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Full Version: Is taping tires really that important?
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I got new foams for my bowties last night, and before I glue them up, I want to know if it really is that important to tape the tires. Thanks!
What does that mean? I seen a guy with a 1/8 buggy putting tape on his tires before he glued them up. Is it just easier to glue the tires or what?
They will balloon way less, on the ground at speed, and in the air on throttle.
UE, it is putting duct tape or the clear tape with strings thru it along the inside of the tire to prevent ballooning.

My problem is that the last time I taped them, Eventually the tape rolled up inside the tire and just ran in a 1cm line down the middle of the tire, so it didn't do that much.
You need to use an aggressive adhesived tape such as the tire tape or the 2" wide 3M Scotch Brand strapping tape.

Make sure that you clean the inside of the tire with acetone (fingernail polish remover) to get all of the residual mold release agents and silicones from the manufacturing process off. Wrap the tape around twice.
Satoch, What is this "tire tape" you speak of?
I used 3M transparent duct tape. It's a little lighter than grey cloth tape.
Does anyone have a "how to" link?
How to;

Take off the tires.
Clean them w/ denatured alcohol (nail polish remover)
Get the strapping tape
Run it around the tire twice on the left side
Run it around the tire twice on the right side, making sure to overlap the 2 sections
Put the tire right side out and reglue!
Well that wasn't what I seen the guy doing. Still really don't understand, but o well.
You saw something completely different. That was helping him glue his tires, this is to prevent ballooning.
Thanks Joe.

I knew I saw something different after you described what it was.
I never taped tires for the rEvo. My UMT baloons the tires on a long straight so I taped my boeties. For my crimes, I stuffed with 3 stage foams without tape...so to answer the ? "if it really is that important to tape the tires"
I dont think so. My 2 cents...
depends on the track and the tires basically i have been studing this subject with great interest and basicaly wide and big engine tape, narrow probably not but depends on track, like kevin said bowties probably, crime fighters depends on track and vehicle some do some dont they say if the tires are taped you lose a little forward bite in the rough stuff. so experment an enjoy Smile
Too late anyways but thanks for the input...Mine are all taped up! BTW-Strapping tape is MUCH better to use than duct tape...And using the alcohol is a must too....There was a bunch of crap that came off the tire when I wiped them down...