1) Is tyre selection important?
Yes. Tyre selection is probably the most important choice you have to make after buying the car. The right car with the perfect set-up will handle poorly if it has the wrong tyres or ones that are worn out. Check what the top drivers around you are using as it is probably the best for the track and conditions.
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2) Should I use inserts?
It depends on the track and the tyres, but for scale saloon tyres the answer is probably yes, as they stop the tyre from distorting and help keep the tread flat on the track. For offroad it depends on the tyre and condition and there is no hard and fast answer.
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3) What does the colour mark on the tyre mean?
The colour mark on the side of the tyre signifies how hard or soft the rubber compound is that has been used to make the tyre. Generally the smoother and more slippery the track the softer the tyre you will need. But you need to consider the whole wheel tyre and insert to make your final decision.
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4) How long do tyres last?
It depends on the track surface and the hardness of the tyre rubber used. A soft tyre on an abrasive surface may not even last one meeting, but on a smooth surface it could last for several meetings. If you race at the same track and get a good set-up, then find that after a few races the car is not handling right, it is probably due to tyre wear, unless you have crashed hard. You can adjust the car to help it work with worn tyres, but when you do put new ones back on you will need to restore your suspension settings back to the original ones. Typically at the Louth Cordeaux Hall Schumacher yellow minipins will last about 3 meetings before performance starts to deteriorate, but this depends on the motor you use, how fast you drive and your suspension set-up.
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5) What are the advantages of Foam tyres on tarmac?
Foam tyres if chosen correctly will have a higher level of grip than ordinary rubber ones, but you need to know which ones to use. They can last longer as well. Also with foam tyres you can use an additive that makes them softer and grippier. LRCCC only permit foams in certain classes at Tarmac events.
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6) Which tyres work best in the Cordeaux School Hall?
For scale saloons the only tyre to use is the Schumacher yellow minipin. The only options are whether to use the wide or narrow (20mm) tyres, and which foam insert to use. For a buggy the best tyre is the Schumacher yellow Fullspike, usually without an insert. Have a look at the set-up sheets elsewhere on this website to see what the top drivers use.
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7) Which tyres work best on the tarmac tracks?
We are currently restricting the use of foam tyres to the Scale Saloon - modified class, with the stock class having to use a normal rubber tyre. These have to be either a slick tyre or a grooved slick, and the one most people have decide to use depends on the temperature with anything from a hardness of 22 up to 32 on hot days being used The choice in foam tyres is huge and many different makes and compounds have been tried - again check the set-up sheets. For a Mardave see the separate set-up info sheet.
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8) Why do I need to glue my tyres to the wheels?
They need to be glued to the wheels to stop them coming off. Although this is only normally a problem on high grip surfaces. On low grip surfaces such as the KEVIS hall it is not necessary to glue on any tyres. For the London road Track where the grip on the carpet surface is much higher it is easy to pull the tyres of the wheels under cornering, which will loose you the race. This does not seem to apply to the buggies.
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9) What is the best way to glue tyres to wheels?
Study the pictures alongside this article to see how to do it. The important thing is not to stick your fingers to the tyres!! Normally just three spots of glue on each side of the tyre are sufficient to stick the tyre on. Use a quick setting superglue and do not use too much. You can get special tyre shields to ensure the glue inly goes in the right place, but personally I prefer to manage without one. Unless you are a very serious racer you will probably not bother to balance your wheels and tyres.
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10) Why do my tyres wear unevenly?
Uneven tyre wear across the width of the tyre is due to the camber angles of the wheels. If you run excessive camber the tyres will only be touching the ground at one side of the tread and they will wear that side quickly. Too much camber will reduce the area of tyre in contact with the track and hence the grip. Check out the chassis set-up section and the drivers set-up sheets for advice on setting up your car.
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11) I have followed all these hints but still have no grip - why?
The probable reason will be a due to your suspension set-up or perhaps to the diffs being too loose allowing only one wheel to drive and causing the car to pull to one side under acceleration. Follow the chassis set-up procedure and return the car to the manufacturers recommended settings for the suspension.
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12) Are all wheels interchangeable?
No. Different manufacturers use different size drive hexagons in the centre of the wheels and different wheel offsets. The wheel offset is the distance between the mounting face at the centre of the wheel and the outside face of the wheel. Using the wrong offset wheels can make your car too wide and outside the permitted width for the class.
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13) Wheel and tyre care - basic tips.
If you change your wheels regularly, make sure they go back on the car in the same position. The treads do wear to suit the car and putting them on a different position will mean they have to wear-in again. Some tyres, mainly spiked ones, wear due to the direction of rotation and will initially have a very low grip if fitted the other way round. Mark your wheels with an indelible pen so that you know where they go eg FL, FR, RL, RR, (front-left etc). Make sure you don't get any damper oil on your tyres, it's very slippery and difficult to get off. Don't leave your tyres out in the full sunlight when you are not using the car, this can affect the rubber. Tyres will tend to harden with age.
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14) What does tyre additive do?
Tyre additive softens the rubber on the tyres to make them grippier. To be effective it has to be applied some time before the race, to allow it to work. It is not permitted at any of the LRCCC indoor tracks.
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15) When can I use tyre additive?
On any LRCCC outside track and at any other track if the race organisers permit it.
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16) Where can I find out more about tyres and wheels?
Look up the team drivers set-ups and the tyre makers web sites.
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