Trimming spikes off narrow Schumacher mini spikes (grip rolling)
 

Hi everyone,

I'm running Schumacher slim yellow mini pikes and I got a little too much grip up front so it is easy to grip roll. Just about everyone at the track seem to run cut staggers presumably to stop this from happening, but being new at racing when I bought my tyres I went for mini spikes up front and back not knowing that grip rolling would be a problem.

Can I just trim the outer edge of spikes off on these to reduce the chances of grip rolling?

I haven't done it because I am afraid of ending up with a useless tyre...

Cutting the outside row off will certainly help and won't ruin your tyre . You can also cut the outer row off the rear tyres aswell which will help just as much

Thanks for the reply Maky :)

Have a set with the inside and out side row cut off, a set with every other spike cut off and a normal set just in case it gets real bad.
They last AGES so don't feel to bad about trimming them.
I'm currently preferring the cut staggered tyres but when grips high then the well worn cut spikes are used.

I would`nt do that or you`ll end up with the rear overtaking the front on corners. And you`ll be back to square one. You want more grip on the rear and less on the front to stop grip roll. So just cut the outside and inside row off the FRONT only.

OK, just the front then which is what I originally thought. Thanks for the clarification metalmickey0 :)

This is exactly why I am asking! I just want to check and double check before I trim away...

Hi

Try using nail clippers to trim the spikes. Very easy way of doing it without hurting youself. Don't forget your safety goggles and Hi Viz jacket. Oh yeah and dont stand on a chair whils't balancing on a beach ball. On one leg. Well not without a safety ballon standing by anyway.

Steve

Sorry. Yourself :blush:

Nail clippers? I was going to use an angle grinder!!! :p Or perhaps burn them off with petrol bombs...

:lol: at those last 2 posts but in all seriousness i use curved scissors which i nicked off the mrs`s vanity box. She aint getting them back either cuz they work so well, nice close cut:thumbsup:

Swiss Army Knife scissors are the smallest, sharpest, most precise you can get for trimming tyres in my experience.

I use a pair of small electronic style side cutters, can cut the spikes off almost flush with the tyre. They're quick to use as well.

This is actually what I intended to use :)

The outside row(s) of spikes on the front and to a lesser degree on the rear do pretty much nothing for the balance of your car but considerably reduce grip roll. Look and see how much the edge spikes have worn and unless they've been run a long time (or a soft insert) they will look like virtually new.

On a 'grippy' track I usually have the outer two rows off the front (extra row to remove some front steering), inner row off the front and outer row off the back.

Thanks guys, I'm going to start slow :) Already trimmed the outer row for the fronts and will test that and see how it goes before I end up with slicks ;)

I also agree with cutting rows off both front and rear tyres when grip is very high...as Dan says, the outer most rows on the rear don't effect drive at all really, it only adds side bite...which contributes to grip roll!

As with all things RC though, it depends on the track! The higher the grip the more you can remove without reducing overall grip/drive.

Don't be too precious about the pins...sure you don't want to ruin a set of tyres, but they are a huge tuning aid. Tyres come and go very quickly really and relatively speaking don't cost the earth...especially if you get into the routine of recycling wheels and inserts :)