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| Wheel Reviews (7945 Posts)
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Long park skate
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On 9/26/2000 The Wizard
wrote in from
(128.193.nnn.nnn)
What are some opinions about various park wheels in a long(er)board application? I'm shooting for board length 38".
Right now I'm looking at the following wheels:
Gravity Snaps 62mm 97a
Kryptonics 62mm 99a
Bones Bombers 64mm 90a
Sector 9 Nineballs 60mm 98a
If you have any experience with these wheels or any comments on what you feel is best (or would be better), let me know. Thanks,
sK
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spacers and such stuff
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On 9/26/2000 clayton
wrote in from
(130.212.nnn.nnn)
speedwashers on the hanger end: yes
speedwashers on the locknut end: no
spacers between bearings: yes
locknut tightened all the way:: yes
advantages: no axle slipping
less bearing distruction
smoother and preciser running (also less noise)
just as fast, maybe even faster
disadvantages: i don't know
only tested with plastic hubs and hubless wheels, allthough i don't think there would be any difference in the results when used with alu hubs.
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Speedrings and spacers
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On 9/26/2000 Herbn
wrote in from
(216.107.nnn.nnn)
Bearings have a small amount of side clearence biult in,even without washers at all they spin free,thats unloaded,we know that sheilds will hit and be damaged somehow,while riding,all of a sudden,you look in there and they're dented and rub,speed washers try to fix this.Without spacers all sideways stress goes to the inner bearing,most impacts are from the outside of the wheels.Spacers connect the inner races,theoretically doubling the strength of the bearings,even so against all facts i sometimes still don't use spacers,forgive me FAFNIR i have sinned:)
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Spacers
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On 9/26/2000
Bob
wrote in from
(192.73.nnn.nnn)
Chaput is really yanking my chain pretty hard!
I guess I always use the spacers because thats the way I learned to set up the wheels back in 1975 or so, in the first issue of "Wild World of Skateboarding". I think that when you really examine the setup, its pretty obvious, mechanically speaking, why they used spacers in the first place.
Its kind of funny, but back then, I never really had to use speed washers. I just set up the wheels with the spacers, tightened the nut down, and they did fine. Actually, they still do. On my Randal IIs, I use the large, coned washer on the inside, and no speed washer on the outside, and they work great. The locknut does not rub the outer shield to any noticable degree. I think that with a well machined truck and lock nut, the tiny clearance provided by the inner bearing race is really enough.
To me, it seems like it is even more important to use the spacer and tight nut system with hubbed wheels. Compared to todays 99a-101a non-hubbed wheels, a hubbed wheel is pretty easy to pop the bearings in and out of. I've seen people on hubbed wheels without spacers, and then looked at their setup, and its obvious that the bearing is moving horizontally in the hub. It may not be coming completely out, but it is certainly not secure.
It also seems painfully obvious that the the "floating/no-spacer" system is hard on bearings in a street skating situation. I think it subjects the bearings to horizontal forces they are not really designed to withstand, and that's why kids blow out their bearings all the time these days.
I'm not saying my way is any faster. For super-speed downhillers, the floating system may, in fact, be faster. I have no idea.
On the negative side, I think its often hard to get my sytem set up correctly. For instance, I'm currently using some 65mm Blue Kryptos. I have 3 wheels that spin great, and one that is only so-so. Same new bearings. Same spacers. Same washer setup. Same effect on that wheel if I switch the bearing/spacer setup with another wheel. I can only conclude that the wheel -- probably the hub -- is somewhat off specs. Perhaps the bearing seat in that hub is not molded correctly. I had no such problem with my previous 3 sets of hubbed wheels, or my non-hubbed Powell Bombers. Not sure where I was going with this...Oh yeah -- I was just making the point that its easy to see why people may give up on the spacer system when products are off-spec and thus do not go along with the program. Compound that with the difficulty of getting a bearing all the way in a 101a wheel, and kids are sort of justified in not knowing how to use the spacers.
Geesh -- Chris C. really knows how to set me off...I gotta get some coffee and calm down...
