Profiling Super Tires
Here's a tip to get the best possible performance from your Super Tires® and Yellow Dog Super Tires®. Be sure to "profile" (round off) the inside and outside edges of the tire - this will result in smoother, more consistent cornering/handling.  We've prepared a short how-to video which shows one way to do this. Click here for more information.

Note
Outer diameters (o.d.) listed for a given tire represent the tire's o.d. when mounted on the car/wheel the tire is designed for.  The o.d. of a given tire when NOT mounted on a wheel will generally be less since tires are typically stretched a slight amount when you mount them (which generally increases the tire's o.d. slightly).  This is by design - without the "tension" created by the slight stretching, the tires would be too "loose" when fitted onto a wheel.

FAQ

1.   What is the proper way to clean Super Tires and Yellow Dog Super Tires?

• Super Tires (R) Classics (silicones) are more sensitive to dust than Yellow Dog's (urethane).  For best performance, it is important for the track to be as clean as possible.  There are several ways to clean any dust/debris off the tires (be sure to check your local rules to ensure you're not breaking any rules using the following cleaning methods)

• Sticky tape - Shipping labels or duct tape are most commonly used.  Simply roll the rear tires over the sticky tape surface to quickly remove any dust/debris which may have accumulated on the tires.  Note that depending on the tape used, the tires may transfer some of the tape's adhesive to the track surface.  For this reason, some tracks/clubs do not allow this. 

• Simple Green - Readily available in the cleaning section of most grocery stores and home centers.  Just wipe a thin coat with your fingers all the way around the tire and remove the excess with a clean, lint-free cloth.  This does NOT leave any residue on the track.  Leaves your fingers smelling clean too.

• Glass cleaner - Available from the same sources as Simple Green.  Apply in the same fashion.  Generally evaporates a little quicker.  Remove any excess with a clean, lint-free cloth.  This does NOT leave any residue on the track. 

• Spit - Yep, not very high-tech but in a pinch it will clean your tires.

• Yellow Dog Super Tires (R) are generally less sensitive to dust/debris than the Super Tires (R) classics.  If you do need to clean the tires, the same techniques described above will work just fine.

2.   How do I ensure the contact patch is as flat as possible?

• Ensure the Super Tire you are using is designed for the intended car/wheel. 
  

• CAREFULLY inspect the entire outer surface of the wheel.  Be sure to remove any flashing, burrs, or other irregularities which may be present from when the wheel was manufactured.  Use a hobby knife and some sandpaper to remove any irregularities that exist.  Excess paint can also cause problems - particularly where the sides of the center ribs meet the "shoulders".  A sanding stick or some sandpaper can be used to remove the paint.  If you have glued a tire to this wheel previously, be sure to remove all glue residue.
  

• Check the inside of the tire by turning the tire inside out.  Sometimes there will be a little flashing from the tire mold.  If so, carefully remove it.

• Ensure the tire is seated properly on the wheel.  Moisten (don't drench) the inside of the tire before inserting it onto the wheel.  Once the tire is mounted, lift a portion of the inner sidewall away from the wheel slightly and let it "snap" back into place - this will help remove any air that might be trapped between the tire and wheel.  This also helps to ensure the tire is fully seated on the wheel's center rib and the tire sidewalls are fully seated on the wheel's shoulders.  Work your way around the entire sidewall in this fashion.  Repeat for the outer sidewall.  Finally, slowly "knead" the tire between your thumb and forefinger as you slowly rotate the tire/wheel several times.  
  

• Some racers will also super-tune their tires by sanding the contact patch.  There are several ways to do this; however, tire truers designed for this purpose generally yield the best results.
  

3.   How do I tell the difference between a "Classic" (silicone) and "Yellow Dog" (urethane) Super Tire?

      There are several ways to distinguish between the 2 compounds.

• The easiest way is to use your sense of smell!  The Yellow Dogs have a very distinctive odor while the Classics (silicone) do not.  For racers with a sensitive nose, this is the quickest/easiest way to make the distinction between the 2 tire types/compounds.

• Carefully examine the INSIDE sidewall of the tires.  If you look very closely, the sidewalls on the Yellow Dogs appear to have a series of small round indentations - almost like pin pricks.  The silicone tires tend to have a smoother sidewall with no/less small indentations.

• The Yellow Dog compound can be sanded MUCH easier than the Classic (silicone) compound.  Profiling (round off) the edges of Yellow Dogs with sandpaper is much easier/quick than Classics (silicones).