[keysandslots]

When I had Sport track, I found urethane tires provided the best grip. They need to be glued and trued 'though. I really don't like oiling my tires, I figure you just end up with all sorts of garbage on the track. Besides, unless you happen to be using some sort of traction compound on a drag strip, full-size cars do not run with oiled tires.

If you really want to try some magnets, let me know. I took them all out years ago, I can send you a few to try.

Randy

 

[keysandslots]

First, WD-40 is not oil, it is a moisture displacement fluid. Second, since we're not talking about sponge tires, I'm assuming it doesn't really soak into the tire, but disolves some part of the tire, and eventually leaches out.

"The point is to make the rubber softer, just like racing tires are MUCH softer than regular road tires. The more grip you want in your car, the softer the rubber tends to be, and the faster they wear out, and the more expensive they are. Not surprisingly, that's a lot like how slot car tires are. ;-)" The point is, rather than fooling with lighter fluid and risking getting all sorts of junk on your track, why not just do the same thing the real racers do and use better tires?

I'm not sure if these three comments where related to silicone or urethane but, just in case it was the latter...

1) Pick up dust and debris very quickly - not from what any of the guys I know have found. Even when they are dusty, they still work.

2) Hard to true without "blueing" them - i.e. quite a tough material to sand, and you'd have to sand them for so long they risk over heating and going hard at the surface - other way 'round, they are easy to true, at least the shore-40 most of the guys I know are using.

3) Promote axle bounce (due to high elasticity) - nope again. I don't think this is an issue with silicone either.

I clean my tires now-and-again with the same stuff used by photocopier repair people to clean the rubber rollers. Between races, I've seen some of the guys just clean them with spit. Not very sanitary but for the most part, it's not flammable.

Randy

 

[keysandslots]

WD-40 Seems it's both. I don't use it to lubricate, I use this instead: Nano.

I'm splitting hairs, I know. When I had Sport track, which I hated, I decided to get rid of the magnets and try tuning cars instead. Unfortunately, Sport track is kinda slippery and the Scaley power supply was always full voltage. I figured if I was really going to get into this hobby and be able to compete a bit with some of the guys I raced with for a short period, all of whom had wood tracks, I would need to make some changes.

I bought an adjustable power supply, real throttles (Professor Motor was the only option that was reasonably priced at the time) and learned how to make urethane tires. I made a drivers' station to replace the Scaley power track, removed the magnets and starting trying to learn the art of getting a slot car to run without mags. Lowering the power and changing tires were huge improvements. Was it expensive, you betcha! But, suddenly all of my cars became fun to drive, so I figured it was worth it.

I have all sorts of urethane tires at home, and they are easily available on eBay. If you want to try a pair or two, send me a PM with a list of cars you have. If I have tires that fit, I'll send them to you for the cost of postage and you can try them out. You'll need some CA glue and some sandpaper.

Many of the tracks around here use silicones and only silicones. The problem seems to be that as long as silicone is all you run on your track, eventually the track gets "rubbered in" and the tires work great. As soon as you run some other kind of tire, the silicone gets removed and the track needs to start over again.

I'll warn you that you should take what I say with a grain (or shaker) of salt because I think I may have a different approach than some others. If I need to add stuff to tires to make them work, I get new tires instead. If I need to make all sorts of mods to my track to make it work, I get new track (I'm into wood now). There are some things I don't mind tinkering with, but when it comes to the two most basic parts of the slot car equation not working, I figured it was better to just cut my losses and move on.

Randy

 

[keysandslots]

Didn't I admit to that on the first line? It also mentions it's a water displacer.

Randy

 

[keysandslots]

I did offer to send him some tires.

Randy

 

[keysandslots]

Slotcrazy, thanks for the reply, there's no substitute for direct experience. The offer of tires still stands. If you happen to be in southern Ontario, Canada, make sure you stop by.

Randy

 

[keysandslots]

Yup, agree with the Sport Track assessment. Where did the OP go, did we scare him away? Darren, c'mon back! We really are trying to help, sort of.

Randy