Looking for some wheel recommendations y'all. Currently on a polar dane 1 9.75, indy 169s, slimeball 97s, spitfire reds. I'm just breaking this set-up in but I can already tell that the slimeballs (not new) are not gonna work with what I'm looking to ride this specific board for. I want to use this as a slappy/transition screw around board and also as a filming board (hoping I can find wheels that would work for both options). I'm open to trying wheels other than spits and bones (i only seem to ride F4s on other setups). What size/durometer would you recommend for what I'm trying to do and anyone have any specific wheel recommendations?
What size are / were the Slimeballs?
They do come in 60mm (which are great fun for bigger type wheels) but also down as low as 53 or 52mm as well, so it depends on what size wheel you are wanting, which i have not seen you say yet.
Most of these other wheels mentioned also come in 52 up to 56 or so and readily available for the most part, depending on where you are or where you are willing to buy from.
There really are so many alternatives, big to small, hard to soft, so depending on where you are might limit your options.
Filmer wheels (around 80 to 90 duro) are so good for cruising as well but are rather limiting for skating more normally, but if you are used to them, I gues it is ok as I know people who love them for everything. The Bones / Powell 90 duro wheels are really good for still getting around fast and you can skate them easily enough on transition but they do slow you down in tricks that would normally keep you rolling faster with harder wheels, not so much slides, but grinds where the wheel is pushing against the edge like slappies to some degree too.
Normal wheels, even slightly softer will be a much better overall ride, so 95+ duro
Even between Slimeballs 97 and Spitfire 97s there are significant differences - I have both and they are both good wheels, for a slightly softer normal wheel feel.
I got the classic 56mm 97 Spitfires and they are so good being that little bit bigger, great for slappy grinds, not so easy for nose or tail slides right now but they will wear down over time and last a lot longer too.
So that is just my opinion and most of my normal boards have 99 duro Spitfires that are closer to 52-54 worn down wheels that were bigger when new, but I still have boards with 97, 95, 92 and some even softer wheels that are good for certain things.