Tyres are an important component of any kind of machine with wheels and it is important to take care of them to avoid serious damage to both life and property. Well, when it comes to RC tyres, it may not be deadly but the performance will reduce over the years if proper maintenance is not considered.
It is important to drive the RC model once in a while because letting it sit for a long time will result in the degradation of tyres. There are a number of aspects that can effect the tyres of an RC:
NOTE:The following information is only applicable to rubber tyres of RC
Heat or Cold:
Variations in temperature such as humidity or cold weather can result in the tyres expanding and contracting which is not visible to the human eye. This can lead to uneven tyre wear or improper handling.
Exposure to UV radiation:
UV rays can also effect the condition of the tyres. Physical reactions can take place which will result in the faster degradation of tyres.
Humidity:
As mentioned earlier, low humidity can result in degradation of tyres as the volatile components such as the plasticisers can lose its ability to keep the tyres strong.
Indirect Chemical contact:
Fumes from paints, oil and chemicals placed close to the RC model can cause a chemical reaction which can destroy the tyres.
Also See:Check Out 'Pirelli P Zero' Speakers Inspired By F1 Tyres
Direct Chemical contact:
Inappropriate usage of tyre treatment chemicals such as WD40 or something similar can cause damage to the tyres.
According to Tamiya RC tyres, all their tyres except the foam filled and 'Diplo' tyres, are made of rubber like substances and not actual rubber so its obviously difficult to restore the tyres not knowing what kind of properties that the tyres consist.
However, the tyres seem to have some rubber compound and plastic properties which will allow any RC user to restore it properly and make it shine like a brand new tyre set. Based on the variations in its compounds the RC vehicle's tyres have been divided into"Rubber" and "plastic" categories which are discussed below:
Tyres with Rubber compound : The following are the vintage models and tyres of the models respectively:
Wild Willy- Blazing Blazer
Sand Rover- Holiday Buggy
Sand Scorcher- Grasshopper,
Super Champ- Hornet
These cars have been re-released in the current times also.
Tyres with plastic compound:
Hotshot-bigwig and Monster Beetle which came in the middles age of vintage cars had plastic compound but during the later periods, the plastic content was reduced significantly.
Regardless, both types dry & crack, and permanently deform under load causing flat spots. Rubber can also go soft, swell and lose tread and sidewall details. Plastic tyres are also known to wear and have cracks if they are kept untouched.
The following are the steps to restore RC tyres with time-gap between each process:
- cleaning & drying time - 1 day
- gluing & curing - 1 day
- glycerine treatment - 7 days
- glycerine removal - 7 days
- post drying time - 7+ days
Cleaning the tyres:
This can be done with the help of soap water or detergent and a cheap tooth brush. Thoroughly rinse and wash the tyres so that the dirt and debris goes away. You could have a better look at the condition of the tyre and the areas which need to be fixed.
Using Glue:
The obvious way to fix the tyres is by gluing the torn sections of the tyre, perhaps a tear on the side wall. Synthetic glue would require time to stick. It is preferred to keep the tyres overnight so that it sticks well. Usage of a pin will help in laying the glue precisely.
Glycerine Treatment:
Glycerine also known as Glycerol is commonly used in the food industry. It is a cheap product and can be available easily. The purpose of using Glycerine on RC tyres is to replace some of the volatile substance that could have evaporated with the exposure to sunlight and due to other aspects that was mentioned earlier.
The purpose of the usage of this product is to wet the tyre which has lost some of its properties. This will strengthen the tyres and will perform better than before. The process is simple. Try injecting Glycerine into the tyres until it fills up and repels back. Continue to perform it for 2 days until it stops taking in more of it. This process could be continued until a week. "Trust us, the results will be mind blowing."
Foaming:
Try stuffing foam into the hollow space to strengthen the tyres. Foam will help the tyres to stay tough and bulky. This is the last step to help you restore the RC tyres.
The finished product:
Image source: TamiyaBase/ Redcatracing
