Schumacher tyres = expensive [my personal moan!]

[Fiddybux]

I never expected this kind of response.

The different viewpoints makes for interesting reading.

[DCM]

how come Ballistic Buggy could always make them cheaper.....

[Nick Goodall]

I think the main problem everyone here should really have with Schumacher Tyres is WHAT do Schumacher put back into Off Road nowadays? They don't have any form of kit out, and don't attend any meetings with a team etc, yet rake in a shed load of cash everytime there's a national (just about)!

I think it's a shame but they really don't "support" the 1/10 Off Road section any more so why should we/you all continue using their tyres? Simple answer - because there's nothing out there that's any better when it comes to Grass or some astro tracks.

If someone that actually supports this side of R/C comes out with something that's as good as a Yellow minispike (or even better) then everyone would want to use that anyway i'm sure

[DCM]

totally agree Nick.

[Wraggy]

well said Nick.
i dont think anyone will disagree with any of the comments made there...

[bretts]

not that they would, but what would happen if Schumacher decided to pack in supplying off-road tyres now they're not very intrested in off-road? basically what alternative would work as good?

personally, now I can use glue remover to re-used wheels much easier I'm not buying wheels/inserts anymore which is a saving. but they are getting a bit more expensive each year i agree.

[super__dan]

My issue was (not so much anymore) the quality of both the mini spike and mini pins, they came with no definde edge, almost like pre scrubbed In fairness I haven't had one of those for a while though!

[jimmy]

I hear ya dan! I took some back to a shop one time as they were so bad, no nice flat tops to the spikes, just rounded ill defined mess. But like you, not had any like that for a while.

[Lee]

OK so how much time is spent in testing and development to find one tyre and compound that works, think about how many moulds that may have been made to find out the tyre was useless.

If it was easy id do it

[DCM]

I was using minispikes 15 years ago, and then some.... put a timeline on it...

[Lee]

i know what you mean, but schuey also have a hold on the market that others will struggle to get into, for instance, the nationals, its pretty much a control tyre for every round so nobody would really try a tyre that they are not allowed to use when it counts.

[Southwell]

If a company developed their own tyre and it was seen to work well, last well and is popular between drivers then i see no reason why the BRCA wouldn't vote in a different supplier for the nationals at the AGM.

[Lindsay]

Over the years I have been involved RC Racing, I have looked into the prospect with my Company who specilise in Rubber products manufacturing alternative Tyres.The main problem is tooling cost & refurbishment of tooling and also there is certain problems with coping designs of existing tyres.Who would take a chance on using un-proven tyres at a meeting ?? I am sure Adam may add a thread to this.
Li ndsay

[Nick Goodall]

Technically the BRCA or individual tracks could nominate a tyre that was completely useless at the track, as it would be the same for everyone just a lot harder to get the car set-up to work as well and would probably require more concentration on just getting the thing around - not really ideal for a national championship but it could happen!

Another idea would be to get Ballistic Buggy spikes nominated for every meeting where Schumacher tyres are currently the nominated tyre - would it really make the racing that much worse? I think you'd still have the same quick guys at the top, but a company that's still involved in the Off Road scene would be benefitting. I heard a rumour they were developing another tyre also so that could make things interesting?

Someone just needs to replicate the Yellow compound - i'm sure the ballistic spikes would be just about as good as the Schumachers if they were in Yellow compound and would probably last a tad longer for the average club racers due to the length of spike!

I'm sure something will change soon, either someone will have a new tyre out or maybe Schumacher would even get back into Off Road another day which would be good for everyone.

You could arguably then almost have one manufacturers tyre for each national - that would be a fair way to do it rather then Schumacher having 5/6 of the current rounds.

[losixxx]

Originally Posted by Nick Goodall

Technically the BRCA or individual tracks could nominate a tyre that was completely useless at the track, as it would be the same for everyone just a lot harder to get the car set-up to work as well and would probably require more concentration on just getting the thing around - not really ideal for a national championship but it could happen!

Another idea would be to get Ballistic Buggy spikes nominated for every meeting where Schumacher tyres are currently the nominated tyre - would it really make the racing that much worse? I think you'd still have the same quick guys at the top, but a company that's still involved in the Off Road scene would be benefitting. I heard a rumour they were developing another tyre also so that could make things interesting?

Someone just needs to replicate the Yellow compound - i'm sure the ballistic spikes would be just about as good as the Schumachers if they were in Yellow compound and would probably last a tad longer for the average club racers due to the length of spike!

I'm sure something will change soon, either someone will have a new tyre out or maybe Schumacher would even get back into Off Road another day which would be good for everyone.

You could arguably then almost have one manufacturers tyre for each national - that would be a fair way to do it rather then Schumacher having 5/6 of the current rounds.

nick what would the point in that be, ballistic buggy tyres have just gone up to £7.50 a pair, they don't work as well so for the sake of saving 50p its just not worth the hassle, plus schumachers tend to be more durable than BB's so it will actually cost you more money over a season and not be as good!!!

[losixxx]

Originally Posted by DCM

how come Ballistic Buggy could always make them cheaper.....

thats why BB have put there tyres up in price then!, there not as durable for one

[Nick Goodall]

losixxx - that's why i put "Another idea would be"

It's just a suggestion, if you limited it to two sets per national and a 3rd for A Finalists it wouldn't matter what the tyre was anyway.

I was just pointing out that at least Ballistic Buggy are still developing tyres and supporting the Off Road racing as a whole so wouldn't the money be better off there? At least some of it's getting put back into the sport that way.

[Alfonzo]

Playing Devil's Advocate here a little,

Schumacher make tyres for a price comparable to the competition that works better than all the others for the majority of our racing. What's the problem?

Not that I like paying £16 for a set any more than the next guy

[losixxx]

Originally Posted by Nick Goodall

losixxx - that's why i put "Another idea would be"

It's just a suggestion, if you limited it to two sets per national and a 3rd for A Finalists it wouldn't matter what the tyre was anyway.

I was just pointing out that at least Ballistic Buggy are still developing tyres and supporting the Off Road racing as a whole so wouldn't the money be better off there? At least some of it's getting put back into the sport that way.

is that why they have discontinued making 2wd front's?

the problem with limiting to 2 sets and marking them would cause problem's
1. not all tracks go as well on brand new tyres
2. a lot more work involved for an already hard pushed club/brca official's to control.
3. what do you do with the park worn tyres you have left if you can't use them next national and don't do regional's. that would work out even more expensive

[dave g]

that was one of my biggest gripes about 10th offroad..the cost of tyres.

now i race 1/8th offroad and the tyres are around £22-£24 a set of 4 glued on wheels with foams..yet they last about 4-5 meetings,if they can make 1/8th tyres for that price theres no reason they cant for 1/10th..its simply the fact schumacher has no real competetion in the offroad market,as others have said,if joe blogs brought out a tire costing a fiver and everyone used them then schumacher would have to toe the price line or go out of business as i think that most of their profit comes from tyres.

dave