Wheels Thread

[Samsquantch]

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Spitfire 97s vs. Bones X-Formula 97: opinions, differences, tips?

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I have both. I have two setups. I prefer the Bones X97s.

The X97s are faster on rough ground and powerslide better, but they don't feel as fun at a smooth park and I've slipped out a few times on them when I didn't want to slide. They feel like a harder Dragon if you've tried those.

The Spitfire 97s feel like a slightly softer Spitfire 99. I would recommend the Spitfire 97s if you're skating smooth parks and want more grip.

Both wheels will do crooked grinds if you bring wax. Both wheels will have you bringing wax.

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Thank you! Yes, I've skated the Dragons for a while now on rough ground and really like them. But I don't enjoy the stickiness to metal coping on transition. I would imagine the X97s would perform better with metal coping/ledges.

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Dragons>X97>x99

They only work better as they get harder and you lose very little on rough terrain compared to what you gain.

Do tell! What do you think of the 99's?

[GardenSkater77]

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Spitfire 97s vs. Bones X-Formula 97: opinions, differences, tips?

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I have both. I have two setups. I prefer the Bones X97s.

The X97s are faster on rough ground and powerslide better, but they don't feel as fun at a smooth park and I've slipped out a few times on them when I didn't want to slide. They feel like a harder Dragon if you've tried those.

The Spitfire 97s feel like a slightly softer Spitfire 99. I would recommend the Spitfire 97s if you're skating smooth parks and want more grip.

Both wheels will do crooked grinds if you bring wax. Both wheels will have you bringing wax.

[close]

Thank you! Yes, I've skated the Dragons for a while now on rough ground and really like them. But I don't enjoy the stickiness to metal coping on transition. I would imagine the X97s would perform better with metal coping/ledges.

[close]

Dragons>X97>x99

They only work better as they get harder and you lose very little on rough terrain compared to what you gain.

[close]

Do tell!

The logic of the above statement would indicate dragons <x97<x99 if they work better at a harder durometer. Am I confused?

[Samsquantch]

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Spitfire 97s vs. Bones X-Formula 97: opinions, differences, tips?

[close]

I have both. I have two setups. I prefer the Bones X97s.

The X97s are faster on rough ground and powerslide better, but they don't feel as fun at a smooth park and I've slipped out a few times on them when I didn't want to slide. They feel like a harder Dragon if you've tried those.

The Spitfire 97s feel like a slightly softer Spitfire 99. I would recommend the Spitfire 97s if you're skating smooth parks and want more grip.

Both wheels will do crooked grinds if you bring wax. Both wheels will have you bringing wax.

[close]

Thank you! Yes, I've skated the Dragons for a while now on rough ground and really like them. But I don't enjoy the stickiness to metal coping on transition. I would imagine the X97s would perform better with metal coping/ledges.

[close]

Dragons>X97>x99

They only work better as they get harder and you lose very little on rough terrain compared to what you gain.

[close]

Do tell!

[close]

The logic of the above statement would indicate dragons <x97<x99 if they work better at a harder durometer. Am I confused?

Yes. Would like to hear more about the X99's that he just received and why they he feels they are better. Edited for clarity.

[Whicker]

My current wheel journey.

F4 classic 99a 53mm
Good at the perfect smooth skatepark and nice asphalt, but I basically have to walk between spots. Anything crusty and they grind to a halt. Considering most of my streets are crust I wanted to try something else.

Ricta cored clouds 54mm 86a.
Ride over all crust and cracks easily, kinda slow on perfect ground though, very bouncy. Wasn't really feeling it and the GF needed new wheels so she rides these now and enjoys them since she barely has to push.

F4 conical full 97a 54mm
Very nice, still slide, handles crust better than the 99a, not as slow as the Ricta, but some spots are still too rough. I could be happy skating these but wish they were a bit better on crust.

Dragon 93a V4 54mm
These were on sale at local shop so I had to jump on them. Wow, destroys crust, spots that I had to constant push through on the 97a Spitfires feel like normal asphalt. Less vibrations. Rough patches that would lurch me forward before are barely noticeable. I'm very impressed. Only one session so far so I am waiting to break them in before sliding. The 97a handle big cracks slightly better but that is probably due to surface area. They are a bit slower on perfect ground but significantly faster on everything else. Even pushing is easier, like there is less resistance. They are quieter, but not silent like Ricta. Nothing more to say other than they are really really good so far. Graphics are lame tho.

I'm not sure if I even need x97 or x99, If these slide as good as 97a spitfire or better then I am probably good. Wish they made them a bit chunkier, I really like the conical full shape.

[Samsquantch]

My current wheel journey.

F4 classic 99a 53mm
Good at the perfect smooth skatepark and nice asphalt, but I basically have to walk between spots. Anything crusty and they grind to a halt. Considering most of my streets are crust I wanted to try something else.

