I've skated every major wheel brand out there and (for me) nothing skates like Formula 4's. Slick, smooth, doesn't feel like hard plastic. I dig some nice rock hard Bones wheels if I'm at a park made of super smooth concrete, but f4's are my go-to wheel for most terrain. Currently running the radial slims, nice tech wheel.
He mentions 55mm big in a wheel size, lol. This just goes to show how living in America we have the freedom to choose. Born in 72’ seeing alot of change; I remember in the 80’s using 60mm + Bullets for vert & transition skating and we really got a kick outta the “ big pants small wheels” days where some of the raddest guys to ever touch a board came from; some using Blind,World, New Deal,& SMA decks a 50 mm coned out smaller wheel looking like bearings with a urethane cover I never understood but thought ,” Hey, whatever works for your style!” These guys were on fire and could skate like a perfect machine doing mindbliwing flipity do-da-day Duane Peter’s calked it! Gotta give credit where cedit is due. I aboupt pissed myself during his part it in Hawks “Till the Wheels fall off!”! I was born in the Coastal region of south Ms. and we grew up riding back yard ramps, mini half pipes, then vert ramps, during the 80’s at out local spot thanks to Steve Byars Steves Southcoast Skate & Surf seeing many pros at demos like ,DannyWay, Bill Danforth, Monte Nolder,, many Zorlac Pros. being local with too many to mention; we (I) were so stocked seeing D.WAY do a transfer from tamp to ramp then to top that started doing them 180 and then stslefish “Completely” blowing our minds pre- cell phones but in my data banks forever in early 90’s. We saw or witnessed the transition of early ystreet skating hit but we being from the south it was kinda of always around because we were poor and there DEFINITELY was before Tony Hawk Foundation and DreamLand started building these Fantasy parks or even DIY parks you see popping up everywhere now and as an Adult I’m so proud of our youth groups making parks happen so I give back whether it be cash (when I can) or roll my sleeves up on a shovel but either way I’m proud of “OUR” skate culture! So, wether you ride a rai all day long or a half pipe ( my preference). WHAT SIZE WHEEL or MM DO YOU PREFER FOR YOUR WHEEL SET UP NOW?#SKATE&CREATE
56mm f4 101a conicals are the longest lasting i've had (gave them away at 54mm), but enjoyed 55mm f4 99a lockin's the most so skated them to the death, until they were hanging up on tiny rocks. the wheels i shredded the quickest and were the most untrust worthy and prone to random slip-outs were 54mm f4 classics. i skate everything and always fast. i'm not really into skating flat or skateparks back and forth trying the same thing over and over. the surfaces i skate range from really crusty to really smooth, so i need a big stable wheel to crush the rocks and bounce through the hangups. 101a is better for the spring summer, and 99a for autumn winter or wooden skate parks. the 56mm conicals wheel bite a lot when new without risers and loose trucks. f4's are fastest wheels out, they never-ever flatspot and last longest
First off I really enjoy the content on both channels Ben. I Just rode a set of radial slims F4 in 99 size 54mm, rode down to almost 50mm and the riding surface definitely got wider. It took about a year(yes I used a caliper to check the size). I love 54 for the smoothness on pavement, cracks, etc. Cons for me would be a bit of wheel bite until they wear down some and a touch slower on flips. So my goldilocks size would be a 52mm. I agree with buying up in size and riding within 2mm or so of your ideal size to get your money's worth. Just my 2 cents. Now to try out the new set of F4 conical fulls in 99 size 54mm. Thanks for your time, Jordan
I'm currently on classic spitfire 54mm 99A. They basically have the same stripes as the formula four (black and white, like urs) I'm skating them from January and they have still life (btw I'm really satisfied by them), probably the next ones will be the formula four like yours. Nice video like always! Greetings from Rome! :)
This makes all kinds of sense. They lose their first 1-2mm pretty quickly because of the shape, but as they wear down, the contact patch gets wider, making them wear less quickly. I started this year with a set of 54mm f4 classics. After 8 months they are worn down to 52mm and kind of in that sweet spot now. Gonna go up to 56mm next time because 54mm seems to be just right for me.
I'm riding a set of Bones STF's now, only because everyone was raving about them, and they're certainly one of the better wheels, but they feel plasticey and I find myself missing my F4s when I'm skating street, as they're just that bit smoother in how they roll
Years later im watching this for the first time and im on those exact wheels. Really like them. Still great wheels. Fsst at the park bur still decent on brick, pavers concrete and asphalt. I dont know what lese you want from a wheel
Classic formula fours are my all time favorite wheel. I like the shape better than any bones stf shape and the urethane formula is just as good. I'll skate mine until they're 47mm before I swap them out for a new set.
