Using foam inserts is pretty much standard practice for the DiSCA digital races that are run mostly on Ninco tracks. Worth mentioning rules don’t allow tyre glueing and use hand-outs for everyone. Of course there are some plain rib wheels on some DiSCA race cars but it’s pretty commonplace to see the foams in use.

I had no idea this stuf existed. Those are neat ways to solve the problem. I'm still working on my 1/32 tire balancer...but it's hard to keep those teeny weeny wheel weights stuck to the rims.....lol

My track is very small too, so I might get some of the sponge inserts for my NSR cars and see how it goes. Thanks for the info Harry!

Thanks Harry

The car looks sponge worthy. LOL!

Great video. I was wondering about this exact thing as I am new to slotcars but have lots of RC race and drifting experience and the air system tires don't seem to make sense to me. "Air" tires with no way to seal in the pressure would be like racing on a half flat tire, however I will know more when my first NSR car gets here this week and I will be doing this to the rear tires right away. I think you can also use a rc tire foam insert cut to size and 4mm double sided electronics repair tape, which is the slim double sided tape on bar type slot car magnets like from Revoslot. At least that's what I'm going to try as I don't have access to a local slot car shop with foam inserts or tires.

Thanks - I think we got two tenths out of this which on your fine circuit equates to a 5% improvement in performance. Not bad for a bit of foam.

Welcome to full contact patch...I'd love to see you fit a set of non-air wheels and do the test again, I've long been an exponent of non-air wheels, air wheels for me feel as though the centre of the tyre 'folds under' in corners causing the rear to hop.

Only caught a glimpse of the make of the foam inserts. Are Thunderslot the only source of ready made foam inserts? I am convinced that something like the foam inserts are best for even the largest routed wood tracks I race on. This is also within the spirit of our rules of staying with standard car gearing and tyre size by not arranging for this to change by tyre expansion at speed.

Do NSR make the foam inserts or is it just Thunderslot? Paul Gauge make tyres to fit the air hub rims too. Thanks for the great video. Racing model trains...now there's a thing!!😄

Were the NSR tires in the testing glued to the wheel before truing and/or using the insert?

Are wood tracks that fussy? Is it not possible to just sand the tires even? Not trying to be a smart ass, I just don't know the answer.

Where did you purchase these?

In my rc days foam inserts ruined the hobby for me. Various firmness rubber and inserts. Costs went up exponentially. And my interest in the hobby plummeted.