GEAR GUIDE Get a grip! - RC-Auto

GEAR GUIDE
TIRES
TOP
Get a
grip!
BY TOM ROSS
One of the first upgrades on
everyone’s wish list is a new set
of tires for their vehicle. The stock
tires get you up and running but
often aren’t ideal for the
conditions you plan to run in. So,
which tires do you get? It can be
a bit of a challenge and possibly
a waste of money if you choose
the wrong ones. If you plan on
racing, you’ll want to pick up
something with a soft compound
and race-type tread, but for
bashing you might want a harder
compound with an aggressive
tread pattern. There are lots of
tires to choose from, and we’ve
done all the research for you.
Here are all the tires you could
possibly use on your 1⁄ 10-scale
short course truck. Read on and
see which ones are best for you.
96 RCCARACTION.COM
HPI ATTK
HPI’s ATTK tires come to you in
HPI’s soft S Compound rubber
and are made to fit 2.2 x 3.0inch asymmetrical bead rims.
The midsize block tread design
offers good traction on a variety
of surfaces, including both
loose and hard-packed dirt.
Although not as long-lasting as
the standard HPI D Compound,
HPI’s sticky S Compound rubber offers excellent grip and
improved cornering response
all around. Stamped foam
inserts cushion the tread and
help provide stability. They also
are available in a high-strength
belted version, which offers
improved durability and tightens response.
JCONCEPTS
GOOSE BUMP
The JConcepts Goose Bumps
are designed to fit a 2.2 x 3.0inch wheel and feature
JConcepts’ race-proven Goose
Bump tread pattern. The tread
is ideal for all track conditions
but excels on grooved clay
tracks; they’ll give your truck
plenty of traction regardless of
how worn out the tread is. They
are molded out of JConcepts’
super soft green compound,
which adds to their traction,
and firm foam inserts support
the tread. The Goose Bump
tires will also work well on
pavement and other hardpacked surfaces.
PRO-LINE
BOW TIE
Pro-Line Bow Tie tires are popular with racers and bashers,
and now have been adapted for
use on short course trucks.
They’re designed to fit 2.2 x
3.0-inch wheels, work well on
hard-packed surfaces and are
ideal for the racetrack. You can
purchase them in Pro-Line’s
medium M2 compound, a
longer-lasting rubber, but it
doesn’t offer as much traction
as their M3 compound, which is
super soft. Packed inside are
Pro-Line’s high-density foam
inserts that offer long wear and
great support. You can also
purchase them mounted on
Pro-Line Split Six wheels.
PRO-LINE
CALIBER
The distinct, non-directional
Caliber tread pattern features a
dual-stage pin design that
allows versatility and great
tread life. These tires fit 2.2 x
3.0-inch rims, they are good in
light to heavy loose dirt, and
they are a great choice for
either the track or local bash
site. Choose the medium M2
compound for longer wear or
the soft M3 compound for better traction. These tires are
cushioned by a set of smaller
stamped foam inserts that work
especially well with stock
Traxxas wheels. They’re also
available mounted on ProLine’s excellent Split Six rims.
QUICK SPECS
QUICK SPECS
QUICK SPECS
QUICK SPECS
PART NO. 103806, 103347
(belted)
DIAMETER 3.98 in. (101mm)
WIDTH 1.85 in. (47mm)
MOUNTING BEAD 2.2 in.
(56mm) outer, 3.0 in. (76mm)
inner
PRICE $20 pair, $22 pair (belted)
PART NO. 3041-02
DIAMETER 4.25 in. (108mm)
WIDTH 2 in. (52.45mm)
MOUNTING BEAD 2.2 in.
(56mm) outer, 3.0 in. (76mm)
inner
PRICE $18 pair
PART NO. 1153-01 (M2),
1153-02 (M3); Mounted 115313 (Slash front M2), 1153-15
(Slash front M3), 1153-14
(Slash/4x4, Blitz Rear M2),
1153-16 (Slash/4x4, Blitz Rear
M3), 1153-11 (Slash front M2,
bead-locks), 1153-12
(Slash/4x4, Blitz Rear M2,
bead-locks)
DIAMETER 4.26 in. (108mm)
WIDTH 1.71 in. (43mm)
MOUNTING BEAD 2.2 in.
(56mm) outer, 3.0 in. (76mm)
inner
PRICE $19 pair, $30 pair
(mounted); $43 pair (mounted
bead-locks)
PART NO. 1156-01 (M2), 115602 (M3); Mounted 1156-13
(Slash front, M2), 1156-15
(Slash Front, M3), 1156-14
(Slash/4x4, Blitz Rear M2),
1156-16 (Slash/4x4, Blitz Rear
M3)
DIAMETER 4.3 in. (109mm)
WIDTH 1.7 in. (43mm)
MOUNTING BEAD 2.2 in.
(56mm) outer, 3.0 in. (76mm)
inner
PRICE $19 pair; $26 pair
(mounted)
Standard rims vs. Bead-locks
STANDARD
BEADLOCK
When it comes to rims, you can choose from either standard or
bead-lock. Standard rims are simple, one-piece and usually made
out of plastic. Bead-locks consist of multiple parts and are held
together with screws. Both types of rims come in a wide variety of
designs and colors.
Standard rims are cheap and lightweight, but you need to glue
your tires to them. If you want to be fast and nimble, standard
rims are for you. Instead of glue, bead-lock rims use a system of
clamping rings to keep the tire beads in place. Although much
heavier and more expensive than standard rims, bead-locks look
awesome and are tough as nails. If you prefer durability and wow
factor over lap times and glue, bead-locks are the only way to go.