Hey Ben! I’m a weirdo because I like my wheels to stay white, I don’t skate half as much as you do so I typically have one set of wheels for a year or more! Riding the 54mm bones dots and loving them!
I have been skating the 58mm bones armanto full conical for a year. They are probably about 54 now. I like them. But lets be real, my skating is not at a point that i could tell a good wheel from a bad wheel. But they lock in well on grinds.
The difference on the wheels comes up especially on reverts and powerslides. Normal stf bones are nice on smooth surfaces because they are very hard, but formula 4's have better overall feel and slide, they are predictable and more "buttery" when sliding.
Best value wheel? I just got a set Bones 100s in 49mm $17 I just fell in love with them. Fast, grippy, and they have a square profile that locks in really good for such a small wheel.
Quality over quantity! With skateboarding making a huge comeback and being in olympics there seems to be more brands popping up. Some of our gear is made in places where speed and cheap materials are more important than quality. This being said....Spitfire along with Bones are still made (I think) in a place where quality and product inspections are most important. Formula4 are great wheels all around!!!!
First.... I’ve said this once and I’ll say it again. Who else here likes Bens videos before watching them? Also, Did the graffiti get removed from the bowl?
Conical Full 58mm Formula Four is the best shit to practice downhill slides in the skatepark at low speeds. we have tried hard to flatspot these really hard, but they are still perfect at 54mm. absolutely the best value
I ride these wheels. I bought them after I flat spotted rictas on my first skate sesh in 8 years. Brand new. The rictas didn’t last 10 min of riding. So I bought the formula 4 classics 52mm and they have been amazing ❤️. No flat spots, super smooth, lasts a long time, they don’t get all dirty and nasty. Best all around wheel on the market without a question.
i like f4 classics in a 53 new, wears down to 51 or so, good all the way. pretty much same as you. 52mm is my favorite hight. i want to try the f4 conicals and the radials. not going very tech anymore want to try wider surface patch. also interested in how bones stf easy streets are cuz bones stf are fast and last but so damn hard at 103a, so stf at 99a interests me, that is all thank you.
@0:59 what is that tricked called? its like a varial flip but with instead of a shov-it the skateboard is making a backflip (at least that is what it looks like)?
I skated these really enjoyed them they lasted me well over a year from 54-50mm i probably swapped them out when i got down 49mm's never flat spotted good responsive slide & grip when i needed it i would go with the 97 durometer if you see em their the best wheel for Street & parks
Depends on the surface I would say. I have my Bones SPF 58 mm that I ride vert and wooden bowl and those have unmatched grip imo. And they will probably last forever. But I got a new "street" setup with 53mm Spitfire F4 conical full and I'm in love with them in our concrete mini.
@@Shakshuka69 True. Forgot to mention my F4 are a99's. Think the Bones ones are 83b if I'm not wrong something like 103a. Nevertheless I love my Bones when riding anything that's wood. They work perfectly fine in the concrete park to. Just me wanna ride my street setup board outdoors.
For ME personally (and I'm not that good or technical yet...just basic tries like ollies, FS 180s, pop shuvits, front shuvs, etc, still learning kick flips) I DO like spitfire F4s and agree that they are a very good value because they are basically impossible to flat spot from normal use. Also they seem very fast and they slide very well. However I have a different choice of F4...I ride an 8" deck because I'm a smaller guy and I use a 53mm Spitfire Formula 4 RADIAL SLIM and I prefer them at 101 durometer. This means the wheels are slightly wider than the wheels many guys are using for street (a lot of guys use 52s or even smaller) and my roads here in Wisconsin are VERY bad due to our weather so you want something that is slightly wider since the roads are very very rough. Also being that the radial slim shape has flatter sides to it than the classic shape, it locks into grinds a little better in my opinion, tho I am not a huge grinder yet, just basic frontside 50 50s and board slides right now. Also, the 101 spitfire wheels power slide SO well, even on concrete, which is a very high-friction surface. I tried doing a power slide on a regular concrete sidewalk with some Bones 100s in the same size, and I couldn't even hardly slide and they threw me off the board. Also, you would think that 101 wheels might be icy, but because of the fact that I use radial slims which are a little wider at the contact patch (but still not crazy wide like a full conical), they power slide more controllably due to the increased friction. So for 99% of street surfaces, they slide well and work fantastically, just have to be careful not to go too fast or powerslide too hard and landy very cleanly when you're on very slick surfaces such as certain parking lots that have very smooth asphault. Of course, if you went to a skate park that has extremely smooth floors/ground, that slim 101 wheel may cause you to slip out a lot, but for street skating, this is a fantastic wheel in my opinion: 53mm Spitfire Formula 4 Radial slim wheel, 101 durometer.
