Tire Tech Talk - Compounds, Wheels, Inserts, Sauce!
02-28-2014, 05:02 AM
#1
Tire Tech Talk - Compounds, Wheels, Inserts, Sauce!
Hello All, I've created this thread to discuss all the ways we like to use and abuse our tires.
First question: Who's using open cell foam? Ya know the plain white foams that you usually get with your tires. This seems like older technology and I have been using the AKA red closed cell foam exclusively for the last year. It's very consistent and fits very well in a variety of brands tires. It also seems to hold up well when using traction compounds.
Thanks!
First question: Who's using open cell foam? Ya know the plain white foams that you usually get with your tires. This seems like older technology and I have been using the AKA red closed cell foam exclusively for the last year. It's very consistent and fits very well in a variety of brands tires. It also seems to hold up well when using traction compounds.
Thanks!
Last edited by 13Maschine; 02-28-2014 at 10:10 PM.
03-23-2014, 07:13 PM
#4
I have also used the Pro Line Closed Cell foam that is blue and it is very similar to the AKA perhaps somewhat smaller. It's tough to tell as often the profile and shape are different from brand to brand although the foam might be very similar in hardness. I've also used the Panther foams which seem to be the softest so far. I currently only have one set and I felt it made my tires feel a little too flat so I never tried another set. I may try a set in the front of my 4WD as a tuning option later on.
So far I like closed cell foams as they seem to hold up much better. some of my tires are treated with tire sauce and the foams seem to be stable through many kinds of treatments. WD40, Sticky Kicks Blue, Simple Green, etc.
Does that help Cripple?
So far I like closed cell foams as they seem to hold up much better. some of my tires are treated with tire sauce and the foams seem to be stable through many kinds of treatments. WD40, Sticky Kicks Blue, Simple Green, etc.
Does that help Cripple?
04-17-2014, 09:59 PM
#5
I've just mounted up several new sets of tires and wheels so I have more information to share. It seems pro line clay compound is a little harder than AKA and Panther clay compounds. Performance seems pretty similar on the track so far though. I'm on my third set of Pro Line Ions and I've used them at a couple of different clay tracks. I get decent wear out of them. Usually a couple of days of full practice. Morning to night.
Foams I've settled on using AKA red closed cell firm foams for now. It's nice to have a standard foam so when I change tires I'm still on the same foams for consistencies sake. Also suspension usually changes a bit with different foam as this is the first point of impact for jumping and landing etc. it seems the panther closed cell foams (orange) are a little softer. This might be a good tuning aid. The Jconcepts medium closed cell also seems like a possible tuning aid. I don't see using the old style open cell foams anymore, they always seem to break down before the tire.
Can anyone share their comments on tire tuning? compounds etc?
Foams I've settled on using AKA red closed cell firm foams for now. It's nice to have a standard foam so when I change tires I'm still on the same foams for consistencies sake. Also suspension usually changes a bit with different foam as this is the first point of impact for jumping and landing etc. it seems the panther closed cell foams (orange) are a little softer. This might be a good tuning aid. The Jconcepts medium closed cell also seems like a possible tuning aid. I don't see using the old style open cell foams anymore, they always seem to break down before the tire.
Can anyone share their comments on tire tuning? compounds etc?
04-17-2014, 10:01 PM
#6
I've also experimented with a few different kinds of tire sauce. So far I've used WD40, and I have several flavors of sticky kicks. Blue, Red, and Yellow. I've heard green is also good.
What else have you tried? Do you use different sauce on different compound tires?
What else have you tried? Do you use different sauce on different compound tires?
04-17-2014, 10:06 PM
#7
Yes, PL MC clay compound has been pretty hard. However, they have changed their MC compound recently and now it's very, very, very different. I like it quite a bit better so far.
04-18-2014, 06:48 AM
#8
I was also recently discussing with a fellow racer that it seems antiquated to have a grid or waffle pattern molded inside the tire's casing these days. With closed cell foams the tires' shape is under control. The waffle pattern just serves to break down the foam faster. 1/8 tires aren't like that and haven't been for a very long time.
04-19-2014, 02:38 PM
#9
@GTIclay: I had a set of handout ions from the Reedy race that seem quite a bit different from the IONS i just picked up from Amain. My handout tires were double purple dot….Maybe this was a test for the new compound?
@DavidKa: Interesting…harder clay compound. I was just discussion tire compounds last night with the owner of our track and he recommended I try super soft instead of clay. Our track is a clay indoor track and we keep it pretty smoother and high traction. When it's extra wet you can run slicks.
@DavidKa: Interesting…harder clay compound. I was just discussion tire compounds last night with the owner of our track and he recommended I try super soft instead of clay. Our track is a clay indoor track and we keep it pretty smoother and high traction. When it's extra wet you can run slicks.
04-19-2014, 02:46 PM
#11
J concepts has a new grey insert that they are still testing.
