Spitfire formula four

[swongolianbbq]

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Radial slims for sale

https://ebay.us/m/ou709c

There's also somebody on there trying to sell 93s for $200-something hahah

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lmao hopefully no one needs them that badly 

I regret selling my 54mm Reynolds classics, but I got back my set of 54mm radials my friend borrowed, a day after I found some 54 radials on eBay for $25 so at least I have two sets which should last me till they come back. I gotta just stock up on 53 and 54mm classic 93s, all my shit works better on classics

[Slave IV]

I took the diagrams from various wheels and overlay them with an offset to help better visualize the difference in edge shapes. Adding them to this thread by request and hope it helps some people when choosing wheels.



Bonus Spitfire only comparison:

[Mbrimson88]

I took the diagrams from various wheels and overlay them with an offset to help better visualize the difference in edge shapes. Adding them to this thread by request and hope it helps some people when choosing wheels.

Bonus Spitfire only comparison:

Ha yeah that last one is definitely good, not because it doesn't have other wheels in it, but maybe more so because the plain white sort of dsitracts me from the overall images.

The Tablet is almost the same percentage of riding surface to width as the OG Classic too, so they would be the main shapes you have in that pic, or at least edges to view anyway.  Going by riding surface to overall width ratios, they don't quite all match up that easily, but this is how it works out anyway, even though diameter can't easily be taken into consideration due to the difference in sizes and widths of the wheels

Roundest edge = Classics
Rounder edge = Classic Full
Round edge = Radials

Sharp edge = Conical and Conical Full
Sharper edge = OG Classics
Sharpest edge = Tablet


That also lines up to all these wheels I have here too, when looking at them or riding them.


* Sorry, maybe I have too many sets of wheels, but it is all in the name of science.  At least that is what I tell myself.

** Changed the list back to how I had it before, with a gap between the two types.

[Jort250]

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Posting here to hear differing opinions but I have always felt that the classic shape locks in the best for my ledge bag. I tried radial slims and tablets before and I felt that they’d put my crooks/smiths/etc in a one-sized-fits-all positions but didn’t give me that wiggle room to lock in a little imperfectly but still roll away. I’d be down to try the Ishods otherwise..

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Similar experience here. Classic shape is my favorite for sure.

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I'm currently having a wheel shape crisis that relates to this. Definitely agree on this for classics for the most part, the pinch is just more forgiving and adjustable. However I definitely notice on more rounded, chunky, or bevelled ledges that conicals just hold better whereas classics have a tendency to slip out.

When skating a sharp ledge nothing beats a classic though.

This is a very good point. I’m not skating too many chunky street ledges these days.. pretty much park only unless I get pushed to skate street

I’ll stick to classics for also the flipability but I’ll keep that there’s a better pinch for the square shapes on rough ledges in the back of my mind

[Sedition]

Roundest edge = Classics
Rounder edge = Classic Full
Round edge = Radials
Middle edge = Conical
Sharp edge = Conical Full
Sharper edge = OG Classics
Sharpest edge = Tablet

Oh, interesting. I always assumed Connies/Full Connies had the same edge/profile. They don't?

[Mbrimson88]

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Roundest edge = Classics
Rounder edge = Classic Full
Round edge = Radials
 
Sharp edge = Conical and Conical Full
Sharper edge = OG Classics
Sharpest edge = Tablet

[close]

Oh, interesting. I always assumed Connies/Full Connies had the same edge/profile. They don't?

I didn't really see it at first either, but the regular Conical had a little more going on than the Conical Full edge, not much but it was there.

Maybe this is an older set of Conical 52 mm wheels - got one of everything in 52 mm for whatever reason, most are new, but were on boards sold as completes on ebay, but any which way, they look a little more rounded, ever so slightly.

When looking at the spec sheet info, it is about 12 mm difference throughout from overall width to riding surface, at least in the other sizes, but on the wheels I have here it is a little more on the Conical shape.  They are also the same width as Conical Full - both 32 mm wide, which might also be a weird difference.


* At the very least, I had them together on the list at first, then changed it after re checking these ones I have here.

