Low Odor Non-Toxic Tire Sauce
#1

I wanted to start this topic to discuss and encourage tire sauce brands to release real odorless and hopefully non-toxic tire sauces. I remember the scourge of paragon wintergreen that would permeate everything it came into contact with. I remember racers complaining about headaches, feeling "stupid" for days after a race, and even nosebleeds. Frankly, looking back, it was insane that nothing was done for so long. Paragon was banned, and through numerous iterations and false starts, indoor on-road now specs SXT, which is actually odorless, unlike other sauces that claimed to be odorless, but were only less smelly than that company's other sauce. When indoor off-road tracks began changing to hard packed clay/dirt mixes, and speeds increased, racers began to sauce more looking for grip. Currently available sauces use combinations of turpentine, kerosene, diesel fuel, naptha, belt dressing, atf fluid, acetone, penetrating oils, and other volatile chemicals. Using these in a confined indoor space and letting them evaporate into the air is not only unhealthy, but dangerous, especially to kids. I am not even talking about absorbing these chemicals through your skin while applying them, getting them onto your food while eating, etc. I am also not talking about the home brews (that include diesel fuel, and who know what else - real healthy.)
Our local track has carried SXT baja max (very low odor,) for several months. It works ok, but it requires that you wipe it off, and unfortunately few racers use it. As soon as I heard about TDK, I ordered some. After I started to use it, I showed it to the track owner, and the track started to carry it. Now about a third of the racers are using it and there has already been a noticeable change in the air (although there is still a ways to go.) TDK is the model of what sauce should be: effective, NON-TOXIC, quick drying (about 10 minutes), and low odor (high grip has a low odor, medium grip- odorless- has no odor at all.) I do wish that it had a better seal on the dauber cap, and I contacted them about this (their answer was that they wanted the can to be recyclable.)
I don't want this post to seem like an ad for TDK, but they are the first non-toxic sauce available (and they also have a no odor product), and they deserve credit for that. If more racers begin to use it, it will force other brands to go low to no odor and non-toxic the way it should be (currently, most odorless, except SXT, are not even close to that). By the way, after using it, racers have told me that their eyes don't sting while applying it, and they appreciate that it doesn't stink, plus the track owner loves it.
This is also a message to sauce brands that have an off-road product. You have already lost the indoor on-road market to SXT. Take the initiative and release a no-odor, hopefully non-toxic product before the same thing happens in off-road.
Our local track has carried SXT baja max (very low odor,) for several months. It works ok, but it requires that you wipe it off, and unfortunately few racers use it. As soon as I heard about TDK, I ordered some. After I started to use it, I showed it to the track owner, and the track started to carry it. Now about a third of the racers are using it and there has already been a noticeable change in the air (although there is still a ways to go.) TDK is the model of what sauce should be: effective, NON-TOXIC, quick drying (about 10 minutes), and low odor (high grip has a low odor, medium grip- odorless- has no odor at all.) I do wish that it had a better seal on the dauber cap, and I contacted them about this (their answer was that they wanted the can to be recyclable.)
I don't want this post to seem like an ad for TDK, but they are the first non-toxic sauce available (and they also have a no odor product), and they deserve credit for that. If more racers begin to use it, it will force other brands to go low to no odor and non-toxic the way it should be (currently, most odorless, except SXT, are not even close to that). By the way, after using it, racers have told me that their eyes don't sting while applying it, and they appreciate that it doesn't stink, plus the track owner loves it.
This is also a message to sauce brands that have an off-road product. You have already lost the indoor on-road market to SXT. Take the initiative and release a no-odor, hopefully non-toxic product before the same thing happens in off-road.
Last edited by billjacobs; 04-18-2019 at 02:05 PM.
#3

Nice post and I agree 100% with what you wrote. I know it must seem like I'm sponsored by TDK, but I don't get anything from them. I just want to see the hobby go towards non-toxic tire sauces. If it works, is not expensive, and has a lack of hazardous materials, then why would you use anything else? TDK checks all those boxes.
15% off discount code too:
15% off discount code too:
#4

The Tire Sauce Recipe thread was asking about how to make tire sauce and what's in them and this product was mentioned. There hasn't been a specific thread about no-odor non-toxic sauces. I am not getting anything for posting this, I just don't want off-road RC to continue to decline and having the facilities smell like paint cans (the old high voc variety) is only accelerating the decline. My kids don't come to the track specifically because of the tire sauces being used, and I'm sure others feel the same way. For those that dismiss any concerns about tire sauces, I am sure the health warnings at home depot on the cans of the components of many of the sauces are just there to prevent lawsuits, as are the MSDS warnings. This issue was settled in indoor on-road long ago, I am not sure how off-road is different. My goal is not to make one particular brand dominant. I would love to see all brands release a no-odor, non-toxic variety, but only rules or sales will compel them to do this.
Last edited by billjacobs; 04-18-2019 at 11:21 AM.
#5
Tech Regular
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: northern Indiana southern Michigan all depends on the day.
Posts: 282

