can you put bigger tires on rc car

Can You Put Bigger Tires on RC Cars? [Here’s What to Know]

Being an RC enthusiast is always fun and games. Pairing up with different parts to get some edge over your rival on the race track is always the goal.

When it comes to upgrading your tires or wheels, there are various pros and downsides to consider. Some people think bigger tires will give them better control and speed than smaller ones. 

But the real question is, can you put bigger tires on RC cars?

Yes, bigger tires can be placed in RC cars. In fact, larger tires provide more traction and allow your car to go faster and handle better on rough terrain. However, as everyone has said, you’d require electronics to be capable of providing the electricity to spin them. There are various pros and downsides to consider.

Installing bigger tires on your RC car is a relatively easy process, and in this blog post, we will show you how to do it. So, if you want to take your RC driving experience to the next level, read on!

Is it Okay to Put Bigger Tires on RC Cars?

Of course, you can put bigger tires on RC cars. In fact, many people do it to enhance the performance of their vehicles as well as aesthetics. And this looks like an absolute monster.

Bigger tires provide more traction and allow your car to go faster and handle better on rough terrain. 

However, before you install bigger tires on your RC car, there are a few things you need to take into consideration.

First and foremost, you need to make sure that the bigger tires you want to install are compatible with your RC car. 

Not all tires will fit all cars, so it’s important to do your research and make sure that the tires you purchase will fit your particular model of RC car.

Once you’ve confirmed that the bigger tires are compatible with your RC car, you need to take into account the effect that they will have on your car’s performance.

Bigger Tires on RC Cars
Source: Youtube

Larger tires will undoubtedly make your car go faster, but they will also reduce the battery life. 

If you’re not an experienced RC driver, we recommend sticking with smaller tires until you’ve gotten a feel for how your car handles with larger ones.

There are pros and cons to everything in this world, and the same goes for installing bigger tires on RC cars. In this section, we’ll outline some of the pros and cons of doing this upgrade.

3 Pros of Using Bigger Tires on RC Cars!

As I’ve mentioned earlier there are some advantages of using bigger tires. Let’s look at some of them more closely.

1. Bigger Tires Provide More Traction:

One of the biggest advantages of using bigger tires on RC cars is that they provide more traction. 

This is especially beneficial if you’re going to be driving on rough terrain or in wet conditions. With more traction, your car will have a better grip on the road and be less likely to slip or skid.

2. Bigger Tires Allow Your Car to Go Faster:

Another advantage of bigger tires is that they allow your car to go faster. This is because larger tires provide more contact with the ground, which gives your car more traction and thus, more speed. 

If you’re looking to make your RC car go faster, installing bigger tires is a great way to do it.

3. Bigger Tires are More Durable:

Another advantage of using bigger tires on RC cars is that they are more durable. This is because larger tires are less likely to puncture or become damaged than smaller ones.

3 Cons of Using Bigger Tires on RC Cars!

Of course, there are also some disadvantages of using bigger tires. Let’s look at some of them more closely.

1. Bigger Tires Can Make Your Car Less stable:

Another disadvantage of bigger tires is that they can make your car less stable. This is because they provide more contact with the ground, which makes it easier for your car to tip over. 

If you’re looking to use bigger tires, we recommend doing so with caution and making sure that your car is properly balanced.

2. Bigger Tires Can Reduce Your Car’s Battery Life:

Another downside of using bigger tires is that they can reduce your car’s battery life. 

This is because larger tires require more power to turn, which means that your car’s battery will have to work harder and will run out of juice faster. 

If you’re looking to use bigger tires, we recommend doing so with caution and making sure that you have a spare battery on hand.

3. Bigger Tires Can Be More Expensive:

Finally, one of the biggest disadvantages of using bigger tires is that they can be more expensive. 

This is because larger tires are not as common as smaller ones and thus, can be more difficult to find and more expensive to purchase. If you’re looking to use bigger tires, make sure that you are prepared to spend the extra money.

How Do I Put Bigger Wheels and Tires on RC Cars?

  • The first step is to position your RC car on the stand. If your model does not come with one, you can use just about anything, as a substitute. 

But here I would recommend using the Hobbypark Aluminum Alloy RC Car Work Stand. It’s a very handy tool for us enthusiasts as it gives you 360 degree working capacity on your car.

However, I use the Duratex work station for my necessities, which also is a good choice.

Just one thing that matters is that your RC car’s wheels have some separation from one another. And the surface beneath them.

