Octopus Grip

The American · Postby **The American** » Sun Aug 14, 2016 9:13 pm

Hi All,

Has anyone experimented with Octopus Grip to reinvigorate aging r-compounds?

I'm planning to go to a soft compound semi-slick before the next Hillclimb in November. Until then, I'd like to extend the life of some late 2012 A050's, that are starting to get a bit hard.

I hadn't noticed any issues until the Hillclimb at Noosa earlier this month. Even once the very wet track was mostly dry, I was still experiencing loads of under-steer where I haven't previously.

Yesterday, I switched the 2015 rears to the front and put the older tyres to the rear, and went for a drive - not much grip. Will a tyre softener work to stretch these out for another event or two?

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Sun Aug 14, 2016 10:19 pm

I used GRIP tyre softener a few years ago to try to revive some old street tyres. I don't know if these are the same compound as Octopus Grip but I feel I really should give you some warnings.

Following directions I painted the tyres outside in a breezy area. Instructions were to give the tyres (I think) 7 coats but I began feeling ill after the first two or three and couldn't go on. I had nausea and general queasiness for about a week. This eventually settled into an unpleasant oily taste in the back of my throat which lasted for about 3 or 4 months.

The tyres themselves did soften but they remained so greasy that they were pretty much useless. When I tried them the smell coming off them as they warmed up brought back the nausea and increased the foul taste in my throat. I stopped at traffic lights and started wretching. The smell also permeated my garage so I could barely use it. We had to park the cars in the street for a few months until it eventually dissipated.

On reading further I found all tyre softenng compounds have been long banned from US race tracks because of similar problems affecting people in the pit areas, as well as the fact that there are some known strong carcinogens.

No experience with any product in my long life has been anywhere near as bad.

Would you like me to go on or have I said enough?

The American · Postby **The American** » Sun Aug 14, 2016 11:28 pm

none of that sounds like any use at all! Thank you for sharing Manga Blue

Magpie · Postby **Magpie** » Mon Aug 15, 2016 10:47 am

There is little chance that people who use it will reply on here

It is generally not allowed to be used for race, for example WTAC 2016 rules:
12 (b) The use of any tyre softening chemical or treatment on tyres is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate exclusion from the event

zossy1 · Postby **zossy1** » Mon Aug 15, 2016 11:56 am

I might have used it in AASA events in the past...

I might have tried it on slicks...

I might have discovered that the old formula (based on oil of wintergreen and smelling like Dencorub) was fairly effective at rejuvenating old slicks and getting a few more useful cycles out of them...

I might have tried the new formula and had absolutely no success with it... And yes, like Phil, it might have made me a bit sick...

But then again, I might not...

In all seriousness, spraying your tyres in WD40 is likely to be more effective than the current Octopus Grip formula. And I'm not joking, WD40 has been used as a poor man's tyre softener in the past... Not that I'm advocating it myself...

Trackphotos · Postby **Trackphotos** » Mon Aug 15, 2016 1:27 pm

There's Leyburn sprints this weekend, a hillclimb TnT at Mt cotton next weekend, and a full hillclimb weekend at Mt cotton the weekend after. A lot of guys use it at Mt cotton, ask around for real life recent experiences from guys who used it in the same application you plan on.

Sent from my E6653 using Tapatalk

The American · Postby **The American** » Mon Aug 15, 2016 11:18 pm

I can't confirm or deny my intentions, but Someone I Know might be at Leyburn this weekend, and should They not freeze in Their tent, They may (or may not) ask around, on the quiet.

Magpie · Postby **Magpie** » Tue Aug 16, 2016 6:57 am

An indication of tyres (non slicks) wrapped in plastic may or may not help target who to ask.

The American · Postby **The American** » Wed Aug 24, 2016 11:28 pm

After identifying the smell, (because a tin of it arrived in the mail at my house) I now know that Octopus Grip is in pretty common use at the events I have been attending - I just didn't know what that smell was... I chatted with a few people with wrapped tyres at the Leyburn sprints who routinely use it to treat (then wrap) their tyres a week before their next event, as a means of extending the usable life of their racing tyres.

I treated my 90% worn 2012 vintage A050's a few days before Leyburn, and they returned to reasonably good (soft, grippy) condition for the event.

I followed the PPE precautions and used gloves, eye protection and a disposable organic vapour mask and experienced no ill effects.

Before the weekend, I also picked up a cheap set of 80% (or so) tread 2012 vintage A050's which I plan to treat, wrap and use at Pittsworth in 10 days time. I am not too concerned about tyres for Pittsworth, but my current set are pretty much slick, won't last another event, and I'd like to go to soft compound tyres for the last event I'm planning this year (the Noosa Hillclimb) as I would like to try for a new PB on fresh tyres: Rejuvenated second hand A050's for Pittsworth and new soft compound A050s for Noosa.