Spitfire Formula Four: complete guide to shapes, sizes and models
Spitfire Formula Four wheels have become one of the absolute references in modern skateboarding. Not simply because they are fast, but because they created a very recognizable feeling under your feet. When a skater tries Formula Four for the first time, the wheel behavior immediately feels different compared to many traditional skateboard wheels.
More speed, more controlled slides, better consistency over time and, above all, a more stable feeling during aggressive street skateboarding, fast skateparks or rough ground. The famous Formula Four urethane was developed to maintain high performance even after weeks of heavy sessions, continuous powerslides, rails, ledges and rough asphalt.
That consistency is exactly what made Spitfire so famous worldwide. Today almost every skater has either tried a set of Formula Four at least once or thought about trying them after seeing them under a pro rider’s setup or in any serious skatepark. Another reason Spitfire became so important is the amount of shapes available. Classic, Lock-In, Conical, Conical Full, Radial, Radial Slim, Tablets and OG Classic are not just different names: each shape genuinely changes the way your skateboard behaves.
Some models are perfect for technical street skating, others give you more stability in grinds, while others become incredible for bowl, park or faster terrain. This is where many skaters start getting confused. This guide is built to explain the real differences between all the main Spitfire Formula Four shapes and help you choose the right wheel for your style of skateboarding.
Why Spitfire Formula Four wheels became so famous
The real strength of Formula Four is not just the initial speed. Plenty of wheels roll well when they are brand new. The real test comes after weeks of aggressive street skateboarding, rough asphalt, constant powerslides and heavy sessions. That is where Formula Four really changes the way a skateboard feels.
The wheel keeps rolling extremely fast, keeps a very predictable slide and, most importantly, resists flat spots far better than many traditional skateboard wheels. This detail completely changes the behavior of the setup over time. A wheel that flat spots easily starts vibrating, loses smoothness and makes the board annoying to skate.
Formula Four, on the other hand, keep a much more consistent feel even after countless street sessions. Another key point is control. Formula Four do not have a nervous or unpredictable slide. Powerslides, reverts, tailslides and technical tricks remain smooth and predictable.
It is exactly this balance between speed, grip and controlled slide that made Spitfire one of the most used wheel brands in modern skateboarding. Every shape keeps the Formula Four DNA, but it changes the overall feeling of the board in a very real way. Some models are fast and technical, others are more stable and aggressive, while others feel smoother and more controlled. This is where choosing the right shape really matters.
Spitfire Classic Formula Four
Spitfire Classic Formula Four wheels are probably the most iconic wheels in the entire line. They use the classic shape of the best-selling in modern skateboarding and perfectly represent the traditional technical street feeling. Their narrower contact patch makes them very light, extremely fast and incredibly precise during flip tricks, manuals and technical street skating.
That lightness is exactly why Classic wheels have been loved by generations of street skaters. When you skate flat, rails or technical ledges, having a wheel that reacts faster under your feet makes a huge difference in the board feel. Classics, however, are not limited to technical street skating only.
They also work extremely well in parks, mini ramps and bowls thanks to the speed of Formula Four. They are available in almost every useful size: 50 mm, 51 mm, 52 mm, 53 mm, 54 mm, 56 mm, 58 mm and 60 mm.
The smaller versions are perfect for flatground and technical street skating, while the larger sizes also become great for transition and faster skateparks. If you want a versatile, fast wheel with the most classic feeling possible, Formula Four Classics remain one of the best choices you can make.
Spitfire Lock-In Formula Four
Spitfire Lock-In Formula Four wheels were designed mainly for aggressive street skateboarding and technical grinds. Their specific side cut allows the wheel to lock into rails and curbs with impressive stability.
During smith grinds, feebles, crookeds or long grinds, the feeling changes a lot compared to a traditional wheel. Slide stability also increases noticeably, and the margin for error becomes much smaller.
Lock-Ins are loved by skaters who skate a lot of street and want maximum control during aggressive grinds and heavier tricks. Available mainly in 52 mm, 53 mm and 55 mm with 99A and 101A hardness options, they remain one of the most specific and technical shapes in the entire Formula Four line.
If your skateboarding is mostly built around rails, ledges, gaps and aggressive technical street skating, Lock-Ins are an incredible choice.
Spitfire Conical Formula Four
Spitfire Conical Formula Four wheels are considered by many skaters to be the perfect all-around wheels. They keep all the typical Formula Four speed but add much more stability thanks to a wider contact patch compared to the Classics. Landings feel more controlled, and the board becomes much more stable without losing speed or response.
Conicals work almost everywhere: street, plazas, skateparks, bowls and transition. They are perfect for anyone who wants a versatile setup that can skate any spot without constantly changing the feeling underfoot.
That is exactly why Conicals have become one of the most used Formula Four shapes in modern skateboarding. Available in both 99A and 101A, they remain one of the most balanced choices in the entire Spitfire line.
