All You Need To Know About Tires for Slotcars, Rubber And Foam: Are They Really All The Same?!

[@SewfastSpeedway]

Very informative video Nico. I bought some Paul Gage tires with zero knowledge of what I was getting and it didn’t turn out very well. Going to be more informed next time. 👍

[@slotcardude68]

@@SewfastSpeedway I hope this information helps, that was my goal!!!!!

[@SewfastSpeedway]

@@slotcardude68 learned a lot, thanks

[@slotcardude68]

@@SewfastSpeedway 👍💯😎👍

[@garageslotnik]

Very informative Nico. Thank-you mate

[@slotcardude68]

@@garageslotnik more than welcome!!!!!!

[@NoShelfQueens]

Excellent stuff Nico - been wondering about exploring foam tyres for a bit. Looks like you’ve dealt with most of my excuses! Now to find some film canisters…

[@slotcardude68]

@@NoShelfQueens glad to hear!! If I can just make ONE slotaddict feel more save on which tires to use I am more than happy!!!!!

[@NoShelfQueens]

@@slotcardude68 😂 Would be great to have a breakdown of “usual” preferred tyre compounds for different surfaces - although I’m sure that within the slotcar community everyone’s got different tastes!

[@slotcardude68]

@NoShelfQueens 👍💯👍 there is a lot of personal preference to be added as well!!!!

[@slotvalleyracing]

Great video Nico. I was just looking at Revoslot tires and the shore ratings

[@slotcardude68]

@@slotvalleyracing hope my video helps!!!

[@slotvalleyracing]

@@slotcardude68 very much so. Thank you. I need to talk HO tires with you when you have so time

[@slotcardude68]

@@slotvalleyracing I'd love to!!

[@66Slotter]

Great info thanks for sharing Nico

[@slotcardude68]

@@66Slotter you are very welcome!!!!!!

[@andyfadian]

Great video, thanks for the information. Fantastic 👏👏

[@slotcardude68]

@@andyfadian you are very welcome!!!!! Just trying to help!!!!

[@BSslotcars]

Yep the shore hardness is key but I swear natural rubber tires if treated properly really can work the best! I have rc and been doing this for 20+ years massage some WD40 into the rubber tires or f you have a lot of time coat them lightly and let it completely dry into the rubber and your grip will be so much better you wont believe it! I do this on the RC cars and all my crawlers it makes the grip so much better works on slot cars too! and you can always lightly apply the wd40 many times even in-between heats and the rubber grips like glue!

[@slotcardude68]

@@BSslotcars thanks for sharing your experience! I am in slot racing since 20+ years and I don't use WD40 anymore. I use suncream now, just my experience plus I do prefer foamies if allowed!

[@BSslotcars]

@@slotcardude68 Yeah I tried the hand lotions but they never worked maybe I used the wrong stuff, I seen you guy's talk about it I never seen that stuff what brand is it? the wd40 really works for me I have videos on my RC channel if you search wd40 you can see how it works. well on the rc tires 😁

[@chrisprelot7835]

yes we use wd40 for onroad racing 1/10 also coppertone cream working fine and it's smell coconut :)

[@slotcardude68]

@@chrisprelot7835 🤣😁👍😎🤜🤛👍

[@modelracecar]

There's a huge range of RC foam and rubber tyre treatments, my favourite for 1/12th RC foams was Paragon Ground Effects, it stank bad of wintergreen but works great on foams but not on rubber.

[@Lews_SlotCarTesting]

We have found that if we all use the same tires and true them the same way then it promotes fairness in our races along with properly matching test times etc. We basically use stock and trued when racing. BobKat tires are being used on some and not sure what the SHore rating is but they seem like soft urethane. "Pros" probably like adding oil and other stuff to their tires but we don't want that on our tracks here. Anyway thanks for a informative video!🏁

[@slotcardude68]

@@Lews_SlotCarTesting I am only talking about rubber and foam here in my video, not talking about Urethan at all!!!!!!! There is a huge difference!! And yes, equal tires give great racing!!!!!!!

