DIY Tire Belting

[Mrgoodwrench35]

I've never done it any other way.

Turn the tire inside out cut a strip of duct tape almost as wide as the center section, tape it down with no overlap, smash the ever-livin' stuffing out of it to make sure it sticks, turn the tire back to right-side out, mount and glue.

You really should check out gorilla tape. Its like duct tape on steroids.

 

[Chubaka]

You really should check out gorilla tape. Its like duct tape on steroids.

I've taped the inside a few times using tgat on my old masher m2k. Beast of a tape.

 

[Mister 4x4]

You really should check out gorilla tape. Its like duct tape on steroids.

Thanks - I will. Admittedly, the last time I 'belted' a set of tires was back in 2002 - a set of Pro-Line Road Hawgs (staggered sizes I & III for my Kyosho SuperTen GP). Can't even find those anymore.

 

[MagicianElectrician]

So you're saying use Gorilla duct tape on the inside of the tire. Nothing else?? Not a metal band with it? Or something that can somewhat hold its shape? Seems like it would flex just the same with just tape

 

[TeknoJ]

This guy used this method, and I have used it too. My knots weren't always the best because I was belting smaller 1/10-1/8 tires and not some monster 3.8's but the vectran or kevlar braid does work. Your knots need to be TIGHT.
https://www.teknoforums.com/threads/tekno-et48-3-power-hungry.1697/

 

[Mrgoodwrench35]

So you're saying use Gorilla duct tape on the inside of the tire. Nothing else?? Not a metal band with it? Or something that can somewhat hold its shape? Seems like it would flex just the same with just tape

It just greatly reduces the tires ability to flex. It holds shape a lot better than the tire would by itself. I do use a couple layers. I've heard of guys having good luck banding the tires as mentioned prior but I've never tried it.

 

[MagicianElectrician]

So how are they made when you buy them already belted? Something actually molded into the rubber or similar to what you're doing? They stick something on the inside too?

 

[Beer_Goggles_RC]

So how are they made when you buy them already belted? Something actually molded into the rubber or similar to what you're doing? They stick something on the inside too?

There's a kevlar belt molded to the inside of the tire. Some manufactures will use like a honeycomb pattern or something similar on the inside of the tire to reduce ballooning and help keep weight down vs a belt. Don't know much about the pattern stuff

 

[MagicianElectrician]

I think I'm gonna go with bicycle tire repair glue with something on the inside instead of my wire braiding idea

 

[Mister 4x4]

So you're saying use Gorilla duct tape on the inside of the tire. Nothing else?? Not a metal band with it? Or something that can somewhat hold its shape? Seems like it would flex just the same with just tape

The tires hold their shape as normal because of the foam inserts and the beads glued down (as you normally would). The 'belts' (duct tape) on the inside sticks to the inside of the tire very well and has longitudinal fibers as well as lateral fibers. I never had any of my belted tires 'let go' after running the crap out of them (I'd usually get 2 solid days of running on asphalt before the tires would wear out - as normal - and were pretty much done... I don't really care for slicks on asphalt).

Again, those were Road Hawg tires and once the treads were worn down, they were done IMHO. For those not familiar with the old Road Hawgs, here's what they look like on a Nitro Hawk (not mine - I don't seem to have any good pics of my SuperTen).

They were also staggered - wider rears than the fronts

I only ran one wrap of the regular old duct tape on the inside and they were fine. I can only imagine that 2 wraps of Gorilla Tape would be a LOT better, as Mrgoodwrench and Chubaka mentioned.