Color0's Micro RC Blog -- A technical brain dump from the mind of yours truly...
Addendum: High-Grip vs. Low-Grip Tire Mounting
Really short post this time because I have a bunch of schoolwork to deal with, but nevertheless I found out something this weekend.
I mentioned last week that when mounting tires, try not to get glue on the sidewall because it reduces traction. Turns out, that only helps on low-grip tracks. I took my mounted tires to RCKenon (a very high-trip track) and they shredded up.
Grant M. (PN Racing driver) showed me the trick to consistent traction on high-grip tracks: putting an even layer of glue on the sidewall to prevent the tire from folding over and shredding itself. In addition, he glues the center section of the tire as well, to make it stiffer and deflect less. Meanwhile, I (being used to low-grip tracks) leave the center section unglued, maybe taped at most, in order to get maximum tread flex and traction.
So basically, guidelines for mounting tires:
Low-grip tracks: Glue only the inside and outside beads, and let the tire squirm around as much as needed to generate grip. If the track has very little grip, you don't even need to tape the center section.
High-grip tracks: Glue the entire inner surface of the tire to the wheel, and get an even coat of glue on the outside sidewall to prevent excessive flex. One way to do this is by allowing glue to get outside the bead, and then rubbing the entire wheel/tire assembly flat on a towel to spread out the glue over the sidewall without getting any on the tread.
I know I'll be mounting my tires the high-grip way the next time I go to RCKenon, so if your local track also has high grip I hope this mounting tip from Grant helps you out!
I mentioned last week that when mounting tires, try not to get glue on the sidewall because it reduces traction. Turns out, that only helps on low-grip tracks. I took my mounted tires to RCKenon (a very high-trip track) and they shredded up.
Grant M. (PN Racing driver) showed me the trick to consistent traction on high-grip tracks: putting an even layer of glue on the sidewall to prevent the tire from folding over and shredding itself. In addition, he glues the center section of the tire as well, to make it stiffer and deflect less. Meanwhile, I (being used to low-grip tracks) leave the center section unglued, maybe taped at most, in order to get maximum tread flex and traction.
So basically, guidelines for mounting tires:
Low-grip tracks: Glue only the inside and outside beads, and let the tire squirm around as much as needed to generate grip. If the track has very little grip, you don't even need to tape the center section.
High-grip tracks: Glue the entire inner surface of the tire to the wheel, and get an even coat of glue on the outside sidewall to prevent excessive flex. One way to do this is by allowing glue to get outside the bead, and then rubbing the entire wheel/tire assembly flat on a towel to spread out the glue over the sidewall without getting any on the tread.
I know I'll be mounting my tires the high-grip way the next time I go to RCKenon, so if your local track also has high grip I hope this mounting tip from Grant helps you out!
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