Preping Wheels for Tire Glueing

[MONSTER]

How do you Guys do it? Im doing my HPI Vintage Tires/Wheels. I used some sandpaper wrapped around the Back of a Pocket Knife Blade, and it still didnt stick very well. I thought about using my dremel with a Fine Wheel, but Im a bit scared of it.

[mikedealer]

shoe goo in a few spots will make the tire removeable and sticks well, comes off pretty easy too

[Bormac]

I think sanding the rim was a prehistoric way of going about it. I dont think it ever did a great job. I usually wash my rims first in some warm water with a little dishwashing detergent,rinse then once dry ready to fit the tyre. I clean the tyre bead first though with mineral turpentine to get rid of any mold release agent (and dirt) then fit and peel back sections and lue with 'ZAP' glue (green label). Never had a problem. When I want to remove I just soak them in acetone over night and 'bobs your uncle'.Rcers will often use motor spray to clean both surfaces.

[RETRO R/C]

Never hurts to rough up the wheel surface a little - I usually score it with a hobby knife blade or something similar.

Pretty much just use steel wool and a cleaning agent (like BORMAC) to clean up the tires. The trick is to get really good tire based super glue. Most stuff will work - however the best product I have found so far is either "MUCH MORE Rubber tire glue" or good old "LOCTITE" 406 super glue. Just make sure that you lift the tire in at least 4 spots to put the glue on. THEN if you want to really make sure it doesn't come off - "bead" the glue around the where the tire meets the wheel.

Just a word of caution on the acetone for cleaning wheels etc. I have ruined a couple of sets of older wheels by soaking in acetone because the product attacked the plastic and turned the wheels into "blobs". Always test the wheel by putting some acetone on a "que tip", (is that what you yankees call em?), and then rub it on the wheel in a not so obvious spot. If the wheel starts to go dull or shed some plastic - DON'T soak em! Another alternative to acetone for removing old tires is boiling the tires and wheels in plain old water. This doesn't damage the wheels (unless you boil the pot dry!!) yes - I have done that too!

Cheers

Darryn

[Eau Rouge]

How do you Guys do it? Im doing my HPI Vintage Tires/Wheels. I used some sandpaper wrapped around the Back of a Pocket Knife Blade, and it still didnt stick very well. I thought about using my dremel with a Fine Wheel, but Im a bit scared of it.

We're racing on these wheels and tires in the US Vintage Trans Am TC class, and no one that I know is scuffing either the tire or the wheel before gluing. You may need to clean the tire with rubbing or denatured alcohol before gluing, but I've never needed to do that either. Then again, I'm not using the chrome versions, either.

Take your time, use Losi tire CA (blue or red) and the tube applicator. I use Losi tire bands to clamp the tires down to the rim while the CA is setting up, too. Once mine are cured, I chuck them in a tire lathe and scuff the tread with 100 grit to remove the mold seam and to make sure the bead/glue has seated properly.

Once they are on my car, they really don't come off the car for any reason. I have needed to "touch up" a few glue seams after a day of racing, but those were minor and easily fixed.