Tire & Wheel Guide
Tribute Site |
|
The rear tires on an HO Slot Car are one of the most important items that govern performance. The molded rubber tires supplied on box-stock slot cars can normally be replaced with slip-on silicone tires. Tomy Super G+Plus chassis, however need to have their rear hubs replaced first before silicone tires can be fitted. |
If you would prefer not to replace the rear hubs on a Tomy Super G+Plus chassis you can still improve the stock tires' performance by lightly sanding and truing them. Look closely at a pair of used Super G+Plus tires and you'll often notice that the edges of the tire are worn, but the center section is not. This indicates that only the outer edges of the tires are actually contacting the track. |
You can eliminate the high edges on the rear tires by placing a finger nail emory board on the track and then gently lowering a running car onto the emory board. The running car's rear wheels can be sanded and trued using this simple technique. Remove the body first though, so that it's easier to see the results of sanding and to avoid getting rubber dust inside the body and motor. A properly sanded and trued tire will have a flat surface that makes better contact with the track. |
|
|
Silicone Tires |
Replacing the hard rubber rear tires with softer compound silicone tires will make a substantial difference to a cars handling and performance. Slip-on silicone tires are available in a variety of sizes. |
The box-stock tires on most HO Slot Cars are slightly oversized. One of the benefits of replacing these large tires with smaller silicone tires is that the chassis ride height will be reduced, thus placing the traction magnets closer to the power rails. The combined effects of stronger magnetic downforce and sticky tires will dramatically improve the performance and handling characteristics of an otherwise stock chassis. |
You can normally reduce the rear tire diameter by 0.010 to 0.015 and still maintain sufficient clearance so that the chassis doesn't hang up on track section rail joints, or the power rails themselves. |
|
|
Box-Stock Wheel Hub & Tires Sizes |
The table below lists the standard factory dimensions for box-stock wheel hubs and rubber tires. Due to rubber molding variations tire diameter tolerances may vary by ± 0.0025 inches. |
|
Manufacturer/Chassis Model | Hub Size | Tire Diameter* | |
Aurora A/FX | 0.275 | 0.455 | |
Aurora A/FX Magna-Traction | 0.275 | 0.455 | |
Aurora G+Plus | 0.275 | 0.465 | |
Tyco / Mattel Magnum 440/440x2 | 0.255 | 0.466 | |
Tyco / Mattel HP-7 | 0.280 | 0.470 | |
Life-Like / Rokar "M" Car | 0.285 | 0.468 | |
Tomy Mega-G & Mega-G+Plus | 0.265 | 0.450 | |
Tomy Turbo & SRT | 0.275 | 0.450 | |
Tomy Super G+Plus | N/A | 0.455 | |
BSRT G3 with 5-Spoke Molded Wheels | 0.285 | 0.448 | |
* ± 0.0025 inch tolerances |
|
|
Silicone Replacement Tire Sizes |
The table below lists hub diameters and the resulting tire diameters for various silicone tires. By looking up the manufacturer's normal tire diameter in the table above, and then finding a slightly smaller diameter in the table below you'll arrive at the perfect tire choice for any brand of slot car chassis. |
|
Wheel Hub Size (Diameter) |
Black Cats (0.250 x 0.410) |
Black Jacks (0.250 x 0.428) |
Black Panthers (0.250 x 0.432) |
Black Gum Drops (0.250 x 0.450) |
|
0.250 | 0.410 | 0.428 | 0.432 | 0.450 | |
0.255 | 0.415 | 0.432 | 0.438 | 0.455 | |
0.275 | 0.426 | 0.442 | 0.450 | 0.468 | |
0.280 | 0.430 | 0.445 | 0.452 | 0.470 | |
0.285 | 0.434 | 0.448 | 0.454 | 0.476 | |
|
Note: The AJ's tires listed for sale below specify an un-mounted 0.250 inch inside wheel diameter. Using the table above you can easily determine what size they will "grow" to when used on larger diameter wheels. |
