Urethane Manufacturers: clarification

**Tyr1001** · 07-20-2009 05:37 PM

Earlier today at work i found myself berated by insults from a few people about my new bigzigs. Eager to defend retro, my favorite line for slalom wheels, i asked what they didnt like about them. Apparently, they said that the wheels were made from a lower quality urethane from a cheaper manufacturer such as elasco. Now im usually pretty knowledgable about the stuff i ride, but this time i was at a loss. i never bothered researching the individual manufacturers of wheels, just the formulas they used. well anyway, to make a long story short, are retros and/or abec 11 wheels made from inferior urethane as compared to the urethane used by bones wheels, which are said to be of the highest quality trick deck wheels? I need the knowledge to defend my favorites!

**Willl** · 07-20-2009 05:47 PM

Obviously the urethane is going to be different from bones urethane because they are made for different types of riding. I know that shape comes greatly into effect there too though. After reading some of Chris Chaput's posts on here, he is the kind of guy who wants his products to be the best. I'm not bashing him at all, but am just stating what seems to be his point of view etc. I'm basing this off his posts about Centrax wheels. That being said I highly doubt that he would use inferior or low quality urethane to make his wheels.

However, I don't know much about urethane formulas and such.

**snozzboarder55** · 07-20-2009 05:48 PM

a lower grade thane? anything chaput puts out is boss for any application of skating. plus zigs have owned the hills for the past few years, now otangs are coming up. just tell your buddies to look up what kind of wheels have been winning competitions and when abec11/retro is at the top of the list i think this conversation will be over.

i dont know what kind of thane is used for what, but a trick deck's wheels are so different than a dh/slalom/longboard's wheels that i wouldn't be surprised if the manufacturers were different.

it may not be "the best urethane in the world" but it does seem to be the best suited for what we use them for.

ask them to take it up with chaput, you know the mad scientist that rides his product, researches his products, and swears by his product.

**B Dollar Bill Symbol** · 07-20-2009 05:50 PM

Wheel Manufacturers/Distributors

This was a little tougher to find.

The people you work with sound like dicks who think they know everything. Of course they will be a different thane than bones, but there is nothing wrong with retros. Especially for what your using them for. Chaput is a perfectionist that spends a ton of time honing his products, he isn't going to use "inferior" thane.

**TwinTown Skater** · 07-20-2009 05:52 PM

Here is some great information for you:

Wheel Manufacturers/Distributors

Tell the shortboard boys to get off the superiority wagon.

Obviously great minds think alike. Sorry for the repost

**Tyr1001** · 07-20-2009 06:47 PM

thanks for the replies guys. i know that trick deck wheels are going to be different, and i figured the same as you guys did with chris chaput using quality stuff, i just didnt have the facts to back it up.

**B Dollar Bill Symbol** · 07-20-2009 06:50 PM

Originally Posted by Tyr1001

thanks for the replies guys. i know that trick deck wheels are going to be different, and i figured the same as you guys did with chris chaput using quality stuff, i just didnt have the facts to back it up.

No go into work tomorrow and dish out the informative punches with reckless abandoned.

**snozzboarder55** · 07-20-2009 07:04 PM

just race them down a small hill. when you win, you have bragging rights tht your "poor quality gear" beat a top shelf line... therefore you are the better skater.

BUT YOU HAVE TO WIN!!!