This is very informative and useful, thank you kind stranger. I’m getting 53mm 101d conicals for my setup I hope it’s good for most areas of skating :)
Spitfire Formula Four hands down. One of the best wheels if not the best. I do exactly what Ben was saying, buying a couple sizes larger and then skating them for a year or two till they get all the way down to around 48 or so. You can’t grow wrong with Formula Fours (besides that kinda ugly yellow colour they get to after a bit)
Definately one of the best wheels. Im riding though my 2nd set of orbs from welcome skateboards, not because the other 56mm failed but I wanted to try the orbs 54mm ghost lights, they feel sick. Ben you gotta review these wheels just once
Can you do reviews on the bearing situation and how the marketing of the products has fooled us into buying cheaply made inferior bearings (china), at the high price, when they arent worth the money, and what bearings are actually worth the top shelf price. Awesome detailed reviews.
Wheels are an interesting topic. I'd say a durable wheel is a wheel that keeps its size for the longest. Which I can not say I am impressed with when it comes to my F4's. I guess one should expect to change wheels every 1-2 months, if you want to keep wheel size some what consistent.
It's crazy how I can just watch a Ben Degros video randomly and agree with everything he says. I've skated Spitfires since 2002 and they've always been my favourite brand. Even before Formula Four came out and absolutely changed the scene. Ever since, every other wheel brand has stepped up their game. Modern Powerflex is awesome, Bones STF is solid, OJ Elites are reliable, Ricta doesn't suck anymore, modern Darkstar feels like vintage Darkstar. You can't go too wrong with any of the high end wheels from any of the brands these days. It just doesn't get better than F4 Classics. Go skate.
HiVe Clan nothing wrong with lock ins, got some 53s in November and I’m still riding them. they’re about 50mm now and still lock in, slide and mob hella good I’m expecting them to last another couple months. Ben also has a good review on the lock ins
bkr what defines better? I like them both a lot and i’l skate either but lately ive been lovin spits. They slide over anything and i like a wheel that doesnt change its stick/slide ratio through its lifetime
I’ve skated Bones stf’s my whole life until about a year ago. Once I tried Spitfire F4 Classics (53mm), I don’t think I’ll ever go back. I really love how smooth they ride in contrast to the stf’s. Not to mention how well they powerslide too! They’re honestly the perfect wheel in my opinion :)
Just rcvd F4 58mm Classics. The riding surface is much thinner compared to my Old Rat Bones with a 42mm riding surface. My board feels like it just lost half it's weight lol
I love the Conical Formula Fours, just ordered a new set. I had the 56mm 101duro. Now I'm down to try the 56mm 99duro. My new favorite wheels, I used to be all about Bones, OJ's, and Rictas. I'll still skate them, but I am currently fixated on these Spitfires for now.
I'm hoping at some point you can ride one of those Almost, or Enjoi decks with the "Impact" Technology.....They have 3 levels supposedly, Impact Light, Impact Support, and Impact Plus. All supposed to give stiffer performance better pop...all that blah blah. But does it really work? Do they last longer? How do the tip and tail wear if any different?
I’ve been skating 54s since the day I got my first skateboard. I once bought 51mm bones wheels and I got rid of them in a couple months because they wore down quick and had to be like 47mm and that’s the absolute bottom limit I will ever let a wheel hit again. 54 just does me right. And F4 is the only wheel for me these days
F4s conical 54mm were hands down the best wheel ever, until I tried the v5 54mm easy street. They are so smooth on rough terrain and still fast on concrete. I'm one of those people who actually like wide wheels right of the batch.
Unless you skate a lot of slick metal ramps, smooth and dusty indoor parks where its easy to slip out, or a lot of Skatelite. For asphault/concrete, F4s are great. On slick surfaces, they are the iciest wheel you could choose. Bones are a little better but not by much. The Easy Street bones wheels are a much better multi-surface wheel in my opinion. I've skated them all, Bones STFs, Easy Streets, Spitfire wheels in every shape available in both 99 and 101 duros.
Alotta of the pros switched from 50 to 52 to 53 and 54 mm for better lock into rails and grinds. Now and days everybody going up in size from wheels trucks and decks. I used to love my small wheels anywhere from 50 to 52 but after riding a bigger wheel I feel safer on rails and feel like I have better control with the bigger wheel and better lock into grinds and rails a lil better wit the bigger wheel. And they will last a lil longer eventually they get smaller. My favorite wheel has been the bones v2 lock in wheels. I jus bought some spitfire tablets. The tablets look there own version of the bones v2 shape. When u actually look at 53 to 54 it ain’t that big. When I switched to 53 to 54 I thought it was gonna feel like having cruiser wheels but they smooth atleast for me not to big not to small. Now after riding them for so long they look like normal size wheels to me
I bought them to learn powerslide because they are the slippiest out there and they lastet me for 4 months not shure if its long or not because i powerslid them the whole time
I'm hoping somebody in here can help me as I've been wanting to get back into skateboarding recently after nearly 15 years out and when I did I always had hand me down pre-builts so this will be my first full deck I've bought from scratch. I'm looking at the 58mm version of these wheels however I'm not a fan of the purple and was hoping to have more of a old school look and love the reverse white with the text, it's likely a really stupid question but can you put these wheels on with the purple decal facing inwards or are they one way only? Thanks for any help that anyone can offer.
