Removing excess rubber debris

davekmoore · Postby **davekmoore** » Wed Oct 23, 2013 2:50 pm

My semi slicks picked up so much rubber off the track at Winton this weekend that they feel way out of balance. Do I just keep driving till it all wears off or is there a better way?

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Wed Oct 23, 2013 3:05 pm

The fastest way is to do a quick burnout.

That's how I cleaned the pickup from an old pair of ex-track tyres I had (granted, they weren't semis, but the concept is the same)

Just wet down a small patch under the tyres before doing it to help get it started.

davekmoore · Postby **davekmoore** » Wed Oct 23, 2013 3:10 pm

Thanks for that.

Any other ways that don't involve possibly being unkind on someone else's drivetrain and which will also do the front tyres?

Postby **NitroDann** » Wed Oct 23, 2013 3:19 pm

Soapy water. Use a wrx.

Dann

davekmoore · Postby **davekmoore** » Wed Oct 23, 2013 3:28 pm

Good one Dann. Of course I could also take the trouble of swapping the wheels around, but you know how lazy I am.

PeterB · Postby **PeterB** » Wed Oct 23, 2013 5:26 pm

A good hair dryer or heat gun and a wide paint scaper will get it off if the burnout method isn't convenient.

mazmad · Postby **mazmad** » Wed Oct 23, 2013 5:41 pm

I have cut the biggest chunks off with a thin bladed cutting knife. Then track time to get them off, and swap the rears to the front and more track time to do them evenly.

deviant · Postby **deviant** » Wed Oct 23, 2013 6:46 pm

It should just come off on its own.

Apu · Postby **Apu** » Wed Oct 23, 2013 6:50 pm

I just drive the car and it comes off.

M1474 · Postby **M1474** » Wed Oct 23, 2013 6:51 pm

PeterB wrote:A good hair dryer or heat gun and a wide paint scaper will get it off if the burnout method isn't convenient.

You say that like we all own hair driers...

davekmoore · Postby **davekmoore** » Wed Oct 23, 2013 7:54 pm

Apu wrote:I just drive the car and it comes off.

This stuff is like bonded on as if it's part of the rubber of the tyre. Ripping it off also removes some of the underlying tyre rubber.

I will be trying the heat plus scraper method.

Apu · Postby **Apu** » Wed Oct 23, 2013 7:56 pm

Yup, I read the thread properly after I posted...semis :oops:

Eunos Roadster · Postby **Eunos Roadster** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 11:19 am

Hi all,

I have seen pit crews using hot air guns and a spatulas to remove pick up...

Something similar has been discussed here:

http://mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=58707&p=739623&hilit=shaving+tires#p739623

davekmoore · Postby **davekmoore** » Wed Nov 06, 2013 10:22 pm

Well, I subsequently discovered the tyres were 10 years old and full softs (I should have checked before just using them). So no real surprises they were getting so soft on a hot day that they picked up so much debris, or that I got slower every lap and slower every session as the temps climbed and the debris build up increased. Lesson learned.