How can rubber tires be preserved

[Richard001]

Hello All,

Is there a liquid or method to preserve rubber tires? I have upgraded some of my cars to silicone tires but I wondered if there was perhaps a treatment or storage method that preserved the rubber tires?

Richard

[Andy P.]

I have used the little canisters that film came in back when cameras used film. The tires were still usable 2 years later. It is important that they be stored airtight and away from sunlight.

I have never used fluid on my tires.. if they got hard I replaced them...

[Richard001]

Thanks for the info Andy P. I will try sealing my spare tires in those smaller size zipper bags used to store food.

Richard

[Andy P.]

Don't mistake them for rasins or olive :-) ;-)

[gorp]

Rubber turns hard and silicone melts flat.

 Always store cars here upside down,  outside of plastic case and those in case loosened so they hang without touching the plastic base.

Free tires are stored off their rolling surface and will last decades usually, but there is no way to know what pair will change after a decade due to atmosphere and material used (it is not rocket science).

Track surface chemicals will affect tires so only clean them with spit and duct tape.

Change is inevitable, nothing lasts forever.

 

[BryceEvolution]

I haven't found a way to stop the tires from drying out, but what I do when they do dry out is take some 3 - in one oil and put 1 drop on each tire and rub it in with my fingers. It softens the rubber and makes your car have a lot more grip.

[Paul Toscani]

Hi.  As per the other contributors, the long-term answer is "No".  I'm not impressed by 'tyre-softeners' on sale from various suppliers; it smells suspiciously like old-type "3-in-1" oil and all oils will eventually combine with the oxide and braid deposits from the rails to build up a red-ish hard patina on the tyre tread.  This can be improved for a while by scrubbing with a 500 grit wet 'n' dry paper.

Newer Scalextric models (since around 2000) tend to come with a better range of 'rubber' compounds which are softer & grippier on "Sport" track.  I don't like silicones or urethanes as they seem crude and often leak agents in long-term storage (e.g. the tyres supplied on the FLY Vipers).

I genuinely have no link or business arrangement with Sandbach Slot Cars on eBay UK, but for your older cars, from 70s Mini 1275GTs, Capris, Datsuns etc, through 80's F1 turbos onwards, Group C GTs etc, I find Mark's expanding range of Shore rubber repro tyres are excellent quality and value, being very close to the originals, well-finished, grippy and reasonably priced.

[Paul Toscani]

Ohhhh - by the way - DON'T store in plastic zipper food bags: these contain mysterious things called Phthalates, which supposedly increase softness and flexibility of petro-plastics, but for some reason, have the opposite effect on slot tyres!

[Richard001]

Noted, thanks for the info and storage tips.