Ben, I need your help. When I tighten my wheels into my trucks, how much should I tighten the bolts. Should the wheel be able to slide back and fourth a little bit or should it be firmly held in place? Your advice is greatly appreciated!
That's one of the big debates. I like a sliver of slack even though you are technically supposed to crank them snug if you have high quality bearings and spacers. I just dont like the way it feels/sounds. Also I have had them seize(temporarily until I loosen it)from being too snug during large temperature swings. I think wheels expand and contract minutely with temperature changes.
54mm 99a full conicals are my go to! I've flatspotted every wheel you can think about, but not these, never!
Those wheels are nice to ride in the street, I got them in 56mm.
Sick wheel! I tend to go for 101 on a wheel that wide tho, just for that sick powerslide.
All that time you put in definitely shows, skill level on point!
I always skate formula 4, 54mm. 54mm is nice as they're not too big when they're new, and you got a lot of time before they get too small.
Is 54mm good for a beginner skater?
@@tiny_a_dog5721 Yes
I've skated every major wheel brand out there and (for me) nothing skates like Formula 4's. Slick, smooth, doesn't feel like hard plastic. I dig some nice rock hard Bones wheels if I'm at a park made of super smooth concrete, but f4's are my go-to wheel for most terrain. Currently running the radial slims, nice tech wheel.
He mentions 55mm big in a wheel size, lol. This just goes to show how living in America we have the freedom to choose. Born in 72’ seeing alot of change; I remember in the 80’s using 60mm + Bullets for vert & transition skating and we really got a kick outta the “ big pants small wheels” days where some of the raddest guys to ever touch a board came from; some using Blind,World, New Deal,& SMA decks a 50 mm coned out smaller wheel looking like bearings with a urethane cover I never understood but thought ,” Hey, whatever works for your style!” These guys were on fire and could skate like a perfect machine doing mindbliwing flipity do-da-day Duane Peter’s calked it! Gotta give credit where cedit is due. I aboupt pissed myself during his part it in Hawks “Till the Wheels fall off!”! I was born in the Coastal region of south Ms. and we grew up riding back yard ramps, mini half pipes, then vert ramps, during the 80’s at out local spot thanks to Steve Byars Steves Southcoast Skate & Surf seeing many pros at demos like ,DannyWay, Bill Danforth, Monte Nolder,, many Zorlac Pros. being local with too many to mention; we (I) were so stocked seeing D.WAY do a transfer from tamp to ramp then to top that started doing them 180 and then stslefish “Completely” blowing our minds pre- cell phones but in my data banks forever in early 90’s. We saw or witnessed the transition of early ystreet skating hit but we being from the south it was kinda of always around because we were poor and there DEFINITELY was before Tony Hawk Foundation and DreamLand started building these Fantasy parks or even DIY parks you see popping up everywhere now and as an Adult I’m so proud of our youth groups making parks happen so I give back whether it be cash (when I can) or roll my sleeves up on a shovel but either way I’m proud of “OUR” skate culture! So, wether you ride a rai all day long or a half pipe ( my preference). WHAT SIZE WHEEL or MM DO YOU PREFER FOR YOUR WHEEL SET UP NOW?#SKATE&CREATE
56mm f4 101a conicals are the longest lasting i've had (gave them away at 54mm), but enjoyed 55mm f4 99a lockin's the most so skated them to the death, until they were hanging up on tiny rocks. the wheels i shredded the quickest and were the most untrust worthy and prone to random slip-outs were 54mm f4 classics. i skate everything and always fast. i'm not really into skating flat or skateparks back and forth trying the same thing over and over. the surfaces i skate range from really crusty to really smooth, so i need a big stable wheel to crush the rocks and bounce through the hangups. 101a is better for the spring summer, and 99a for autumn winter or wooden skate parks. the 56mm conicals wheel bite a lot when new without risers and loose trucks. f4's are fastest wheels out, they never-ever flatspot and last longest
Do you skate bones stf spf wheels?
@@acgwestsidesb6410 not skated bones since the early 1990's (they were the best back in the day), so I cannot comment on the contemporary urethane.
