Wet condition. Sealed vs vented tires and where to put the holes

[cocoune]

Hey i feel i create to many threads but I'm not satisfied with the answers i see or its really old.

I have 2-3 questions. I own a slash 2wd bl2s and just bought badlands 2.8 tires (narrow). My lhs is owned by a son and his father. The son is much more informed and he wasn't there today. Last time he told me to vent my tires. I did it with the stock tires He said 2 holes minimum and 4 is the best. I dont remember the size tho but i can figured it out for the badlands.

There is a seal in the middle and i feel its a bad idea to punch an hole there. I looked at the granite and the holes are on one side or the other. Is it better to have holes more on the inside or outside ? Do i make one hole in the inside and the other on the outside ? A complete set is 100$can and i dont want to messed up. I have 2 tires that are more squishy i think proline messed up a bit on the production line lol

The other thing is why just not seal the rim holes ? Maybe water can enter if the glue dont seal the tire enough ? I'm not talking about performance. I want to know if mud and water will get in the wheels. And if i make vent holes, is it better to seal the rim holes ? Thanks !

 

[bill_delong]

No "need" to add vent holes in the tires if the wheels already have vent holes more info here, and I highly recommend watching this video, it's spot on!

 

[cocoune]

No "need" to add vent holes in the tires if the wheels already have vent holes more info here, and I highly recommend watching this video, it's spot on!

Maybe i didnt explained myself right. Badlands only have holes in the rims. I looked at the granite in my lhs to see if the holes because the granite come with vented tires.

Thanks for the video. Ill watch it !

 

[WickedFog]

The reason you vent the tires on bashers is so centrifugal force will expell any moisture you get in there. If your wheels are vented, moisture can get into the tire and mold will form in the foams. If you vent your tires, you can seal the wheels. Or just don't drive your RC in water and mud and don't worry about it.

The "seal" you are referring to in the middle of the tire is not where two halves were glued together. It is the mold line. The physical separation between two metal molds. No worries sticking a hole dead center. The tire is molded all at once, so there is no seam through the rubber.

 

[cocoune]

The reason you vent the tires on bashers is so centrifugal force will expell any moisture you get in there. If your wheels are vented, moisture can get into the tire and mold will form in the foams. If you vent your tires, you can seal the wheels. Or just don't drive your RC in water and mud and don't worry about it

So why not just seal the wheel and thats it ? Will the water get trought the wheel anyway ? And if i understand correctly sealing the rim is a good idea anyway. Do you recommand 2 or 4 holes in the tires ? If i dont seal the rims, should i have holes at the same place on the tire ? And id imagine that i should try to not make an hole near the studs ? Sorry its alot of questions and english is not my first language.

The "seal" you are referring to in the middle of the tire is not where two halves were glued together. It is the mold line. The physical separation between two metal molds. No worries sticking a hole dead center. The tire is molded all at once, so there is no seam through the rubber.

Ohh i didnt think about the mold. It makes alot of sense.

 

[WickedFog]

So why not just seal the wheel and thats it ? Will the water get trought the wheel anyway ? And if i understand correctly sealing the rim is a good idea anyway. Do you recommand 2 or 4 holes in the tires ? If i dont seal the rims, should i have holes at the same place on the tire ? And id imagine that i should try to not make an hole near the studs ? Sorry its alot of questions and english is not my first language.


Ohh i didnt think about the mold. It makes alot of sense.

If you seal the tires up completely, I don't think the tires would perform well. When the tires try to expand, the vacuum would cause them to collapse on the sidewall I would think. I never tried it. You could try it and see how it goes, and if you don't like it vent the tires. If I were going to vent my tires I'd probably do 4 equally spaced holes.

I don't vent my tires because I don't drive in wet conditions.

 

[cocoune]

If you seal the tires up completely, I don't think the tires would perform well. When the tires try to expand, the vacuum would cause them to collapse on the sidewall I would think. I never tried it. You could try it and see how it goes, and if you don't like it vent the tires. If I were going to vent my tires I'd probably do 4 equally spaced holes.

I don't vent my tires because I don't drive in wet conditions.

Honestly the difference between badlands (made for offroad) and stock worn tires is night and day. Right now i feel that everything i do feel right with the badlands. I run 2 pack total with it and 1 with the rim holes sealed. I liked it. Still squishy, it gave me a mountain bike tire vibe. Venting the tire is permanent. I'm just scared that water finds a way in the wheels anyway. Ill see. I drive in the woods, after rains, in potholes etc. I fiddlesticked the stock foam because of that and dont want to happen again. I dont look for wet condition but i want to be ready for it. If i vent the tires, ill make 4 equally spaced hole like you and my lhs said. Thanks alot.

 

[ahr43]

Vent my tires with two holes. One off centerline of the tire tread to the outside. Second off centerline of the tire tread to the inside. But not so far out as to be on the edge of the tread. Space the two holes halfway apart of the tire.

Use an AKA tire hole punch set at 2.5/3.0mm. As in the vid above, it makes a clean hole by removing the rubber plug.

