Bones Wheels vs Spitfire Wheels

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Let’s take a look at one of the bigger debates in skateboarding: Bones wheels vs Spitfire wheels. Everyone has an opinion on the subject, and prefer either Bones or Spitfire. We are going to break it down and look at the facts to finally settle which wheels are the best.

Which Wheels Are the Best: Bones or Spitfire?

Both Bones and Spitfire offer high-quality wheels, they are the top brands and offer the best skateboard wheels. Which one is the best depends on the terrain and your style.  Let’s dive deep into the facts and compare the similarities and differences of Bones and Spitfire wheels.

Similarities Between Bones and Spitfire Wheels

Both Bones and Spitfire make wheels out of urethane, in various shapes, sizes, and hardnesses, and both companies claim that their wheels won’t flat spot. Let’s look at the similarities between Bones and Spitfire wheels.

Wheel Shape Similarities:

Both Bones and Spitfire make wheels available in classic shapes, which is the traditional rounder sidewall and profile wheel shape.

They both make conical-shaped wheels. Conical shaped wheels have a concave on the sidewall, where the wheel is sort of carved out in the middle part. This makes for a lighter wheel, but feels different than a classic shape, when grinding, and coming on and off transition coping.

Both Bones and Spitfire are available in slim and wide profiles. This is exactly as it sounds. The slim profiles are narrower lighter wheels designed to slide better than a classic wheel profile. The wide profile wheels are wider and heavier, but provide more stability than a classic profile wheel.

Bones and Spitfire both make a lock-in wheel shape. These are designed to lock into grinds and truck stalls on rails, ledges, and copings better than a classic wheel shape. The profile of a lock-in shape is cut flat on the sides, whereas other wheel shapes are rounded at the top of the sidewall.

Hardness Similarities:

Bones and Spitfire both make wheels in varying hardnesses. The higher the number, the harder the wheel. Hard wheels slide better, last longer, and roll at faster speeds, but are a rougher ride. Soft wheels give a quieter smoother ride, and can handle rough terrain better, but they are slower, and wear down and flat spot faster than a harder wheel.

Bones has wheels available in durometer hardnesses of 80A, 81b, 84b, 99A and 103A.

Spitfire wheels have less hardness options. They are available in 80A, 99A and 101A.

Size Similarities:

Bones and Spitfire offer wheels in multiple sizes. Bigger wheels are faster, and can roll over rough terrain. Big wheels are preferred by vert and downhill skaters. Smaller wheels are lighter and less likely to give wheel bite. They are slower, and can be stopped by the smallest pebble. Small wheels are preferred by street, and technical skaters.

Bones and Spitfire both make wheels in sizes ranging from 50mm to 60mm

Lets take an in depth look at each of the companies wheels separately, so we can see the differences between the two most popular brands in skateboard wheels.

Bones Wheels

Bones breaks their wheels down into 4 categories: Easy Streets, Street Tech Formula (STF), Skate Park Formula (SPF), and All Terrain Formula (ATF). Lets have a closer look at each of these categories.

Easy Streets

These are Bones newest wheels designed for street skating, and skating on rougher streets. They are a softer street wheel available only in 99A hardness. They offer softer landings, and are able to handle rougher terrain, opening up a wider range of spots to shred. But they did not compromise the durability, slide ability, grip, and speed that you expect from a Bones wheel.

The Easy Streets are available in 3 shapes:

• Standard is the traditional, classic wheel shape.
• Side Cuts are a conical wheel shape. They offer less drag, and longer grinds.
• Fatties are Bones’ wide wheel style. Designed for stability and an effortless roll.