First off I really enjoy the content on both channels Ben. I Just rode a set of radial slims F4 in 99 size 54mm, rode down to almost 50mm and the riding surface definitely got wider. It took about a year(yes I used a caliper to check the size). I love 54 for the smoothness on pavement, cracks, etc. Cons for me would be a bit of wheel bite until they wear down some and a touch slower on flips. So my goldilocks size would be a 52mm. I agree with buying up in size and riding within 2mm or so of your ideal size to get your money's worth. Just my 2 cents. Now to try out the new set of F4 conical fulls in 99 size 54mm.
Thanks for your time, Jordan
Thank you:)
Ben’s still the only person I’ve ever known to flatspot a stf
I've done it twice with my wimpy power slide test.
Don't know you but I've flat spotted STF and FF's before lol Still prefer the FF's
I'm currently on classic spitfire 54mm 99A. They basically have the same stripes as the formula four (black and white, like urs) I'm skating them from January and they have still life (btw I'm really satisfied by them), probably the next ones will be the formula four like yours.
Nice video like always! Greetings from Rome! :)
Do you think there’s a big difference between the spitfire classics 52/53/54mm 99a, and the formula 4’s in the same sizes and durometer?
Beginner Skateboard here it makes a lot sense to ware down the big wheels into small wheels definitely will save you money.
Thanks for the video.
0:47 nice to see they've installed some chairs for the fans at Ben's crunchie ledge
This makes all kinds of sense. They lose their first 1-2mm pretty quickly because of the shape, but as they wear down, the contact patch gets wider, making them wear less quickly.
I started this year with a set of 54mm f4 classics. After 8 months they are worn down to 52mm and kind of in that sweet spot now.
Gonna go up to 56mm next time because 54mm seems to be just right for me.
Amen... Been riding those wheels foreverrrr....
I'm riding a set of Bones STF's now, only because everyone was raving about them, and they're certainly one of the better wheels, but they feel plasticey and I find myself missing my F4s when I'm skating street, as they're just that bit smoother in how they roll
Years later im watching this for the first time and im on those exact wheels. Really like them. Still great wheels. Fsst at the park bur still decent on brick, pavers concrete and asphalt. I dont know what lese you want from a wheel
I like watching you skate because there’s so much love in it
These are classics! I love the Bones 100s as well for a great value wheel.
I got the 54's for the first time recently, think I'll stick with them.
Im about to try them hope there as good as you say 😊😊
I rode a 51 down to a 40 over about 6 months and didn't notice how small they were until I bought another 51 and thought it was massive!
Classic formula fours are my all time favorite wheel. I like the shape better than any bones stf shape and the urethane formula is just as good. I'll skate mine until they're 47mm before I swap them out for a new set.
Hey Ben!
I’m a weirdo because I like my wheels to stay white, I don’t skate half as much as you do so I typically have one set of wheels for a year or more! Riding the 54mm bones dots and loving them!
I have been skating the 58mm bones armanto full conical for a year. They are probably about 54 now. I like them. But lets be real, my skating is not at a point that i could tell a good wheel from a bad wheel. But they lock in well on grinds.
The difference on the wheels comes up especially on reverts and powerslides. Normal stf bones are nice on smooth surfaces because they are very hard, but formula 4's have better overall feel and slide, they are predictable and more "buttery" when sliding.
Always my favs. Classic 55 ,s where then ish ! Loved them. I ride 56 now. Hard to find 55,$
Good idea and thank you from Puerto Rico
Best value wheel? I just got a set Bones 100s in 49mm $17 I just fell in love with them. Fast, grippy, and they have a square profile that locks in really good for such a small wheel.
@hobbit lad yo yup
would never ride anything smaller than 50, preferably 54 and up
Quality over quantity! With skateboarding making a huge comeback and being in olympics there seems to be more brands popping up. Some of our gear is made in places where speed and cheap materials are more important than quality. This being said....Spitfire along with Bones are still made (I think) in a place where quality and product inspections are most important. Formula4 are great wheels all around!!!!
First.... I’ve said this once and I’ll say it again. Who else here likes Bens videos before watching them?
Also, Did the graffiti get removed from the bowl?
Those Vegan Aussie Blokes look at the truck in the background
Yes. He finished his lunch while I skated. It was a shame too. I worked hard on that art😂
grahamsullivan Goodbye Graffiti 🙃
Ben Degros C.L ❤️❤️
20.6.18
Damn lmfao 🤣🤦♂️ the van in the back "goodbye graffiti" ...who feels satisfied when you here the wheel roll on so smooth 🔥👌💯📷🎬❤🌍
Conical Full 58mm Formula Four is the best shit to practice downhill slides in the skatepark at low speeds. we have tried hard to flatspot these really hard, but they are still perfect at 54mm. absolutely the best value
I ride these wheels. I bought them after I flat spotted rictas on my first skate sesh in 8 years. Brand new. The rictas didn’t last 10 min of riding. So I bought the formula 4 classics 52mm and they have been amazing ❤️. No flat spots, super smooth, lasts a long time, they don’t get all dirty and nasty. Best all around wheel on the market without a question.
