20 replies to this topic

[Racing Rtlee]

Are the JK treated tires considered Speed rubber? If not, can someone give me some examples of Speed rubber tires?

Thanks for the information!

[Tex]

JK treated tires are NOT Speed rubber. I'm not up on who commercially supplies Speed rubber tires.

[PCH Parts Express]

With brands like Koford and Alpha they have a code for "Speed rubber" in the part number. The code for Alpha is normally SR. As in Alpha 611-SR.

[Chris Barnes]

Jk Treated tires are the "standard" natural rubber tire with some pretreatment to the rubber to essentially "shrink" the rubber, thereby making it more dense, and also "harder". They will typically measure about 4-6 points higher on a durometer.

[Racing Rtlee]

Thank you for the information!

[scaleuser]

I need to know more about the currently available tires. Primarily for scale racing. What are the designations from softest to hardest?

 

How many manufactures are there? What is Wonder vs Thunder?

 

Thanks in advance to any tire experts willing to share.

[Tim Neja]

Well it's also a question of what kind of track you are running on? A swoopy King or a flat track? How much glue is being sprayed on the surface? Most times--I like the JK or Alpha natural rubber--in untreated OR treated form and in different wheel sizes to "tune" the car to the racing surface. Hub sizes will affect bite--small hubs more bite--big hubs less bite. Treated rubber is firmer so that also affects the bite--less bite than untreated-- and the wheel sizes will also follow.
Once you move to wonder rubber--it's much firmer--different style of bite and usually only best on King type tracks--but not always.
Go to your local track and see what is working there for most of the racers.
FWIW
T

[Ron Hershman]

I need to know more about the currently available tires. Primarily for scale racing. What are the designations from softest to hardest?
 
How many manufactures are there? What is Wonder vs Thunder?
 
Thanks in advance to any tire experts willing to share.

Natural "fish or tuna" is the softest

Treated Natural is a tad bit harder but still soft.

Then comes Thunder and Wonder..... with that said.......

Thunder comes in different hardnesses just as Wonder does. Soft Med and Hard... all of which is harder than Natural and Treated Natural.

Koford has super soft Wonder which is between treated natural and soft Wonder. Then there is medium Wonder which is harder and then there is hard Wonder that is even harder yet.

Then there are various hub width's and diameters. Plastic wheels, metal wheels ( magnesium lighter weight less strength and aluminum a bit heavier but stronger )...drilled for less weight and undrilled.

Small hubs more bite..... medium sized hubs less bite and large sized hubs even less bite.

Wide wheels and rubber more bite.... narrower wheels and rubber...less bite.

Harder rubber less bite more straight a way speed.... softer tires more bite and less straight a way speed.

How many tire MFG's are there? How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? LOL

Alpha, Koford, Kelly, Parma, Pro-Track, JK, Hermanator, Speed Shop, Mid America, HVR, Thunder/Port Jeff Raceway and several others.

All pretty much offer the same compounds in various variations.

Check their websites for more details, sizes, compounds, etc that are available out there.

[Old pink can guy]

Great answer, Ron. Since you know it all what ever happened to Riggen? That is the $10,0000. question.

Thanks,

Ken

[scaleuser]

Thanks, Ron. Very helpful.

[Richard Matthews]

Second question if still open, is there a tool for remoing the lip/nipple from JKs PP wheels? Really messes up my D3 and some CH11 setups. Been using a drill to file them off.

[glueside]

JK is considering getting rid of the nipple off the rims for his next order due to numerous people complaining about them.

[Ramcatlarry]

Last I heard: Riggen is a trade name for some REH Distributing products. Call them for availability. In the pre-natural rubber days, most tires came in the colors of the rainbow and solid or coated silicone. The old foam tires used a material called 'Rubatex'. Some of the colors had different hardness ratings and orange was a favorite of many as was white, red, blue, and others. I like gray for my old 1/32 cars - stays soft.

 

JK nipples?  You mean the mold marks on the rims after you strip them? I smooth them out on my lathe before reusing the good rims.

[Richard Matthews]

I am referring to the inboard lip at the axle on the JK wheels designated "PP". Was hoping R-Geo or another tool maker had a hand tool to cut them off.

 

Thank you all.

[Ralph Thorne]

You try something like this:
 
Pooh Bear 3/32" Deburring Tool
 
SRT also made a tool similar to this.

[Ramcatlarry]

Oh that - use a flat file and then a SS spacer for a thust washer.

[Richard Matthews]

That would be it Mr Thorne TY

[MikeC]

Richard:  This is the one Justin uses.

 

http://www.vitulagear.cz/tools.html

 

We ordered it from him last year, and it's great. We got both the 3/32" and 2mm one.

[Richard Matthews]

Both are interesting, PCH shows $70 not in stock, CZ tools 40, Euros 44 Bucks. Shipping must bring it up to 70 bucks.

[eAddict]

What is "bun width" when talking about donuts?

 

For example:

 

Piranha Donuts
- Size Large .950 (Bun Width)

[MSwiss]

The width of the sheet or bun the donut is (probably) water jetted out of.

 

With both surfaces not being absolutely parallel/equal, you can probably expect something like .900" as your max ground, even width dimension (easily past the typical .810" max width).