** Changed the list back to how I had it before, which might be more accurate overall.

[Slave IV]

Yep, according to the diagrams, Conicals have slightly more edge radius. Here is one with the overlays centered since some people wanted to see that.



The transition detail gets obscured a bit doing it this way but it helps that I reduced to 3 comparisons. It would definitely work better 1 to 1 but my original intent was just to compare the edges of several wheels in one diagram and didn't think I was going to make a bunch of these.

[Sedition]

Yep, according to the diagrams, Conicals have slightly more edge radius. Here is one with the overlays centered since some people wanted to see that.



The transition detail gets obscured a bit doing it this way but it helps that I reduced to 3 comparisons. It would definitely work better 1 to 1 but my original intent was just to compare the edges of several wheels in one diagram and didn't think I was going to make a bunch of these.

Fascinating. I’m not a Conical guy, but it’s certainly interesting to note!

[moykky]

Did Spitfire ever do the "Soft Slider" 97a in other shapes than the Pedro Delfino? I thought that they did but I've never seen ones? 

[BALARGUE]

pretty sure it's the only offer (2 diameters though: 55 & 57) for the new-not made anymore-rumored to come back formula

[Dmng]

I’ve seen recently some 56mm conical full 97 with the sticker new formula as well

[pops]

Did Spitfire ever do the "Soft Slider" 97a in other shapes than the Pedro Delfino? I thought that they did but I've never seen ones? 

I thought soft sliders were specifically the 93s, not the 97s. Or were they made from the same urethane?

[tom]

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Did Spitfire ever do the "Soft Slider" 97a in other shapes than the Pedro Delfino? I thought that they did but I've never seen ones? 

[close]

They did a run or two with a new compound that was based on the 93 formula. Specifically the Pedro Delfino wheels earlier this year
I thought soft sliders were specifically the 93s, not the 97s. Or were they made from the same urethane?

[Obijuan91]

I just gotta say, I hate spitfire formula 4s for being soo gahd damn good. Tries them for the first time thought of these are cool whatever. Switched to rictas because I wanted a wider contact patch and they were cheaper and the rictas feel harder but I was just going to skate em no big deal. But my f4s back on because they still had plenty of life and my lord they just feel hands down way better. Never thought a wheel would matter this much to me 🤦🏽‍♂️

[Slave IV]

I just gotta say, I hate spitfire formula 4s for being soo gahd damn good. Tries them for the first time thought of these are cool whatever. Switched to rictas because I wanted a wider contact patch and they were cheaper and the rictas feel harder but I was just going to skate em no big deal. But my f4s back on because they still had plenty of life and my lord they just feel hands down way better. Never thought a wheel would matter this much to me 🤦🏽‍♂️

Haha, have similar experience recently since I have old Rictas lying around and I happen to want to try rounded (Classic) shaped wheels again. First thing I noticed was they felt harder but slide not as smooth. Not a huge deal for now because I’m mostly testing the shape for grinds but I don’t think I’d want to use them permanently for all my skating. But I also got Dragon 97 && wheels recently and like those a lot. They are very quiet and I don’t care about that too much and appreciate how smooth and fast they are on all surfaces. So I still think FF is the best feeling all around, I can deal with Dragon/X Formula too. Maybe I’ll try Formula (Five) next time I buy wheels.

[SwitchBenihana]

The idea behind the comparison is interesting, but it looks like you are not setting the top and bottom of the wheels equally, which distorts the comparison. Is there a way you could make the lines thinner and make sure the wheels are the same height?

If you just look at a Conical and Radial next to one another it's easy to see the profile difference. If you run your finger over you can feel the smooth curve of the radial whereas the conical is flatter with a sharper lip where it meets the contact patch. I don't think their drawings are all that accurate.

[Slave IV]

The idea behind the comparison is interesting, but it looks like you are not setting the top and bottom of the wheels equally, which distorts the comparison. Is there a way you could make the lines thinner and make sure the wheels are the same height?

If you just look at a Conical and Radial next to one another it's easy to see the profile difference. If you run your finger over you can feel the smooth curve of the radial whereas the conical is flatter with a sharper lip where it meets the contact patch. I don't think their drawings are all that accurate.

