BONES WHEELS VS SPITFIRE WHEELS?

Posted on 15 April 2025
By George Stix
Posted in BONESWHEELS, SPITFIREWHEELS
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BONES WHEELS VS SPITFIRE WHEELS: THE ULTIMATE BREAKDOWN

When it comes to skateboard wheels, two names dominate the conversation: Bones Wheels and Spitfire Wheels. Both brands have earned diehard followings, appeared under the decks of countless pros, and made history in every plaza, DIY, or backyard pool imaginable. But what exactly separates them? From urethane formulas to shapes, durometers, and ride feel, here’s a deep dive into the key differences and why skaters swear by one over the other.

1. URETHANE FORMULAS – THE SOUL OF THE WHEEL
Bones is famous for its Street Tech Formula (STF) and Park Formula (PF), both crafted in-house with proprietary urethane blends. STF is designed for street skating, offering insane slide capabilities with minimal flatspots. Park Formula gives a bit more grip and rebound for ramps and transitions.

Spitfire, on the other hand, revolutionized the scene with Formula Four. Built for durability, speed, and control, Formula Four is known for resisting flatspots even under brutal street conditions. It comes in multiple duros and shapes, letting you fine-tune how you roll and slide.

2. FLATSPOT RESISTANCE – WHO HOLDS UP LONGER?
This one’s close. Both Bones STF and Spitfire Formula Four have built reputations for being flatspot killers. Skaters say Bones slides a bit easier right out the gate, but Spitfire Formula Four feels more controlled during long powerslides. Longevity-wise, it's almost a toss-up, though Spitfire may last slightly longer under heavy impact and coarse terrain.

3. DUROMETERS – HARDNESS OPTIONS FOR DIFFERENT CONDITIONS
Bones typically comes in 83b (approx. 103a) for STF, which is rock hard for clean slides and fast surfaces. They also have 84b and 81b for their Park and All-Terrain options.

Spitfire Formula Four wheels come in 99a and 101a, plus 97d and 95d for cruisers or rougher surfaces. They’ve even dropped limited soft urethane wheels like the Sapphires (90d) for low-noise cruising or filmers.

4. SHAPE SELECTION – TECH VERSUS STABILITY
Bones uses precise shape codes like V1, V2, V3, V4, V5 – each referring to different riding surfaces, edges, and widths.

V1 Standard is slim and lightweight.
V5 Sidecut offers a wider ride surface and is a favorite for stability during grinds.

Spitfire’s shapes include Classic, Conical, Conical Full, Radial, Radial Full, Lock-In, and Tablets.

Classics are the slimmest and fastest.
Conical Fulls are wider and provide max control.
Tablets are flat-edged and square – built for locking in.

5. RIDING FEEL – GRIP VS SLIDE
If you like a more slippery, buttery feel, Bones STF wheels have a noticeable glide that suits ledge skating and technical street. Great for quick, clean releases during powerslides or shove-outs.

Spitfires, especially 101a, feel grippier, with more resistance before breaking loose into a slide – this gives you more control during long bluntslides, grinds, and bowls. Some describe it as more “dialed in.”

6. MANUFACTURING – WHO MAKES THEM?
Bones Wheels are manufactured in Santa Barbara, CA, under the Skate One umbrella (Powell Peralta, Mini Logo, etc.), which means total control over materials, process, and testing. They’ve been perfecting urethane since the 70s.

Spitfire is under the Deluxe Distribution banner (with Anti Hero, Krooked, Real), and made in the USA – though they’re more secretive about factory details. Still, the consistency and quality of Spitfire’s urethane speak for themselves.

7. PRO TEAM REPRESENTATION
Spitfire’s team reads like a Hall of Fame: Ishod Wair, Grant Taylor, Elijah Berle, AVE, Kader Sylla, Guy Mariano, and more. Their footage is fast, raw, and reckless – just like their wheels.

