Tire choices?

[_dV]

Just ran the stock tires initially. Was fun for a while but the handling was a bit wild and inconsistent with the tires ballooning. Offroad grip wasn't great.

After reading some forums i went to the Proline Badlands(MT size) on 17mm 1/2 offset Maximizer beadlocks. These tires have a phenomenal amount of grip offroad. Some of the hill climbs i've done with them have really suprised me. Looks wise the tread pattern suits well but they appear too small on the truck for my taste.

I put 3 1/8 inch holes in each Badlands tire and strapped the inside with Scotch\3M Strapping tape. It lasted for about 6 ~45min runs on gravel\dirt before the rears let go. The outside of the foam was fairly dusty when i opened them up.

The Maximizers look great. They have been useful for experimenting with tires\strapping. The Badlands are a very tight fit on them though and i stripped a couple of screws getting the four tires on. It does get easier and quicker though once you have taken them off\on a few times. On the last two runs the bead on one tire pulled out just a small bit from the wheel and i had to loosen and refit it.

I am about to try HPI GT S tires on the Maximizers. They look awesome. I've ordered the firm HPI foam (4667) for them. The stock foam seems a bit plush. The GT tires aren't as tight a fit as the Badlands, much easier to get on. Hopefully this doesn't mean the bead will pull out easier. I'm going to find some gaffa type tape to try with these in the hope that the dust affects it less. It should be wider too so probably 2 strips instead of 3, less joins for the dust to get into.

Wheel\tire combo weights:
Stock - 299 gm
Badlands\Maximizer - 325 gm
GT S\Maximizer - 386 gm (bit heavy, if i like the tires i'm thinking i will glue them to some dyed black JConcepts Rulux wheels)

There doesnt seem to be an ideal bashing tyre atm suited to 1/8 scale brushless trucks. I'd like to see something like a larger diameter Badlands (with some sidewall support) with slighter wider tread width that was belted to fit standard MT size wheels. Or may a same profile Badlands but larger inner diameter to suit the larger diameter low profile type wheels (again belted). A harder compond tire would also be interesting to try. Moulded closed cell inner foams would be great too.

Stock Flux, HPI GT S On Maximizer beadlocks, Proline Badlands on Maximizer beadlocks


Smaller diameter and width of the Badlands


Remains of the strapping tape and dusty foam


Remains of tape still stuck to the tire. It appears as though the dust stopped the adhesion working


How the tape looked before


Test fitting the new wheel\tire combo on the truck

I first clean the inside very throughly with rubbing alchohol to get rid of the antiaging powder, otherwise the tape just wont' stick. You can see the crud that comes off in the photo. I also do this to the rubber lining before I glue the tires on to make sure it makes a good bond to the plastic rim. In my case, I also take my dremel and rough up the plastic rim to make sure the CA glue has some extra "grip" to the surface.

I then use straping time and slowly go around each wheel and do a 1" overlap. Sometimes the rubber still has to much rubber "residue" and it wont' stick very well the first time. I usually have to take off the first tape job and then the second one sticks on much better. Softer tire compound wont' make the tape stick as as well as harder rubber compound, it also depends on what type of tape your using. Some guys use duct taper, others have used Gorilla tape. And no, you'll NEVER get the tape perfectly even and straight, just not gonna happen on a ovalong and curved surface :P

I also highly suggest using wider tape as the more wraps you do with smaller tape, the more likely it will come off.

[_dV]

Freezebyte: Your pics and procedure are virtually identical to how i did my badlands except of course i used beadlocks.

Did you use air holes in the wheels or tires?

Whats the longest you have had your strapping work for?

Originally Posted by _dV

Freezebyte: Your pics and procedure are virtually identical to how i did my badlands except of course i used beadlocks.

Did you use air holes in the wheels or tires?

Whats the longest you have had your strapping work for?

No, I did not punch any holes in the tires, the rims where already holed out for me and that allows plenty of air movement for my needs. I've yet to have a strapping job go bad, but I haven't run these tires for very long either...

[Desert Rc]

I am digging the hpi gt-s tires!! I have to say the rob really relies prob with the wider tape. Plus only one solid pass and only overlap what is needed to make a good hold. The thin strap is prone to pulling easier.