Wheels Thread

[ferraveemo]

Out of curiosity, I bought some Welcome Orbs Spectre’s. Mainly cause they got a nice blue swirl on them. My locals priced them nice or are always on sale. Do they get better with slide over time? Like when the treads wear out? I seem to have to put more push to the crank for them to power slide but barely get any hold on the length of the slide. I’m also coming from Non-F4 OG classics Spits & Bones STF Easy Streets 99A’s. I’ve also noticed that I can’t give any wiggle space on the axel cause my bearings start popping out a little. I wanna know more about your guys’ experiences with Orbs. Can’t find them on any thread or a decent YouTube review. Other than that they feel nice on every surface. Almost like a cruiser wheel without that bounce.

[sketchyrider]

what's the closest wheel to bones spf's out there? oj elite formula?

[Easy Slider]

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Any companies make sub 50s in at least a 101?

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https://www.boardycakes.com/

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Whoa…….

*nut*.

I am tempted by those wheels. Must. Resist.

[dr.prestige]

what's the closest wheel to bones spf's out there? oj elite formula?

It's pretty hard to compare Bones to any other wheel, especially SPFs, they're pretty unique in their feeling/performance. If we're comparing wheels by the numbers and not regarding cosmetics or performance I'd say NFGs are most comparable to the harder duro STFs, but as for SPFs I don't think there's another wheel on the market like it as far as I know

[Mbrimson88]

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what's the closest wheel to bones spf's out there? oj elite formula?

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It's pretty hard to compare Bones to any other wheel, especially SPFs, they're pretty unique in their feeling/performance. If we're comparing wheels by the numbers and not regarding cosmetics or performance I'd say NFGs are most comparable to the harder duro STFs, but as for SPFs I don't think there's another wheel on the market like it as far as I know

Yes I tend to agree.

Some other brands are super hard, but with that have all the unwanted super hard wheel issues, like flatspots on the smallest things, or slip out too easily.

Bones have had their own market for so long they are their own stand alone product.


OJs always felt no where near as hard, even the Insaneathane or whatever the name was, which was super hard, but if you pushed into one solid powerslide, you usually had a flatspot rolling away.


Another newish one being Hazard wheels which are again super hard and slippery, but just not fun to skate (for me, along with a couple of people who have tried them anyway) but that is not to say that some people will not like them.


Never had NFG here in AU, or a couple of other brands that people say are super hard, but everything else is just another one in line behind Bones or Spitfire for most people.

[Schinken]

what's the closest wheel to bones spf's out there? oj elite formula?

Tried 99a elite and 81b spfs(58&60). Both handle rough ground pretty well. The spfs are more grippy than the 99a elite. I like both

[sketchyrider]

thanks for the replies, i pretty much agree that there may be nothing like them. really just looking for best options on ultra polished concrete, i like f4's but they are known to be a little slippery.

[Mbrimson88]

thanks for the replies, i pretty much agree that there may be nothing like them. really just looking for best options on ultra polished concrete, i like f4's but they are known to be a little slippery.

I think I forgot to say, but there are a lot of wheels that are not as hard (but also not as fast) as Bones or Spitfire too.

Most of the second tier brands, or most other brands in general have urethane that is a bit more grippy and still rolls fine, but overall the speed is significantly less.

The only other thing that I know a lot of people forget about most other brands of wheel is that they are still almost always "treaded" or have factory grooves when new, which only takes a minute to wear off on aged raw concrete, but can be a deal breaker if you cannot wear them in easily or are only skating wood or a slippery surface.

Had a guy buy some new wheels, first run on the skatelite mini ramp and ate it so hard with his wheels slipping out.  Asked if he didn't hear me say to wear them in and said something like he didn't think they would be so bad at first.


Another reason to just be happy with Bones SPF or Spitfire F4 wheels = smooth surface and perfect right from go.

[manysnakes]

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thanks for the replies, i pretty much agree that there may be nothing like them. really just looking for best options on ultra polished concrete, i like f4's but they are known to be a little slippery.

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Another reason to just be happy with Bones SPF or Spitfire F4 wheels = smooth surface and perfect right from go.

Honestly everything else is chasing phantoms. We are all guilty of it but there’s a reason why so many of us come back to these two types of wheels.

[unregisteredhypercam2]

switched from classic 53 to conical full 54 and i cant land anything.

[Ok]

switched from classic 53 to conical full 54 and i cant land anything.

I’m the biggest conical full hater. I wanted to be down. No. Classics only. Fulls block me on any rotational flips (so pretty much just 360 flips).

[Xen]

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switched from classic 53 to conical full 54 and i cant land anything.

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I’m the biggest conical full hater. I wanted to be down. No. Classics only. Fulls block me on any rotational flips (so pretty much just 360 flips).

I can do the 97a, only because I have them on a bigger, non-flippy board; I can't hang with hesh sized wheels.

These days it's 103 STF V5s..the shape just works for everything. Interesting about V5s messing with flip tricks for some, but classics don't seeing as V5s are literally narrower in every aspect going size for size...and V4s being just about on par with Conical Fulls.

