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No!, the microwave does something different entirely! we used to put tires in the micro with a coating of WD, if they are rubber-they will expand X2, and that's about it

Charlie don't surf wrote:No!, the microwave does something different entirely! we used to put tires in the micro with a coating of WD, if they are rubber-they will expand X2, and that's about it

like a marshmallow does?

badhoopty wrote: i've never had any luck with boiling the couple times i tried it, and if you try it be VERY VERY careful when you remove the tires and try to peel them off the wheels. i burned the hell out my hands once when the outside felt cool but the inside foam was still very hot. one squish of the tire and i boiled a couple layers of skin off.

Boiling is the only method I've ever tried. I've also only tried it on monster truck tires without foams. I wore rubber gloves as not to burn myself. Its worked about half the time for me.

Doesn't boiling plastic make it stronger as well? The downside is making the plastic stronger means its more prone to breakage as its less flexible.

My acetone "sealed tub" consists of an empty 1 gallon paint jug (can be purchased at any hardware store for a coupla bucks.) No problems with loss from evap dut to the good sealing of the lid.

I've found that Schumacher tires don't like acetone too well. It will melt the super glue ok, but be very careful when removing the tires from the wheels. If there are any nicks in the rubber, it will tear VERY easily. It also makes the tires expand a bit, but if allowed to dry out for a few days, they go back to normal.

I've had a pair of Panther tires shrink down to an unusable size after acetone, but those are the only one's that I had issues with besides the Schumachers.

Foams can be reused too if they are in good shape to begin with. They will be swelled and easy to tear after the bath, but if you be careful while removing and let them dry out completely they go back to their original shape.

the boiling thing worked for me on my rims it does soak the foams though just boilded the water and fliped ever few min and gently pulled the tire away wearing chemical cloves

Brandon G wrote:My acetone "sealed tub" consists of an empty 1 gallon paint jug (can be purchased at any hardware store for a coupla bucks.) No problems with loss from evap dut to the good sealing of the lid.

I've found that Schumacher tires don't like acetone too well. It will melt the super glue ok, but be very careful when removing the tires from the wheels. If there are any nicks in the rubber, it will tear VERY easily. It also makes the tires expand a bit, but if allowed to dry out for a few days, they go back to normal.

I've had a pair of Panther tires shrink down to an unusable size after acetone, but those are the only one's that I had issues with besides the Schumachers.

Foams can be reused too if they are in good shape to begin with. They will be swelled and easy to tear after the bath, but if you be careful while removing and let them dry out completely they go back to their original shape.

I don't know much about Schumacher tires but I'd bet the Panther's were "c" compound. Those, Losi pink, Jconcepts gold, Proline R3 or Mc will all shrink if exposed to acetone, Most all the other compounds from those brands should be ok.

I've used the oven method on losi pink numerous times (I race a track that calls for pink slicks, the foams wear) with good success. After baking them off the tires need traction compound to be sticky again though so something does change after this.