[@Lews_SlotCarTesting]

Yep I know your talking about rubber and I am not sure what BobKat tires are but I am guessing urethane. Softer than I have ever seen on urethane though. Looking forward to your next video about tires!🏁

[@slotcardude68]

@@Lews_SlotCarTesting .... there are also different mixings and softnesses on Urethan tires, but they are not put into categorys like rubber/foamies.

[@Lews_SlotCarTesting]

Thats why we need the "Dude" to help us figure this out! Thanks!🏁

[@slotcardude68]

@@Lews_SlotCarTesting 🙏😇👍🙏👍👍👍

[@IrrerasCarrera]

Great video Nico🎉 good explanation of how to identify tire integrity. So much info 😂

[@slotcardude68]

@@IrrerasCarrera thanks Joe, I hope it helps other slotcar addicts to get better running cars!

[@leesslotcars]

Really interesting Nico, I learn so much from you my friend ! 🛞

[@slotcardude68]

@@leesslotcars thank you Lee, happy to hear!!!!!!!

[@slotr]

Thanks Nico :)

[@slotcardude68]

@@slotr thank you Dave, hope it helps!!!!!

[@milohajek]

Good one, Nico 👍

[@slotcardude68]

@@milohajek thanks a lot Milo!!!! Hope this info helps!!!!!

[@milohajek]

@slotcardude68 I'm sure it will help those that haven't thought about tires 😉

[@slotcardude68]

@@milohajek I do hope so!!!!!😎🤟👍

[@SpareRoomSlotCars]

Thanks for this video, I think I recall mentioning on Marty's live stream that foam on Carrera wa a no go but you chimed in saying that you race with that combo all the time. This clears up a lot of things for me. So thanks again

[@slotcardude68]

@@SpareRoomSlotCars I just wanted to share experience and help so that other enthusiasts don't step into traps that we have already stepped into. Plus wanted to make aware that there are alternatives out there besides silicone!

[@hobbitracing]

Very nice explanation of the rubber vs. foam Nico.

[@slotcardude68]

@@hobbitracing thank you, hope it helps!!!!!!

[@modelracecar]

Very useful overview to the various types of tyres. Shore hardness is only half the story though, tyre compound is the other...not all rubber is the same compound. G25 rubber seems very similar across the different manufacturers of it (NSR, SlotIt, Scaleauto, Revoslot). Apart from the G25 compound, NSR, Thunderslot, SlotIt, Scaleauto, Revoslot rubber is all different compounds, some work better on plastic tracks, some work better on wood tracks. Ninco, Fly, Scalextric rubber is different again (not very good in comparison) ...tyres are the biggest performance on your car, good ones can make lap times short, bad ones will make the lap times much longer. All that info is for racing without magnets!

[@slotcardude68]

@@modelracecar agreed!! The magnet swallows the different shores mostly, agreed as well! But there is still a difference that not too many are aware of!!!

[@murdervalleyraceway]

In the HO world, so many think silicone tyres are the best. It's pretty much all you can buy for HO slots. This is why I started making my own foam tyres. Foam gives the cars a much better on track feel when driving. I bought my own shore hardness meter, but now after experimenting with so many foams, I can tell what will and wont work just by feel. I can't believe how many slot drivers have never tried foam.

[@slotcardude68]

@@murdervalleyraceway 💯👍 agrred on this!! Thank you so much for this experienced comment!!!!!!

[@trackfanstv]

Great video Nico - I've learnt something new today! Thank you brother 💯🔥🔥🔥

[@slotcardude68]

@@trackfanstv happy to hear brother!!!!😎🤟😎🤟😎

[@SCALE_SLOTCARS_AND_RC]

Sorry Nico i missed the live 😢 do you know if carrera original tyres have a particular sure rating ?super informative post mate, 35mm film tubes is a great idea for storage 👍 thank you

[@slotcardude68]

@@SCALE_SLOTCARS_AND_RC to be honest, NO. I have no idea on the Carrera originals...... But the aftermarket ones are mostly marked with the different shore figures !

