Author Topic: Spitfire formula four  (Read 1059219 times)

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moonordie

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Re: Spitfire formula four
« Reply #8100 on: January 09, 2026, 06:50:46 AM »
I'm aware I could search all the wheel thread's, but I have a question that likely has been asked every so often around here.

How often are you guys changing out sets? I'd imagine it depends on how often you're skating and preferences but to put it in perspective:

I got my first pair of F4's (og classics) in October, and they are down to a 53mm from 56mm when I bought them. I love them, I'm excited to maybe try a different shape, and possibly a 97a from the 99a I currently ride. However, my buddy thinks I'm fiending too hard haha.

We skate maybe two-three times a week, skating a parking lot with red curbs and flatbars. I'm about to pull the trigger soon at my local shop, but I think I'm asking just for scope. I just got back into skating again over summer and feel like a kid again even though I'm a poor again grocer haha.

I'm looking at some radial fulls or maybe lock ins or run it back with the OG classics. I do a lot of curb and flatground skating and at 37 don't really look at doing a lot of skating with impact and rarely skate transistion though, it's a likelihood this year. Started working out back in September, so I feel better than other 37yo likely, but the idea of softer wheels sounds nice ;)
Radial full are the light. Love mine.
To answer your question: once a year maybe?
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Re: Spitfire formula four
« Reply #8101 on: January 09, 2026, 07:27:58 AM »
Depends on what I’m skating and the tricks I’m Stuck on.
I do lots of tail slides and blunt slides and they can flat spot a wheel easily if I’m not careful. So as little as a month or as long as 6 months depending on me giving a shit.

Made In China

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Re: Spitfire formula four
« Reply #8102 on: January 09, 2026, 09:49:00 AM »
I skate my last two sets of wheels for about a year each. I usually try to wait until they're noticeably worn down from their original size. Nothing wrong with swapping gear out earlier than that though, especially if you can afford it.

swongolianbbq

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Re: Spitfire formula four
« Reply #8103 on: January 09, 2026, 12:41:26 PM »
Ride 52-54 classics till they're 49-51 and trade them to the venture low homie for beers or something

Mbrimson88

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Re: Spitfire formula four
« Reply #8104 on: January 09, 2026, 07:09:38 PM »

How often are you guys changing out sets? I'd imagine it depends on how often you're skating and preferences but to put it in perspective:

I got my first pair of F4's (og classics) in October, and they are down to a 53mm from 56mm when I bought them. I love them, I'm excited to maybe try a different shape, and possibly a 97a from the 99a I currently ride. However, my buddy thinks I'm fiending too hard haha.



So you are going through roughly a mm a month, which is not uncommon - really just depends on how much sideways action the wheels get, or how much you have to slide, carve in and out or turn at the end of whatever it is you are skating, eg a fairly rough carpark or old concrete that you have to slide to stop or similar can eat through wheels very quickly, maybe more quickly than most other skating, vs skating a smooth new park which wheels last for a long, long time and barely wear down at all.  Wheels on my ramp boards seem to never wear down in size at all, but park or all rounders, especially doing what I said above, I can go through that and more if I am really pushing it.

As to wheel shape, I also think it is relevant to consider how long you like your wheels to last, eg some people skate them down one or two mm and change them out, as they are used to a very specific size and shape, while others, self included, used to get wheels way too big, skate them down through good sizes until they were way too small, then start the process again.  Having multiple setups kind of helped with that, big wheels on a "go fast" board, medium sized wheels on an "all rounder" and then smaller wheels on a "tech setup".

Some wheels will stay rounder for longer too, others will get really squared or sharp on the edges once they wear down a few mm, but again it comes down to how people skate - some are very particular about things like the wheel shape and edge of the wheels, others just skate whatever and do whatever works for them.

OG Classics you know already - maybe the thinnest wheel of your options, which also get a sharp edge once worn down a lot, but are lightest and give the most truck grinding room too.

