How to mount RC Drift tires on wheels ?

When starting out in RC Drift, one question comes up regularly : how do you keep the tires on the wheels ? Do they need to be glued ?

Unlike other RC modeling disciplines, hard plastic drift tires are generally not glued. Several solutions make it possible to hold them properly while making replacement easier.

The different methods for securing an RC Drift tire

There are mainly three solutions.

1. Mount the tire directly on the wheel

Some tire/wheel combinations naturally offer enough grip to drive without adding anything.

This can work in particular on an indoor track with a moderate temperature and a surface that does not overheat the tires excessively.

However, depending on the manufacturing tolerances of the tire and the wheel, retention may be insufficient.

2. Use retention foam 

Available here : https://www.driftparadiz.fr/collections/maintient-des-pneus

This is a simple solution and one that is very commonly used in RC Drift. A thin foam strip is installed around the wheel before fitting the tire.

Be careful during installation : the foam must not be stretched.

Place it gradually around the wheel while pressing lightly on it, without pulling. If it is stretched during installation, it becomes thinner and loses part of its effectiveness.

Once properly installed, a slight extra thickness should remain, allowing the tire to grip the wheel properly.

3. Use O-rings

Manufacturers such as Wrap-Up Next, Overdose or Topline also offer systems using O-rings.

Their main advantage is that they are reusable : you can regularly remove and change your tires without replacing the retention system.

However, they may be less suitable with certain very soft High Traction wheels. These wheels are specifically designed to flex and deform slightly while driving. A relatively thick O-ring can stiffen the assembly and reduce part of that effect.

For casual use, especially in parking lots or on asphalt, this solution remains perfectly suitable.

How to easily mount an RC Drift tire ?

There are specific tools designed to press the tire onto the wheel, including manual presses or dedicated tools such as the one offered by MST.

But there is also an extremely simple method that requires practically no equipment : hot water.

Heat up a bowl or saucepan of water. The water must be hot, but it must not boil, to avoid altering the properties of the plastic.

Then immerse the tire for about 20 seconds.

Under the effect of the temperature, the tire expands very slightly and becomes much easier to fit onto the wheel. Position it correctly, then press the wheel into the tire.

This technique is particularly useful with certain tires that are quite difficult to mount, or with wheels whose finish slightly increases their diameter, such as some chrome wheels.

To remove the tire, the principle is the same : dip it back into hot water for a few seconds before taking it off.

Why can the wheel be wider than the tire ?

It is not necessarily a compatibility error.

A wider wheel notably makes it possible to achieve a stretched sidewall look, but it can also become a small chassis tuning tool.

By shifting the tire slightly toward the inside or outside of the wheel, it is possible to modify the effective position of the tread and therefore slightly change the vehicle track width.

This makes it possible to quickly test different setups without systematically changing the shims or wheel hexes.

Before getting into much more complex chassis tuning, this kind of small modification can already let you feel a difference in the behavior of your RC Drift.

Special case : Rêve D GA18 wheels

The Rêve D GA18 have a particular design : the tire is intentionally not meant to take up the full width of the wheel.

This geometry notably helps gain space around the running gear. At the rear, it can allow certain suspension components to be tucked in further. At the front, it can also improve clearance when the wheel is at full steering lock and avoid certain contacts with the steering.

To hold the tire in place without putting this narrow part of the wheel under stress, a very simple trick is to use masking tape.

Apply a strip all around the area where the tire sits. If the inner diameter of the tire is slightly larger and the fit remains too loose, simply add a second layer.

Make sure, however, that the tape does not overlap onto the wheel face, as this would change the lateral position of the tire.

Key points to remember

Mounting tires in RC Drift is ultimately very simple, and glue is generally not necessary.

A properly installed support foam will suit the majority of setups. O-rings are a reusable alternative, while a few seconds in hot water make it easy to mount and remove even the tightest tires.

And above all, don’t forget that the position of the tire on the wheel itself can become a small adjustment to fine-tune the behavior of your chassis.