Originally Posted by
ocpop
Just wondering... I think saucing the tires generally softens them. So why not use a softer compound instead? For instance, why not use soft compound tires instead of clay compound tires and save yourself the trouble of saucing it?
There are several answers you would get for this question.
For me... i use the treated firmer compound when parts of the racing surface has a tendency to give way to the physical design of the tire pins/bars... but there are still sections of the track that are hard as a rock and will respond to a stickier tire.
The additive is used for the harder sections of the track, and the firmer compound is used so the pins/bars mechanically dig, instead of folding over as if you used a super soft tire.
Slicks are different, as you may use a sauced soft compound (versus a super soft) to keep the chassis from plowing into a high bite racing surface. The results are cooler batteries, motors, and generally faster lap times.
Weight of the chassis is also a variable, and works in conjunction with track/tire temperature. More weight adds friction between the tire and track surface (generating heat), and since traction is defined as friction between a tire and racing surface... too much of it would not work well with a softer compound... somewhat regardless of tread pattern... treated with additive or not.
On a deeper level, weight transferred between a chassis that rolls... and a chassis that doesnt roll, could dictate the need for a different compound/tire additive/pattern on the same chassis on the same track. Hell, driving style can affect it as well.
Its kind of a black art of sorts... but a lot of it follows a logical understanding of how a chassis transfers weight... and the tire/insert makes use of the energy forced through it.