[Review] Skyway Tuff Wheel II Graphite

[Eggit]

Pros:
Weight is 5lbs 12.3 oz pretty average.
Strength is beleive it or not as good if not better than alex triple walls.
Now come with sealed bearings and improved compound.
New compound flexes where old mags broke*
Come with 14mm hollow axles with thread in 3/8 bolts**
If they do bend, stick them in the freezer, I swear it works.
Once you get the rims "conditioned" with skyway brake pads any will work.
Wheel is almost always straight so good brake alignment
Sweet retro look.

*The flex is not noticable at all, it stays stiff until extreme force is aplied (enough to bend normal rims) then flexes to avoid snapping and flexes back to original position. You do not feel them flexing at all when you ride.
**So what if its 3/8 axles it's a bit lighter and when I bend them I go buy new 3/8 inch bolts at ace hardware for 35 cents. Also if you don't like them they can be replaced with standard 14mm axles

Cons:
No flip-flop hubs so no low gear ratios, but eh what're they good for anyways.
No cassete hubs.
When they do brake you have to buy new ones not just replace spokes etc.*
Some people think they look dumb

I have been riding mine for over 2 years now, longer than any other wheelset has lasted me. I am notoriously bad on wheels and even folded an alex triple wall. I definately recomend these to anyone who doesn't care about the small gear crap.

PS There is a difference between the graphite and non-graphite mags, the ones I ahve are the grahpites and are stronger.

[Louis K]

Nice review! I have to add though and you probably know this, but hollow 14mm axles are pretty much the same weight as solid 3/8 axles I believe.

[emilydickinson]

Great review. Dispel the myth of the mag! I think mags are coming back.

[Ebah4290]

In your avatar the wheels look good but at the skyway site they look pretty cheap and ugly. Where did you get yours and what year are they?

[Eggit]

I ordered them from skyway themselves and I got them in 2003 or 2002 so I imaghine thats what year they are.....

Bad news though, I finaly broke them after 2+ years of riding on them. On the back wheel 2 of the spokes are cracked all the way through and you can even pull it and seperate it from the hub, 2 of the other spokes have cracks halfway through and only one is still in good shape. Anywa took me 2 years and a whole lot of abuse to do that. Oh and I even rode on them all broken like that for 20 mins before I relized they were broken.

I think I might get a spoked wheel for the back though for a couple of reasons.
1) I bought these mags before I could true my own wheels because I was very frustrated paying 10 dollars every month at a bike shop getting wheels trued. Since I have been practicing and I can true great!
2) I want a cassette hub for the smoother ride, and I may considering getting rid of my 44t dinner plate even though I will miss it dearly.
3) I have been doing alot more park riding as opose to dirt jumping and getting more and more into brake tricks, and now that I am using my chrome back up wheel I had, I notice that there is a good difference in the amount of pressure needed to lock the rear wheel.
4) Walmart has these "Bitchin' Sweet" spinners that clip on to your hub and you can't use them with mag wheels because they go inbetween the spokes.

I still plan on keeping the front though.

Now if skyway wanted a completely unbeatable wheel they would add cassette hubs and a pressed in chromed strip on the braking surface. Oh yea and "Bitchin' Sweet" spinners of course. Hmm... I think I am going to write them an e-mail....

[mshbiker31390]

i know that im bumpin a real old topic, but eggit, i already asked if they would ever make a cassette one, and they said that it was in the works...that was like 7 months ago....so i couldnt tell you anything about that, as for the chrome strip....go for it

[Eggit]

They told me the same thing May 8th 2005.

[fairtrade]

It was out like 2 months ago, integrated Profile SS cassette...

[emilydickinson]

Nice review. When I was in France for the last few months, i had a chance to check out a new set of mags that DT Swiss is putting out, and they are pretty amazing. They are some type of carbon blend, and right now they only come sized for DH bikes, but they are stiff and can take a beating. DT may have finally gotten it right. Keep your eyes open.

[WORMONABIKE]

Want tuffs? Go here www.coloredtuffs.com

[JoeyPower]

Nice review. When I was in France for the last few months, i had a chance to check out a new set of mags that DT Swiss is putting out, and they are pretty amazing. They are some type of carbon blend, and right now they only come sized for DH bikes, but they are stiff and can take a beating. DT may have finally gotten it right. Keep your eyes open.