If you or others are looking for safe alternatives, tire sauce. Simple green. A couple guys at my home track use it. Including the 3 of the fastest guys. It's also cheaper then normal tire sauce. The reality is if we want the tire sauce guys to make healthier recipes. We just needed to stop buying there's till they changed it. Being in the construction industry unhealthy products are supposed to have warning labels and msd sheets.
PS just because it doesn't have a foul stench doesn't mean it's not emitting harmful fumes. Afew sauce makers cover up the smells.
PS just because it doesn't have a foul stench doesn't mean it's not emitting harmful fumes. Afew sauce makers cover up the smells.
#6

some info on the TDK stuff:
https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/b4ace...3475e712d6.pdf
How does it traction compare to say SXT 3.0 compound on carpet for both types of sauce they sell?
Got a car here that came in with clay tires that must have been dipped in some mixture of diesel fuel, still have them sitting out side 4 days going now.
https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/b4ace...3475e712d6.pdf
Hazard Identification
Potential Health Effects:
INHALATION:Negligible unless heated to produce vapors. Vapors or finely misted materials may irritate the mucous membranes and cause irritation, dizziness, and nausea. Remove to fresh air.
EYE CONTACT: May cause irritation. Irrigate eye with water for atleast 15 to 20 minutes. Seek medical attention if symptoms persist.
SKIN CONTACT:Prolonged or repeated contactis not likely to cause significantskin irritation.Ingestion:No hazards anticipated from ingestion incidental to exposure
Potential Health Effects:
INHALATION:Negligible unless heated to produce vapors. Vapors or finely misted materials may irritate the mucous membranes and cause irritation, dizziness, and nausea. Remove to fresh air.
EYE CONTACT: May cause irritation. Irrigate eye with water for atleast 15 to 20 minutes. Seek medical attention if symptoms persist.
SKIN CONTACT:Prolonged or repeated contactis not likely to cause significantskin irritation.Ingestion:No hazards anticipated from ingestion incidental to exposure
Got a car here that came in with clay tires that must have been dipped in some mixture of diesel fuel, still have them sitting out side 4 days going now.
#7
Tech Regular

You could also just use Simple Green.
#8

I bought both versions of the TDK sauce and I am sold.
After a night of practice saucing up two cars trying each type I'm impressed, no harsh smell, no bad feeling. I didn't have to worry about sitting with my tires right next to my face after saucing and my wife didn't complain I smelled like an old car shop.
And the grip is as good as sticky kicks. I would say the high traction is like Sticky kicks yellow. The oderless is perfect when the grip is higher and you don't need as much from your sauce
I run indoor clay at SDRC.
Edit - the only downside is dry time... But I would wait about 10-15mins the just wipe it off which is not really a an issue because the sauce rag can be used to shine up the bodies or wipe your hands.
After a night of practice saucing up two cars trying each type I'm impressed, no harsh smell, no bad feeling. I didn't have to worry about sitting with my tires right next to my face after saucing and my wife didn't complain I smelled like an old car shop.
And the grip is as good as sticky kicks. I would say the high traction is like Sticky kicks yellow. The oderless is perfect when the grip is higher and you don't need as much from your sauce
I run indoor clay at SDRC.
Edit - the only downside is dry time... But I would wait about 10-15mins the just wipe it off which is not really a an issue because the sauce rag can be used to shine up the bodies or wipe your hands.
Last edited by socalcloin; 06-21-2019 at 08:37 PM.
#10

Wish they would have had the option sooner but TDk is updating their sauce containers. Which is nice the cans leak if the lid is not cranked down super tight.
https://www.tdkrepair.com/product-page/highgripsauce
https://www.tdkrepair.com/product-page/highgripsauce
#11

I bought both versions of the TDK sauce and I am sold.
After a night of practice saucing up two cars trying each type I'm impressed, no harsh smell, no bad feeling. I didn't have to worry about sitting with my tires right next to my face after saucing and my wife didn't complain I smelled like an old car shop.
And the grip is as good as sticky kicks. I would say the high traction is like Sticky kicks yellow. The oderless is perfect when the grip is higher and you don't need as much from your sauce
After a night of practice saucing up two cars trying each type I'm impressed, no harsh smell, no bad feeling. I didn't have to worry about sitting with my tires right next to my face after saucing and my wife didn't complain I smelled like an old car shop.
And the grip is as good as sticky kicks. I would say the high traction is like Sticky kicks yellow. The oderless is perfect when the grip is higher and you don't need as much from your sauce
#12

On my 2wd buggy was running high traction with dirt webs (golds) on the front and ellipses on the rear, but then I switched to Raw Speed slicks (white) and the odorless is plenty with the grip I get from the slicks.
#13
Tech Apprentice
iTrader: (5)

+1 for someone that uses simple green with great success on medium/high bite clay.
I had made some sauce with ATF in the past and have used sticky kicks, both made me feel pretty nauseous so I stopped using them.
WD-40 has also worked well for me but I think Simple Green is a little more eco.
I had made some sauce with ATF in the past and have used sticky kicks, both made me feel pretty nauseous so I stopped using them.
WD-40 has also worked well for me but I think Simple Green is a little more eco.
#14

sticky kicks purple works great and smell amazing like grape kool aid. what more could you want.