they are plenty stupid and I love em.

[Skatebrain]

Just thought I’d chime in to say the 93a’s are great on at my local indoor.  The dust seems to whisk away from them.   They grip slippery surfaces wonderfully.    The not con is the pop is slightly deadened, but hopefully I get used to it.   I tried all the Powell x and dragon formulas and I did not like the squeak I got when pinched on rails or coping.   No such squeak on the spits.   I’m a fan.
 

[texasplant]

I work in a shop and have plenty of friends skating newer spitfires (which are must more white) - does anyone know if the softness is intentional or did they change something?

I thought I was imagining it but I’ve had a few people mention it and I’ve felt it for myself. Kind of bummed because they feel like completely different wheels.

[Mbrimson88]

I work in a shop and have plenty of friends skating newer spitfires (which are must more white) - does anyone know if the softness is intentional or did they change something?

I thought I was imagining it but I’ve had a few people mention it and I’ve felt it for myself. Kind of bummed because they feel like completely different wheels.

I am guessing you are talking about the 99 or 101 duro options, not the 93s or the 97s which are all out now and people have been buying up a lot.

The most recent wheels I have had in the 99 duro and whiter grade included the Radial Full (Kader 59 and 56 mm sizes) and Lock In Full 55 mm both of which were very hard / slick and screechy feeling, along with a few other sets I can not recall right now.  The normal Radials too, now I think of it, were way lighter / whiter, but still felt the same.

Also from the most recent drop I have the Bighead black wheels and the Classic orange / black swirls in 99 and they feel normal too, no different to most other 99 duro Formula Four wheels, but I know some people say coloured wheels feel different.


The Pedro Delfino Turbo wheels are 97 duro, which have just come out too here in AU, but I can't think of any others that have seemed different or anyone said anything, so I am curious as to which shapes, sizes, graphics, if there are specific wheels or just any from recent drops?

* Not doubting your own experiences, but curious to hear more.

** Also checking you are talking about the Formula Four wheels, not the Original formula urethane, which are still coming out and are very white compared to Formula Four wheels, which are ever so slightly more "natural" in colour, but not quite as dark or cream as they used to be, or have been in the past.

[tuesday]

My one wish for 2025 from Spitfire: Radial Slims in 93a.

[BartHarleyJarvis]

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What do you think is the best all around shape on f4 99 ? There’s so many that’s it’s difficult to choose from. Classic or non full conical I guess ?
I like my radial 93, they just feel slightly heavy and a bit too grippy on perfect skatepark floors, appart for that I enjoy the softness for my back and riding in the city without the fear of a tiny pebble !

[close]

 I personally like Radial Full. Just give me as much wheel as possible without going stupid.

[close]

I have 56mm Radial fulls right now and they are plenty stupid and I love em.

I grabbed a set of the 55 Rowan radial fulls and I’ve been having a lot of fun. It seems like a ton of skaters are just riding the widest wheels possible so I figured I’d give it a shot. Tons of grip, still slides well, looks hilarious.