Ricta cored clouds 54mm 86a.
Ride over all crust and cracks easily, kinda slow on perfect ground though, very bouncy. Wasn't really feeling it and the GF needed new wheels so she rides these now and enjoys them since she barely has to push.

F4 conical full 97a 54mm
Very nice, still slide, handles crust better than the 99a, not as slow as the Ricta, but some spots are still too rough. I could be happy skating these but wish they were a bit better on crust.

Dragon 93a V4 54mm
These were on sale at local shop so I had to jump on them. Wow, destroys crust, spots that I had to constant push through on the 97a Spitfires feel like normal asphalt. Less vibrations. Rough patches that would lurch me forward before are barely noticeable. I'm very impressed. Only one session so far so I am waiting to break them in before sliding. The 97a handle big cracks slightly better but that is probably due to surface area. They are a bit slower on perfect ground but significantly faster on everything else. Even pushing is easier, like there is less resistance. They are quieter, but not silent like Ricta. Nothing more to say other than they are really really good so far. Graphics are lame tho.

I'm not sure if I even need x97 or x99, If these slide as good as 97a spitfire or better then I am probably good. Wish they made them a bit chunkier, I really like the conical full shape.

Dragons slide really easy. Weirdly I find they slide a bit easier than X97's.

[Xen]

Can't imagine why anyone would want to skate dragons/x formula on anything but crust, there are much better softer than 101/99a options (spit 97s) for softer wheels on smooth surfaces.

[Frank and Fred]

spitfire sapphires, my 2 cents: probably not dlx's answer to dragons, or anything like a 90a f4 might be; closer to the old slow/dead soft d's (maybe a little faster/smoother), but pretty much zero slide, so gummy.  i would rate them below ricta cored clouds 92a, oj/slimeballs non-nomad 95a, and sml 92a (and dragons, though they sometimes slide when i don't want them to, and now i can't seem to get a set that doesn't have at least two wobbly wheels).  (caveats: all 56mm; it's about 80f here, and i'm old, tall/heavy, and only skate crusty midwestern streets/spots, no skateparks.)

appreciate the review. how long have you been riding them for? i've been on some 80Hds recently and wasn't digging them until they were really broken in properly.

[jkadams]

@Frank and Fred a few sessions, approx 4 hrs total.  (considering my age and the long winters here, 2-3 sessions spent testing product that doesn't seem promising already feels like a waste.)

[Gray Imp Sausage Metal]

Finally got around to skating the new 99a loopholes. After the tread wore off and they were nice and broken in, they performed beyond my expectations, for sure. Grippy and controllable where I need them and a nice easy loud chirping powerslide. And I was flying fast as fuck for them only being 54mm.

Honestly, I like these better than the NFG formula. NFG's really turned sluggish and slow on me after awhile, and I noticed the ones I have sitting in my junk box are just horribly aged fraying potatoes.

interesting 🤔 I love my NFGs the more crusty they get, I should have replaced some teardrops like a board or so ago, but can’t get enough of them! (Guess that’s a good thing in my case since I have 10 sets on ice)

[DeepSpace9mm]

These 97a 52mm Nano-Cubics from Powell look pretty cool.
They’ve got a fat radius on the edge for rolling up stuff (or for doing weird Andy Anderson Activities) and are offset outwards so the axles don’t poke out.
They’re wide, small, and according to AA they allow for more grind space on the truck due to the offset.
They’re “a harder Dragon Formula”


Also those are some wild lookin trucks…but that’s for another thread.

[lamfordie]

These 97a 52mm Nano-Cubics from Powell look pretty cool.
They’ve got a fat radius on the edge for rolling up stuff (or for doing weird Andy Anderson Activities) and are offset outwards so the axles don’t poke out.
They’re wide, small, and according to AA they allow for more grind space on the truck due to the offset.
They’re “a harder Dragon Formula”


Also those are some wild lookin trucks…but that’s for another thread.

Here's the video of && taking about it

[tom]

I know this is the wheels thread, but those are the worst trucks I've ever seen

[metchup]

I know this is the wheels thread, but those are the worst trucks I've ever seen

Looks like they are machined, probably samples testing certain geo?

[ejazzle]

I know this is the wheels thread, but those are the worst trucks I've ever seen

They looks like something my nephew would make in Minecraft. What are they?

One word comes to mind when I look at those wheels, heavy.

[Zyth]

I know this is the wheels thread, but those are the worst trucks I've ever seen

definitely prototypes it would be cool if they was american made powell trucks tho instead of the china mini logo stuff

[Samsquantch]

I know this is the wheels thread, but those are the worst trucks I've ever seen

Tesla cyber-truck

[Painted Baby]

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I know this is the wheels thread, but those are the worst trucks I've ever seen

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definitely prototypes it would be cool if they was american made powell trucks tho instead of the china mini logo stuff

Powell was literally the first company to move production to China and they did it in the 80s. There's footage of that move in Ban This along with the only footy of George skating that I know of. There is no chance of this happening.