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spacers
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On 9/26/2000
k2000
wrote in from
(208.30.nnn.nnn)
gotta have spacers and washers
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Spacers & Washers
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On 9/26/2000
Chris Chaput
wrote in from
(63.168.nnn.nnn)
I am interested in hearing some discussion on the pros and cons of using spacers between the bearings in wheels with plastic hubs, aluminum hubs and without hubs. Is everyone using speed washers to keep the bearings from contacting the locknut and hanger ends? Are you tightening the locknuts down or keeping them loose? Tips? Tricks? Bob Loftin Listening? Don't bogart those tips, my friend!
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exkate wheels
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On 9/25/2000 clayton
wrote in from
(130.212.nnn.nnn)
make sure to also get the bearing-spacers from exkate when ordering exkate wheels, since the regular ones don't fit.
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M-80s
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On 9/25/2000
Chris Chaput
wrote in from
(63.168.nnn.nnn)
They are 1/4" wider (on the outside) than the Cherry Bombs. I think that's the only difference.
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M-80, Cherry Bombs
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On 9/25/2000 tony
wrote in from
(63.226.nnn.nnn)
They are the same diameter, right? How much wider and how much more is the cost over CB's. Identical urethane compound I expect.
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Beer City Wheels
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On 9/25/2000
Jeff C
wrote in from
(166.36.nnn.nnn)
I'd like to second the kudos on the Beer City wheels. I have the 95a's (beer stained) and they are fast, high quality wheels. I have them on a shortboard, and they work great in the skatepark. I prefer kryptos outside of the park, but they are just too mushy for pipes and bowls.
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eXkate turbos
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On 9/25/2000
Dave
wrote in from
(213.131.nnn.nnn)
Hi,
I've been riding my turbos a couple of weeks and the slide nice and controlable on roads. The rip loose in tight turns and slide some. But yesterday I took my board to a subway station wich has a nice ride. Extremely smooth polished stone floor and with a good incline. But now my wheels started to behave strange, the gripped or slipped. Not at all the controlable sliding that you have on tarmac. The suddenly lost grip completly sliding out real fast and then reclaimed the grip totaly throwing me off the board even though I was in a very low position.
Anyone who has experienced the same? Is it the wheels or the surface? I expected the polished floor to be slippery but not in this strange way... I've ridden it before with nineballs without this problem (but maybe I didn't push the board so hard in the turns then?)
/Dave
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beer city
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On 9/24/2000
waxfoot
wrote in from
(63.10.nnn.nnn)
Thanks for the word on the beer wheels Dave and k2000. I'm ordering tomorrow. Not quite sure whether to get the 95a or 98a so what the heck, they're cheap - I'll get a pair of each. I'm jonesing to hit the local park. Wish my stupid pads and helmet would arrive in the mail.
a hui ho
waxfoot
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Beer City
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On 9/23/2000
Hamm
wrote in from
(63.27.nnn.nnn)
Waxfoot,
Yeah, I got the 65mm Beer Citys earlier this week.
Bought a set of 95a & 98a for $30.00 including shipping.
Great deal. The 'beer stains' actually look quite cool. The wheels look like they are yellow & white swirled.
Havent had a chance to put them to the test yet. I usually skate the park on Sat AM's but stayed home today to spend time with my son since I have to go out of town a few days.
I believe they are going to be great wheels. The overall width is pretty wide and the contact patch is normal, meaning they have a large 'radius' on the sides for rolling over copings & such.
I'm dying to get on them. I'll let you know.
Dave
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beer city
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On 9/23/2000
k2000
wrote in from
(208.30.nnn.nnn)
waxfoot -
i've been riding beer city "beer stained" 65mm 95a's for a few months now, actually it's about time for another set!
top quality, i use them just about everywhere, although they excel on slippery masonite (which my local indoor mini spine ramp is layered with)
and the folks at beer city are top notch
k
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Beer City
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On 9/22/2000
waxfoot
wrote in from
(63.10.nnn.nnn)
Hey Hamm - you get your beer city wheels yet? I've been trying to email you back, but every one has been returned undeliverable. Drop me a line....
waxfoot
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Hyper Super Mundo
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On 9/21/2000
roger
wrote in from
(32.100.nnn.nnn)
I found a source for some NOS Super Mundos.
