3dm/Turner Avilas, 75mm

These became my main choice of LDP wheel back in 2003, especially the softer duros as I've found them to be extremely versatile, evening out all the rocky, uneven long bike trails and giving the feet a much needed reprieve.

I experimented for years with Abec11 wheels afterward, and rolled back to the 81a Avilas for all-around LDP riding when the new urethane came out.

http://pavedwave.myfastforum.org/Black_Ops_Avilas_about514.html

Seismic Speed Vents - 77mm

Currently, these or the Blast Waves are about as big as I'd go for LDP boards. You're going to need a couple angled wedge risers on the front plus another 1/4" or so of flat riser.

Fast and light, with an energy returning core. A little harsher ride if the roads are rough, which is why most of the time I roll back to the softer Avilas, even though they're technically not as fast a wheel.

http://pavedwave.myfastforum.org/ftopic537-0-asc-0.php

BENNETT WHEELS

Still waiting to try the SuperGators!...

DE THANE! DE THANE!

Chaput's new Retro urethane has landed! It is bouncy and springy like a super ball, which makes them feel like they'll roll forever.

Running 66mm on my Cyber/Tight deck and 70mm on my Hybrid/GS slalom deck. They come in vibrant tropical colors and look good enough to eat. In fact if you were drunk, you could probably eat one and not know it until the morning after.

Big Zigs

The first sets I got were in the shape of Gumballs, just in the new urethane, at 76mm. Nowadays they're 75mm and better known as "Big Zigs."

Normally, 'rebound' and 'snap' are terms I would use only for describing the liveliness of a composite deck. But this urethane has some serious bounce all its own. For a long time I ran 83a front and 80a rear on a couple LDP setups. Later I moved to just running the lime 80a's all around.

Abec-11 Grippins, 70mm

I like the center-set design, as you could easily rotate and flip these wheels for even wear. They were grippier than the Flashbacks, but still had a controlled slide, which the 3dm and newer Abec11 urethane does not. These were on my Lib that was stolen. Waaaah!!!

Abec-11 Flashbacks, 70mm

The classic, all-around longboard wheel in the 75-78 duros. At the same time, some of the fastest world's cyber records were set on the 88-92 durometer combos. Also a great sliding wheel.

Abec-11 Gumballs, 76mm

Big and Juicy. A little too fast for Giant Slalom at least for my taste. Perfectly sticky and responsive on a big longboard.

Abec-11 Flywheel 101mm

They don't make 'em anymore. I was lucky enough to grab a set off eBay in 2001 when I first set up my distance Subsonic drop deck. The hubs are larger with much less urethane than the 97mm's which is now the biggest you can go in the abec11 selection. Apparently a popular choice amongst the streetlugers in the late 90's. I sold these to my bro Deano!

3dm / Seismic HOT SPOTS - 69mm

These were the wheel to get in 2005, and are still taking top podium spots in slalom. Just slightly larger than the uber-popular Avalons, and essentially answering the most common Avalon post-market modification, the trimming down of the outer lip to make the wheels' contact patch slightly narrower and ultimately grippier.

3dm/Turner Avalons, 69mm

I ran these on many of my slalom setups, usually 86a in front and 82a in back. Hardly anyone I know actually uses them "untrimmed" - an easy to do after market modification that shaves the outer lip off each wheel, adding more traction. The Seismic Hot Spots were essentially an answer to that issue, coming off the shelf with a narrower contact patch and at 69mm diameter.

Powell Pool Bombers, 65mm

For starting out in the pools and parks with a grippy, responsive wheel I'm sold. At some point I'll probably move to the harder "pool" formula in the blue color.