[tzhangdox]

These 97a 52mm Nano-Cubics from Powell look pretty cool.
They’ve got a fat radius on the edge for rolling up stuff (or for doing weird Andy Anderson Activities) and are offset outwards so the axles don’t poke out.
They’re wide, small, and according to AA they allow for more grind space on the truck due to the offset.
They’re “a harder Dragon Formula”


Also those are some wild lookin trucks…but that’s for another thread.

Damn I just realized I have two protoype sets of these from maybe March from the powell rep. Haven't set them up yet and they've been sitting in my room but looking at them now I'm pretty sure they're these wheels. You can see the offset in the last two pics, looks kinda crazy.

Been trying to not tinker with my shit so want to kill my current set of lock in full f4s before putting anything else on so might be a while before I try these.

Actually upon second glance it looks slightlyyyy different, mine dont seem to have that sidecut on the outside side of the wheels. So maybe it was a slightly earlier iteration, looks close enough though

[Xen]

Those are def the same wheel shape (even if slightly different)

[Ok]

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These 97a 52mm Nano-Cubics from Powell look pretty cool.
They’ve got a fat radius on the edge for rolling up stuff (or for doing weird Andy Anderson Activities) and are offset outwards so the axles don’t poke out.
They’re wide, small, and according to AA they allow for more grind space on the truck due to the offset.
They’re “a harder Dragon Formula”


Also those are some wild lookin trucks…but that’s for another thread.

[close]

Damn I just realized I have two protoype sets of these from maybe March from the powell rep. Haven't set them up yet and they've been sitting in my room but looking at them now I'm pretty sure they're these wheels. You can see the offset in the last two pics, looks kinda crazy.

Been trying to not tinker with my shit so want to kill my current set of lock in full f4s before putting anything else on so might be a while before I try these.

Actually upon second glance it looks slightlyyyy different, mine dont seem to have that sidecut on the outside side of the wheels. So maybe it was a slightly earlier iteration, looks close enough though

powell experimental graphic is hot.


the aa setup made me recoil a bit. even if that imbued magical abilities, i just don’t see that setup being worth it. i mean fuck.

[TwisT]

I’ve always thought the Powell experimental graphic looked cool.

Those new mini logos look horrible anyway.


Any idea where TGM gets their made in USA swirl blank wheels from? I really like them, and while I can keep buying them for cheap, I’d like to know what brands may have the same ones

https://tgmskateboards.com/skateboards-longboard/skateboards/wheels/?_bc_fsnf=1&brand=252&page=2

[Sloppy Krooks]

Trucks looks anime robot beefy, but I assume that’s not the final form.

What I am interested in is the amount of kingpin clearance, and what kind of kingpin they’re using

[moonordie]

I know this is the wheels thread, but those are the worst trucks I've ever seen

+ 1 but check that grind clearance

[DeepSpace9mm]

Trucks looks anime robot beefy, but I assume that’s not the final form.

What I am interested in is the amount of kingpin clearance, and what kind of kingpin they’re using

Here’s a shot of the kingpin.
Hollow inverted. The top looks kind of flat in the other photos.

Also with that offset wheel the edge of the inner bearing is pretty close  the inner edge of the wheel.

[rawbertson.]

will i ruin my OJ Mini Super Juice wheels if I do slappys with them ?

[TheCrimsonShroud]

will i ruin my OJ Mini Super Juice wheels if I do slappys with them ?

You could definitely take some chunks out of them

[rikki]

Anyone use Dragons as cruiser wheels? I feel they could do the trick as they slide pretty great on rough asphalt. Got a spare set of 56mm Dragons, was thinking of getting Mini Super Juices but they won't powerslide one bit methinks.

[goodatmeth]

Anyone use Dragons as cruiser wheels? I feel they could do the trick as they slide pretty great on rough asphalt. Got a spare set of 56mm Dragons, was thinking of getting Mini Super Juices but they won't powerslide one bit methinks.

I keep using my girlfriends setup with 52mm dragons when I quickly gotta go shopping. It's amazing how such small and not supersoft wheels are so great for rolling around. Don't know about longer distances though, I'm sure I'd prefer bigger softer wheels. But since you already have them, use them for sure.

[j....soy.....]

I have some dragonesque wheels on my zip zinger….they are amazing.  I actually don’t like massive wheels where you need risers. 

[chris.]

Yeah I can’t stop riding my dragons. With school out for summer, I’ve been skating to a school nearby a lot and I just cruise over this horrific road. Then they perform great on the new, smooth asphalt at the school.