Spitfire Conical Full Formula Four
Conical Full wheels take the Conical feeling even further toward stability and control. Their wider contact patch provides plenty of grip during fast lines, powerslides and heavy landings.
They are perfect wheels for bowls, fast skateparks and bigger gaps. Even though they are wider, they still keep the typical Formula Four speed and an extremely controlled slide.
Conical Full wheels give a huge sense of security under your feet and are loved by powerful skaters who want maximum stability without losing flow. Available from 52 mm to 58 mm, they are one of the most complete and high-performing shapes in the entire Formula Four range.
Spitfire Radial Formula Four
Spitfire Radial Formula Four wheels are one of the most balanced shapes in the entire line. They offer a lot of control, strong side grip and a very smooth slide. They feel stable without becoming too heavy or slow when changing direction.
Radials work extremely well both in street and skateparks, and they are loved by skaters looking for a very predictable wheel in every situation. Even during slides, they keep an extremely controlled feeling.
Available in 52 mm, 54 mm and 56 mm with 99A and 101A hardness options, they are among the most underrated but also most complete shapes in the Formula Four line.
Spitfire Radial Slim Formula Four
Radial Slim wheels keep the feeling of classic Radials but with a narrower contact patch and lower weight. This makes them incredibly precise on flip tricks, very quick in movement and perfect for technical street skateboarding.
Skaters who like lighter setups often fall in love with Radial Slims immediately because they combine lightness, speed and control in a very natural way. Available in 51 mm, 52 mm, 53 mm and 54 mm, they are perfect wheels for flatground, technical rails and fast tricks.
Spitfire Tablets Formula Four
Spitfire Tablets Formula Four wheels are probably the most technical and radical shape in the whole line. The wheel is very narrow, super light and has a sharp side cut. This creates an incredibly precise feeling during flip tricks, rails and aggressive street skateboarding.
Tablets are loved by skaters who want ultra-reactive setups and maximum lightness. Their quickness is immediately noticeable under your feet and makes the skateboard feel much faster during technical movements.
Available in 51 mm, 52 mm, 53 mm, 54 mm and 55 mm, they are perfect for anyone who wants a super technical street skate setup.
Spitfire OG Classic Formula Four
OG Classic Formula Four wheels represent a more stable and controlled version of the traditional Classics. The slightly wider contact patch increases grip, speed and overall control.
They are loved by skaters who want a classic shape but with more stability during landings, powerslides and fast lines.
Since 2021, OG Classic Formula Four wheels have become increasingly popular in skateparks and street spots all over the world thanks to this balance between speed and control.
Formula Four 97A
Formula Four 97A wheels completely changed the idea of a softer wheel in modern street skateboarding. Unlike classic soft that can feel slow and imprecise, 97A wheels keep very high speed and strong control even on rough ground.
They are perfect for cities with rough asphalt, imperfect spots or anyone looking for more comfort without losing real street performance. The feeling is much smoother than a traditional 99A, but without becoming gummy or slow.
Available mainly in 54 mm and 56 mm, they are among the most fun wheels in the entire Formula Four line.
Classic Bighead Spitfire Wheels
Bigheads are probably the most famous and recognizable Spitfire Wheels in the world. They use the classic Spitfire urethane blend and an extremely versatile shape that works on almost every kind of terrain.
If you are a beginner, a Bighead could easily be your first professional skateboard wheel. They work well in street, park, bowl and transition while keeping a very simple and intuitive feel.
Available in many sizes, they are still among the best-selling wheels in skateboarding history.
Traditional Spitfire Classics are some of the most versatile wheels in the entire Spitfire catalog. More compact than Bigheads but still very stable, they offer a lot of control and smoothness.
They are great both for beginners and for intermediate or advanced skaters. Available in many sizes and colors, they keep the fast and controlled classic feeling that made Spitfire so famous in skateboarding.
The Bighead is probably one of the easiest wheels to feel comfortable with right away.
Spitfire OG Classic wheels
Traditional Spitfire OG Classic wheels use a wider contact patch compared to regular Classics. This increases stability, control and overall speed. The sharper side cut allows very smooth slides and a more aggressive feeling during fast lines and powerslides.
They are perfect wheels for skaters looking for more confidence on landings and a more stable feeling without losing speed. The classic Spitfire urethane blend remains one of the most loved in skateboarding history.
Find the best Spitfire Wheels at Pleasures Milano
At Pleasures Milano you can find a complete selection of Spitfire Formula Four, Classic, Conical, Radial, Lock-In, Tablets, Formula Four 97A and all the main Spitfire Wheels shapes available on the market.
Since 1999, only truly performing wheels for street skateboarding, bowl, skatepark, transition and technical cruising have been selected. Every shape is chosen with a clear logic: offering wheels that genuinely match different skateboarding styles and the real way skating is lived every day inside and outside of spots.
If you have doubts about the right size, hardness or shape for your skateboarding style, the Pleasures Milano technical support team can help you choose the perfect wheel for your setup.
Over the years, thousands of skaters have chosen different Spitfire setups based on style, spot and terrain.