I love my Spitfire Formula 4 Classics 54MM 99DURO. Been riding 54MM wheels for years but F4 Classics is hands down the best wheel for me. :)
i like f4 classics in a 53 new, wears down to 51 or so, good all the way. pretty much same as you. 52mm is my favorite hight. i want to try the f4 conicals and the radials. not going very tech anymore want to try wider surface patch. also interested in how bones stf easy streets are cuz bones stf are fast and last but so damn hard at 103a, so stf at 99a interests me, that is all thank you.
I thought I just bought the Spitfire formula fours, but I bought just the classics:( What is the differnce?
@0:59 what is that tricked called? its like a varial flip but with instead of a shov-it the skateboard is making a backflip (at least that is what it looks like)?
It's a hardflip
I skated these really enjoyed them they lasted me well over a year from 54-50mm i probably swapped them out when i got down 49mm's never flat spotted good responsive slide & grip when i needed it i would go with the 97 durometer if you see em their the best wheel for Street & parks
Depends on the surface I would say. I have my Bones SPF 58 mm that I ride vert and wooden bowl and those have unmatched grip imo. And they will probably last forever. But I got a new "street" setup with 53mm Spitfire F4 conical full and I'm in love with them in our concrete mini.
Those are insurmountably softer wheels though. The Bones STF would be more of a concrete park/street wheel
@@Shakshuka69 True. Forgot to mention my F4 are a99's. Think the Bones ones are 83b if I'm not wrong something like 103a. Nevertheless I love my Bones when riding anything that's wood. They work perfectly fine in the concrete park to. Just me wanna ride my street setup board outdoors.
For ME personally (and I'm not that good or technical yet...just basic tries like ollies, FS 180s, pop shuvits, front shuvs, etc, still learning kick flips) I DO like spitfire F4s and agree that they are a very good value because they are basically impossible to flat spot from normal use. Also they seem very fast and they slide very well. However I have a different choice of F4...I ride an 8" deck because I'm a smaller guy and I use a 53mm Spitfire Formula 4 RADIAL SLIM and I prefer them at 101 durometer. This means the wheels are slightly wider than the wheels many guys are using for street (a lot of guys use 52s or even smaller) and my roads here in Wisconsin are VERY bad due to our weather so you want something that is slightly wider since the roads are very very rough. Also being that the radial slim shape has flatter sides to it than the classic shape, it locks into grinds a little better in my opinion, tho I am not a huge grinder yet, just basic frontside 50 50s and board slides right now. Also, the 101 spitfire wheels power slide SO well, even on concrete, which is a very high-friction surface. I tried doing a power slide on a regular concrete sidewalk with some Bones 100s in the same size, and I couldn't even hardly slide and they threw me off the board. Also, you would think that 101 wheels might be icy, but because of the fact that I use radial slims which are a little wider at the contact patch (but still not crazy wide like a full conical), they power slide more controllably due to the increased friction. So for 99% of street surfaces, they slide well and work fantastically, just have to be careful not to go too fast or powerslide too hard and landy very cleanly when you're on very slick surfaces such as certain parking lots that have very smooth asphault. Of course, if you went to a skate park that has extremely smooth floors/ground, that slim 101 wheel may cause you to slip out a lot, but for street skating, this is a fantastic wheel in my opinion: 53mm Spitfire Formula 4 Radial slim wheel, 101 durometer.
This is very informative and useful, thank you kind stranger. I’m getting 53mm 101d conicals for my setup I hope it’s good for most areas of skating :)
Kristof Imre I got the exact same wheels you have there . They’re the jam
Formula 4s, only wheel I’ll skate and it’s been 5 years.
Haha been skating my 58 classics for one year and a couple months their down to about 50 now . Still skate great too.
I just got the same size but haven't been able to try them yet, and I'm worried about the size. Did you have problems with it for flip/tech stuff?
Sweet Ive been riding bones wheels for a almost 2 years already but lately ive been thinking of switching back to spitfire again ✌😃
Spitfire Formula Four hands down. One of the best wheels if not the best. I do exactly what Ben was saying, buying a couple sizes larger and then skating them for a year or two till they get all the way down to around 48 or so. You can’t grow wrong with Formula Fours (besides that kinda ugly yellow colour they get to after a bit)
The new Bones 54mm V5 easy streets!! Absolutely Love em!!
