Tyre treatment

[gordon]

Guys,

Why do we clean the tyres on our cars before each race, rally stage and qualifying run? Well, unless you're living on the moon, I'm sure you'll agree that we do this to improve traction and therefore get our cars to go faster with less sliding.

For silicone and urethane tyres, we usually do this by rubbing the contact surface with a cloth soaked with a liquid such as isopropyl alcohol. In the case of rubber tyres, the best way to get as much traction as possible is to apply oil to the tyres and rub it in to soften the rubber. In the end, each method provides better traction (for a while anyway) and therefore better on-track performance.

We've recently imposed a ban on tyre oiling for our Rally Car class once the event has started. Why then should we allow cleaning of silicone and urethane tyres before each qualifying run, rally stage and race to get the best traction possible and at the same time deny cars using rubber tyres to apply oil to get the best traction they can get?

Hmmm...

Seems to me, that what's good for Peter should also be good for Paul. So, either we allow tyre cleaning and tyre oiling as we have always have, or restrict it with respect to our rally class.

Gordon

[gordon]

Just noticed that O'Brie posted some remarks relating to this topic. Please read it at the following link:

viewtopic.php?p=5794#p5794

[RameshB]

Hi guys a good topic to discuss , O Brie has a good point , . I like the idea of spit or water. as a tyre cleaner. nothing else, just to get them dust free is ok.

[gordon]

Yes, O'Brie does have a point there. Well another option for getting the tyres dust-free is what we've done sometimes in the past - roll them over packing tape.