All are black, still waiting to find out size and duro.
Not sure of quantity available. Price is around $25 a set.
Any interest?
Roger
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SurfOne Flames
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On 9/20/2000
Hamm
wrote in from
(152.163.nnn.nnn)
I have ridden this wheel. I like it. Good grip and rebound. Its a winner if 65mm is your size
Dave
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surf one flames
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On 9/20/2000
k2000
wrote in from
(208.30.nnn.nnn)
kan't komment on the surf ones but i kan't imagine 80a being that much different than 78a
the hill in front of my house is relatively smooth asphalt so i ride 65mm 85a's
i've got a set of 78a's but don't use them much
check this - i took the lib with 95a's down the relatively smooth asphalt hill and they were significantly slower than the 85a's
were'd
k
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Surf One Flames
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On 9/19/2000
kaspian
wrote in from
(208.244.nnn.nnn)
These popped up in the "News" section on www.solidskate.com. They're 65mm, 80a. They certainly _look_ cool. Any thoughts on what they might be good for? Maybe replacements for the 9-Balls on my Sector 9?
Thanks!
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Surf One Flames
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On 9/19/2000
kaspian
wrote in from
(208.244.nnn.nnn)
These popped up in the "News" section on www.solidskate.com. They're 65mm, 80a. They certainly _look_ cool. Any thoughts on what they might be good for? Maybe replacements for the 9-Balls on my Sector 9?
Thanks!
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wooden wheels
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On 9/19/2000 Nick
wrote in from
(203.96.nnn.nnn)
Cool novelty pic, perhaps somthing similar could have a urethane tyre placed on it to soften up the ride, add grip etc?
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Exkates vs krytpos
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On 9/18/2000 todcar
wrote in from
(198.39.nnn.nnn)
I think the exkates do grip equally well (if not better) on dry, smooth roads, but if the surface gets rough or damp, watch out as these things tend to pop and slide more quickly than the big krypts.
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Krypto vs. Exkates
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On 9/18/2000
David Kirk
wrote in from
(216.166.nnn.nnn)
I think that one thing to remember when comparing wheels is that the core, or lack thereof, and the dia. of the core have a great deal to do with how well a wheel will grip. One of the big issues is how well is the tread area of the wheel kept on the pavement. On a tall wheel without a core or with a small dia. core the urethane is allowed to flex sideways and distort so that less urethane is on the pavement. Softer urethanes are more prone to this. So even if you have a 74A wheel if it flexes too much you won't have much of that soft stuff on the ground so the rider will slide or drift. On a wheel like the Exkate the large dia. core prevents this sideways flex and distortion so that more of the urethane is on the road. This allows the wheel builder to use a harder formula and still have a great deal of grip and speed. It also allows the rider to better control drifts and slides. Of course there is always a draw back. The cored wheel will ride harsher than one without a core or with a smaller core. For crusing this can ruin the ride but for hard carving the large core is the ay to go. Later, Dave
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Kryptos (old red 70mm) vs Exkate turbo(76mm)
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On 9/17/2000
craig
wrote in from
(196.34.nnn.nnn)
The turns on a road i often ride are really really sharp. They definately require some controlled sliding/braking/sticky wheels/whatever.
I have run this road on the old kryptos, and exkates (76mm)
from reading past posts i get the impression that kryptonics stick better in the turns than the exkates. I don't think so, my exkates grip a thousand times better, i can't understand why, because they feel harder because of the big core. But my kryptonics slide everywhere. When i want to go out and do some sliding, i use kryptonics, my exkates won't let go of the road unless i hit a hairpin at 70kmh (hence my blue buttocks, and another guys' dented golf)
In a race on this road, the one rider, Eric Lee, a fine downhiller, did not feature at all in the runnings because he kept on falling at the s-bend, he was the only rider using krypto's (old red ones)
Are the new ones much stickier?
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