Yes I agree!
Really good advice Ben, love this wheel for everything tooooooo!
Definately one of the best wheels. Im riding though my 2nd set of orbs from welcome skateboards, not because the other 56mm failed but I wanted to try the orbs 54mm ghost lights, they feel sick. Ben you gotta review these wheels just once
I'm all about saving money! I've been going up only 1mm to skate them a little bit longer (53mm) but I'll be brave and try 54mm next time. :)
Great wheels. I can’t see myself skating anything except spitfire. They’re just great
Rocking 53mm F4 radial slims about 49mm now, feels just perfect
Can you do reviews on the bearing situation and how the marketing of the products has fooled us into buying cheaply made inferior bearings (china), at the high price, when they arent worth the money, and what bearings are actually worth the top shelf price. Awesome detailed reviews.
I love 54mm. Such a perfect size 😁
That’s what she said
I had those in 53 in black silver and orange I love them so much
Wheels are an interesting topic. I'd say a durable wheel is a wheel that keeps its size for the longest. Which I can not say I am impressed with when it comes to my F4's. I guess one should expect to change wheels every 1-2 months, if you want to keep wheel size some what consistent.
I just bought these as well as the tablets and full conical. Trying to figure out what works for me.
Spitfire f4 for life!
It's crazy how I can just watch a Ben Degros video randomly and agree with everything he says. I've skated Spitfires since 2002 and they've always been my favourite brand. Even before Formula Four came out and absolutely changed the scene. Ever since, every other wheel brand has stepped up their game. Modern Powerflex is awesome, Bones STF is solid, OJ Elites are reliable, Ricta doesn't suck anymore, modern Darkstar feels like vintage Darkstar. You can't go too wrong with any of the high end wheels from any of the brands these days. It just doesn't get better than F4 Classics.
Go skate.
Whats wrong with the lock ins? any difference? would appreciate if someone would respond
HiVe Clan nothing wrong with lock ins, got some 53s in November and I’m still riding them. they’re about 50mm now and still lock in, slide and mob hella good I’m expecting them to last another couple months. Ben also has a good review on the lock ins
Hernandez Logan alright thank u
Ive had bones last longer but i like spitfire’s slide more it doesn’t stick like bones do
wear down STF bones far enough and they slide better than spitfires while keeping grip when you need it.
bkr what defines better? I like them both a lot and i’l skate either but lately ive been lovin spits. They slide over anything and i like a wheel that doesnt change its stick/slide ratio through its lifetime
imagine actually riding it down to 40mm hahah
You laugh at this. I remember buying wheels that started out at 40mm haha.
I still have a set of 42s from back in the day 😌
I've ridden down a set of wheels up to 37mm. They were originaly 52mm
bad brains I have done that
My current wheels are F4's ridden down to 45mm, from 50. In not even 2 months...
I’ve skated Bones stf’s my whole life until about a year ago. Once I tried Spitfire F4 Classics (53mm), I don’t think I’ll ever go back. I really love how smooth they ride in contrast to the stf’s. Not to mention how well they powerslide too! They’re honestly the perfect wheel in my opinion :)
Just rcvd F4 58mm Classics. The riding surface is much thinner compared to my Old Rat Bones with a 42mm riding surface. My board feels like it just lost half it's weight lol
I love the Conical Formula Fours, just ordered a new set. I had the 56mm 101duro. Now I'm down to try the 56mm 99duro. My new favorite wheels, I used to be all about Bones, OJ's, and Rictas. I'll still skate them, but I am currently fixated on these Spitfires for now.
Spitfire wheels dont flat get flat spots but everytime i skate in the streets i notice chunks ripping out.. does this happen to amyone else?
I'm hoping at some point you can ride one of those Almost, or Enjoi decks with the "Impact" Technology.....They have 3 levels supposedly, Impact Light, Impact Support, and Impact Plus. All supposed to give stiffer performance better pop...all that blah blah. But does it really work? Do they last longer? How do the tip and tail wear if any different?
Very difficult tot find an Impact Plus, which is what I'm interested in...8 ply, with 2 carbon fiber inlays
I’ve been skating 54s since the day I got my first skateboard. I once bought 51mm bones wheels and I got rid of them in a couple months because they wore down quick and had to be like 47mm and that’s the absolute bottom limit I will ever let a wheel hit again. 54 just does me right. And F4 is the only wheel for me these days
The clips at the begging gave me some skate 3 nostalgia
F4s conical 54mm were hands down the best wheel ever, until I tried the v5 54mm easy street. They are so smooth on rough terrain and still fast on concrete.
I'm one of those people who actually like wide wheels right of the batch.