Lock ins are now a bit wider for the relative diameter, but still come out as a medium wheel, maybe a good all rounder, with two options - a different shape on each side, so as some people do, you could run them in or out for a different feel of wheel there, but then some people don't like that they can't easily turn them around if they wear too much one way.

Radial Full are the widest and great for the size to roughness ratio, eg wider wheels handle rougher terrain way more easily, but they could be heavier and a wider wheel gives you less width to grind, especially on 149s or less.

97 over 99 is also a good option for really rough ground, give a little more grip and might make things easier on the vibrations, but they could also feel a little slower and sluggish at times, compared to the 99s too.  Bigger softer wheels work well for me, if I need a bit more grip or just to take the edge off whatever surface I am riding on, so I like to have a set of Radial Full 97s around just in case, as well as my usual other Classic Full (or modified other shapes) in 99s.


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DarkPools

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Re: Spitfire formula four
« Reply #8105 on: January 10, 2026, 09:13:37 AM »
If you buy a larger size to start, you can skate them longer, so everyone's mileage will vary. Some people buy their exact preferred size. I usually buy 1, maybe 2mm larger than my ideal size so I can skate them longer.

With F4: Conical, Conical Full, or OG Classic, I average 6 months to 1 year at 53 or 54mm 99A. Occasionally I'll get 101A, but I burn through those quicker than 6 months. I've also stopped skating sets earlier than 6 months if I was skating the streets a lot more often


I think it's too early for you to switch BUT I also have a stack of shoes/wheels I wanna skate earlier than I should for the same reason as you @TurdyBird 😂 Point is, if you can afford to experiment right now after getting back into your skating groove, do it. You can always sideline the used sets and come back to them later in a pinch when money is tight. F4 are fantastic wheels and keep their quality in longevity
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swongolianbbq

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Re: Spitfire formula four
« Reply #8106 on: January 20, 2026, 10:45:17 PM »
New 97a radial fulls in 57mm(red) and 54mm(natural)



These are cool too, Donatello swirls

« Last Edit: January 20, 2026, 11:54:15 PM by swongolianbbq »

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Re: Spitfire formula four
« Reply #8107 on: January 21, 2026, 08:37:46 PM »
New 97a radial fulls in 57mm(red) and 54mm(natural)



These are cool too, Donatello swirls



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Re: Spitfire formula four
« Reply #8108 on: January 23, 2026, 12:40:49 AM »
Got some new formula 97a and they feel Great so far but they seem like they are going to wear out incredibly fast. They disintegrate and turn into something like eraser shavings much more than any other wheel

Mbrimson88

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Re: Spitfire formula four
« Reply #8109 on: January 23, 2026, 02:53:29 AM »
Got some new formula 97a and they feel Great so far but they seem like they are going to wear out incredibly fast. They disintegrate and turn into something like eraser shavings much more than any other wheel


Do you have any pics or more details.

Might be just the specific terrain, but it could also be an issue with the product too, which DLX takes care of, but I am curious to hear or see more, at any rate.


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Re: Spitfire formula four
« Reply #8110 on: January 23, 2026, 07:15:50 AM »
definitely getting another set of red wheels. kinda bummed they are not 60mm but ill take em.

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Re: Spitfire formula four
« Reply #8111 on: January 23, 2026, 03:58:23 PM »
I noticed that DLX [Skate Shop] is doing $55 for Radial Fulls and $48 for other shapes. They were one of the cheaper shops except for Val Surf and shops doing discounts. You might want to stock up on wheels from previous seasons if you go through sets quickly.

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Re: Spitfire formula four
« Reply #8112 on: January 23, 2026, 06:52:03 PM »
I noticed that DLX [Skate Shop] is doing $55 for Radial Fulls and $48 for other shapes. They were one of the cheaper shops except for Val Surf and shops doing discounts. You might want to stock up on wheels from previous seasons if you go through sets quickly.