[@SCALE_SLOTCARS_AND_RC]

@@slotcardude68 yes mate🤗 I have some different ratings for my BRMs but I haven't used them yet 🫢

[@slotcardude68]

@@SCALE_SLOTCARS_AND_RC so you can test the difference on your track, document it on video and let us know ?! 🤜🤛😎👍

[@HSF-Racing]

I got my learn on today! Ty for the very informative video sir! 🏁

[@slotcardude68]

@@HSF-Racing you are more than welcome!!!!!!!

[@SlotCar2021]

Great video Nico, wise words and thanks for breaking it down.

[@slotcardude68]

@@SlotCar2021 thank you Paul!!!!! Just trying to clear the mist a little!

[@slotcarsandhotrains]

Good info!

[@slotcardude68]

@@slotcarsandhotrains thank you, just trying to inform and get rumors out of the way!!!!!

[@Doug-MagneticRacing_ThinkScalo]

This man has the knowledge #GURU

[@slotcardude68]

@@Doug-MagneticRacing_ThinkScalo Doug 😇🤷‍♂️😳😁🤯🥳🤟🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🙏🙏 Thanks a lot!!!!!

[@twolinesslotcars]

Thanks Nico! Great video!

[@slotcardude68]

​@@twolinesslotcars thank you for stopping by Marty!!!!!!

[@Spunky678]

Just dropped by say hi💯🏁

[@slotcardude68]

@@Spunky678 thank you Spunky!!!!! 🙏👍😎🤟🙏

[@SwanXtric]

Hello i saw your comment on my video thank you for your support🎉🎉❤

[@slotcardude68]

@@SwanXtric very welcome!!!! Everyone promoting slotcars is highly welcome!!!!

[@milohajek]

No, tires are NOT all alike, just like real tires have speed and other ratings like H, X, Z etc, slot car tires also have different levels of grip

[@slotcardude68]

Absolutely agreed Milo!!!!!

[@3roomsraceway612]

Nico information on the different types of tyres available Nico Are Carrera original tyres the only ones that deteriorate by going hard or melting? 🍻Mal

[@slotcardude68]

@@3roomsraceway612 yes, there was a production series where those tires would turn into goop/melting/going out of shape...... As far as I am aware of they were the only ones, yes. But beware: foamies that are not used for a while tend to turn hard, all of them. They stay soft longer if you store them airproof, like the film containers shown or zipbags!!!!

[@3roomsraceway612]

@@slotcardude68 good to know thanks Nico 👍

[@thehimself4056]

Is there a website to get track? I’m looking at opening up a slot car track in my town.

[@slotcardude68]

@@thehimself4056 there are either online shops, there is ebay or you check out Facebook Marketplace. It also depends on where you are located?!

[@thehimself4056]

@@slotcardude68 small town along the Canadian border. Winters make people go indoors. So I have been trying to get stuff for kids to do in town

[@slotcardude68]

@@thehimself4056 what kind of track are you looking for? Plastic track like Carrera or routed wood track? If you maybe check out the Discord link in my channel describtion, there are many Canadians in there!!! And they are very helpfull as well!!!!! discord.com/invite/vgdABJXTuJ

[@thehimself4056]

@@slotcardude68 sweet thanks. Routed wood. For things like the old flexi series in the 90s

[@slotcardude68]

@@thehimself4056 go and check out Facebook, there is a page just for selling tracks there. If I can find the link I'll post it here!!!!

[@modelracecar]

Sometimes 4 tyres in the same pack aren't even the same (NSR I'm looking at yours)...

[@slotcardude68]

@@modelracecar thanks for sharing your experience!!!!

[@modelracecar]

​@@slotcardude68yes, not funny...and happened a few times sadly.