|
|
Recommended Hub & Tire Sizes |
The table below lists the recommended silicone replacement tires for the various chassis available. The tires choices shown below will reduce the ride height slightly while still maintaining sufficient rail clearances on molded plastic sectional track. |
|
Manufacturer / Chassis | Wheel Hubs | Tires | |
Tomy Super G+Plus | BSRT Delrin (0.250) | Black Gum Drops | |
Tomy Super G+Plus | BSRT Delrin (0.275) | Black Panthers | |
Tomy Super G+Plus | BSRT G3 (0.285) | Black Panthers | |
Tomy Turbo / SRT | Stock (0.275) | Black Panthers | |
Tyco / Mattel Magnum 440 & 440x2 | Stock (0.255) | Black Gum Drops | |
Tyco / Mattel HP-7 | Stock (0.280) | Black Panthers | |
Life-Like / Rokar "M" Chassis | Stock (0.285) | Black Panthers | |
Aurora G+Plus | Stock (0.275) | Black Jacks | |
Aurora A/FX | Stock (0.275) | Black Jacks | |
Aurora A/FX Magna-Traction | Stock (0.275) | Black Jacks | |
|
|
BSRT Wheel Tools |
|
BSRT Pro Wheel Puller | $47.99 |
|
BSRT HT384 |
|
BSRT Pro Wheel Press | $30.00 |
|
BSRT HT382 |
|
BSRT Pro Front Wheel Puller | $28.75 |
|
BSRT HT389 |
|
AJ's Silicone Tires |
AJ's Slip-On Silicone tires are available in pairs and 6-packs (6 pair) in four (4) different diameters. See the tables above for suitable applications. |
|
AJ's Black Cats (.250 x .410) | $3.15 |
AJ's Black Cats 6-Pack | $15.75 |
|
AJ's Black Jacks (.250 x .428) | $3.15 |
AJ's Black Jacks 6-Pack | $15.75 |
|
AJ's Black Panthers (.250 x .432) | $3.15 |
AJ's Black Panthers 6-Pack | $15.75 |
|
AJ's Black Gum Drops (.250 x .450) | $3.15 |
AJ's Black Gum Drops 6-Pack | $15.75 |
|
AJ's Unground Foam (.250 x .550) | $1.90 |
AJ's Unground Foam 6-Pack | $9.90 |
Note: Unground Foam tires are soft sponge rubber and will need to be glued to the rear wheel hubs and then sanded to size. |
AJ's Delrin Hubs & Silicone Tires |
|
Tomy Dbl-Flange Delrin Hubs & Tires | $3.80 |
Tomy Dbl-Flange Hubs & Tires 6-Pack | $19.00 |
|
Tyco Dbl-Flange Delrin Hubs & Tires | $3.80 |
Tyco Dbl-Flange Hubs & Tires 6-Pack | $19.00 |
|
AJ's Track & Tire Cleaner | $3.59 |
|
BSRT Delrin Hubs |
|
BSRT Delrin Rear Hubs 0.250 (Pair) | $5.50 |
BSRT Delrin Rear Hubs 0.290 (Pair) | $5.50 |
BSRT Delrin Rear Hubs 0.275 (Pair) | $4.50 |
|
BSRT G3 Wheel Sets |
BSRT also
offers a precision molded 5-spoke wheel set. Each set includes a pair of
front and rear hubs. They are available in standard and narrow widths.
The standard width wheel sets are designed for Tomy and Tyco chassis,
while the narrow wheel sets are to be used with BSRT G3 chassis running
"wide" traction magnets. Both "Wide" and "Narrow" wheel sets are
available in White, Gray and Black colors. |
|
BSRT G3 White Front & Rear Wheels | $6.50 |
BSRT G3 Black Front & Rear Wheels | $6.50 |
BSRT G3 Grey Front & Rear Wheels | $6.50 |
|
BSRT G3 White Front & Rear Narrow | $6.50 |
BSRT G3 Black Front & Rear Narrow | $6.50 |
BSRT G3 Grey Front & Rear Narrow | $6.50 |
|
BSRT SG+/G3 Front End Kits |
|
BSRT Delrin Ind. Front End Assembly | $12.50 |
BSRT Aluminum Ind. Front Assembly | $12.50 |
BSRT Ind. Front Replacement Tires | $2.00 |
BSRT Neo Front Replacement Tires | $2.00 |
BSRT Ind. Front Wheel Retainers (2) | $3.40 |
|
BSRT Delrin Front End Assembly | $8.50 |
BSRT G3 Front End Assembly | $9.00 |
|
BSRT Tyco Front End Kits |
|
Tyco Delrin Ind. Front End Assembly | $11.99 |
Tyco Delrin Front End Assembly | $7.00 |
Tyco Aluminum Ind. Front Assembly | $13.50 |
|
BSRT Tires |
|
BSRT Black Silicone Tires (Pair) | $4.00 |
BSRT Black Silicone Tires (6 Pair) | $20.00 |
|
BSRT G3 Molded Rear Tires (Pair) | $5.50 |
BSRT G3 Front Tires (Pair) | $3.00 |
|
Aurora Silicone Rear Tires |
