View Poll Results: 1/12th scale Rubber or Foam tires
Rubber Tires



96
41.38%
Foam Tires



136
58.62%
Voters: 232. You may not vote on this poll
1/12th scale rubber tires
#61
Tech Addict
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 609
From: New Zealand
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNfbyCyqNrA
Yokomo GT 500 1/12th scale style chassis running on rubber tires.
Yokomo GT 500 1/12th scale style chassis running on rubber tires.
#62
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,298
From: Raleigh, North Carolina
Man if we can get rubber tires to the weight of foamies then it may be doable on 1/12. I don't see it working if they are heavier. Too sensitive to weight with 1s and too many of us spoiled by the performance advantage of foam.
I'll stretch some condoms over foamie rims and try that. They might be light enough. And pre-sauced. Lol.
I'll stretch some condoms over foamie rims and try that. They might be light enough. And pre-sauced. Lol.
#63
Tech Master
iTrader: (10)
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,799
From: New Bern, N.C.
Aaron, you are a sick person.
Man if we can get rubber tires to the weight of foamies then it may be doable on 1/12. I don't see it working if they are heavier. Too sensitive to weight with 1s and too many of us spoiled by the performance advantage of foam.
I'll stretch some condoms over foamie rims and try that. They might be light enough. And pre-sauced. Lol.
I'll stretch some condoms over foamie rims and try that. They might be light enough. And pre-sauced. Lol.
#69
Tech Master
iTrader: (10)
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,799
From: New Bern, N.C.
I invite you guys to drive my WGTR. Before I tried it (honestly, I assembled the car out of spare parts just for something new and different to play with.....and fully expecting the rubber tires to really suck), I too was among those who had voiced my strong opinion that the concept of even considering 1/12th scale rubber tires was completely blasphemous. But after building up my own WGTR car (once again just for shits and giggles), my opinion has changed. The rubber tires did not ruin my WGT. If anything, they seem to have made it better. Not faster, mind you, but better and certainly sweeter to drive. Having said that, I certainly would not expect any of you guys to take my word for it. So I invite any of you naysayers to take mine for a short test drive, experience how well it drives for yourself, and then we'll see if your opinion remains the same. I'm a pretty stubborn old skool kinda guy and fairly hard core about my 1/12th scale racing, but I just cannot deny that my low budget WGTR drives really sweet on its rubber tires and it is for sure drastically better than I could have ever imagined. Sometimes it can be good to try stepping outside the box.
#70
Tech Adept
iTrader: (6)
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 174
From: Myrtle Beach SC
Do you feel it would be just as good if it was 13.5? I'm not doubting you in any way just curious if the reason it is good is the fact it is slower.
I invite you guys to drive my WGTR. Before I tried it (honestly, I assembled the car out of spare parts just for something new and different to play with.....and fully expecting the rubber tires to really suck), I too was among those who had voiced my strong opinion that the concept of even considering 1/12th scale rubber tires was completely blasphemous. But after building up my own WGTR car (once again just for shits and giggles), my opinion has changed. The rubber tires did not ruin my WGT. If anything, they seem to have made it better. Not faster, mind you, but better and certainly sweeter to drive. Having said that, I certainly would not expect any of you guys to take my word for it. So I invite any of you naysayers to take mine for a short test drive, experience how well it drives for yourself, and then we'll see if your opinion remains the same. I'm a pretty stubborn old skool kinda guy and fairly hard core about my 1/12th scale racing, but I just cannot deny that my low budget WGTR drives really sweet on its rubber tires and it is for sure drastically better than I could have ever imagined. Sometimes it can be good to try stepping outside the box.
#71
Chad, for someone that comes from a Mini-z background, you are quite negative on the rubber tires. :P
I truly believe that a Mini-z style rubber tire would be good and perform nearly as well as foam tires on the 12th scales. You could still true them, they would never chunk, last longer and they would probably have a longer "sweet spot" for usage. They would probably be marginally heavier, which may take some punch away, but top speed would be pretty close.
I love 12th scale, and love foam, but cost starts getting prohibitively expensive when you need to 1-2 run your tires to be competitive. Now, I know this is not what everyone does, and I am not saying change foam, so don't bring out pitchforks. I am just saying that it could be nearly as good as foam, for a much lower running cost. I think the cars would slow down slightly which is probably a benefit too for outsiders. I have a feeling they would work better on most asphalt tracks too. If they work nearly as good, the cost of running is lower and they are easier to use, then I could see them being a good change.
In the end, it could be beneficial for the hobbyists to help enjoy running 12th scale more. Do I think it would increase turnouts? Not necessarily from the tire change, but maybe from being able to run them outside more where people can see them running and inquire about them. But lets face it, changing the tire compound or type is not going to all of the sudden to make RC tracks come back, get more people involved in the hobby and grow racing as a whole.
I'll leave with saying, if someone makes some, I'll give them a fair shot before I make up my mind. If they are based on a design similar to a Mini-z Tire, I guarantee that they'll be pretty good. It is just a matter of getting the compounds figured out.
