Do any of you quarter pounder racers ever check durometer of your tires?

I have thought about this and wondered about it quite a bit. I realize each host is different as well as the wrap/band. If I have, for example, a BRP 410 band on two different hosts, will there be a different durometer reading?

Also, is a durometer for foam tires (like the 1/10th scalers use) the proper durometer to use for rubber like we quarter pounder guys use?

Any and all inputs would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Joe

JB, I have a 1/10th scale durometer you can use to see what it does or reads if you want to try it!!!...
After thinking I also have a durometer that we use on our LM cars I can bring also!!!...

DD

JB, I have a 1/10th scale durometer you can use to see what it does or reads if you want to try it!!!...
After thinking I also have a durometer that we use on our LM cars I can bring also!!!...

DD

Dave-

Thanks for the offer. Dave P. has one at the track as well. I just wasn't sure if it was truly an accurate measure for rubber versus foam. I realize foam is rubber, whether it's natural or synthetic, I just did not know if the scale measurements coordinated with one another.

Any thought on that part of it? How much do you guys use them on the 1/10th scalers?

Joe Brooks

:thumbsup:

Joe: this was a much discussed area some years back. It was thought that we could check tires to see what compound they were but it dids not work as the rubber will change after each heat cycle. Therefore one new 410 never run would read different than a 410 that had a few heat cycles.

Fred

I think the old thumb press is the preferred method...LOL. I have seen Gary Crumb check a tire with his thumb and throw it down the hill (of course his dog "Dillon" would bring it right back) but I would have run it for a race or two. :) In other words, the experienced racers can sense more than a durometer can on the larger tires just by feel.

I hate to say this but Dillon is no longer with us he has passed away with cancer

He will be Missed

Yeah, I heard he was bad off for awhile. It's sad to hear. Dillon put on his own show for us many times at LPR. A few years back we had a torrential down pour and flooded the infield. Dillon played with his rubber toy in that water for the longest time. We all laughed our butts off at him chasen that toy sliden in the water. It was a fun time!

I need to put a pic of him on our track website for rememberance.

Joe: this was a much discussed area some years back. It was thought that we could check tires to see what compound they were but it dids not work as the rubber will change after each heat cycle. Therefore one new 410 never run would read different than a 410 that had a few heat cycles.

Fred

Good point, Fred.

What if you had two, used 410's. Each had a quantity of laps, not necessarily the same amount. Could you check them at that point and make a real determination as to which is softer? I would think, based on what you typed above, that it would be of some advantage if you had the same tires (meaning two different tires that were both the same compound) and you wanted to compare hardness of the rubber.

Thanks,
Joe Brooks

:thumbsup:

Good point, Fred.

What if you had two, used 410's. Each had a quantity of laps, not necessarily the same amount. Could you check them at that point and make a real determination as to which is softer? I would think, based on what you typed above, that it would be of some advantage if you had the same tires (meaning two different tires that were both the same compound) and you wanted to compare hardness of the rubber.

Thanks,
Joe Brooks

:thumbsup:

Joe: I would think that could be possible. I did not mention that the host would also have a factor in the reading. Best way to manage tires is by look and feel. Look at the date it was built, what host it is on and the general overall apperance. I have gotten in to the habit of writing when the tire was built, what host it is on and the compound of the cap. Don't know how many times I have bought a used car and found tires that have no markings on them as to what they are.
Hope this helps, Fred :dude:

Do any of you quarter pounder racers ever check durometer of your tires?

I have thought about this and wondered about it quite a bit. I realize each host is different as well as the wrap/band. If I have, for example, a BRP 410 band on two different hosts, will there be a different durometer reading?

Also, is a durometer for foam tires (like the 1/10th scalers use) the proper durometer to use for rubber like we quarter pounder guys use?

Any and all inputs would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Joe
hey! fred, how are ya! i use a durometer, DO NOT USE FOAM TIRE DUROMETER . i have durometer for rubber,foam durometer will work to get you close if you already have one. i have used the foam durometer, don't use it anymore. with the rite durometer you should be able too measure across the width of the tires and be able too see a difference in hardness, in a used or new tire. as far the different hosts with a BRP 410 ,there is a different durometer reading.when the tire wears and heats up durometer readings change. so,if you owen a temp gun and the rite durometer, you would be amazed what you can learn. also, give each tire a serial number record each tire for future reference. were are you racing at next? :wave:

The more the tire wears the softer it will become because of the band thickness. If you are wanting to check for tire softener being us there is a chemical set used to check that. The soft ,med ,hard host is like changing air pressure in a tire, It should not make much deferance. but I have been wrong before. LOL