This is perhaps one of the most heated arguments in all of skateboarding. Spitfire vs Bones Wheels is a debate that rages on among skateboarding enthusiasts across the globe. Normally, fans of each respective brand tend to remain exclusive to that brand alone. Because of this, there is certainly no love lost between fans of the two wheels.
Both brands are known for producing quality skateboard wheels and have some of the best reviews out of all the wheel brands. Certain characteristics make these brands similar. However, each has its own unique set of elements that make it unique.
Regardless of which wheel you’re a fan of, you should appreciate the insight of this article. If you’re a new skateboarder, this guide could put you on the right path towards which wheel you’ll ultimately use for your first setup.
Hopefully, by the conclusion of this guide, you’ll have a better understanding of the pros and cons of each brand of wheel. Continue reading for our Spitfire vs Bones Wheels comprehensive breakdown.
Spitfire vs Bones Wheels: Who Makes the Best Skateboard Wheels?
There are multiple arguments made as to which brand is better and why. Enthusiasts offer no shortage of differing opinions when it comes to the superior wheel.
Eventually, we are going to get into the specific designs and types of wheels that each brand has released. However, before we get into specific releases, let’s examine what makes these wheels similar.
What Do Bones and Spitfire Wheels Have in Common
The highlight of both of these wheel companies is the fact that they claim their specific brand of wheel won’t flat spot. Both of these wheels boast an incredible element of durability and longevity.
Polyurethane is the primary material used to fashion both types of wheels. Each brand has specific styles of wheels that come in different shapes, sizes, and hardness.
Both brands design a wheel that has a circular sidewall and a distinct wheel shape. This is the traditional style of skateboard wheel shape.
However, both brands have released conical wheel designs. These specific wheels have a concave sidewall, giving the wheel a carved appearance. This makes the wheel much lighter and more efficient at grinding and sliding.
Both brands offer a wheel that sticks close to the grinding discipline. Both Spitfire and Bones claim to create a wheel that locks onto grinds and truck stalls. These particular wheels are cut flat on each side instead of the normal rounded shape.
When we examine their similarities, it’s easy to see these brands are in competition. Whenever brands compete against each other, they typically match each other’s specific releases in an attempt to one-up the other. This isn’t a bad thing, as it leads to competition and quality designs in an attempt to become the winning brand.
This brings us to another similarity between the two, which leads us to the next section. Each brand has four different levels of wheels that they offer as part of their lineup.
Let’s move on to the specific releases from each company.
Related: Best Skateboarding Wheels
Spitfire Wheels
The four Spitfire models are Formula Four, Classic, Chargers, and OG Classic. Each different model is perfected for different disciplines and styles of riding. Let’s examine each model more specifically.
Formula Four Spitfire Wheels
Formula Four claims to be Spitfire’s top-performing wheel. The name comes from their patented “Formula Four” style of urethane used to fashion the wheels. Formula Four wheels come in six different shapes, based on the type of skateboarding you wish to partake in.
Classics
Classics are the standard skateboard wheel. These wheels are designed for normal skating and come with a classic shape.
Conical
Conicals offer higher performance than the classic shape style of wheel. They are lighter and provide a better response for turning and carving. These wheels also have less drag, which can prevent unwanted sliding. These wheels are good for vert-ramp skating.
Conical Full
The Conical Full wheels build on the Conical model. These claim to add another layer of maneuverability and response.
Lock-Ins
The Lock-Ins are made specifically for grinding and street and park trick-skating. These are flat on one side, which helps riders to lock onto a rail for grinding.
Radials
Radials are similar to Lock-Ins, except for the slightly rounded edge. The rest of the wheel is flat, much like the Lock-In wheel. These wheels are versatile and are designed for high speeds and sharp turns.
Radial Slims
This is the slimmest style of Spitfire wheel. These have a substantially more narrow design than it’s Radial counterparts. The purpose of this slimmer design is to make the wheels lighter, adding to easier ollying and higher air.
Spitfire Classics Spitfire Wheels
The Spitfire Classics are made from the typical urethane material seen in average skateboard wheels. These wheels won’t do you wrong and are built for longevity. This is a great cruiser wheel but doesn’t offer much versatility. This selection from Spitfire sports the classic shape like the Formula Four classics.
OG Classics Spitfire Wheels
The difference between this wheel and the Classic is the OG’s trademark larger contact area. The contact area leads to better stability out of this wheel, and they still sport the classic shape.
Chargers Spitfire Wheels
These are rough terrain wheels, better suited for longboards that work best with hard wheels. There isn’t much these wheels can’t roll over. You might want to consider a raised deck with these wheels to prevent wheel bite.
Let’s take a look at the specific Bones models.
