[Kevan]

Can't beat cheap as chips fibre tape for tyre cleaning and it won't dry the tyres out.

 

[munter]

if you occasionally feed them some oil as well,

I agree, swap the lighter fluid with some innocent 3 in 1 oil and see how you go.

Clean with tape, treat with oil....and not much either.

 

[HO RacePro]

I have always wondered if some adhesive stays on the tires if you clean them with tape. A sneaky way to glue 'em?

I have thought about devising a tire cleaning block that mounts a lint-roller like those sold by 3M. A neat cheat, yes?

3M makes a miniature roller that should be an appropriate size.

 

[Kevan]

I have always wondered if some adhesive stays on the tires if you clean them with tape. A sneaky way to glue 'em?

I have thought about devising a tire cleaning block that mounts a lint-roller like those sold by 3M. A neat cheat, yes?

3M makes a miniature roller that should be an appropriate size.

I made something like that about 8 years ago.
An electric screwdriver with a 1/10th scale RC truck wheel and foam tyre with tape wrapped round.
It cleaned the tyres very well, TOO well in fact as it pulled tyres off the wheels
...it only got used a handful of times

 

[HO RacePro]

So, does the tape leave adhesive on the tires? Enquiring minds want to know!

 

[Kevan]

Logic would say yes if you carry on cleaning them once the tape has removed the rubber particles off but any adhesive 'grip' would soon wear off, maybe a few seconds at most.

 

[MrFlippant]

Depends on the tape, too. I've seen sheet of adhesive left on tires from some cheap lint rollers. Most of the time, it's just nice clean rubber.

Also, the device you are "inventing" here has already been done. I forgot the brand, but it uses a pressure pad that you press with the front of the car, of the hand holding it, to activate a motor that rolls the tape for you. I know it plugs in, but I don't know if it has a battery option or not.

 

[Expidia]

My original question was does lighter fluid degrade the rubber. I’m sure overtime it will just as old age dries them out.

So far I found three drops or so of lighter of fluid on the pad on this device really improves the grip on the tires that were previously fishtailing around the turns.

I doubt that three drops a lot of fluid is going to blow up and burn my house down.

The water with a few drops of dishwashing liquid. I’m sure it does the trick which is what I started with, but I’m finding the lighter fluid along with track vacuuming helps. Lighter fluid tends to keep the tires grippy or longer than the water and dish dishwashing liquid did.

I was just concerned, especially with new cars that lighter of fluid would be attacking the rubber.

I’ve read oiling the tires also degrades the rubber, so seems like whatever we do or use can be a toss up.

 

[MrFlippant]

I’ve read oiling the tires also degrades the rubber, so seems like whatever we do or use can be a toss up.

If you're at the point that you're using any kind of chemical to achieve more grip, then the assumption is that you will otherwise replace the tires if that grip cannot be improved.
Need more grip? Sand the tires. Still need more? True them. Not good enough? Oil them. Still needs more? Use different/better oil and/or oil them more frequently. If/when they degrade, replace the tires.

That said, there is a limit to how much grip can be achieved without magnetic traction assistance. There's no such thing as the same level of "grip" using the same tires after taking the magnet out as you had when the magnet was still in. Magnets are why the manufacturers can get away with using harder rubber (or cheaper concoctions a la Carrera). It also depends greatly on the track surface. Rough? Slick? Painted? Which tires get the best grip will differ, so someone's suggestions for their use case will not always apply to yours.

 

[Expidia]

If you're at the point that you're using any kind of chemical to achieve more grip, then the assumption is that you will otherwise replace the tires if that grip cannot be improved.
Need more grip? Sand the tires. Still need more? True them. Not good enough? Oil them. Still needs more? Use different/better oil and/or oil them more frequently. If/when they degrade, replace the tires.

That said, there is a limit to how much grip can be achieved without magnetic traction assistance. There's no such thing as the same level of "grip" using the same tires after taking the magnet out as you had when the magnet was still in. Magnets are why the manufacturers can get away with using harder rubber (or cheaper concoctions a la Carrera). It also depends greatly on the track surface. Rough? Slick? Painted? Which tires get the best grip will differ, so someone's suggestions for their use case will not always apply to yours.

