The Seismic Megawatt... 90mm of high-rebound, high-speed hype for low-effort, long-rolling luxury.
Seismic have long (20+ years) been tinkering with their wheels, urethane compounds and core shapes and the Megawatt is the result of all that knowledge directed towards a big, efficient long distance wheel.
If you're just looking to upgrade the standard wheels on your longboard, these might be a bit big and specialist. It's no good having a faster wheel if you get wheelbite or are too high off the ground to push comfortably! If you like the idea of Seismic, check out the slightly smaller and more versatile Speedvents to have all the advantages of the solid design but less of the wheelbite risk.
However, if you've got yourself a dropped deck and find yourself regularly doing miles then the Megawatt is one of your best options to increase your pleasure. Less rolling resistance and amazing grip make for even bigger smiles.
Compared to the Pantheon Karma they're slightly heavier - they'll have a bit more momentum once they get going and carry the speed longer through rough sections or flat sections before needing more pushing/pumping.
The Core
Is massive! As it needs to be for a wheel of this size. Anything smaller and the sheer amount of urethane on a 90mm wheel would deform so much the wheel would feel sluggish. The big core supports the urethane, keeping it nice and round and the roll speed up - whilst allowing it to do its job and deform over imperfections in asphalt to keep things feeling smooth under your feet.
Known as the Turbine Core - the holes in the side you can see are the "turbline blades" running side to side through the wheel. The idea here is that together with the walls, they catch wheel flex energy and return it as the wheel rolls, enhancing the overall rebound - and therefore speed.
The extra big turbines mean extra big vent holes for weight saving and should also work for any e-boarders among us to fit their pulley adapter with no fuss.
The Urethane
Seismic's DEFCON urethane has a few claims to fame, and they're all about the speed! Lush Longboards rider, good friend and mentor Pete Connolly set the world record for the fastest speed on a skateboard at 91.17mph (!) on this urethane. The street lugers pushed them over 100mph, and multiple 1-mile, marathon and 24-hour skate records feature DEFCON.
So yes... it's fast!
The wheel is shaped to have a small amount (half a millimetre!) of concave over the running surface - more urethane over the lips to enhance grip and rebound still further.
The downside of this is that the wheels can "chunk" - losing pieces of the sharp lip - over time or if one carves a lot over rough asphalt. Whilst it doesn't look ideal and at the highest level of traction it could be a disadvantage, it is an unfortunate reality of massive soft wheels and you won't find any urethane or brand to be immune from it.
The Verdict
Too big to comfortably go under any topmount board - and for a busy city commute with traffic lights, pedestrian slalom and general chaos that extra size and weight will mean they do take longer to build back up to full rolling speed.
However... if you're keen to push long distances or are blessed with long cycle paths or routes that don't demand much slowing down - you won't find a wheel that makes it much easier or more fun than the Seismic Megwatt. Thumbs up.
All wheels sold in packs of four.
