ready.
PRODUCT PATROL
When I started skating there were no precision bearings. Wheels used loose ball bearings. There were sixteen
balls per wheel and they cost two cents apiece. Five years ago, wheels were large and, obviously, more urethane
lasted longer. Now, with the diameters in the low fifties and high forties, it is ridiculous to think wheels can survive
for more than two weeks of hard riding. It is not just wheels that are disposable; decks and trucks are lighter and
less durable. Skateboards are changing as fast as skateboarding. The gist of this month's column is wheels. This
graph should help all of you who dare to read it. And for all the manufacturers who didn't send wheels, ignored my
calls or were too chicken-read 'em and weep.
aim.
COMPANY/WHEEL
SIZE
HARDNESS
SLIDE
DURABILITY COMMENT
OVERALL
Dogtown, K9
50mm
99
8
7
Color-coded speedballs
8
Exile, Potholes
52mm
95
6
5
Chalky and heavy-what's up?
6
H Street, 5-Stars
52mm
97
7
7
Wide riding surface, soft
Museum, Crows
49mm
101
7
7
Pushead designed and approved
7.5
OJ, Street Razor
51mm
100
7
8
Hard as hell
8
Powell, Lemons
50mm
101a
7
7
Better on cement than wood
7
50mm
97a
6
6
Softer than claimed, good shape
6
Real, Real Small Wheels
50mm
97
8
7
Six for the price of four
Santa Cruz, Bullet BB-Minis
49.5mm
98a
8
7
Thin riding surface, flat shape
7
Dots
56.5mm
98a
7
8
Designed for ramp riding
7.5
49mm
98a
7
7
Square for curbs and lips
7.5
Sims, Snakes
50mm
100a
8
7
A fast wheel with a good bite
Skaters Union
50mm
98ts
8
8
Long lasting, consistent pour
8
SMA. Saucers
52mm
98
8
7
Shaped like aspirin tablets
7.5
Think, Lightbulbs
54mm
8
8
Double edge radius rippers
8
43mm
95
7
Lasted less than a week
7
New 46mm TABLETS
48mm COMPACT DISCS
0000
1000
000
All of this was the result of massive testing by team Product Patrol. Hats off to them-they are true surface
abusers. I think wheel specs will even out to between 49mm and 51mm, 97 and 100a. Let's wait and find out.
Sliding away from you, I'm Jake Phelps, c/o Thrasher, P.O. Box 884570, San Francisco, CA 94188-4570.■
28 T MAGAONE
fire.
revert.
josh swindell.
spitfire.