Bigger Wheels and Tires on RC Cars
Source: Amazon
  • Next you’ll need to use the hex wrench to cover the RC nuts. Slide your hex wrench to the left to loosen the nut. 
  • After you’ve removed it, you should be able to unscrew the wheel from the RC vehicle. However, it’s quite a challenge to remove the glued tires from RC cars. Which I’ve discussed in the next segment.
  • The wheels may be removed and replaced with equal ease. You’ll simply need to rejoin the wheel to the axle before tightening the bolts. 
  • In the other direction this time. Make cautious not to overtighten the nuts, since this will make them much more difficult to remove in the future.

There are many types of RC car tyres. So I would recommend you to think thoroughly before selecting an appropriate tire for RC car!

How Do I Remove the Glue From RC Car Tires?

There are two basic methods of removing glue from RC car tires. One is the Acetone method and another one is the Food Steamer method. The primary challenge in replacing the wheel and tire is getting the adhesive that holds them together to degrade. 

However, none of the methods allow the tire or wheel to be salvaged at the conclusion of the process. 

We’ll go over the mentioned methods for ungluing the tires from the rims. These solutions also provide you the option of repurposing your old items if necessary.

Method 1: Acetone Method

You will need to follow certain steps to get the process done. They are:

  • Begin to fill the paint tin halfway with acetone before putting the tires in the bottom.
  • To prevent the acetone from evaporating, seal your tin once you’ve installed your wheels. 
  • You’ll have to wait at least 24 hours before you can remove the wheels. To ensure that all of the glue has disintegrated, it is advised to wait 48 hours.
  • Lightly brush the acetone well over the adhesive with your paintbrush. Given how long it’s been in the acetone, this should come off very easy.

You need to follow these certain steps to get the desired result. 

Utilizing a new cover will help lessen the likelihood of it evaporating. Although acetone is expensive, a full paint tin would last you a year of frequent changes.

Method 2: Food Steamer Pan Method

To complete the procedure, you must do specific actions. As follows:

  • The wheels must be placed within the vegetable steamer.
  • Water must be poured into the bottom pan. And with your wheels in the top tray, at a boiling temperature. 
  • You’ll just have to heat your wheels for 45 minutes to leave. If the adhesive isn’t easily removed off the wheel, steam this for another 10 minutes.

To get the intended outcome, you must adhere to these specific instructions. Now once you’ve removed the previously glued tire it’s time to attach the new one.

How Do I Glue RC Car Wheels and Tire Correctly?

To begin the gluing for your RC car, make sure your wheels are completely clean. The cleaner the surface, the better the chances of the glue sticking. After that, you’ll need to install an insert into your tire. 

So how to install tire inserts?

You can just cut the rubber of the tires and install the foam inside. And then you can just glue it up and your RC car will run smoothly.

Molded and standard inserts are the two types of inserts available. Molded inserts are composed of a sturdier substance than standard inserts, which are made of foam. 

After that, you’ll need to put your tire on the rim. It will help the process go more easily if you extend the tire a few times. The sides must be tight to the rim. 

It might be possible to get the rim in easily if the tire is tight. Spread out the dents by rolling them back and forth. After several rolls, you may need to retry the mounting operation if you see a gap between both the tire and the rim.

It’s better to use glue that’s made particularly for RC cars. The more “runny” variants are the most popular among the community. Which have the ability to go into small spaces between both the tire and the rim.

The Pro-Line Tire Glue is your best bet in this category. However, Bob Smith Industries Ultra-Cure Tire Glue isn’t bad either to glue your tires.

Retreating the tire until you detect a noticeable split is all it takes to glue the wheel. As well as putting adhesive to the regions where the tire will sit. 

After a couple of treatments on different regions of your wheel. You’ll need to push the tire down hard into the rim to ensure a tight attachment.

You may also use rubber bands rather than your hands to provide pressure to the tires. You can remove them 5-10 minutes after wrapping them. To test how effectively the adhesive has adhered, lightly stretch sections of the tires.

This is all that you have to know about placing bigger tires on RC cars.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Will Smaller Tires Make My RC Car Faster?

It is a common misconception that smaller tires will make an RC car faster. In actuality, the size of the tire has very little to do with the speed of the car. The main factor that determines the speed of an RC car is the power of the engine.

How can I increase the speed of my RC car?

To increase the speed of your RC car make sure that the batteries are fully charged. Another is to clean the wheels and make sure that there are no obstructions. Finally, make sure to practice driving so that you can learn how to control the car better.

How do you stop RC car wheelies?

Adjust the rear suspension system to prevent excessive weight transfer. Also, try shifting everything you can to the front of the car to alter the weight bias. Perhaps add weight to the front of the automobile.

Conclusion

Hope you have no more confusion about whether can you put bigger tires on RC cars. We hope the query is crystal clear to you now. 

Ultimately, ensure that your tires are well-maintained. As a result, they will last as long as necessary and will not need to be changed as frequently.

Till then, best of luck!

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