Salvage That RC Wheel Or TIre

RC racing can get expensive. Tires and wheels are a big part of a racer's expenses. I have found a few tips that will save you money by being able to reuse normally discarded wheels or tires.

• Use a pair of sharp curved hobby scissors to remove the treaded section of the tire carcass (if salvaging both the tire and the wheel, skip this step and read below regarding foam).
• Remove any internal foam from the tire. Inspect for damage and or wear. If usable, tire foam should be good for a number of runs in new tires. Not all tires on the market come with foams, and this of course, costs more to replace.
• Place wheel in a ceramic or glass container with Acetone, or nail polish remover, to soak off the glue residue. Both contain Acetone, the pure Acetone will work faster than the nail polish remover. I have had some tires that came off in about an hour, but in some cases an overnight soak was required.
• A final scraping of glue residue with a hobby knife may be required, but it will chip off easily.
• Wash with dish soap and water, allow to dry, and reuse the wheels.

Foam: This process can also be used to salvage tires that are mis-glued, or tires mounted on a differing brand or vehicle wheel then you normally use. If doing so, ensure that the container has enough room to contain the internal foam as it may swell many times its normal size. Foams treated in this manner are normally degraded by the Acetone and should be replaced.

Note: Acetone is highly flammable, and should be kept away from open flame, and placed in a rated sealed container when not in use. Rated gloves and eye protection are recommended. Container used for this tip should be clearly marked as not for human or animal consumption. Acetone is poisonous. Container should be covered and kept away from children and pets for this reason. Excess Acetone and any resulting residue should be discarded properly. Last, not all RC plastics are the same. I have run into a few wheels where the plastic was damaged by this process, mainly some vintage rims. If wheels are painted, the finish may be dissolved along with the glue. If concerned, spot check first prior to soaking.