Specifications:
Available Durometers:75A, 78A, 81A, 88A, 92A, 94A, 96A, and 98A
Shape: Wide centerset
Height: 60mm or 65mm
Width: 42mm huge
Contact Patch: 36mm
Hub: 25mm
Good for: The softer duros, general cruising and longboarding. The harder ones? Aggressive bowlriding pigs.
The Price: About $40 a set, direct from the Abec 11 website. $35.95 at SoCal.
The Setup:
I've ridden these on all sorts of boards. But, the primary setup has been a Dogtown Bulldog reissue, with Independent 169's, 1/2" risers, and Biltin bearings. Here's a photo of the complete shebang:
She's a beauty, ain't she...?!
Why we waited so long to review these…
Because, we're stupid. I lost track of time and space, and I just basically spaced it...
The Good
These wheels are great for all of my old-school "pig" shapes. If you don't know what a "pig" is, see the photo of the board above. A short nose, wide middle, and a square tail are the basic elements of a "pig".
Probably about three years old now, definitely well-worn... but, still in great shape...!
Any time you're riding a pig, you want to have the right wheels. Or else, it's just gonna look, and ride, kinda weird. The basic things you're looking for are width (for traction at high speeds), hardness (for slides), and a centerset (for speed again), doughnut shape (for easily engaging and disengaging coping). Obviously, these have all of those elements. That's what makes them such awesome wheels. And, the quality is top-notch, with ridiculous rebound and longevity.
The giganto width is readily apparent in this photo. Out of place on many skateboards, but absolutely perfect for pigs and longboards.
The softer duros are great general-purpose cruising wheels. They roll forever, and they roll over everything. They're buttery smooth, and they save you a shit-ton of pushing.
The Bad
Given the size and width of these wheels, they're really only suited to big-ass terrains. I couldn't imagine riding these on a knee-high mini ramp, for example. They'd be huge, clunky. Too much wheel for the purpose. And: With all of that mass, these wheels are in no way, shape, or form, "lightweight". In fact, they weigh a ton. But, that mass means a lot of "momentum". Once again, not for the feint of heart...
Again, the width is the most obvious attribute of this wheel. That width is entirely responsible for both its best, and worst qualities.
The Final Verdict
The hands-down, best-in-class for it's intended domain. Very few wheels are even in the same league (very few want to be in the same league...), and even fewer actually rise to the challenge. I love these wheels, and I ride 'em all the time. There ya go.
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