Manuel Marzolla What are the main differences between F4 conical and bones v5? I’m curious as I never tried the v5 shape.
late to the chat but these wheels were my first and just so happen to match my Madness deck aesthetic
just got formula four 54mm conicals hope they work out as good as the classics you have i have only skated 52mm until now!
Hi Ben! Have you tried out the OJ Elite urethane wheels? I would love to see you do a review about them.
Yeah I'd like to see that as well. I've yet to see a legit review of them
In 2022, are these still the best?
F4's are actually at the higher end of the wheel spectrum when it comes to price. But I'm willing to pay 40 bucks for a set of quality wheels.
F4 classics are the best wheel. Period. I have em in 99 and 101. Both great. I think I prefer the 101.
It's not the snow man, it's the heat! It's hot as hell in Georgia right now, I have to wait until like 7 pm for it to cool down to like 80
Dude yes I love those wheels
Great video as always Ben
I bought mini logo c cut 101A 52mm for 16,99€, the best deal to me.
Feel very soft and sticky but good for the price
Does anyone know what's the difference between the Formula 4 classics and the 'regular' classics?
Whoa he’s like a skateboard scientist
is that quilchena skatepark?
Are these good for riding on a rough street
There's no reason to ride things that aren't F4
Yuppp its not the same
Unless you skate a lot of slick metal ramps, smooth and dusty indoor parks where its easy to slip out, or a lot of Skatelite. For asphault/concrete, F4s are great. On slick surfaces, they are the iciest wheel you could choose. Bones are a little better but not by much. The Easy Street bones wheels are a much better multi-surface wheel in my opinion. I've skated them all, Bones STFs, Easy Streets, Spitfire wheels in every shape available in both 99 and 101 duros.
How do they work on skatelite
Alotta of the pros switched from 50 to 52 to 53 and 54 mm for better lock into rails and grinds. Now and days everybody going up in size from wheels trucks and decks. I used to love my small wheels anywhere from 50 to 52 but after riding a bigger wheel I feel safer on rails and feel like I have better control with the bigger wheel and better lock into grinds and rails a lil better wit the bigger wheel. And they will last a lil longer eventually they get smaller. My favorite wheel has been the bones v2 lock in wheels. I jus bought some spitfire tablets. The tablets look there own version of the bones v2 shape. When u actually look at 53 to 54 it ain’t that big. When I switched to 53 to 54 I thought it was gonna feel like having cruiser wheels but they smooth atleast for me not to big not to small. Now after riding them for so long they look like normal size wheels to me
I wanna see a royal truck review !
There was one but i dont know where it disappeared
Yo ben your actually so good holy shit that noseslide nollie heel was beast. V good style too
Another great video man
Can you test out Bronson raw bearings.
I bought them to learn powerslide because they are the slippiest out there and they lastet me for 4 months not shure if its long or not because i powerslid them the whole time
listen to this man!
the f4's are nice. last long and do things wheels do.
I was not expecting to see raab park in this video!
crazy i just bought a set haha
theyre glow in the dark though
Woah what??
Ben make a review on a revive board
I got ojs 56mm
have you test bones easy streets?
I'm hoping somebody in here can help me as I've been wanting to get back into skateboarding recently after nearly 15 years out and when I did I always had hand me down pre-builts so this will be my first full deck I've bought from scratch. I'm looking at the 58mm version of these wheels however I'm not a fan of the purple and was hoping to have more of a old school look and love the reverse white with the text, it's likely a really stupid question but can you put these wheels on with the purple decal facing inwards or are they one way only? Thanks for any help that anyone can offer.
Any way you want:)
@@bendegros That's great to hear! Thanks for the super quick reply and the help, I'll be ordering them ASAP, can't wait to get going again!
🔥Why don't they make formula four spitfire classics 97a in 52 51 50 I need a smaller sized wheel for flip tricks and that durometer for rough ground🔥
just buy the 53mm 97a spitfires and wear them down to 52 in a few weeks
It's true. Wore mine down to 50 mm and they are still good.
I’m being picky witu the formula 4’s 99a wheels because I don’t like the shape too much but everything points towards thosewheels as being the best
I love my F4 Classics
I'm sad I flatspotted these but they lasted so long before it did but even the flatspot was unnoticeable unless you really paid attention
Ben, I need your help. When I tighten my wheels into my trucks, how much should I tighten the bolts. Should the wheel be able to slide back and fourth a little bit or should it be firmly held in place? Your advice is greatly appreciated!
That's one of the big debates. I like a sliver of slack even though you are technically supposed to crank them snug if you have high quality bearings and spacers. I just dont like the way it feels/sounds. Also I have had them seize(temporarily until I loosen it)from being too snug during large temperature swings. I think wheels expand and contract minutely with temperature changes.