That’s why I was questioning if the drawings are even accurate or it also depends on what size wheel they depict in the drawings. Of course it would make sense for at least the same company to use consistent sizes for their drawings but we don’t know if they are. Based on that, I can’t trust going by the top and bottom of the wheels and that’s why I chose to line them up by the bearing diameter since that is the only dimension that will always be consistent across all wheels.

But what you are saying between the Radial and Conical match what the overlay displays. Radial wheels are more rounded with a larger radius at the edge than Conicals. It’s also why I chose to line the diagrams with offset in the earlier versions so you can more clearly compare the edges. I didn’t share one with Conical VS Radials but there is one with Conical Full VS Radials and it is very clear in that diagram.

[Obijuan91]

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I just gotta say, I hate spitfire formula 4s for being soo gahd damn good. Tries them for the first time thought of these are cool whatever. Switched to rictas because I wanted a wider contact patch and they were cheaper and the rictas feel harder but I was just going to skate em no big deal. But my f4s back on because they still had plenty of life and my lord they just feel hands down way better. Never thought a wheel would matter this much to me 🤦🏽‍♂️

[close]

Haha, have similar experience recently since I have old Rictas lying around and I happen to want to try rounded (Classic) shaped wheels again. First thing I noticed was they felt harder but slide not as smooth. Not a huge deal for now because I’m mostly testing the shape for grinds but I don’t think I’d want to use them permanently for all my skating. But I also got Dragon 97 && wheels recently and like those a lot. They are very quiet and I don’t care about that too much and appreciate how smooth and fast they are on all surfaces. So I still think FF is the best feeling all around, I can deal with Dragon/X Formula too. Maybe I’ll try Formula (Five) next time I buy wheels.

Yea they’re like Skateable, but then switching up it’s like oh man these feel great tho. I don’t wanna indulge in wheel madness and try the other ones anymore just an other layer now. F5?

[Slave IV]

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I just gotta say, I hate spitfire formula 4s for being soo gahd damn good. Tries them for the first time thought of these are cool whatever. Switched to rictas because I wanted a wider contact patch and they were cheaper and the rictas feel harder but I was just going to skate em no big deal. But my f4s back on because they still had plenty of life and my lord they just feel hands down way better. Never thought a wheel would matter this much to me 🤦🏽‍♂️

[close]

Haha, have similar experience recently since I have old Rictas lying around and I happen to want to try rounded (Classic) shaped wheels again. First thing I noticed was they felt harder but slide not as smooth. Not a huge deal for now because I’m mostly testing the shape for grinds but I don’t think I’d want to use them permanently for all my skating. But I also got Dragon 97 && wheels recently and like those a lot. They are very quiet and I don’t care about that too much and appreciate how smooth and fast they are on all surfaces. So I still think FF is the best feeling all around, I can deal with Dragon/X Formula too. Maybe I’ll try Formula (Five) next time I buy wheels.

[close]

Yea they’re like Skateable, but then switching up it’s like oh man these feel great tho. I don’t wanna indulge in wheel madness and try the other ones anymore just an other layer now. F5?

F5, haha. That what I mentioned earlier in the thread because I thought it was funny to call the new Formula Four formula, “Forumula Four - New Formula” instead of “Formula Five”.

[Mbrimson88]

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Did Spitfire ever do the "Soft Slider" 97a in other shapes than the Pedro Delfino? I thought that they did but I've never seen ones? 

[close]

I thought soft sliders were specifically the 93s, not the 97s. Or were they made from the same urethane?

The words "Soft Sliders" refer specifically to the 93 duro wheels.

The 97 duro option was "reformulated" and was said to use the same components as the 93 duro wheels to add a bit more to that version of the wheel, but it is definitely a different product to the 93 duro wheels.


As to the options, yes as said the first ones to come out were the Radial 55 and 57 mm for Pedro Delfino "Turbo" graphic, with the full back catalog of the other 97s to follow suit, so various sizes of the Classic, Conical Full and Radial Full wheels.