That sounds rad. Is it a cassette or F/W hub? I bet they'll be expensive, as most carbon stuff is, not to mention DT Swiss stuff is expensive no matter what your buying. The only thing that sucks about mags is if you break anything (Rim, Spoke or Hub) you have to buy a whole new wheel.

Oh, and Wormonabike, a noticed your avatar and just have to say Merciful Fate and King Diamond are amazing.

[WORMONABIKE]

[quote="emilydickinson

Oh, and Wormonabike, a noticed your avatar and just have to say Merciful Fate and King Diamond are amazing.
Finally someone with good taste in music

[RL20]

My skyway mags have lasted forever on my oldschool bike :)

[ZachS]

mirraco is featuring tuffs on there 07 line.

[Ed Ferri]

Hey guys... great thread here! This is Ed Ferri from www.coloredtuffs.com. I'm the guy who's been bringing back all of the old-school colored Tuff Wheels that are out now. Here's the deal with the Graphites....
The Skyway Graphite Tuff Wheels are made from a blend of long-strand carbon fiber, and a mixture of Zytel nylon.... pretty much the same way they were made 20 years ago. As technology has grown, Skyway has learned how to manufacture a better wheel. They are lighter, and the wheels made now are much more "truer" (straighter) now, than 20 years ago. The new hub design is awesome, and the sealed precision bearings keep them rolling fast and smooth. The new hub design features the Skyway "convertable axle", which is basically a hollow axle that uses allen-keyed bolts. Hardware for both 3/8" and 14mm setups come with the wheels.
Cassette Graphites are not available for purchase, although Skyway has produced a few sets for testing purposes, and for a sponsored rider (Cory Cole).
The cassette hub that was used for these proto-types have been Profile cassette hubs that have been re-tooled to fit in a Tuff Wheel. The process is VERY expensive, and if the wheel was offered right now, it would have a retail cost of close to $600.00. Too expensive for a production wheel. Other cassette hubs might be used for more prototypes, but this project is somewhat on the "back burner" for right now.
So, the answer right now for those of you that want to run a smaller gearing of Tuffs, is the Flip /Flop Graphite Wheel. You can run an Odyssey 13 tooth freewheel on this setup. I just received a small supply of these wheels, and they are available at my website, www.coloredtuffs.com.
The Flip/Flop rear hub is a bit different than the normal "convertable" hub that Skyway uses on the regular Graphites. This Flip/Flop style uses a 3/8" axle (adaptors can be used for a 14mm frame aplication), and uses the new Skyway "Quad-hub", which features 4 pressed-in precision sealed bearings. The rear Skyway Graphite wheel with the Flip/Flop hub weighs in a 2lb, 15 oz. Just for comparison - an Odyssey Hazard Lite 48 spoke wheel weighs in at 3lb, 3 oz.
Weight on the Graphites is pretty close (within a few ounces) to the same as the weight on the regular style Tuff 2 wheel. The advantage that the Graphite wheel has over the regular style Tuff Wheel (with convertable hubs) is stiffness. The carbon fiber construction of the Graphite wheel makes it stronger, and stiffer. And don't forget about the cool gold anodized hubs!
-Ed

[skillzilla]

So hott.

http://www.coloredtuffs.com/shop/images/uploads/Pink_Tuff_Wheels.JPG

[Charles]

Haha, they look so cheap.. Like there from a little girl's bicycle. If they hold up good I wouldnt actually mind getting a set, no need in tightening spokes and such.. I would prefer both front and back 14mm though and able to run a 13t odyssey freewheel.

[Flatline]

Nice Review, I think Skyway Mags are making a come back, eventually someone will come out with a flip/flop or cassette version.

[Ed Ferri]

..they may look cheap in that pic...... but they are not. They are made very well, and will hold up to a great deal of abuse.... ever check out a Graphite Tuff Wheel?
You'll see blue Tuff Wheels on a SE bike next spring!

[sdFATBOY]

O man I had a pair of tuffs about 6 years ago, nothing could destroy those things...exept a Ford F-150...

[dr satan]

the only stock bikes iv seen are mongoose... and a few other cheapos like dyno. i wouldnt mind getting a good set with the 13t driver. i like the 3 spoke design better.

[ParkLife]

wow.....that was a shiit reveiw.