I wonder if it is just the new stock for 2026 being more expensive, as I had seen the pre book stock is going up too, eg that latest drop has Classics and Conical Full wheels too, which are more expensive than the old stock, although the Radial Full is higher again, as you said.

Either way, get whatever you can before anything and everything goes up.  Some shops mark everything up, while others leave the prices as they were for the specific product, but I know the generic shapes, sizes, graphics or whatever usually all go up, even if it is older stock too.


* That said, the Classic shapes are still cheaper on the shop site aren't they?  It always converts it to international rates when I look, but some times things just don't quite add up or a number of links say "Product not found" which might be more to do with location for me, but I guess it is very simple and clear for you guys in USA.
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johnes

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Re: Spitfire formula four
« Reply #8113 on: January 24, 2026, 04:34:00 AM »
Overall I like the 93 soft sliders that I’m riding right now. I mostly skate in a local ditch but the wheels slide a little too well sometimes. There have been 2 times where I ride down one of the big banks and turn to cut an angle and I slip out super fast and hard because the wheels slide when I didn’t expect them too. My wrist has been a little tweaked for about a month after the last really hard unexpected fall that happened that way.

They do feel like they slide as well as the 99 or 101 F4s if I remember correctly but I haven’t skated those in like 6 or 7 years.

texasplant

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Re: Spitfire formula four
« Reply #8114 on: January 24, 2026, 04:16:31 PM »
Overall I like the 93 soft sliders that I’m riding right now. I mostly skate in a local ditch but the wheels slide a little too well sometimes. There have been 2 times where I ride down one of the big banks and turn to cut an angle and I slip out super fast and hard because the wheels slide when I didn’t expect them too. My wrist has been a little tweaked for about a month after the last really hard unexpected fall that happened that way.

They do feel like they slide as well as the 99 or 101 F4s if I remember correctly but I haven’t skated those in like 6 or 7 years.

Do you feel the same when skating in smooth skateparks? The last time I tried these I had hoped it would be a perfect all rounder wheel but felt they were just too sticky for me. I didn't give them more than one session though..

GardenSkater77

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Re: Spitfire formula four
« Reply #8115 on: January 24, 2026, 04:42:25 PM »
New 97a radial fulls in 57mm(red) and 54mm(natural)



These are cool too, Donatello swirls



I’ll see your TFunks and raise you a 54mm 93a Radial Full Bannerot.


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Re: Spitfire formula four
« Reply #8116 on: January 24, 2026, 05:55:11 PM »
I need to buy a couple sets of the bannerot 54s

Could be the dopest wheel out right now

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Re: Spitfire formula four
« Reply #8117 on: January 24, 2026, 06:08:59 PM »
Expand Quote
Overall I like the 93 soft sliders that I’m riding right now. I mostly skate in a local ditch but the wheels slide a little too well sometimes. There have been 2 times where I ride down one of the big banks and turn to cut an angle and I slip out super fast and hard because the wheels slide when I didn’t expect them too. My wrist has been a little tweaked for about a month after the last really hard unexpected fall that happened that way.

They do feel like they slide as well as the 99 or 101 F4s if I remember correctly but I haven’t skated those in like 6 or 7 years.
[close]

Do you feel the same when skating in smooth skateparks? The last time I tried these I had hoped it would be a perfect all rounder wheel but felt they were just too sticky for me. I didn't give them more than one session though..

For me the 93a powerslide well but don’t slide like I need them to with tailslides and nose slides

Reese Bruno

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Re: Spitfire formula four
« Reply #8118 on: January 25, 2026, 05:18:29 AM »
anyone have real pics of the swirl or the purp radial fulls? asking uh...for a friend...

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Re: Spitfire formula four
« Reply #8119 on: January 25, 2026, 11:43:46 AM »
anyone have real pics of the swirl or the purp radial fulls? asking uh...for a friend...