I also stock Slip-On Silicone tires for all of the popular Aurora vintage slot cars. Here again tires are available in pairs and 6-packs (6 pair.) These tires are designed specifically for older Aurora slot cars as well as the Johnny Lightning and Auto World reproductions. |
|
Aurora A/FX - Silicone Rears | $3.50 |
Aurora A/FX - Silicone Rears 6-Pack | $17.50 |
|
Aurora A/FX - MT Silicone Rears | $3.50 |
Aurora A/FX - MT Silicone Rear 6-Pr | $17.50 |
Note: The Silicone tires listed above also fit the rear hubs of Johnny Lightning and Auto World X-Traction reproductions. These silicones tires really improve the handling of JL/AW X-Traction slot cars. |
|
Aurora G+Plus Silicone Rears | $3.50 |
Aurora G+Plus Silicone Rears 6-Pack | $17.50 |
|
Aurora T-Jet Silicone Tires (Pair) | $3.00 |
Aurora T-Jet Silicone Tires 6-Pack | $15.00 |
|
JL/Tuff-Ones Silicone Tires (Pair) | $3.50 |
JL/Tuff-Ones Silicone Tires 6-Pack | $17.50 |
Note: JL/Tuff-Ones Silicones are wider than standard T-Jet tires and will fit on the rear hubs of Johnny Lightning and Auto World ThunderJet 500 reproductions. These silicones tires really improve the handling of JL/AW ThunderJet 500s. |
|
A/FX Specialty - Silicones (Pair) | $3.59 |
A/FX Dragster - Silicones (Pair) | $3.79 |
|
BSRT Tires for Aurora |
|
BSRT G+ Silicone Tires (Pair) | $5.00 |
BSRT G+ Silicone Tires (6 Pair) | $25.00 |
|
BSRT T-Jet Delrin Hubs .225 (Pair) | $5.50 |
BSRT T-Jet Silicone Tires (Pair) | $5.00 |
BSRT T-Jet Silicone Tires (6 Pair) | $25.00 |
Note: BSRT T-Jet Delrin Hubs and Silicone tires are "Wide" and should only be used on Fray-style T-Jets or chassis fitted with 1:64 scale Lexan bodies. These hubs and tires will protrude well beyond the fenders of most T-Jet bodies. They do work well on Hot-Rods though. |
|
Tomy AFX SG+ Jel Claw Rears (Pair) | $2.29 |
Tomy AFX SG+ Jel Claw Rear (5 Pair) | $8.99 |
|
Tomy AFX MG Jel Claw Rears (Pair) | $2.29 |
Tomy AFX MG Jel Claw Rear (5 Pair) | $8.99 |
|
Tomy AFX SRT Jel Claw Rears (Pair) | $2.29 |
Tomy AFX SRT Jel Claw Rear (5 Pair) | $8.99 |
|
Tomy AFX Turbo Jel Claw Rears (Pr) | $2.29 |
Tomy AFX Turbo Jel Claw Rear (5 Pr) | $8.99 |
|
Aurora A/FX - Jel Claw Rears | $2.29 |
Aurora A/FX - Jel Claw Rears (5 Pr) | $8.99 |
|
Aurora A/FX - MT Jel Claw Rears | $2.29 |
Aurora A/FX - MT Jel Claws (5 Pair) | $8.99 |
|
Aurora G+Plus Jel Claw Rears | $2.29 |
Aurora G+Plus Jel Claw Rears (5 Pr) | $8.99 |
|
Aurora T-Jet Jel Claw Tires (Pair) | $2.29 |
Aurora T-Jet Jel Claws (5 Pair) | $8.99 |
|
JL/Tuff-Ones Jel Claw Rears (Pair) | $2.29 |
JL/Tuff-Ones Jel Claw Rears (5 Pr.) | $8.99 |
|
Tyco 440x2 Jel Claw Rears | $2.29 |
Tyco 440x2 Jel Claw Rears (5 Pair) | $8.99 |
|
Tyco 440 Jel Claw Rears | $2.29 |
Tyco 440 Jel Claw Rears (5 Pair) | $8.99 |
|
Life-Like M Jel Claw Rears (Pair) | $2.29 |
Life-Like M Jel Claw Rear (5 Pair) | $8.99 |
|
Life-Like T Jel Claw Rears (Pair) | $2.29 |
Life-Like T Jel Claw Rear (5 Pair) | $8.99 |
|
|
Wheel & Tire Sets for T-Jets |
|
I am also selling a nice set of wheels and tires for Aurora ThunderJets and Johnny Lightning/Auto World T-Jet reproduction chassis. |
|
4 Sets of 4 Chrome Wheels & Tires | $21.99 |
|
|
Cleaning Tires |
Clean tires are important for optimum performance and grip. Rubber tires and especially silicone compounds pick up oil, dirt and dust that reduces their ability to properly grip the track. Formula 409 Cleaner & Degreaser is the best tire cleaning fluid I've found. It removes oil and dirt without leaving a residue that will attract more dust. Warm soapy water also works well in a pinch. |
Avoid using tape to clean your tires. The adhesive on tape will clean tires, but it also leaves adhesive behind that quickly picks up more dust and dirt. |