SHORT COURSE RACING 2010 97
GEAR GUIDE
PRO-LINE
MOHAWK
These ribbed front-wheel-only
tires are exclusively designed
for 2WD trucks with 2.2 x 3.0inch rims. Unlike standard single-rib designs, Mohawk tires
feature a unique two-stage dual
rib, which is great in sand and
snow and offers a sand dune
scale look. They are available in
Pro-Line’s long-lasting extrafirm red-compound rubber and
come with molded inserts.
These tires can also be purchased mounted on either standard or bead-lock Pro-Line
Split Six rims.
PRO-LINE
SLING SHOT
Pro-Line brings the classic
sand-paddle concept to short
course trucks with the one-ofa-kind Sling Shot tire, good for
both 2WD and 4WD trucks.
They don’t provide the best
side-to-side traction in the
world, but they eat up snow,
sand and mud when running in
a straight line. Pro-Line’s
durable XTR firm compound
ensures long wear, and molded
foam inserts support the Sling
Shot’s 10-paddle design. They
are also sold mounted on both
standard and bead-lock Split
Six rims.
PRO-LINE
SWITCH
Pro-Line’s Switch tire boasts
both looks and performance,
thanks to a scale-looking tread
pattern and medium M2 rubber
compound. These tires fit standard 2.2 x 3.0-inch short course
truck rims, but the Switch tire is
also available in a 2.2-only size
made to fit and premounted on
Pro-Line’s Epic Bead-Loc rims.
Switch tires are a good generalpurpose choice for all surfaces,
and they come with oversize
dense foams that really firm up
the treads. Available in pairs or
mounted on either Epic or Split
Six bead-lock rims.
QUICK SPECS
QUICK SPECS
QUICK SPECS
PART NO. 1157-00; Mounted
1157-10 (Slash front), 1157-11
(Slash front, bead-locks)
DIAMETER 4.5 in. (115mm)
WIDTH 1.97 in. (50mm)
MOUNTING BEAD 2.2 in.
(56mm) outer, 3.0 in. (76mm)
inner
PRICE $17 pair; $26 pair
(mounted); $43 pair (mounted
bead-locks)
PART NO. 1158-00; Mounted
1158-10 (Slash/4x4, Blitz Rear),
1158-12 (Slash/4x4, Blitz Rear,
bead-locks)
DIAMETER 4.5 in. (115mm)
WIDTH 2 in. (50mm)
MOUNTING BEAD 2.2 in.
(56mm) outer, 3.0 in. (76mm)
inner
PRICE $18; $26 (mounted);
$43 (mounted, bead-locks)
PART NO. 1076-01 (2.2 in.
only), 1078-01 (2.2/3.0 in.);
mounted 1076-11 (2.2 in. Epic
Slash front bead-locks), 107612 (2.2 in. Epic Slash rear beadlocks), 1078-11 (2.2/3.0 in. Epic
Slayer bead-locks), 1078-21
(2.2/3.0 in. Split Six Slash front
bead-locks), 1078-22 (2.2/3.0 in.
Split Six Slash/4x4, Blitz Rear
bead-locks)
DIAMETER 4.3 in. (109mm)
WIDTH 1.72 in. (44mm) /2.5 in.
(55mm, 2.2 only)
MOUNTING BEAD 2.2 in.
(56mm) outer, 3.0 in. (76mm)
inner / 2.2 in. (56mm) only
PRICE $16 pair; $37-$50 pair
(mounted bead-locks)
Foam inserts
RC short course truck tires are not
filled with air. Instead, RC tires use
foam rings to cushion the bumps
and simulate the effects of pressurized gas. Tire foams are lightweight,
inexpensive, reliable and relatively easy
to adjust. Foam density dictates how firm
or soft the tires behave, which is equivalent
to high or low air pressure used in full-scale applications. Soft foams are good for rough or soft surfaces, while firm foams
are best on hard or high-traction surfaces.
Foam inserts are either stamped or molded. Stamped inserts are cut
from large sheets and are considered “standard.” Molded inserts fit both
the tire and rim precisely; this helps prevent side-to-side flex during cornering. Molded inserts are slightly more expensive but offer much better
all-around performance.
98 RCCARACTION.COM
RC4WD
DIRT DIGGER
Leave it to RC4WD to come
through with a great-looking 2.2
x 3.0-inch tire that is sure to
dress up the scale looks of any
truck. Don’t let the pretty exterior fool you; these tires offer
good performance as well,
thanks to a reinforced sidewall
and RC4WD’s X3 ultra soft
compound. The molded foams
and scale lug-pattern tread
make the Dirt Diggers a great
all-around choice for a variety
of dirt and pavement surfaces.
QUICK SPECS
PART NO. Z-T0017
DIAMETER 4.33 in. (110mm)
WIDTH 1.77 in. (45mm)
MOUNTING BEAD 2.2 in.
(56mm) outer, 3.0 in. (76mm)
inner
PRICE $25 pair
SOURCES
HPI hpiracing.com
JConcepts jconcepts.net
Pro-Line prolineracing.com
RC4WD rc4wd.com
AKA 1/8 BUGGY WHEEL ADAPTERS
Wouldn’t it be great if you could use 1⁄ 8 buggy wheels and tires on your
short course truck? Thanks to AKA, you can. They make bolt-on aluminum
adapters for trucks such as the Traxxas Slash and Associated SC10 that
allow you to use any 1⁄ 8 AKA or other buggy rim and tire on your short
course truck. No modifications to the truck are required, and the stock
width and steering radius are retained.
There are hundreds of 1⁄ 8 buggy rims and tires already available on the
market, so you’re sure to find a combo to match the surface you’re running
on. Buggy wheels tend be larger in diameter than short course truck wheels
but only by a few millimeters, so only minor suspension adjustments are
required to compensate. When you’re ready to go back to a more scale,
authentic look, the buggy wheel adapters come off easily and allow you to
bolt your original rims back on.