I truly believe that a Mini-z style rubber tire would be good and perform nearly as well as foam tires on the 12th scales. You could still true them, they would never chunk, last longer and they would probably have a longer "sweet spot" for usage. They would probably be marginally heavier, which may take some punch away, but top speed would be pretty close.
I love 12th scale, and love foam, but cost starts getting prohibitively expensive when you need to 1-2 run your tires to be competitive. Now, I know this is not what everyone does, and I am not saying change foam, so don't bring out pitchforks. I am just saying that it could be nearly as good as foam, for a much lower running cost. I think the cars would slow down slightly which is probably a benefit too for outsiders. I have a feeling they would work better on most asphalt tracks too. If they work nearly as good, the cost of running is lower and they are easier to use, then I could see them being a good change.
In the end, it could be beneficial for the hobbyists to help enjoy running 12th scale more. Do I think it would increase turnouts? Not necessarily from the tire change, but maybe from being able to run them outside more where people can see them running and inquire about them. But lets face it, changing the tire compound or type is not going to all of the sudden to make RC tracks come back, get more people involved in the hobby and grow racing as a whole.
I'll leave with saying, if someone makes some, I'll give them a fair shot before I make up my mind. If they are based on a design similar to a Mini-z Tire, I guarantee that they'll be pretty good. It is just a matter of getting the compounds figured out.
#72
Tech Adept
iTrader: (6)
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 174
From: Myrtle Beach SC
If it was a mini z style rubber tire I could see that working. Might have to see if I can stretch some kyosho 20s on some wheels and give it a try. Lol.
Chad, for someone that comes from a Mini-z background, you are quite negative on the rubber tires. :P
I truly believe that a Mini-z style rubber tire would be good and perform nearly as well as foam tires on the 12th scales. You could still true them, they would never chunk, last longer and they would probably have a longer "sweet spot" for usage. They would probably be marginally heavier, which may take some punch away, but top speed would be pretty close.
I love 12th scale, and love foam, but cost starts getting prohibitively expensive when you need to 1-2 run your tires to be competitive. Now, I know this is not what everyone does, and I am not saying change foam, so don't bring out pitchforks. I am just saying that it could be nearly as good as foam, for a much lower running cost. I think the cars would slow down slightly which is probably a benefit too for outsiders. I have a feeling they would work better on most asphalt tracks too. If they work nearly as good, the cost of running is lower and they are easier to use, then I could see them being a good change.
In the end, it could be beneficial for the hobbyists to help enjoy running 12th scale more. Do I think it would increase turnouts? Not necessarily from the tire change, but maybe from being able to run them outside more where people can see them running and inquire about them. But lets face it, changing the tire compound or type is not going to all of the sudden to make RC tracks come back, get more people involved in the hobby and grow racing as a whole.
I'll leave with saying, if someone makes some, I'll give them a fair shot before I make up my mind. If they are based on a design similar to a Mini-z Tire, I guarantee that they'll be pretty good. It is just a matter of getting the compounds figured out.
I truly believe that a Mini-z style rubber tire would be good and perform nearly as well as foam tires on the 12th scales. You could still true them, they would never chunk, last longer and they would probably have a longer "sweet spot" for usage. They would probably be marginally heavier, which may take some punch away, but top speed would be pretty close.
I love 12th scale, and love foam, but cost starts getting prohibitively expensive when you need to 1-2 run your tires to be competitive. Now, I know this is not what everyone does, and I am not saying change foam, so don't bring out pitchforks. I am just saying that it could be nearly as good as foam, for a much lower running cost. I think the cars would slow down slightly which is probably a benefit too for outsiders. I have a feeling they would work better on most asphalt tracks too. If they work nearly as good, the cost of running is lower and they are easier to use, then I could see them being a good change.
In the end, it could be beneficial for the hobbyists to help enjoy running 12th scale more. Do I think it would increase turnouts? Not necessarily from the tire change, but maybe from being able to run them outside more where people can see them running and inquire about them. But lets face it, changing the tire compound or type is not going to all of the sudden to make RC tracks come back, get more people involved in the hobby and grow racing as a whole.
I'll leave with saying, if someone makes some, I'll give them a fair shot before I make up my mind. If they are based on a design similar to a Mini-z Tire, I guarantee that they'll be pretty good. It is just a matter of getting the compounds figured out.
#74
Tech Master
iTrader: (10)
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,799
From: New Bern, N.C.
Challenge accepted. To fulfill your curiosity (and also my own) I'll put my idle 13.5 in the car for next time so that we can see then how the car handles a bit more rip. While it is possible that the extra power of a 13.5 might overcome the rubber tires, I honestly don't expect that to happen since there was not even a hint of being "under tired" last week. Only one true way to find out.......so let's give it a whirl and see how it goes.


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