Street Tech Formula (STF)

STF are Bones’ legendary street wheel. They come in 103A hardness and are guaranteed not to flat spot. They last long, slide well, grip when you want, and roll fast. They are pretty much the standard of a technical street wheel

STF are available in 5 shapes:

• Standard is the traditional, classic wheel shape.
• Side Cuts are a conical wheel shape. They offer less drag, and longer grinds.
• Locks offer a tighter profile and a straight side wall to help better lock into grinds
• Slims are narrower wheels and have a narrower contact patch. This makes a lighter wheel that slides easier.
• Wide is a wider wheel, with a wider contact patch for more stable landings

Skatepark Formula (SPF)

SPF is designed for the skatepark. They are a fast rebounding, and responsive wheel, that are impossible to flat spot. They are available in 81B and 84B hardness, which works out to about 101A and 104A. They provide excellent grip and release control, so you won’t slide out as much on polished concrete, but you will still be able to slide when you want.

SPF is available in 2 shapes:

• Side Cuts are a conical wheel shape. They offer less drag, and longer grinds.
• Fatties are Bones’ wide wheel style. Designed for stability and an effortless roll.

All-Terrain Formula (ATF)

ATF will roll over just about anything that you want. They are a soft wheel with a hardness of 80A. Despite being soft, they are a fast wheel, because they have a larger diameter than the other wheels Bones offers: 56mm and 59mm. There is a reason they are called “Roughriders”

ATF is only available in 1 shape:

• Core is a wider wheel, with a tighter profile, and a flatter sidewall.
• They have a similar appearance to a longboard, or cruiser wheel.

Spitfire Wheels

Spitfire offers 4 models of wheels: Formula Four, Classics, OG Classics and Chargers. Lets look at each of these individually

Formula Four

Formula four are Spitfires top performing wheel. They are made using their special “Formula Four” urethane. They are available in hardness of 99A and 101A and in 6 different shapes:

Classics are the classic, traditional skateboard wheel shape

Conical reduce weight and provide better response than a classic shape. They also have less drag on grinds than a classic shape.

Conical Full has the widest contact patch, the conical cut provides both stability and responsiveness.

Lock-ins feature a conical cut on one side, and a flat cut on the opposite side. They are meant to be installed flat side in, to assist locking into grinds.

Radial have a tightly rounded edge to a flat profile. This design lends itself to greater control, speed, and a more responsive slide

Radial Slims are the narrowest of Spitfires wheels. They have a similar profile to the Radials, but are significantly more narrow. This allows for more smooth and responsive slides, and a significantly lighter wheel.

Classics

Spitfires Classic wheel uses their classic 99 urethane formula. These wheels are only available in the classic shape, and a 99A hardness. A simple wheel that has been tried tested and true. If you are unsure which Spitfires to get, these are a good bet.

OG Classics

Spitfire has released their older style wheel shape with the OG Classic. It has a wider contact patch, a cutaway shape (similar to a conical, but less extreme), and 99A hardness. This wheel gives a good mix of stability, response, and slide, featuring classic Spitfire graphics.

Chargers

Spitfire Chargers are a rough terrain wheel. With a hardness of 80A, these wheels will roll over just about any terrain, no matter how rough and crusty. It has the classic shape and the soft feel. This would also be a perfect wheel for filmers.

The Verdict

Even though Bones offers a broader variety of wheels than Spitfire, it really depends on your personal preference, the terrain you skate, and the style you prefer. If you want to skate street, look for Bones Street Tech Formula, Spitfire Classics, or Spitfire Conical Full.

If you want to skate parks and vert, consider Bones Skatepark Formula. If you are wanting to skate goat paths, or are a filmer, the All-Terrain Formula is for you. Bones are also well known to be flat spot proof, as they advertise.

Both Bones and Spitfire offer very similar shapes in their wheels, and similar hardnesses, and sizes. They are both also very high-quality wheels. I personally like the graphics that Spitfire puts on their wheels, but graphics usually only last a session before they get rubbed off.

Flat spots suck some of the enjoyment out of skating and they don’t generally go away. Bones may be a bit more expensive than their competition, but not having to replace my wheels as often is a big bonus that comes with Bones wheels. Both Bones and Spitfire wheels offer flat spot resistant wheels.

I’d much rather replace my wheels because I want a change of style or color than to have to change them because they wore out. If you want to know more about wheels check out my list of best skateboard wheels, It covers all the wheels for any style.

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