Wet dirt caking in rear tire treads... cures?

[locolife]

My local track usually wets the track pretty well before races so some sections of the track end up rather muddy. This causes the tire treads (step pins) to load up with clay and ruin traction. Are there any tire coatings or household products that anyone has found to prevent this from occurring?

[ 09-11-2001: Message edited by: locolife ]

[jeepinator]

Flour may work, but talcum powder may be better.

Do this:
Simple green your tires clean. After drying apply the powder. It will probably stick quite well. Just before a race reapply more powder.

If it just too muddy, this will simply fail, but it has worked for me on damp, sticky dirt.

[ 09-12-2001: Message edited by: jeepinator ]

[E-MAXX]

First of all you need to tell your track operator to let off all the water! :eek: There is really nothing you can do to keep the tires you're using from being filled with dirt(except jeeps suggestion). I would suggest buying a tire with wider spaces between treads, this allows the dirt to "fling out" more easily. I'm guessing you are using a tire that has closely spaced tread? Those tires are bad for muddy conditions. Closely spaced tread designs are for dry conditions. Also if you can't afford new tires, try to go full throttle in the sticky stuff to clean your tires for the next turn.
Hope this helps
Philip S

[bluesy]

I agree with both of the above. If you relate it to real car tires, look at the difference between "all-season radials" and true "snow tires". Bigger spaces and larger lugs on the latter. Stands to reason it would be the same on RC tires. I've run in the sand (really wet sand) and found that it clogged the treads til they looked like slicks. I only had some 'good old reliable' WD-40 in my kit at that time so I gave the rears a good spraying. Then I sort of dabbed the surface of the treads so there was minimal residual lubricant. The sand literally roostered off the rears for the rest of my bashing time. I won't be doing that again because of the mess it made of my B3 gears. It was a ton of fun but too expensive.... :cool: :cool:

[Obi112]

Dirt caking is extremely hard to get rid of. Chances are, the above suggests just might not work. So, your best bet is to complain to the track owners to not water the track so much. And use an X-Acto knife to remove the dirt in between runs.

[jeepinator]

Nah, a wire brush works the best for POST mud situations.

[locolife]

I was thinking about trying some spray wax or Rain-X. Has anyone tried those?

[Nairb]

I hear that baby powder does the job pretty well.

[TUCRACEMAN]

You don't happen to race at HobbyTown in Tucson, do you?

~Dave

[Drayken D]

what are the adverse affects of using powder or talc? Let's say you "think" it is too wet, and add powder, will it make it more slick, losing traction??

[sniper-8]

pam cooking spray works good

[gubbs3]

I know a way to get rid of the gunk...When you flip over just hold the throttle wide open and make the marshal eat it!!!!! :D No, seriously do not do that. You won't make any friends and the marshals may be injured.

[GTman]

Get bald road slicks. I don't thing dirt will get stuck in them!

Although, you may have some traction issues.
j/k

[KC10Chief]

I've had some luck with WD-40. It won't keep all the dirt off, but it certainly makes a noticeable difference. I like the baby powder and pam cooking spray ideas. I may give that a try. When I was living in New Jersey and just getting into racing, I saw a guy using some stuff that he was putting on his tires and it looked like liquid shoe polish. The bottle did anyways. The substance inside was clear. It was made especially for RC car tires. Anyways, I thought it was strange since his tires would be sticky to the touch, but when he was done racing, there was almost no dirt at all on his tires. I wish I had paid attention to what that was. I think they sell that stuff at Family Hobbies which is in Vineland New Jersey. I've turned step pins and holeshots into slicks. Another thing I've had good luck with on my GT is some Losi tires I bought. Can't remember what they're called, but they look somewhat like holeshots, only the treads are a little farther apart and slightly larger. I bought them right after I turned my holeshots into mud packed slicks, and the dirt doesn't sticks to them much at all. Matt

[gubbs3]

KC10- The tires you're talking about are T-2000's. They work awesome on hardpack dusty tracks but wear out veeeerrry quick in gas.