Wheels Thread

[rocklobster]

Don’t have much to add but to the pals above re:SML I bought two sets of those Tom Knox wheels cuz I wanted conical wheels but I got a flat spot after like less than a month of skating them. Did a 180 over a ledge and bam, flat spot, and I don’t powerslide much. Not sure what to do with the other set I bought lol.

Got me some Satoris (conical) and I love em.

That's a shame about the SML ones, learned some 180s out of grinds and the SML ones held up well through all the sliding on the ground. 99a is my go to, can't do 101a anymore.

I like the Satori Slims, they have a similar shape as Autobahn Street Slims, maybe even a hair narrower. If you want something skinnier than a Bones V3 these are a great choice, love that narrow profile for pinchy grinds. But for pushing on rough asphalt definitely no bueno.

[JJ_Skates]

Just got my my full conical F4's and mini logos in! My Quantum bearing Isotopes are coming in soon and I'll be putting them on the Spitfires once I get em.

The mini logos are on my Bones STF V1 in 54mm + 103a. I'm gonna beat the shit outta them. The Spits + Quantum combo will be my "nice" setup.

[goingapelikenigo]

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my pink spitfire skate like a girl f4s wore down and flatspotted extremely quickly. was excited to try a coloured pair of wheels but now i feel like the dye they use fuck with their formula or something. i haven't even skated a lot of rough ground recently, mostly the local indoor which is mostly wooden.

[close]

A coworker of mine got a chunk out of his. Did you find them softer feeling almost? My black classic fulls have been noted to feel a little softer by most people who have tried my setup.

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yes i got a little chunk out of mine too actually, there is like a little chunk peeling off and barely hanging on.

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DLXSF customer service to the rescue, constantly impressed with them. As long as you have proof of purchase and send evidence documenting it, they are helpful. Time to break out the calipers to prove the wear is faster than average.

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gonna try to get in contact with them, thanks!

Update

i'm getting a new pair of wheels!
dlxsf was very nice to deal with and i'm now getting a new pair of wheels from the distribution here in sweden.
seems like i'm getting a pair of 54mm 99du conicals, thanks for the help @rocklobster didn't even think about contacting them before lol.

[big_kev_215]

Anyone buy those Kader radial fulls/if so how are they?  I promised myself I wouldn’t waste money on wheels or trucks for a while but I keep looking at that shape and it just looks so good.  Might have to break that promise.

[rocklobster]

How's the experience on NFG wheels been?

Rode them for 1 session today (54mm Square), biggest adjustment was size going up from 51mm to 54mm. The lock in was beautiful and fast on smooth concrete. Slide was a little sticky at first but got manageable an hour in.

Hardness wise they feel right between a F4 101a and STF 103a, they are listed as 52D.  Was definitely feeling the vibrations when pushing on rough asphalt.

[logjammin]

Scooped these off eBay just to have em. Anyone skate them back in the day and recall if they were any good?

[Mbrimson88]

Scooped these off eBay just to have em. Anyone skate them back in the day and recall if they were any good?

Damn those things bring back memories!


Yes I had lots (and still have some) but compared to Formula Four, they are like the old vintage car that people take out for a Sunday drive.  Well not quite, as I still have quite a few setups with old Spitfires on, most yellowed but still amazing to skate.

Spitfire wheels used to wear down quickly and flatspot easily when still brand new fresh white, but the older ones tended to harden up some and skate way better.  The colour often put a lot of people off though - getting called onions and similar - but usually never had half the issues with them in that state as per when they were new.

[Richard Skidder]

Chet Childress used to skate those Hardlines before he was on OJ.

[FUBAR]

I remember being able to get good blank 48mm white wheels for $15 a set. New set every time I got a new deck. Fresh little white marbles to roll around on.

[realbasedgod112]

How can I accurately measure the contact patch on my wheels? I like how they've worn down from the original size, and I want to check so I can choose another pair that suits my preferences.
I didn't want to use a ruler as there's not much of a way to tell where the surface starts and ends, so mainly I was wondering if there's anything I can run them over like dye or paint.

[maggot cunt]

How can I accurately measure the contact patch on my wheels? I like how they've worn down from the original size, and I want to check so I can choose another pair that suits my preferences.
I didn't want to use a ruler as there's not much of a way to tell where the surface starts and ends, so mainly I was wondering if there's anything I can run them over like dye or paint.

puddle

[Mbrimson88]

How can I accurately measure the contact patch on my wheels? I like how they've worn down from the original size, and I want to check so I can choose another pair that suits my preferences.
I didn't want to use a ruler as there's not much of a way to tell where the surface starts and ends, so mainly I was wondering if there's anything I can run them over like dye or paint.

