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Narrowing tires


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#1 SlowBeas

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Posted 13 January 2018 - 09:39 PM

Once you narrow the tire and remove the rubber, what do you use to cut the rim?


Jim Beasley
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#2 MSwiss

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Posted 13 January 2018 - 09:47 PM

If you are talking about narrowing both the rim and rubber, JK plastic rim tires are the easiest to do.

 

Spin them on your tire cutter and use an X-acto or Zona razor saw.

 

With a Hudy, I'm not sure if the "pointer" will work with JK plastic rims.


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#3 Tex

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Posted 13 January 2018 - 09:50 PM

If you are talking about narrowing both the rim and rubber, JK plastic rim tires are the easiest to do.

 

Spin them on your tire cutter and use an X-acto or Zona razor saw.

 

With a Hudy, I'm not sure if the "pointer" will work with JK plastic rims.

 

Yeah, I too use an X-acto razor saw, even for metal wheels.


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#4 Dennis David

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Posted 13 January 2018 - 10:10 PM

If you Narrow the tires why do you need to
Narrow the wheels unless for clearance?

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#5 MSwiss

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Posted 13 January 2018 - 10:19 PM

When I've needed to do it, it's something like putting a pr. of JK tires on a 1/32 Slot-it car.

Or something like this;

20180113_212022-1.jpg

Mike Swiss
 
Inventor of the Low CG guide flag 4/20/18
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Note: Send all USPS packages and mail to: 692 Citadel Drive, Westmont, Illinois 60559


#6 Mike Patterson

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Posted 13 January 2018 - 10:35 PM

I usually narrow tires from the inside out. IOW, I leave the wheels alone. This used to be a useful technique for tuning the car until the advent of wonder rubber with all its various compounds.


I am not a doctor, but I played one as a child with the girl next door.


#7 gmpower

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Posted 14 January 2018 - 12:00 PM

You need one of these trims donuts off square and cuts right through jk plastic hubs!

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#8 Rob Voska

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Posted 14 January 2018 - 12:18 PM

Greg's got all the cool toys!  :good:



#9 Upfront slot cars

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Posted 14 January 2018 - 03:08 PM

Who makes this ?
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#10 SlowBeas

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Posted 15 January 2018 - 05:41 PM

Thanks for the input. Trying to narrow metal (aluminum?) rims, not plastic.


Jim Beasley
South Carolina, USA

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- Pat Paulsen, 1968
"I drive way too fast to worry about cholesterol."
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#11 Bill from NH

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Posted 15 January 2018 - 06:18 PM

I had a friend who narrowed aluminum hubs using a sharp X-acto knife while spinning on his tire truer. A razor saw blade should work too. I would have used my Unimat.


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#12 Don Weaver

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Posted 15 January 2018 - 06:27 PM

I've always used an Exacto saw blade to cut the wheel after cutting the rubber with the Hudy.


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#13 SpeedyNH

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Posted 15 January 2018 - 07:16 PM

seems to me that any lathe-like solution that keeps everything round, and square side-to-side will do, as Bill F. and others have said.

I've done 'em on my tire machines (most convenient), right on the car when I had to with an x-acto, and best and most accurate on one of my three various mini-lathes. once I sawed 'em down freehand and then cleaned up the ends with a file and an axle stuck in a borrowed, worn-out electric drill. (Bill, I think that you might have actually been there for that one! remember the 900s vs. the 800 wide euros?)

I think that it all depends on the most appropriate tools that one has on hand when the need arises, as well as your instantaneous skills as an amateur machinist.

speedy


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#14 MSwiss

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Posted 15 January 2018 - 09:09 PM

During a phone call with Jim, earlier, I mentioned, if he didn't have a razor saw blade handy, he could also use a Dremel with a cutoff disc, while spinning it in his tire cutter.


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Mike Swiss
 
Inventor of the Low CG guide flag 4/20/18
IRRA® Components Committee Chairman
Five-time USRA National Champion (two G7, one G27, two G7 Senior)
Two-time G7 World Champion (1988, 1990), eight G7 main appearances
Eight-time G7 King track single lap world record holder

17B West Ogden Ave., Westmont, IL 60559, (708) 203-8003, mikeswiss86@hotmail.com (also my PayPal address)

Note: Send all USPS packages and mail to: 692 Citadel Drive, Westmont, Illinois 60559


#15 Bill from NH

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Posted 15 January 2018 - 10:11 PM

Speedy, when QCS  had the 1/32 scratchbuilt F1 class in the early 2000's with Plafit Cheetahs & Betta bodies, Matt often couldn't get 1/32 rears. Someone was always narrowing up & cutting down 1/24 tires so they could run that night. I do remember the .900 vs .800 eurosport tire  controversry, but that class was too quick for me to run. I had my hands full with a GT-12. :)


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