If the wheel has a vent hole, I leave it open. If not, I don't worry over it and leave the wheel unvented. Generally, don't dunk the tires for washing. Wet brush clean them. That way don't risk soaking the foam insert.

Begging another question that perhaps the racers on here can answer. Does the newer closed cell foam absorb water as much as the older open cell foams? Perhaps running in the wet with closed cell foams on vented tires does not risk soaking the foams as much as with open cell foams? Result being less unsprung weight for the suspension to handle.

Hope this helps. -AC

 

[Chubaka]

If you seal the tires up completely, I don't think the tires would perform well. When the tires try to expand, the vacuum would cause them to collapse on the sidewall I would think. I never tried it. You could try it and see how it goes, and if you don't like it vent the tires. If I were going to vent my tires I'd probably do 4 equally spaced holes.

I don't vent my tires because I don't drive in wet conditions.

Not only that it will bounce more. Especially on monster trucks. I only tape up my vent holes for water play.

 

[Ramp addict]

I live where it rains 10 months out of the year. Sealed tires slowly go flat and non-vented wheels bounce up and down while you drive. Venting works and I recommend it. You don't need a lot of holes, 2-4 holes in the center of the tread equally spaced. Traxxas recommends a 1/4" hole, Arrma venting is closer to 1/8".

 

[cocoune]

Ok i decided what ill do. Ill vent the tires and this is why. I understand that sealed tires and wheel can put alot of stress on where the tires are glued. I saw on another forum that even when its sealed, dirt and water find a way to go in anyway. Sometimes tires start to unglue a little bit and it create an entry for water etc.

Ill make 4 3-4mm holes. I think i will seal the wheel vent. My theory is that debris will get stuck between the rim and the foam and get stuck there even if i vent the tires.

I think i want to try the technique with the brass tubing and a drill. First i wanted to do it with a nail and just burn the tire but i want a cleaner job

Use an AKA tire hole punch set at 2.5/3.0mm. As in the vid above, it makes a clean hole by removing the rubber plug.

My tires are already glued to the wheels. Will this tool work anyway ?

 

[ahr43]

Ok i decided what ill do. Ill vent the tires and this is why. I understand that sealed tires and wheel can put alot of stress on where the tires are glued. I saw on another forum that even when its sealed, dirt and water find a way to go in anyway. Sometimes tires start to unglue a little bit and it create an entry for water etc.

Ill make 4 3-4mm holes. I think i will seal the wheel vent. My theory is that debris will get stuck between the rim and the foam and get stuck there even if i vent the tires.

I think i want to try the technique with the brass tubing and a drill. First i wanted to do it with a nail and just burn the tire but i want a cleaner job


My tires are already glued to the wheels. Will this tool work anyway ?

Regrettably, no. Wheel must be separated from the rim without insert installed to vent the tire. Drill mounted brass tubing tool in the vid is quite clever and a viable solution to venting with the tire mounted. Try to limit the punch-through to the rubber only and not go too deep into the foam insert.

Other option would be to remove the tires from the rims and vent one or both at that time. Labor and time intensive though. Option one above is the better solution of the two. Good luck. Cheers. -AC

 

[cocoune]

Other option would be to remove the tires from the rims and vent one or both at that time. Labor and time intensive though. Option one above is the better solution of the two. Good luck. Cheers. -AC

Well. Ill go with the option in the video xd

 

[RustyUs]

I don't want any dust/dirt entering from the inside of the wheels. I run my RCs on nature prepped backyard track. Dry track conditions will usually end up sending handfuls of dirt thrown every which way when cornering. Before I glue up my vented tires, any factory vented wheels get their holes plugged up with E6000...

If running open cell foam inserts and I don't plug up the holes, the foams will break down super fast. That's why I run closed cell foams 90% of the time.

 

[cocoune]

I don't want any dust/dirt entering from the inside of the wheels. I run my RCs on nature prepped backyard track. Dry track conditions will usually end up sending handfuls of dirt thrown every which way when cornering. Before I glue up my vented tires, any factory vented wheels get their holes plugged up with E6000...
View attachment 192924

View attachment 192925If running open cell foam inserts and I don't plug up the holes, the foams will break down super fast. That's why I run closed cell foams 90% of the time.

My tires are already glued but i could try to put glue in the rims vent instead of electric tape lol

 

[RustyUs]

My tires are already glued but i could try to put glue in the rims vent instead of electric tape lol

Electrical tape would work too, and be much quicker than what I do. I may have to test electrical tape next round of wheels. I'm probably just paranoid of the pebbles/dirt, that I run my RCs in, pushing & loosening the tape.

 

[cocoune]

Electrical tape would work too, and be much quicker than what I do. I may have to test electrical tape next round of wheels. I'm probably just paranoid of the pebbles/dirt, that I run my RCs in, pushing & loosening the tape.

I like to play in dirt and wt condition and since the badlands cost me over 100$ I'm paranoing a bit too lol. I said i would make 4 holes per tires but only made 2 because I'm scared its gonna be too squishy xd