How to Mount RC Tyres - Tips for Glued, Beadlock & Premounted Tires

You won't enjoy yourself or win any races if your tyres don't remain on the wheels, regardless of how well you've tuned your car or truck or how well you've matched the tread and compound of your tyres to the track conditions. The wheel-tire connection of an RC car must be able to sustain enormous forces as it propels your vehicle, particularly when you mix rugged terrain with a large, high-power, brushless model. In addition to discussing bead locks for you trail boys and gals, here's how to properly bond tyres.

What is the best way to glue RC tyres?

Fortunately, achieving a strong and tight glue bond is simple. The keys are high-quality tire glue, meticulous planning, and just enough patience to avoid rushing the task.

You'll need this to glue R/C tyres.

1. Tire glue
2. Gluing bands
3. Residue-free cleaner (denatured or isopropyl alcohol is best)
4. Lint-free cloth

Step 1: Clean the wheel and tire mounting surfaces.

Although some drivers neglect this step, ensuring the wheel and tire are clear of mould-release compounds from the production process will guarantee that nothing might interfere with the glue bond on the mounting surfaces. Use denatured or isopropyl alcohol or motor spray to clean the mounting channels on the wheel and the tire's "bead," or the flange that slides into the channel. Steer clear of any cleanser that leaves a film or residue.

Step 2: Install the RC tires onto the wheels.

After pushing the rim into the tyre's centre, align the tyre's bead with the wheel's mounting channels. Carefully note the orientation of the directional treads on your tyres, if they have any, so that you have a left wheel and a right wheel. As necessary, apply pressure to the tires until they are completely seated. Put the tires and all four wheels together.

Thick, Medium, or Thin Tire Glue?

Tire glue may come in various viscosities, depending on your chosen brand. The adhesive flows more easily, but there is no change in holding power. "Thin" flows most readily, much like water. Medium is more akin to oil. Although it is simpler to manage than Thin, it still flows effortlessly. Thick glue doesn't run as efficiently and is more gel-like. The use of thin or medium glue yields the best results.

Step 3: How to glue RC tyres to rims.

Use your thumb to pull the tree back to create space between the torture and the wheel. Ensure it seats completely, insert a drop of tyre adhesive into the opening, and lower the bead back into the wheel. The adhesive may splatter if the tyre snaps back into the wheel like a rubber band; instead, repeat the procedure around the entire wheel. If you consider the wheel a clock face, you will apply glue every hour. Move a little further if you discover that the area where you are using glue is already fastened down since the thin glue will flow around the wheel by capillary action. Continue until all of the wheel's edges have been adhered to.

The best action is to glue the front side of each wheel and tyre, let it dry, and then attach the back sides. If you glue the front side and then turn the wheel over to glue the back, the glue may flow out of the joint and mess up the sidewall of your tyre. Even worse, you could glue yourself to your work surface or the tyre, which is a drag.

Step 4: Wrap with a tyre band.

As the adhesive cures, firmly secure the tyre's bead in the wheel channel with a tyre band. The band does not need to be extremely tight; all required is uniform pressure around the tyre. You can then start bonding the other tyres while the adhesive dries.

Step 5: Inspect, flip, and repeat.

Remove the glue bands and inspect your work after cementing one side of each of the four wheels and tyres. Give the last wheel a few minutes to dry—the longer, the better. If gaps appear when you pull the tyre away from the wheel, reapply glue and band the tyre. Turn them over and repeat the procedure for the opposite tyre and wheel side after you are certain all the tyres are securely affixed to their wheels.

Step 6: Add a sealing layer.

Once both sides are dry, glue the wheel/tyre joint, then tilt the tyre slightly to help the adhesive roll around the rim. After applying adhesive as necessary to complete the tyre, put it aside to dry. The connection where the tyre and wheel meet will be sealed with an additional coat of CA, making it further robust and impervious to dirt packing.

Hold up … do you need to glue RC tires yourself?

If the wheel and tyre combination you choose is available premounted, you may move straight from the box to the track as fast as taking out the wheel nuts on your car. This will save you the time and hassle of glueing.

How to install beadlock wheels on RC tyres.

In addition to its scale realism, trail truckers prefer beadlock wheels because they allow wheels and tyres to be switched out at any time, eliminating the need to discard perfectly excellent wheels when the tyres wear out. Beadlock wheels use a mechanical clamping force to hold the tires in place. So why aren't they used by all RC trucks and cars? The substantial weight of bead locks makes them unsuitable for racing. Additionally, beadlock systems can't withstand the significantly higher centrifugal forces of high-speed RC driving, even though they have plenty of holding strength for the low-RPM action trail trucks encounter. Glued tyres are essential if you're travelling at high speeds. But deadlocks are the norm on the trail.

Are the treads directional?

Once more, if the treads are directional, ensure the tires and wheels are assembled as lefts and rights. Don't worry if you put a tyre on backwards; it won't stay cemented on forever. You can disassemble it and start over. However, it's best to correct it before you start making changes.

Soap a Stubborn Tire

If you're making a channel-style wheel and have trouble getting the tyre bead to slide into the wheel channel, rub a dab of dish soap onto it to lubricate it. The bead will be pushed the rest of the way into the channel when the beadlock ring is tightened, so don't worry if it doesn't fit perfectly.

Crisscross Tightening

To install a beadlock ring, begin by threading four screws in a crisscross pattern, a few turns at a time, around the wheel until the ring pushes the bead into the channel. Now, using the same alternating pattern, put and tighten the remaining screws around the rim. This will guarantee optimum holding power and uniform tightness.