[Frank and Fred]

My flips tricks really suffer on conical fulls also but the 97s are my go to winter wheel for slippery indoor wooden ramps and rugged parking garages... compromises compromises compromises

[Cthunderw]

My flips tricks really suffer on conical fulls also but the 97s are my go to winter wheel for slippery indoor wooden ramps and rugged parking garages... compromises compromises compromises

97a classics?

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My flips tricks really suffer on conical fulls also but the 97s are my go to winter wheel for slippery indoor wooden ramps and rugged parking garages... compromises compromises compromises

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97a classics?

Big fan of the 97a classics.

[Post A Fit Fuccboi]

Conicals, conical fulls, v5s, and v6s just mean worse flip tricks and more coping hang-ups for me. Lose-lose

They're probably great for flatbar and rails, which I suck at so

Classics for me, been really into Bones V4

[MaXX_I-D]

Magic carpeting hella hard(8.38' deck on 8' trucks) on conical fulls helped with flips.

[DarkPools]

Spit Conical Full or Conical in 52-53 is chef's kiss. Not too big or too small! 99a preferably, but 101a is also not bad after wearing them in.

[mj23]

didn't want to start a new thread for this question, and a quick search didn't turn anything up:

what's the best way to rotate wheels? i turn them inside out and just kinda mix them up occasionally, but i imagine there is a more scientific way

and on a related note: does anyone rotate their trucks? when i was younger i used to switch my front and back trucks whenever i set up a board, but it always threw me off for the first several sessions so i haven't done it in a few years.

[FrozenIndustries]

didn't want to start a new thread for this question, and a quick search didn't turn anything up:

what's the best way to rotate wheels? i turn them inside out and just kinda mix them up occasionally, but i imagine there is a more scientific way

and on a related note: does anyone rotate their trucks? when i was younger i used to switch my front and back trucks whenever i set up a board, but it always threw me off for the first several sessions so i haven't done it in a few years.

I'd be curious to know if there is a a proven, scientific way. When I rotate mine, I turn them inside out and move them to the opposite corners. So my rear heel side wheel swaps with my front toe side, and my rear toe side swaps with my from heel side. I've always felt like this keeps them pretty even.

[manysnakes]

didn't want to start a new thread for this question, and a quick search didn't turn anything up:

what's the best way to rotate wheels? i turn them inside out and just kinda mix them up occasionally, but i imagine there is a more scientific way

and on a related note: does anyone rotate their trucks? when i was younger i used to switch my front and back trucks whenever i set up a board, but it always threw me off for the first several sessions so i haven't done it in a few years.

I would think it would be to pick the wheel that's most worn (typically the wheel under the toe of your front foot), and place it where the wheel that has the amount of wear is. To be most accurate, you could measure with some digital calipers and figure out where the coning is coming from.

In practice, I just take that wheel and set it aside so that I make sure it doesn't go right back where I took it from.

[dr.prestige]

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didn't want to start a new thread for this question, and a quick search didn't turn anything up:

what's the best way to rotate wheels? i turn them inside out and just kinda mix them up occasionally, but i imagine there is a more scientific way

and on a related note: does anyone rotate their trucks? when i was younger i used to switch my front and back trucks whenever i set up a board, but it always threw me off for the first several sessions so i haven't done it in a few years.

[close]

I would think it would be to pick the wheel that's most worn (typically the wheel under the toe of your front foot), and place it where the wheel that has the amount of wear is. To be most accurate, you could measure with some digital calipers and figure out where the coning is coming from.

In practice, I just take that wheel and set it aside so that I make sure it doesn't go right back where I took it from.

Typically my smallest wheel is on the heel side of my back truck. Do you do a lot of backside powerslides?

[Ok]

Any of you big wheel BALLERS feel like any spots are being unlocked?
There was this time where me and the crew were torn between trilogy and mixtape, and some were using 58s on 7.5s😆😆😆. When you wanna be like Kareem but also Ricky. Anyways. Able to skate more stuff with the big wheel? What are the pros/cons? For me, I instantly lose what few flip tricks I have, if I go over 54. The pull of being able to skate to and fro is high tho

[backinaction]

Any of you big wheel BALLERS feel like any spots are being unlocked?
There was this time where me and the crew were torn between trilogy and mixtape, and some were using 58s on 7.5s😆😆😆. When you wanna be like Kareem but also Ricky. Anyways. Able to skate more stuff with the big wheel? What are the pros/cons? For me, I instantly lose what few flip tricks I have, if I go over 54. The pull of being able to skate to and fro is high tho

My brother insists on skating pools with 60s on an 8.25, with his reasoning being that he likes the 60s but they wheelbite more on wider boards.

I can't really do more than a 56, and 54 is my happy place on an all around setup. 

I tried running 58s in transition last spring, but they needed risers.   Risers and 58s made me feel too tall and disconnected. Off they came.

I feel like i'd rather open up a spot by running a bit softer of a wheel instead of bigger.

