Hard-soft?

xatu · #1 12-14-2002, 03:00 PM

Is there a way to make hard tires soft? If so, what is the way?!?! I want to know. I have a set of hard tires, and I want to experiment.. hehe

dustn · #2 12-14-2002, 03:03 PM

You could try some sort of solvent to soften the rubber but you run the risk of the solvent totally eating them up and/or it just making them soft as in slippery. Nail polish remover, or some other form of acetone is the first thing that comes to mind to try. I'd wait to see what others have to say before trying anything.

xatu · #3 12-14-2002, 03:14 PM

Ok, thanx for the suggestions!

#4 12-15-2002, 04:58 AM

why don't you just make some tires.....I made tires out of the thicker elastic bands. I made a nice straight clean cut then I used crazy glue on the ends and put them together..One things is that u have to make sure u don't put too much crazy glue on just a little bit on the ends and it worked for me...Or you can take the rubber tubbing from a slingshot and cut it too size....but there hard to put on, had to put them in boiling water them put them on....worked pritty good.....just use your imagination

xatu · #5 12-15-2002, 11:48 AM

I have tried a sort of elastic band thing. I used the lip off of a small balloon. It worked AWESOME! It was really soft, and rarely ever fell off. the only drawbacks were that it only fit over tires, and I couldn't fit the chip cover or the body on.

Hmm..... Do you think if I boiled my hard tires in water, they would get soft? Or would they just get melted?

Reckless44 · #6 12-15-2002, 09:53 PM

I believe that process would be "galvaizing" rubber, but im not sure that would work with the rubber the cars are made of.

xatu · #7 12-16-2002, 08:35 PM

What exactly is "galvaizing"?

#8 12-19-2002, 02:28 PM

I recommend saving up a few dollars and buying yourself some soft tires...rather than risking ruining your only set, cuz then you'd have to buy new tires anyway, and you'd be out a spare set. The great thing about Bits and Microsizers is that you can mod just about anything, and not a single part is overly expensive. If you wanted a competition ready 1/10 scale RWD RC you'd have to spend hundreds, maybe thousands. With Bits, you can take it to the tracks for well under $100 dollars. And you can screw with them, cuz if you mess up, its not the end of the world, its just a $30 setback.

xatu · #9 12-19-2002, 04:36 PM

Yea, I totally agree with you...BUT Those are NOT my only set of tires, I have 2 sets of tires. So its aight if I screw em up.

xatu · #10 12-23-2002, 12:04 AM

Hmm...I got an idea here. If I were to saok my tires in rubbing alcohol for about an hour or so, would they get softer?

xatu · #11 12-24-2002, 11:56 AM

Ok, I got tired of waiting for a reply, so I went and did it. After an hour, they were just the same. I put em in for another hour, they were stil lthe same! So, I was gonna put em in for another hour, but I forgot to take them out, and they stayed in all night! Well, they are a little bit softer, except for one. And, almost all of the rubbing alcohol is gone! The tires probably soaked it all up!

dustn · #12 12-24-2002, 06:28 PM

I think it evaporated. Rubbing alcohol wont really do anything to rubber, as you found out. Try Nail polish remover.... Maybe it will do something.

xatu · #13 12-24-2002, 07:45 PM

Hmm... Well, my sister MIGHT have some, I doubt it though, and I know my mom has some, but where it is, I don't know. I will try searching for it sometime.

FMZPLAYER1 · #14 02-01-2003, 05:38 PM

Just bought a bag of tiny black rubber bands, tried some of the smallest ones out, and they really grip! --Only problem is that they can fall off easily, and they only want to fit the rim edges. It makes the rear axle look like it has dual tires on the back. I guess a little glue would help too. They'd probably work well an an Auldey/Canned heat too!