Tire sauce swelling tires good or bad?
#1
Tire sauce swelling tires good or bad?
Racing indoor hard packed clay. Started using more aggressive tire additives and have noticed the tires are swelling to a point where they are no longer contacting the forms. Couldn’t help but notice that they were gripping very good like this. In the past I would have thought the tires to be ruined. Anyone else purposely oversoften their tires to a point they are no longer in contact with the foams?
#3
But does it make them grip better? Anyone out there do this purposely?
#5
Do whatever feels good for your car. If tire swell works good for you then do it. You'll find your groove/system. I never listen to others. I just do what works for me.
#6
R/C Tech Elite Member
iTrader: (4)
Some slight swelling is okay I think, especially if the tires are nice and soft. But then i will never apply more sauce until the tire is dead. Too much swelling will cause the stuff mentioned above, and they will balloon easier/more, which could reduce contact patch and grip on high speed straightaways. If you don't mind risking a set of tires, try different amounts and see what performs best or when it starts to hurt your times.
#7
Nope. What is happening (in addition to the sauce swelling the tires) is the rubber is getting stretched from the forces going through the tire because the rubber is so soft and sticky. Once the tire is stretched it makes the handling inconsistent because instead of the tire releasing from the track surface gradually as the tire is overloaded, it grips and then snaps free causing a sudden loss of traction. This problem is exacerbated by the foams getting worn because of the movement between the loose tire and the foam.
If you cupcake around safely within the adhesion level of the tire then it will probably take a pretty bagged out tire to really feel a difference on track. If you are the guy who usually wins and sets lap records for your class, then you will notice inconsistent handling right away.
If you cupcake around safely within the adhesion level of the tire then it will probably take a pretty bagged out tire to really feel a difference on track. If you are the guy who usually wins and sets lap records for your class, then you will notice inconsistent handling right away.