Cheers Phil (Mr Tech Officer):D

That raises an interesting point Lee. What defines a BB tire as a Mini-Spike? Older BB packets label the tires (that we currently use) as 'Spike', yet the newer label shows 'Minispike', with the same part number. (http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...s/DSCN1568.jpg) Is there a difference between these two tires, and there is no defining mark on the tire itself.

Looking at this year’s entry the tires are BB Mini-Spikes, looking at Cml's website, the distributor of BB tires they only seem to sell 'Pin' or 'Spike' tires, so where do shops source there 'Minispike' tires from?
http://www.cmldistribution.co.uk/cml...8&range=RACING

Are BB tires 'Spike' or 'Minispike', what's the difference, or is it just a case a incorrect labels again? There is no defining mark on the tire itself.

Tom, let's be honest here - we all know EXACTLY what tyres are legal for this year's series. Regardless of what anyone would rather they be.

As for open tyres - go for it - it you really want to kill off rd racing. It's just my personal opinion, but i do remember the boxes of tyres that i used to carry round with me and all the cash that tied up with it. IMHO, control tyres are the best thing to have happened to RC racing at National level, and that isn't just off rd. Just my opinion, like i say, and i'm sure not everyone will agree with it. I don't much care what the control tyre is - i just really don't want to see it opened up.

Matt I'm all for control tires, I also remember the days of carrying box's of tires and it wasn't fun :thumbdown:

All I'm doing is asking questions about information freely available on the internet. If motors and cells are measured to the nearest mm, then why are tires allowed to be so random/poor, yet in off-road it is my opinion that grip is the defining factor of pace, therefore tires is the most important factor. If speed was we would all be running 2.5T motors :woot:

I don't care what the control tire is, but would prefer it to be a quality, consistent product at a nice price. At the moment I don't believe we have any of that and I don't think I am the only one. I also get the feeling that people are starting to realise this and are going to start doing something about it :thumbsup:

IMHO it's a fair point.
The name of the tyre seems to have changed, and perhaps by luck still has the word 'spike' in it. It could have easily changed to 'poo fingers' or 'dib dabs' (like crazy 8th tyres) :woot:

It wouldn't be a problem if BB still only had one type of 'spike' tyres.

Anyway, the best thing to do in situations like this Tom is email Paul and Charlie (and maybe even Phil).

Cheers,

G

I agree with Matt, but then with a control tyre, its a closed market and there is no competition on price or quality as we're running those tyres regardless.

So price is higher than what is reasonable

Quality is lower than what I would call acceptable.

This means it is screaming out for competition for this product, if there were competition such as from the well made GRP tyres which we can't currently use, then there is incentive for Schu and BB to get there act together.

I had an idea I chatted with Tom about, and I wasn't going to post it until we chatted more and spoke to PW at weekend for opinions. But here goes: what I said was to nominate the control tyre for nationals as (commercially available) "Minispike" of any brand. So we currently have Schu, BB and GRP currently, and if Amark, Proline, Losi, JConcepts wish to introduce a "Minispike" then they're allowed too.

On the downside, I am against having too many options so id be happy for my idea to be lost in time....

But there is no competition in the marketplace for tyres, and id like there to be some to keep the manufacturers on their toes, rather than up'ping the price til it looks silly.

My other thought, is to have 3 tyre options rather than 2.

Chris

At the risk of being contravercial, I think they look good and look forward to trying some.

Am I weird?

I think they are in maidstone this weekend G

Yeh I agree, need to ask Paul, Charlie, but right now its not clear in my own mind so I haven't done that. I value the thought of many of you guys and this is the only tool for reaching you all at once :thumbsup:

So lets not get carried away. Early stages here.

Its a tough one to make changes with, without creating too many tire options - suddenly local knowledge wins.

I have always thought there should be a list of part numbers, and not just a name.

I have some Schumacher 'mini-spikes' in the garage that are more like USA tyres, square edges and a flat top. They never took off 'cos they were rubbish, but I 'should' technically be allowed to use them......

G

I had some Minispikes which were a bigger profile, 2.2 still and looked almost identical, just a tad bigger. Only saw them once, never seen them since.

They're called 'studs'.

You're thinking of microspikes, and yeah they were rubbish!!

It's a fair point on part numbers i guess - we only control the rear tyre, so you would end up with 3 from both Schumacher and BB - there is no real reason (that i can think of) not to list them somewhere - but let's be fair and just use a little common sense. This is the good thing about this section, common sense usually prevails - from drivers and officials :thumbsup:, this isn't the case in all sections.............................. :thumbdown:
Many of you will know what i'm thinking of here...

As for competition, fair point to a certain extent. You have to strike a balence, and i don't think we're far out to be honest, but it depends on your region i guess. In ours, any commercially available tyre is allowed, and at our meeting last weekend i know there were ballistics, Schumaher, and GRP in use. This does get any other tyres out there and in use - so people get to find out what works and what doesn't. I think this works, but maybe not all regions are the same.

Now you mention it I remember the conversation I had with Mr/Mrs Ballistic about the name.

How are your control tyres chosen then?

I know that 10th TC let the racers decide per year on Central Booking...do you 10th offroad types do the same kinda thing?

Cris generally between the club commitee and the brca they decide which tyres will be best. So say if all but one of the club proposed schuamcher mini spikes and ballisitic buggy spikes but then one club chose say GRP cone spikes and ballistic buggy spikes then the brca may suggest using schuamchers etc its generally just a bit of commen sence and conversation between club commitee and brca.

A

Thanks for that Ash

and there was me thinking that the hosting club nominated two tyres that they know to work on their track...... so it could be BB and Schumacher at one track, and GRP and Losi step pins on another.... for example.

Yea host club nomnates two tyres but common sence comes into it like tiverton we never used to run schuamchers because they didnt work. But i think the brca try to keep the tyres the same at all venues where possible.

A

Nope, not them, I know which ones you mean. When I see them again (in my mess of a garage) i'll put them in my box or take a picture. :D

G