Offroad clay / hardpacked dirt track tires - slicks - traction compound break in / prep

[DavidB1126]

These were my first set of tires for this kit, JConcepts ellipse's, silver compound. Was a bar tire, got worn down to a slick with more practice and race days on indoor clay tracks since the carpet track closed up. Yesterday I got them prepped up. Basically feel like I burned compound into them by putting compound on them and running the car battery after battery. Very sticky now. Should be good traction.

These tires have 9 days on them. Some of those days are just practice days, some were race days. Planning on keeping these tires for a while. But the only con is that one of the wheels are cracked, just slightly tho. A bit of CA or super glue should be able to help, but might throw the wheel balance off. But I really don't care that much.

 

[tntpoof]

When I raced Clay tracks I always used . bladed tires as slicks by me where always to off. Sometimes we used grip a lot...wore tires in on backing in a piece of carpet..replce that cracked rim those cars balance off. Traction would change as day went on and moisture dried up on track

 

[DavidB1126]

Looks like USPS might have lost my package so I might not get my other pair of slicks for the rustler because I leave Monday morning and it is still somewhere between New Jersey and Baltimore. Planning on taking the rustler to Beach RC. Use the slick I already have in the rear. And use the worn out street tires out front. I will try to attempt to "burn" traction compound into them to make them sticky enough.

Hopefully I can get that setup to work. Or I can buy that same pair of slicks at the hobby shop down there, which tires are like 6 dollars more expensive at the hobby shop than online. And once I get back home, if I have my package I can keep the other tires I ordered from AMain as spares, or sell them.

 

[DavidB1126]

Now they are getting worn down. You can here the snapping noise when turning on throttle in the turns. Mostly the left rear and left front tires since on this layout we are turning left alot. Id say tire wear is pretty good. As I said in my OP, these were my first set of tires for my kit when I build it and they are almost 2 years old. Rear wheels are cracking near the inner lip of the wheel. Gonna do the acetone method and try to reuse a set of wheels from my old carpet set.

 

[RetroThutmose]

those tires look cooked imo. i'd be replacing at that point.

 

[DavidB1126]

those tires look cooked imo. i'd be replacing at that point.

The local racers say that they are just getting broken in.