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what good is the sponge tire?

Old 11-01-2009, 04:25 AM
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riann
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Default what good is the sponge tire?

same as title. isn't the rubber more realistic?
Old 11-01-2009, 08:51 AM
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yakfish
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Default RE: what good is the sponge tire?

I assume by sponge you mean foams? The rubber tire look more realistic but the foams give you much better traction.
Old 11-01-2009, 09:44 AM
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Druss
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Default RE: what good is the sponge tire?

Foams are mostly used in racing as their is a maintenance issue (truing) with them. They do perform better though.
Old 11-01-2009, 10:26 AM
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Gex_61
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Default RE: what good is the sponge tire?

RC cars are a lot smaller than a real car. Tires are just one of the pieces that are designed differently to get the most performance out of the platform. RC's don't have air filled tires; instead you have a rubber tire that is supported by foam inside. It's simpler, more reliable, and more consistent. You can still tune by using different foam inserts.

The goal for any tire is to have a balance between grip and wear. RC's weigh less, so the compound of the rubber should be much softer. In a race, they only need to make it to the end of 30 minutes or so. Plenty of grip!

A foam tire is a mix of foam and rubber. The lightweight of a foam tire helps with acceleration and braking. Since foam has air pockets like a sponge, it can be very soft and give you some extra grip. Foam tires have several different compounds, and can be used for a number of different surfaces. They are the fastest wearing tire, but you get the advantage of being able to wear them all the way down to the rims versus just wearing the outer surface.

That's just what I have found with my own experiences. I've used all kinds of foam tires for dirt oval racing. I haven't done much onroad or carpet racing. Check out this link too- http://www.rc-truckncar-tuning.com/rcfoamtire.html
Old 11-01-2009, 11:34 AM
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Default RE: what good is the sponge tire?


ORIGINAL: Gex_61

RC cars are a lot smaller than a real car. Tires are just one of the pieces that are designed differently to get the most performance out of the platform. RC's don't have air filled tires; instead you have a rubber tire that is supported by foam inside. It's simpler, more reliable, and more consistent. You can still tune by using different foam inserts.

The goal for any tire is to have a balance between grip and wear. RC's weigh less, so the compound of the rubber should be much softer. In a race, they only need to make it to the end of 30 minutes or so. Plenty of grip!

A foam tire is a mix of foam and rubber. The lightweight of a foam tire helps with acceleration and braking. Since foam has air pockets like a sponge, it can be very soft and give you some extra grip. Foam tires have several different compounds, and can be used for a number of different surfaces. They are the fastest wearing tire, but you get the advantage of being able to wear them all the way down to the rims versus just wearing the outer surface.

That's just what I have found with my own experiences. I've used all kinds of foam tires for dirt oval racing. I haven't done much onroad or carpet racing. Check out this link too- http://www.rc-truckncar-tuning.com/rcfoamtire.html
Couldnt have said it better myself.
Old 11-03-2009, 03:59 PM
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mini-dude
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Default RE: what good is the sponge tire?


ORIGINAL: riann

same as title. isn't the rubber more realistic?

maybe..........but treaded tires are alsomore realistic than pin-spikes


practically-speaking, RC cars (racing anyway) has never been about "real cars" or being realistic, or running scale speeds, but instead being about putting the power to the ground in the best way possible while making the cars/trucks go as fast as possible...I mean how many of you would enjoy an RC that ran speeds similar scale-wise to what that vehicle does in 1:1 scale? nobody, is my guess, would be happy with a full-race whatever (that goes 200mph in real life) and yet only goes 20mph as an RC.....

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