One of my friends bought some and sent a photo in the packaging

« Last Edit: January 25, 2026, 02:53:09 PM by GashBandicoot »

Mbrimson88

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Re: Spitfire formula four
« Reply #8120 on: January 25, 2026, 09:01:00 PM »
anyone have real pics of the swirl or the purp radial fulls? asking uh...for a friend...


https://www.routeone.co.uk/products/spitfire-bighead-swirl-formula-four-radial-full-99d-skateboard-wheels-56mm-001190690?variant=55425981022584

Click for the bigger images







* They actually look really good, fairly even colours on the wheels.  Some I have had in the past were almost completely one colour, like the urethane didnt' quite pour evenly or mix evenly, but I would say none of these are all going to be the same - always a little different in how they come out, so each wheel is unique in that regard.


Another one from the current Spitfire catalog too:



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moonordie

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Re: Spitfire formula four
« Reply #8121 on: January 25, 2026, 11:41:40 PM »
Expand Quote
anyone have real pics of the swirl or the purp radial fulls? asking uh...for a friend...
[close]


https://www.routeone.co.uk/products/spitfire-bighead-swirl-formula-four-radial-full-99d-skateboard-wheels-56mm-001190690?variant=55425981022584

Click for the bigger images







* They actually look really good, fairly even colours on the wheels.  Some I have had in the past were almost completely one colour, like the urethane didnt' quite pour evenly or mix evenly, but I would say none of these are all going to be the same - always a little different in how they come out, so each wheel is unique in that regard.


Another one from the current Spitfire catalog too:


They look dope, probably I'll have to get them.
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Mbrimson88

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Re: Spitfire formula four
« Reply #8122 on: January 26, 2026, 02:54:32 AM »
anyone have real pics of the swirl or the purp radial fulls? asking uh...for a friend...

I meant to post the other ones too, but got too busy looking for more swirl pics.

Anyway, Route One has good pics of all of them, good pics on the listings, just the cover pic here for people to look over (which looks a little different to the other stock pics too):


https://www.routeone.co.uk/collections/spitfire-wheels


Light purple 54 mm

https://www.routeone.co.uk/products/spitfire-bighead-colours-formula-four-radial-full-99d-skateboard-wheels-54mm-001190688?variant=55425981415800




Light blue 55 mm

https://www.routeone.co.uk/products/spitfire-bighead-colours-formula-four-radial-full-99d-skateboard-wheels-55mm-001190689?variant=55425981251960



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Reese Bruno

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Re: Spitfire formula four
« Reply #8123 on: January 26, 2026, 03:16:27 AM »
thanks brothers! damn they all look so good and itll be hard to decide if i should just buy them all

bluedohdohs

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Re: Spitfire formula four
« Reply #8124 on: January 26, 2026, 04:56:46 AM »
I use to just leave the wheels alone but early last month or the month before I just felt so slow on my wheels, bearings def had something to do with it but I’ve been having em since 2018 some conicals 99a 53mm probably down to 45-47mm now coned as shit
Skated a set of stf and those lasted a year if that till they became 46mm maybe less, to be fair i was kick pushing a few miles a day then but pretty sure i did that in the cons too
Anyway put em back on n stopped skating round the start of 2022

Now I’ve just been curious about wheels got some lock ins from a friend probably around 53mm maybe a little less and they were alright no complaints but my friend got some 58mm radial fulls 99a he skated once and hated & I put them on the other day, gotta say I really like these big wheels I kinda thought I’d forsure hate it and go back to the lock ins and going back to the lighter wheel would make my pop or whatever feel better

But honestly that extra 20-50 grams or whatever (i’ll weigh em next time) isn’t that big of a deal my flat ground tricks were still there I just got my tres back so that was a lil wonky but next session i feel like i’ll have them good to go again.

I’m on board with the radials grinding better than the lock ins & conicals I’m trying to do all my grinds fast and long, kept slippin out in the tiny wheels and the lock ins. The radials i did a crook first try i actually did alot of tricks first try it felt sick.

