superchamp etc sponge tyre question

[mr_lister999.]

Has anybody ever used these on their runner and if how did they perform compared to the rubber tyres? Also, does the tread pattern make any difference? (the box shows 3 setups). What surface are they actually for? I would have thought carpet most likely as thats what people use now but probably made for something else. Any idea would be appreciated.

[walawala_com]

Hi,

Are you talking about the Tamiya Option Sponge tire for buggies, with square block patterns? May be in the early days, the dirt tires are really too hard and manufacturers wonder if sponge block tire would work better. But this thing never seem to go further, so you have the conclusion.

If it is designed for on road, then threads wouldn't be necessary. Slick provides the largest contact surface.

Not only sponge tires will provide traction on carpet, spike tires sometimes work better. I got this info from European famous driver Craig Dresher while we raced together in Hong Kong. I never tried cause there are no indoor carpet tracks here.

Joaquim

[mr_lister999.]

yeah, those are the ones i mean. I would have said they would have been to flexible as the foams are not glued together just glued onto the wheel. Someone must have some experience with them though.

[miramar]

quote:Originally posted by mr_lister999.

yeah, those are the ones i mean. I would have said they would have been to flexible as the foams are not glued together just glued onto the wheel. Someone must have some experience with them though.

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I bought a set when they were first launched, just to be very disappointed. The handling really gets worse and with a very "indirect" feel, but any tendency of oversteer diminishes with them (on hard surfaces at least), so somebody may like that single improvement in handling. The handling is quite similar to the AJ's foam tires offered at the same time. However, AJ's offered front tires too, which made it a little easier to balance the traction front and rear.

The discs have to be glued to each other, and I think I remember this was pointed out in the instructions. You were supposed to use four AA-size batteries in the hole to center the discs, let the glue dry and then glue them to the wheel. I ran mine with the "chess" pattern, whereas my cousin ran "paddles" without any significant difference. Paddles may have been better on loose sand, but we soon abandoned them and ran SS tires on sand anyway.

These foam tires came with special wheelaxles, which actually are a better design than original SRB wheel axles, but are unfortunately not possible to use with anything else than the wheels that came with the foam tires. Actually, this product was a spin-off of the Racing Master, using the small diameter 1/12 scale Racing Master wheels. This resulted in a very high profile of the tires, causing the funny effect of a very low volume sound when rolling compared to the hollow "rumbling" original tires. I think their unrealistic look was them most important reason they didn't sell well though.

I got a few sets when they were discontinued and keep them for nostalgic reasons, but I will probably never use them.

[DJTheo]

quote:However, AJ's offered front tires too, which made it a little easier to balance the traction front and rear.

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Maybe with the Tamiya rear sponge tires we should try sponge F1/F2 diplos at front, for the ultimate front-lowrider, dragster look! LOLOL []

[bigu2fan]

I have used these on my runner SS, and the performance was terrible. I ran them with the "chessboard" pattern on asphalt and they spun out VERY easily. It was VERY difficult to get decent traction. Quickly went back to my RR rears on the asphalt. They ran MUCH better.

--Will

willgreenlee@yahoo.com

[DJTheo]

I guess also they didnt match the RBs well, because of the large camber angles in the back, you need soft and relatively narrow and round, "balloony" type of tires, like the originals, otherwise the contact surface is very limited...