Any indoor area or under cover carpark that has a layer of built up car dust should coat the wheels fairly well, as they usually end up black on the riding surface, then simple to get rid of too, just by riding over something more coarse like raw concrete and carving a bit.


Calipers are handy for measuring things like wheels, be it the diameter, the width, the contact patch or surface area.

Often very cheap too, from places like two dollar stores, some hardware warehouse type places and ebay.

[QUIT SINNIN]

Does anyone out there make a novelty 40mm wheel?

[white guy in a durag]

boardy cakes has a 39
https://www.boardycakes.com/product/boardy-cakes-39mm-103a-drip-drops-1

[user18081971]

sml has a 40,46, and 49 I would wager that urethane is better than bc,

[tzhangdox]

Anyone had 99a slimeballs before? Thoughts compared to 97 or 99 f4s?

[FrozenIndustries]

sml has a 40,46, and 49 I would wager that urethane is better than bc,

At least with the 45s and 49s, they're the AG formula which is actually the same as BC (Creative Urethane 99a). Skated some of the BC 49mm 99s and was genuinely impressed with how well they handled one crusty spots.

[Gene_Harrogate]

Anybody have any experience with, or know anything about Mass Transit wheels? I'm always intrigued by smaller brands like this and they look nice.
https://www.instagram.com/masstransitwheels/

[switchfrontshuv]

Switching to classic 55mm's instead of the OG classic 55mm's ive been skating all fall and winter. Cant stand hard, "wide riding surface but thin profile" aggressively square wheels. No purpose for ledges and flip tricks (round edge makes a difference), and I need more truck space smh

[slothrop]

Was curious which durometer the the loophole wheels are? 52d  or 95a? they are NFG manufactured correct?
speaking of

[Sundaynuggets]

Was curious which durometer the the loophole wheels are? 52d  or 95a? they are NFG manufactured correct?
speaking of

I think loophole is only the 52d. NFG makes them and on their site they sell both duros

[slothrop]

kinda humorous  when the heavy music starts and the epic handicap ramp roll in footage starts

[big_kev_215]

Anyone buy those Kader radial fulls/if so how are they?  I promised myself I wouldn’t waste money on wheels or trucks for a while but I keep looking at that shape and it just looks so good.  Might have to break that promise.

Update for anyone who’s interested - I ended up getting the radial fulls in 57 mm and they’re insane.  The contact patch is about the same width as a comparable conical full but with an extra couple mm’s of pure rounded-ness added onto both edges.  The bearing sits decently deep in the wheel too so they don’t stick out too bad on your trucks.  Get some young Fred Gall setup vibes looking at them on my board and they roll up into slappies very easily.

[logjammin]

kinda humorous  when the heavy music starts and the epic handicap ramp roll in footage starts

Interesting shedding light on how things worked behind the scenes with the NFG owner and Spitfire before his departure, there was def rumors about him leaving and how it had something to do with shortages for awhile. Also weird how those NFG's are really white even in his footage and not the thumbnail. They are always naturally potato colored.

[slothrop]

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kinda humorous  when the heavy music starts and the epic handicap ramp roll in footage starts

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Interesting shedding light on how things worked behind the scenes with the NFG owner and Spitfire before his departure, there was def rumors about him leaving and how it had something to do with shortages for awhile. Also weird how those NFG's are really white even in his footage and not the thumbnail. They are always naturally potato colored.

yeah i agree i actually have a exact set on the bench beside my computer was questioning why his were so white aswell.
wonder why NFG has never gone about making a team i know essentially loophole is that but still.

[Mbrimson88]

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kinda humorous  when the heavy music starts and the epic handicap ramp roll in footage starts

[close]

Interesting shedding light on how things worked behind the scenes with the NFG owner and Spitfire before his departure, there was def rumors about him leaving and how it had something to do with shortages for awhile. Also weird how those NFG's are really white even in his footage and not the thumbnail. They are always naturally potato colored.

[close]

yeah i agree i actually have a exact set on the bench beside my computer was questioning why his were so white aswell.
wonder why NFG has never gone about making a team i know essentially loophole is that but still.

That was an interesting watch.

Also feel like I have heard before that he didn't invent Formula Four, as they were in development years before, initially coming out in 2013 and he started working there in 2014 to improve production and assist with development of the product, but who knows exactly who, what, when, etc.  I am not one to get into the old "somebody said this, then someone else said that" type of thing, or push an agenda or perspective based on rumours, but if anyone had any more info, it would be interesting to hear it.

