Silicone Coated Foam Tires - Easy DIY!

[@JohnnyRover5557]

Hi Stan and Dave, In the past I have mounted the wheel and tire on a tire truing machine. Massaged the first coat of silicone into the foam tire. Set the tire truing machine at low speed,then applied 3 or so layers of silicone one at a time with machine turned off.After applying each coat run at low speed applying light pressure to the coated tire with an acrylic body mounting block making sure the acrylic block is riding perpendicular to the wheel. Repeatedly dip the block in clean water. I drilled a series of 1/8" holes in a 2x6 block of wood. Each coated tire is mounted to an axle and the axle is placed vertically in the block of wood and dried under an incandescent light bulb.

[@StanFerris]

Very cool, Tom! I know Dave has used his tire truer for a similar application in the past, and one of our guys mounts the axles and tires in his drill press. For how much time do you run them on each coat before putting them in the block for drying?

[@JohnnyRover5557]

Hi Stan, I only keep the tire truer running until I can apply each coat smoothly, Probably less than a minute per coat. After each coat I turn off the tire truer and apply another dollop of silicone, redip the acrylic block in clean water, turn on the tire truer and smooth out the second coat, then do the same for the third coat. You have to work fast and keep the acrylic block wet or the silicone will gum up. I usually apply 3 or 4 coats of silicone. Like anything else, the more often you do it the better the results.

[@IrrerasCarrera]

Very cool. Thanks guys🎉

[@StanFerris]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@elsdp-4560]

Thank you for sharing. I think I am going to give this a try. Thanks so much for sharing.👍

[@StanFerris]

These coated tires perform well for us.

[@harperlarry49]

Great video. That is a nice simple technique. I wish I knew about that when I was racing. I would interested in seeing how you guys true up the tires. Thanks for sharing this Stan.

[@StanFerris]

Sounds like a good future topic. The range in our club is from zero (no truing) all the way to specialized truing machines.

[@halseyknox]

I'd be interested in seeing that as well being you would do that first before any traction coating. Just curious do tires still come in different colors depending on tire compound like back in the hey day of slot car racing

[@StanFerris]

Good idea. The ScaleAuto tires/wheels we used in this video can be used right out of the package without any additional mechanical trueing.

[@davestrains6816]

Pretty cool, thanks for sharing. Dave

[@StanFerris]

Blessings, Dave!

[@thomasguerriero8189]

Tires look great thanks for the tip

[@StanFerris]

You're welcome. Dave did a great job!

[@DTSlotRacing]

great video

[@StanFerris]

Thanks! We have good luck with these types of tires on our tracks. The coating does wear off at some point though, unlike the solid silicone or urethane tires.

[@kenneely7899]

Nice video guys. Raced HO cars with Dave a few times. Great guy. Left Phx metro about a year ago. Miss the people. Not the heat. Nice set up Dave. Thanks for sharing.

[@StanFerris]

Thanks, Ken!