[Frank and Fred]

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My flips tricks really suffer on conical fulls also but the 97s are my go to winter wheel for slippery indoor wooden ramps and rugged parking garages... compromises compromises compromises

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97a classics?

not for me... they wear down too fast and don't mash through the rough stuff as well as the conical fulls. tried them last winter.

[Mbrimson88]

didn't want to start a new thread for this question, and a quick search didn't turn anything up:

what's the best way to rotate wheels? i turn them inside out and just kinda mix them up occasionally, but i imagine there is a more scientific way

and on a related note: does anyone rotate their trucks? when i was younger i used to switch my front and back trucks whenever i set up a board, but it always threw me off for the first several sessions so i haven't done it in a few years.

Without wanting to sound like "Mr Know it all" or fill this thread with huge volumes of text, this post regarding wheel rotation was done to help some people I know who had similar questions.

Text from post:

Most commonly, the front toe will cone the most on the outer side as more weight is always put on the front edge of the board but the most overall wear is usually the back toe or both back wheels, especially if the skater can cess slide or push more into tricks, with the back heel often wearing more on the inside edge and the front heel getting the least amount of wear overall.

The best way to rotate the wheels is move the front toe to the back heel, and the front heel to the back toe positions, often marking them or taking them off one or two at a time being more effective than taking them all off.

You don't need calipers (the black measuring tool I have) but even just looking at them can get a good idea as to how worn they are, or if you see particular wear on the front toe, it is time to rotate them. Sometimes too I have turned wheels inside just to even up the wear of a single wheel, mainly the front toe.

I often use pencil to mark wheels on the riding surface that I have taken off with FT, FH, BT and BH, like this:
FT - front toe
FH - front heel
BT - back toe
BH - back heel

This might go above and beyond what most people do and some of it is pure skateboard nerdery, but it has worked well for me in keeping track of the wear and helping wheels last a whole lot longer, which I think is the main thing here, especially as I like to ride classics that have worn down some.

[Xen]

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didn't want to start a new thread for this question, and a quick search didn't turn anything up:

what's the best way to rotate wheels? i turn them inside out and just kinda mix them up occasionally, but i imagine there is a more scientific way

and on a related note: does anyone rotate their trucks? when i was younger i used to switch my front and back trucks whenever i set up a board, but it always threw me off for the first several sessions so i haven't done it in a few years.

[close]

Without wanting to sound like "Mr Know it all" or fill this thread with huge volumes of text, this post regarding wheel rotation was done to help some people I know who had similar questions.

Text from post:

Most commonly, the front toe will cone the most on the outer side as more weight is always put on the front edge of the board but the most overall wear is usually the back toe or both back wheels, especially if the skater can cess slide or push more into tricks, with the back heel often wearing more on the inside edge and the front heel getting the least amount of wear overall.

The best way to rotate the wheels is move the front toe to the back heel, and the front heel to the back toe positions, often marking them or taking them off one or two at a time being more effective than taking them all off.

You don't need calipers (the black measuring tool I have) but even just looking at them can get a good idea as to how worn they are, or if you see particular wear on the front toe, it is time to rotate them. Sometimes too I have turned wheels inside just to even up the wear of a single wheel, mainly the front toe.

I often use pencil to mark wheels on the riding surface that I have taken off with FT, FH, BT and BH, like this:
FT - front toe
FH - front heel
BT - back toe
BH - back heel

This might go above and beyond what most people do and some of it is pure skateboard nerdery, but it has worked well for me in keeping track of the wear and helping wheels last a whole lot longer, which I think is the main thing here, especially as I like to ride classics that have worn down some.

Good post!

I've always rotated my wheels this way and couldn't tell you how or why I know this method...my guess is trial and error from the 80s tick-tack days

[switchfrontshuv]

Any of you big wheel BALLERS feel like any spots are being unlocked?
There was this time where me and the crew were torn between trilogy and mixtape, and some were using 58s on 7.5s😆😆😆. When you wanna be like Kareem but also Ricky. Anyways. Able to skate more stuff with the big wheel? What are the pros/cons? For me, I instantly lose what few flip tricks I have, if I go over 54. The pull of being able to skate to and fro is high tho

I just stepped up to 55 with my last few sets of wheels being 54 and initially I felt like I lost all my flips so I just kinda focused on ledge tricks. Now though I would never go back; the speed and the taller feeling definitely makes it so my skating is less precise and sometimes hard to control (especially when im warming up) but I've never had fs flips, bs flips, reg/sw heelflips feel this good and poppy, not to mention the lock-in I get on 180 pinch tricks and long 5050s/5-0s

edit: The wheels I was skating before were SML V-Cuts and the 55s now are Spitfire F4 OG classics. Not much different in terms of shape and weight at first

[Madam, I'm Adam]

Are satori wheels any good? Been skating formula fours for a few years now, want to try something completely different.

[superleftswipebby]

zach allen just posted a photo of kader’s 57mm radial fulls. hopefully that’ll hit the market soon. that shape is dope