Besides the grinding i just loved how fast and smooth they felt. it was a 17-20mph wind day heavier gusts so at first the session sucked and i keep losing all my speed/momentum rolling up to the ledge or anything after switching to the 58s (yes i did it mid session), the instant noticeable difference was wild i felt like i was just cutting threw the wind & bitched out on a few of the run ups cause i was going too fast. Got some lil softies 95as cfs in the mail the next day but honestly just gonna stick with these and try my friends set up first before I switch the stuff out, he has the classics. Need to get more hangers n bearings n just have it set up where i just switch hangers

Sorry for the novel here’s a photo of the conicals, don’t think I’ll ever ride a wheel this long again


« Last Edit: January 26, 2026, 07:25:39 PM by bluedohdohs »

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Re: Spitfire formula four
« Reply #8125 on: January 26, 2026, 06:57:19 PM »
I use to just leave the wheels alone but early last month or the month before I just felt so slow on my wheels, bearings def had something to do with it but I’ve been having em since 2016-2017 some conicals 99a 53mm probably down to 45-47mm now coned as shit...

Sorry for the novel here’s a photo of the conicals, don’t think I’ll ever ride a wheel this long again




Amazing - Oski shirt graphic wheels from this catalog:

https://www.spitfirewheels.com/fall-2018/


Nothing wrong with riding wheels of any size, but yeah it is crazy getting on some bigger wheels and just feeling how easy and fast they go.  Some people struggle with doing anything, but others can adapt well enough, so seeing some pro guys riding those bigger wheels as their every day size, it all makes sense.


Specifically:

https://www.spitfirewheels.com/fall18/5-oski-mb.jpg




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Re: Spitfire formula four
« Reply #8126 on: January 26, 2026, 07:08:51 PM »


Can you post a photo of the contact patch? I want to see how squared off the conical fulls get over time.

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Re: Spitfire formula four
« Reply #8127 on: January 26, 2026, 07:32:32 PM »
Should measure with some calipers they honestly don't look that worn down, unless it's just allll coning

bluedohdohs

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Re: Spitfire formula four
« Reply #8128 on: January 28, 2026, 09:50:11 PM »
Expand Quote
I use to just leave the wheels alone but early last month or the month before I just felt so slow on my wheels, bearings def had something to do with it but I’ve been having em since 2016-2017 some conicals 99a 53mm probably down to 45-47mm now coned as shit...

Sorry for the novel here’s a photo of the conicals, don’t think I’ll ever ride a wheel this long again


[close]


Amazing - Oski shirt graphic wheels from this catalog:

https://www.spitfirewheels.com/fall-2018/


Nothing wrong with riding wheels of any size, but yeah it is crazy getting on some bigger wheels and just feeling how easy and fast they go.  Some people struggle with doing anything, but others can adapt well enough, so seeing some pro guys riding those bigger wheels as their every day size, it all makes sense.


Specifically:

https://www.spitfirewheels.com/fall18/5-oski-mb.jpg



Man thank you that made me stoked the other night, was rushing to get to the store just for them to be closed haha Ended up going to the bar but that had me smiling pretty big I’m pretty sure after I picked the wheels out the  homie at the had mentioned that this ad was in the mag or how they sent him a poster n that was the photo (although the latter could be something else)
Gonna start including ‘catalog’ in my searches that’s smart. I went lookin  a couple months ago after wondering what the hell I had even been riding for long. Found some sketchy websites that had em listed as conicals 
Fulls makes alot more sense
« Last Edit: January 29, 2026, 09:05:44 PM by bluedohdohs »

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Re: Spitfire formula four
« Reply #8129 on: January 28, 2026, 09:51:53 PM »
Expand Quote


[close]
Can you post a photo of the contact patch? I want to see how squared off the conical fulls get over time.


Sure thing hermano accidentally included one up there be here’s these as well