I have some of the Radial Full in the reformulated versions in 54 and 56 mm, as well as seeing a few others around in the Conical Full version, but never seen the sticker on any Classic wheels.

Then due to material shortages, the Soft Sliders and reformulated 97 duro wheels have been out of stock for a while now, even though there have been said to be some very small batches being made again, but who knows really.


Balargue, tom, Dmng, pops and others are all right there too - sorry too many to quote.


* There are still some around, but I am guessing not very many remaining now, so anyone wanting any of the 93 or reformulated 97s should definitely get looking sooner rather than later.  There are still a good number around here in Australia, but I think shops have been buying them up a whole lot more recently, as a lot of people are keen and want to get them before they do run out.  I can't see them being restocked here any time soon.

[swongolianbbq]

 A single set of 56mm radial 93s popped up on deluxe skate shop's website the other day but they're sold now

[tzhangdox]

They're back soon

[FrAnKenFrEd]

Man Radial Fulls (56/99) bark real nice on the slide. Mash through crappy ground, hold speed and lock in great on curbs and cope...

Only downside is they are beasts for the flip of the board and bite of the wheel.

[meeevs]

On this sort of note, are regular conicals/radials a good balance between having a bit more contact patch than classics if weight and board flip are a concern? I get that everything is a trade off really but curious how much is too much.

[Slave IV]

On this sort of note, are regular conicals/radials a good balance between having a bit more contact patch than classics if weight and board flip are a concern? I get that everything is a trade off really but curious how much is too much.

If you don’t care about having the rounded corners for shape then I think the best wheel for reduced weight and most contact patch are the Tablets. Check the specs but I was surprised when I checked and considered those when weight and contact patch was what I was more concerned with but now I’m more obsessed with shapes, lol.
Tablets should be lighter and have more contact than Radials or Conicals.

[Sedition]

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On this sort of note, are regular conicals/radials a good balance between having a bit more contact patch than classics if weight and board flip are a concern? I get that everything is a trade off really but curious how much is too much.

[close]

If you don’t care about having the rounded corners for shape then I think the best wheel for reduced weight and most contact patch are the Tablets. Check the specs but I was surprised when I checked and considered those when weight and contact patch was what I was more concerned with but now I’m more obsessed with shapes, lol.
Tablets should be lighter and have more contact than Radials or Conicals.

But also the most extreme “squared edge” you can get, and all the baggage that entails.

God I want Radial Slims back…

[Slave IV]

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On this sort of note, are regular conicals/radials a good balance between having a bit more contact patch than classics if weight and board flip are a concern? I get that everything is a trade off really but curious how much is too much.

[close]

If you don’t care about having the rounded corners for shape then I think the best wheel for reduced weight and most contact patch are the Tablets. Check the specs but I was surprised when I checked and considered those when weight and contact patch was what I was more concerned with but now I’m more obsessed with shapes, lol.
Tablets should be lighter and have more contact than Radials or Conicals.

[close]

But also the most extreme “squared edge” you can get, and all the baggage that entails.

God I want Radial Slims back…

They only mentioned weight and contact patch as concerns though.

I think I want the Classic Fulls back.

[Obijuan91]

52 mm radials. Eyeing that for my next wheel, do they make those still? I’ve only seen fulls really. That or regular conicals

[moykky]

Thanks for the "soft slider/new formula" answers. I think I'll just wait and see if they will be releasing Classic shape in the new 97a 

[Sedition]

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On this sort of note, are regular conicals/radials a good balance between having a bit more contact patch than classics if weight and board flip are a concern? I get that everything is a trade off really but curious how much is too much.

[close]

If you don’t care about having the rounded corners for shape then I think the best wheel for reduced weight and most contact patch are the Tablets. Check the specs but I was surprised when I checked and considered those when weight and contact patch was what I was more concerned with but now I’m more obsessed with shapes, lol.
Tablets should be lighter and have more contact than Radials or Conicals.

[close]

But also the most extreme “squared edge” you can get, and all the baggage that entails.

God I want Radial Slims back…

[close]

They only mentioned weight and contact patch as concerns though.

Not quite so fast. Board flip was mentioned. There is noticeable difference in board flip between classics and tablets.