Bones Wheels
The four models of Bones wheels are Easy Streets, Street Tech Formula, Skate Park Formula, and All-Terrain Formula.
Easy Streets
Easy Streets are essentially the answer to Spitfire’s Classic model. However, Easy Streets claim to be more efficient on rougher terrains.
The Easy Streets model offers a classic shape, a conical shape, and a wider wheel shape. The classics are for cruising, and the conical and wider wheels are designed for higher speeds and more technical skating.
Street Tech Formula
This is probably the most popular of all the Bones wheels. These wheels provide excellent grip and are very efficient for grinding, freestyle, and street skating. This particular model comes in five different shapes.
- Standard (soft wheels)
- Side-cut
- Locks (grinding)
- Slims (narrower wheels)
- Wides
If you skate in street and park settings, these are the wheels you want. These wheels have long been considered the standard in the street skating discipline.
Skatepark Formula
This is the perfect wheel for vert-ramp skating. The design of the Skatepark Formula provides a high level of response, allowing for split-second decisions and quick switches. These skateboard wheels are made for competition.
These wheels are available in the Side-Cut shape and the Fatties and Bones wide wheel style.
All-Terrain Formula
The name of this model is self-explanatory. The All-Terrain Formula is made for longboarding and rough terrain.
These wheels only have one design, known as the Rough Rider. The All-Terrain Formula sports the largest wheel diameter out of any Bones wheel.
Additional Products
Both of these brands also offer high-quality bearings. If wheel competition wasn’t enough, these two are also engaged in a bearings competition. Let’s examine each brand’s most popular model of wheel bearing.
Spitfire Burner
Spitfire Burner skateboard bearings are unique in the fact that they’re one of the cheapest bearings but made by one of the biggest brands in the industry. This model is living proof that you don’t always get what you pay for. Sometimes you get a lot more than what you pay for.
Spitfire has long been a top performer in the skateboard industry, so don’t let the price fool you. Regardless of the price tag, with Spitfire, you’re going to receive quality.
These bearings are made from high-carbon chrome steel, which puts them in the same class as ceramic bearings. Additionally, they’re also incredibly durable.
These bearings also have nylon cages that make them damage-resistant. The cages make them easier to clean as well.
The bearings are polished and sharpened, adding an additional layer of quality. These bearings have a rating of ABEC 7. This means they have a tighter tolerance and are less resistant to high speeds. You’ll glide at breakneck speeds without much resistance, meaning you don’t have to worry about speed wobble (at least, not as much).
Comparing the two bearings, it’s a close call. It depends on the level of skating you plan on taking on.
Honestly, the Bones version of skateboard bearings are fashioned more for professional skateboarding. The level of quality is slightly higher, and they provide more of a seamless operation.
However, if you’re a seasoned skater, you’ll still find Spitfire incredibly efficient. When you factor in the price of the Spitfire bearings versus their quality, the bang for your buck can’t be beaten.
The one edge that Bones bearings do have, however, is the fact that they offer a wider array of bearings. Their selection easily dwarfs the smaller available options that Spitfire provides.
Bones Reds
Bones Reds are considered one of the highest quality bearings in the skateboarding world. These bearings are made from high-quality balls and have a premium surface finish.
If you’re into skateboarding at high speeds, it doesn’t get much better than Bones Reds bearings. These bearings come pre-lubricated with speed cream.
These are also equipped with a nylon ball-retainer that slows down the damage sustained by the internal balls. The rubber shield can also be removed for regular cleaning, leading to a much longer life for these bearings.
Because of the mobility that these bearings provide, you can also use these for uphill skating. The incredible free range of movement and ease of wheel movement these bearings provide makes tackling hills a breeze.
It goes without saying, most skaters will use these bearings for downhill skating. The speeds these bearings provide are unmatched. Using them should come with a warning label, and riders should exercise extreme caution when using Bones Reds bearings.
Conclusion
Both of these brands of wheels claim to be flat-spot proof. Is there a clear-cut winner on which is the better brand?
We would say no. It all depends on what type of skating you prefer. Formula Four Lock-Ins and Street Tech Formula models are great for technical street skating and grinding.
If you’re into vert-ramp skating, you might go with Spitfire OG Classics or Bones Skatepark Formula. The Formula Four Conical Full is also great for park skating with ramps involved.
For all the longboarders, each brand has a clear-cut model specifically for this discipline. The Bones All-Terrain Formula and the Spitfire Chargers are your best bet. The wide cut of these wheels and sheer size allow both to power over even the toughest terrain. They’re also made for speed and great downhill carving.
Both of these brands produce some great, discipline-specific wheels. One thing is certain; when brands like this compete for domination, it only leads to higher quality components in the end. We are sure to see more quality designs from both of these brands as time goes on.