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Tires for Radio Controlled Models |
Introduction
Tire choice can be the difference between winning a race and ending up half way down the pack. |
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Tires for RC Models
Rubber Tires ALWAYS should have either soft sponge or rubber inserts. They will not function as they should without them. And if you are totally serious about your racing they should be glued to the rims. How to Mount Rubber Tires onto Wheels/Rims
Before mounting your Tires, I would recommend talking to the more experienced racers at your local club, concerning what inserts they use. Even the top level racers rely on a bit of local knowledge on tracks they have never raced before. How to Glue Rubber Tires onto Wheels/Rims
You have the option of either gluing or not gluing your tires in position. If the track you race at is not too grippy you can sometimes get away with it, but on high grip tracks, there is always the possibility the tire might pull away from the rim and ruin your race .... My recommendation is to glue them. |
Tire Compounds
Way back in the early 1990s when I first got into RC, most of the off-road models available came with chunky hard compound block tires that gave little or no grip on grass or dirt tracks. On-road didn't have this problem as they were still using sponge tires, with a coating of wintergreen based tire additive applied just before each race to improve grip. There was even one guy who swore he dipped his wheels in a glass of light ale. Early Rubber Tire and Compound Development
Then things started to change. By the mid 1990s tire manufacturers such as Losi and Schumacher began developing smaller pin tires, in softer compounds. These mini pin versions were a revelation for grass racers, but were only a small improvement on dust tracks. Micro Pin Off-Road Tires
As new compounds were released, grip slowly improved. Then, with the release of the micro pin, super soft compound tires, off road was a completely different sport. Grip roll was now one of the problems drivers had to learn to contend with. This was something unheard of only a few short years before. New 1:10 On-Road Narrow Scale Tires
Rubber Tires for On-road RC models had been around for a while in the early 1990s, but because sponge was so widely used, rubber never really caught on. |
More Hints and Tips
For more Radio Controlled Model Hints, Tips and Information, check out the list on the RCScrapyard Homepage. ▶ ▶ |
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