Tires are one of the most crucial components of an RC car. The type of tire you choose for your 1/8 scale race buggy can make or break your performance on the track. This article will discuss the importance of selecting the correct tire tread pattern for different track conditions. ProTek RC PRO Team driver Adam Drake explains that the right tread pattern can help your car gain more grip, improve steering, and make you faster on the track. He highlights the importance of matching the tread pattern to the track conditions to get the best performance from your RC car.



Adam Drake - ProTek Race Team

Adam Drake talks RC tire tread patterns.

- ProTek RC PRO Team Driver





Ellipse: Indoor Bar Style Tire

The Ellipse is an indoor bar style tire that can be used outdoors, but only in clean track conditions with no loose dirt or dust on the surface. If the track has fine dust, the tire can still cut through it. The indoor bar style tire relies on the surface area to provide a lot of contact patch. This means the Ellipse can give you a lot of grip on a clean track.

Ellipse: Indoor Bar Style Tire


Teazers: Small Pin Style Tire

The Teazers is a small pin style tire that works best indoors on tracks that are not too big. The tire has many little pins, which means that it has a lot of surface area. This allows fine dust to escape, providing good grip. The Teazers usually has a lot of steering, but it should not be used on fluffy tracks, as it can cake up and cause dirt on dirt.

Teazers: Small Pin Style Tire


Reflex: All-Around Tire

The Reflex is the all-around go-to tire for 1/8th scale racing. This tire works well in wet and dry conditions if you choose the correct compound. It is a fast tire that is super stable and precise. The lower the pin, the more precise the steering will be. The Reflex has excellent forward bite and steering, making it the ideal choice for those who want to go fast.

Reflex: All-Around Tire


Stalkers: Large Block Style Pin Tire

The Stalker is similar to the Reflex but has larger block-style pins and slightly more spacing. This tire works best on tracks that are loamy or fluffy. The larger pins digs into the surface, while the additional spacing allows the fluff to escape. The Stalker is an excellent all-around tire, and sometimes it can provide more rotation in the mid-corner compared to the Reflex.

Stalkers: Large Block Style Pin Tire


Blockers: Tighter Style Pin Tire

The Blocker is similar to the Stalker, but it has more tightly spaced pins. This tire works best on high-grip tracks that have fine dust on them. The Blocker provides more contact patch than the Stalker, resulting in more overall grip. The Blocker lasts longer and provides more grip on a clean track than the Stalker.

Blockers: Tighter Style Pin Tire

Summary

Selecting the right tire tread pattern is crucial for improving your performance on the track. Always match the tread pattern to the track conditions to get the best performance from your RC car. Also, remember that the lower the pin, the more precise the steering will be, and the larger the pin, the more grip the tire will provide. Keep these tips in mind, and you'll be sure to choose the right tire for your 1/8 scale RC race truck or buggy every time.



Watch Adam's RC Tuning Tips


Choosing the Correct Tires - Part 2 Tread Patterns


Picking the correct compound and tread pattern is very important and hopefully this video makes t easier to choose the best tread pattern for the conditions.

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