Bones boasts legends too: Chris Joslin, Ryan Sheckler, TJ Rogers, Tony Hawk, Leticia Bufoni, and Nyjah Huston have all rocked Bones. Their team leans a bit more tech and contest-focused, with an emphasis on performance.

8. GRAPHICS & AESTHETICS
Bones tends to keep it clean and minimal, with small core graphics or white urethane. A few series (like the X99 “Pushing Up Daisies”) bring some heat, but overall they stay low-key.

Spitfire, meanwhile, goes wild with colorways, pro graphics, flames, collabs, and seasonal drops. Their wheels look loud and proud – often matching decks or themed drops from the Deluxe camp.

9. TECH-FRIENDLY VS GNAR-FRIENDLY
Bones STF is the top choice for technical street skaters. Flip tricks, ledges, manuals – they shine when precision and lightness matter. The glide of Bones makes them ideal for low-impact spots.

Spitfire Formula Four caters more to raw street and transition skaters. If you’re hitting rough concrete, crusty banks, pools, or rails, Spitfire’s extra grip and stability hold up better. They feel more “grippy and planted.”

10. ALL-TERRAIN OPTIONS
Bones' X99 and ATF (All-Terrain Formula) cover filmer wheels, cruisers, and rougher terrain. ATF wheels are softer but keep Bones’ signature roll. X99 (99a) sits between STF and ATF for hybrid use.

Spitfire’s Soft D’s, Chargers, and 90D Sapphires give similar functionality – smoother rides for crusty spots, filming lines, or straight cruising. Sapphires even come clear blue, adding flair to function.

11. SPECIAL COLLABS AND DROPS
Spitfire has dropped fire collabs with brands like Supreme, Thrasher, Vans, Hockey, Anti Hero, and more. Their limited edition graphics make collecting part of the fun.

Bones plays it a little quieter, but still delivers slick pro models and artist collabs, like their “Skeleton Hands” series or Nyjah’s gold-inlay wheels. They cater more to performance-first skaters than hype collectors.

12. SKATE SHOP LOYALTY
Spitfire is often the shop favorite, especially at core skate shops like Stix SGV. Their consistent rotation of graphics and shapes keeps things fresh and appealing to a broader rider base.

Bones still moves units, but they tend to cater more to performance-driven skaters or those loyal to Powell’s legacy. Tech skaters and contest guys keep Bones moving off the wall.

13. PRICE & VALUE
Both Bones and Spitfire hover around the same retail pricing – typically $38–$44 depending on the shape, size, and collab. Bones’ X99 line is usually a few bucks cheaper, making them a good budget option that still rips.

Spitfire’s Formula Four wheels can feel premium, but you get style, durability, and team support that make the extra bucks feel worth it.

14. BEGINNER-FRIENDLY VS ADVANCED SETUPS
If you’re just starting out, Spitfire Formula Four 99a Classics or Radial Fulls offer a good mix of grip and speed without being too slippery. They give newer skaters more confidence locking into tricks.

Bones STF is more for skaters who know what they want – faster slides and a looser, techier ride. Beginners might find them slick at first, but once you get the feel, you’ll unlock a new level.

15. FINAL VERDICT – WHICH IS BEST?
There’s no clear winner – just different styles and priorities.

Go Bones if you like technical skating, clean slides, or you’re skating mostly ledges, manual pads, or contests.
Go Spitfire if you want all-terrain power, longer lasting grip, a classic feel, and some of the gnarliest graphics and pro backing in the game.

In the end, it’s all about how you skate, what terrain you ride, and what vibe you’re chasing. Some skaters swear by Bones, others ride Spitfire ‘til they’re cored out. The real move? Try both, and see what clicks under your feet.

Stix SGV has proudly served the San Gabriel Valley skateboarding community since the late ‘90s. With three locations across Los Angeles County, we’ve been deeply rooted in the local scene. Our Monrovia shop has been a staple since 1997, followed by our Claremont location in 2014, and our South Pasadena shop opening its doors in 2022. Our mission has always been simple: to uphold skateboarding culture and stay true to our community.

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