[TUTORIAL] Modify your LEGO Tires for Performance

[DamonMM2000]

This tutorial shows how to increase the firmness of your LEGO tires! If your Mindstorms or Technic creation is pushing the tires down like a flat tire due to heavy weight, or if you want less rolling resistance from squishy tires, you've come to the right place! I hope this tutorial is a big help!

NOTE: You will have to search around for the right size, depending on the tire. One size does not fit all. Typically, foam inserts from 1/16 scale RC vehicles should fit on tires from 42000 Grand Prix Racer, 8110 Unimog U400, or 9398 4x4 Crawler.

Edited October 26, 2015 by DamonMM2000

[Epic Technic]

Nice concept but I don't think it really it will really do much for lego cars since they don't have much traction issues thought maybe it could help in crawlers.

[JM1971]

Over stuffing them with foam will create a bulge along the center, this bulge will cause the tyre to have less contact on flat surfaces and therefore be even faster, a harder tyre is going to be faster anyway, nice find. :)

You can get foam on amazon, a one inch sheet should do, cut into strips with a electric carving knife and glue both ends together, also a more expensive option is memory foam unless you get a memory foam pillow and use the foam chips inside it to fill the wheels.

PS. All foam is fire retardent now, thats what the sparkly bits are, not that you should be driving lego though fire. :D

http://www.amazon.co...rds=1 inch foam

http://www.amazon.co...arch_detailpage

Edited October 26, 2015 by JM1971

[Vectormatic]

  On 10/26/2015 at 6:10 AM, Epic Technic said:

Nice concept but I don't think it really it will really do much for lego cars since they don't have much traction issues thought maybe it could help in crawlers.

the point here is actually reducing traction (and thus roll-resistance), allowing for higher speeds with the same amount of power

[nerdsforprez]

Personally, I don't think most peoples builds are large enough to warrant such a modification. If they are, they're really not built for speed so again not sure how useful this is. This exists in rc trucks b/c the rubber used is so soft. In Lego, the rubber used is not nearly as soft

Edited October 26, 2015 by nerdsforprez

[Epic Technic]

  On 10/26/2015 at 10:14 AM, vectormatic said:

the point here is actually reducing traction (and thus roll-resistance), allowing for higher speeds with the same amount of power

This only happens when the tire is over stuffed, causing a bulge. Foam inserts are largely used to hold the tires shape, especially in cornering and in Lego's case, I haven't seen cars that drastically change tire shape during cornering.

[Babaloveslego55]

Isn't it werd that I watched your video the other day without this on eurobricks

And by the way for a cheaper version you could use toilet roll enstead of useing the foam from rc car tires

[JM1971]

Or, put the rim in the tyre while submerged in water, if you ever get a puncture you'll know instantly. :D

[Babaloveslego55]

Didn't think of that

What about packing peanuts? Can't think of any problems with those

[zux]

  On 10/29/2015 at 11:56 AM, JM1971 said:

Or, put the rim in the tyre while submerged in water, if you ever get a puncture you'll know instantly. :D

Make sure to cover tiny little hole (for Unimog tires, as an example) in wheel first

[JM1971]

  On 10/29/2015 at 8:29 PM, zux said:

Make sure to cover tiny little hole (for Unimog tires, as an example) in wheel first

I'll use grass instead, not the smoking kind lol.

Before foam upholsterers used horse hair and hay. :)