Either way, Spitfire Formula Four is an amazing wheel and from what I have heard and seen, NFG is making really good wheels as well, though I am yet to see any or actually skate them.

Bones seems to have fallen from where they were, maybe trying too hard to make a wheel that was more like Spitfire Formula Four, but either way, they had probably the best rolling, longest lasting wheel for a long, long time.

Then below that, there is everything else.

In saying that, contrary to his statement about fewer wheel brands now than ten years ago, I think there are still a lot of smaller wheel companies out there, but many shops are just not selling their wheels, as many more people are riding the wheels that work for them and anything else is second best.


As far as NFG having a team or anything, they are still such a small manufacturer, so there is no real option for much besides making the product and getting it out to whoever wants it, but as said, Loophole Wheels is almost more like their main (but not only) brand who do have a promo budget, team, etc.

[manysnakes]

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kinda humorous  when the heavy music starts and the epic handicap ramp roll in footage starts

[close]

Interesting shedding light on how things worked behind the scenes with the NFG owner and Spitfire before his departure, there was def rumors about him leaving and how it had something to do with shortages for awhile. Also weird how those NFG's are really white even in his footage and not the thumbnail. They are always naturally potato colored.

[close]

yeah i agree i actually have a exact set on the bench beside my computer was questioning why his were so white aswell.
wonder why NFG has never gone about making a team i know essentially loophole is that but still.

[close]

Also feel like I have heard before that he didn't invent Formula Four, as they were in development years before, initially coming out in 2013 and he started working there in 2014 to improve production and assist with development of the product, but who knows exactly who, what, when, etc.  I am not one to get into the old "somebody said this, then someone else said that" type of thing, or push an agenda or perspective based on rumours, but if anyone had any more info, it would be interesting to hear it.

Thing is, I doubt any one person "invented" the Spitfire Formula Four. It was a team of chemists. Still though - being a skater with a PhD in chemistry, specializing in polyurethane and working for DLX on the production of what's widely considered the best all around skateboard wheel ever made - are really all the credentials I could ever need to see.

[Mbrimson88]

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kinda humorous  when the heavy music starts and the epic handicap ramp roll in footage starts

[close]

Interesting shedding light on how things worked behind the scenes with the NFG owner and Spitfire before his departure, there was def rumors about him leaving and how it had something to do with shortages for awhile. Also weird how those NFG's are really white even in his footage and not the thumbnail. They are always naturally potato colored.

[close]

yeah i agree i actually have a exact set on the bench beside my computer was questioning why his were so white aswell.
wonder why NFG has never gone about making a team i know essentially loophole is that but still.

[close]

Also feel like I have heard before that he didn't invent Formula Four, as they were in development years before, initially coming out in 2013 and he started working there in 2014 to improve production and assist with development of the product, but who knows exactly who, what, when, etc.  I am not one to get into the old "somebody said this, then someone else said that" type of thing, or push an agenda or perspective based on rumours, but if anyone had any more info, it would be interesting to hear it.

[close]

Thing is, I doubt any one person "invented" the Spitfire Formula Four. It was a team of chemists. Still though - being a skater with a PhD in chemistry, specializing in polyurethane and working for DLX on the production of what's widely considered the best all around skateboard wheel ever made - are really all the credentials I could ever need to see.

Yeah I found it interesting to read the information on NFG and even the name - "No Fucks Given" - a result of some unhappiness there, so who knows exactly what went down, but at least now there is another decent wheel in production, even if it is in shorter supply, limited distribution and startup issues at first, the options for that alone with the 95 duro formula and the normal wheels in decent shapes is a plus for the skateboarding world.

[FrozenIndustries]

For those who have skated both the NFG 95a and 52d: How does the slide on the 95a compare? For some reason I remember someone posting that they actually slid better than the 52d, but now I can't find mention of it anywhere?

[Mbrimson88]

For those who have skated both the NFG 95a and 52d: How does the slide on the 95a compare? For some reason I remember someone posting that they actually slid better than the 52d, but now I can't find mention of it anywhere?

I think that might have been one person, but almost all have said the normal wheel option skates really well and slides exactly how you would expect them to (which from their instagram was said to "equate roughly to 103, even though the scale only goes up to 100" by whoever commented back from the NFG account).


That said, some other brands of harder duro wheels I have found just do not slide as well as some softer duro wheels, so as far as different batches or even different compounds, so I am sure there might be some things to iron out with the NFG production there as well.

Still never seen them or been in a position to buy a set, but people certainly are liking them a whole lot.