Yup, thanks for your comments Greg. I also find a large emory board with a light few strokes can stop my cars from sliding too much, but I know that's removing rubber. I just try and put off the truing procedure as long as I can as I'm losing even more rubber. And yes, there are sure a lot of variables and fixes as to how a car grips the plastic track.

 

[Expidia]

Haha Chris, I caught that one too! "One person says do not use anything flammable on your tires, and in the next sentence says lighter fluid is OK ???, seems to me lighter fluid is flammable."

And thanks for mentioning your 60 years experience as that carries a lot of weight.

I've found lighter fluid is a wonder liquid for cleaning tires. As I said I doubt that 3 drops on the devices cleaning pad will blow up another Hindenburg 😱

Also just the smell of the lighter fluid always brings back found memories from 50 years ago of me smoking a Marlboro (but not sitting on a horse, never owned a horse) and lighting it up with my silver zippo before cigs were such a no no as we know now 😪

 

[GDSLOT]

I've found lighter fluid is a wonder liquid for cleaning tires. As I said I doubt that 3 drops on the devices cleaning pad will blow up another Hindenburg

You’d be surprised hehehe, the other day a guy dropt some lighter fluid direct on the tires , only to Watch his car burn 🔥in flames a few seconds after when he pulled the trigger (the fluid went into the motor ) 🤣🤣🤣 . It was a good laugh for everyone .

 

[Expidia]

You’d be surprised hehehe, the other day a guy dropt some lighter fluid direct on the tires , only to Watch his car burn 🔥in flames a few seconds after when he pulled the trigger (the fluid went into the motor ) 🤣🤣🤣 . It was a good laugh for everyone .

That "is" funny. But he dropped the fluid on the car which can quickly run into the motor or at least the fumes can get in there.
In my case the few drops only go on the cleaning pad, not the car.

My guess is lighter fluid is like gasoline in that the gas itself does not burn, it's the fumes that burn.

 

[HO RacePro]

Did I know cigarette lighter fluid is flammable? You know, I guess I did. Common knowledge I thought, but maybe I should have called that out explicitly.

I said I won't recommend using anything flammable on my Tire Cleaning Blocks, because there's an itsy-bitsy chance a motor spark could cause a fire. I don't want to hear that something I recommended caused a fire. I don't want that responsibility. I'm not insured for it.

But I was honest and admitted I do use cigarette lighter fluid on my own block and I accept that risk.

I have given you all the relevant information to make your own informed decision on what to use. Your choice.

 

[Kevan]

Yes lighter fluid is flammable... it also evaporates in seconds, blow on the tyres (or braids, as it's great for cleaning those with an old toothbrush) for a few seconds and the 'inflammable' problem is gone!

 

[Kevan]

...lighter fluid is also great for cleaning oily marks or sticky tape residue off bodyshells with a soft cloth

 

[HO RacePro]

An excess of caution? Me?

Not when I live in the United States of America, which has a massive oversupply of lawyers, all looking desperately for any excuse to file a lawsuit.

Now I'm not one to advocate for a lawyer hunting season. Nope, not even a bow season.

But I do believe lawyers should not be allowed to marry. The supply of b*st*rd lawyers is quite sufficient. There is no call for legitimate lawyers.

Right Gerry?

 

[Expidia]

Yes lighter fluid is flammable... it also evaporates in seconds, blow on the tyres (or braids, as it's great for cleaning those with an old toothbrush) for a few seconds and the 'inflammable' problem is gone!

Ya I forgot I also use it with a small toothbrush on dirty braids. Great stuff, shines the braids up like new!

 

[kalgani]

I'm using WD40 or Ballistol oil for a deep clean of my tires.
Lighter fluid (Petrol/Gas) I would consider as too aggressive, but maybe I'm totally wrong here.

 

[Wankel Ickx]

I thought I read a while back that WD40 is bad for rubber? Rubber fittings on 1:1 cars, that is. Ultimately making it brittle? 🤔

And here 'ultimately' probably being over a timescale that wouldn't come into play with our toy tyres before they're worn out and replaced but the question remains; isn't WD40 bad for rubber?? 🤷