Choosing the right tires for your RC car: the complete guide
Tires are the only points of contact between your RC car and the ground. You can have the most powerful motor and the best suspension, but without grip, all that power goes to waste. A good set of tires is often the upgrade that makes the biggest difference for the least money. In this guide, we explain what to look for.
1. Start with your type of RC car
Each type of RC car has its own kind of tires. They are not simply interchangeable because their diameter, width, and wheel size differ.
- Crawlers – large, soft tires with an aggressive tread and foam inserts, often on beadlock wheels. The most common wheel sizes are 1.9" and 2.2" for 1/10 scale, and 1.0" or 1.33" for mini crawlers such as the SCX24. Browse our crawler tires & wheels.
- Buggies – narrower front tires and wider rear tires, with pins or knobs. See buggy tires & wheels.
- Short course trucks – realistic truck tires with a wide tread for mixed terrain. See short course tires & wheels.
- Monster trucks and truggies – large, heavy tires that need to absorb a lot of impact. For fast bashers, belted tires (with a built-in belt that prevents expansion) are recommended. See monster truck & truggy tires.
- Touring cars – rubber or foam tires for asphalt and carpet. See touring tires & wheels.
- Drift – hard plastic or synthetic tires designed to provide little grip so you can slide with control. See drift tires & wheels.
2. Choose the tread based on the surface
The tread determines how the tire "bites" into the surface. A rule of thumb: the looser the surface, the larger and more widely spaced the tread should be.
| Surface | Recommended tread |
|---|---|
| Asphalt, concrete | Slicks or a fine tread; belted tires for high speeds |
| Carpet (indoor) | Mini pins or foam tires |
| Hard-packed dirt, short grass | Small pins or knobs |
| Tall grass, loose dirt | Large pins or aggressive knobs |
| Mud | Large, widely spaced lugs that self-clean |
| Rocks (crawling) | Soft compound with lots of small knobs and sipes |
| Loose sand / beach | Paddle tires (scoops) on the rear |
If you mostly drive on mixed terrain, choose an all-round tread with medium-sized knobs. You’ll lose a little performance on each specific surface, but you won’t need to change tires.
3. Rubber compound: soft, medium, or hard
Manufacturers often indicate how soft the rubber is (for example, soft, medium, super soft, or a color code).
- Soft – more grip, but wears out faster. Ideal for crawlers, cold temperatures, and slippery surfaces.
- Medium – the best all-round choice for most bashers and hobby drivers.
- Hard – lasts longer and works well in warm weather and on abrasive surfaces such as asphalt.
Note: rubber gets harder when it’s cold. So, during the Belgian fall and winter, a softer compound can provide that little bit of extra grip.
4. Inserts (foam cores)
Almost every RC tire has a foam insert that gives it its shape. The insert has a big impact on how the car handles:
- Soft inserts let the tire deform more, helping it conform to obstacles. Popular with crawler drivers.
- Firm or dual-stage inserts keep the tire stable at high speeds and through corners, and prevent it from rolling off the wheel.
Many crawler drivers combine a soft outer layer with a firmer core (dual-stage), so the tire provides grip without collapsing under the car’s weight.
5. Size, wheel, and hex: will it fit?
This is where things often go wrong. Always check these three things:
- Wheel diameter – a 2.2" tire only fits a 2.2" wheel.
- Hex size – the hexagonal drive hub that attaches the wheel to the axle. Most 1/10 scale cars use 12 mm, while 1/8 scale cars usually use 17 mm. Some large trucks, such as the Kraton 8S or the X-Maxx, use a larger or proprietary system. With hex adapters, you can often fit other wheels.
- Offset and width – determine how far the wheel sticks out from the wheel arch. A wider offset provides more stability, but the wheel may rub against the body or suspension.
6. Pre-mounted or separate?
Pre-mounted tires are already glued to the wheel and ready to use. Separate tires can be glued on with CA glue, or secured with beadlock wheels. Beadlocks clamp the tire in place with a ring, so you can change the tire or insert without glue. They’re very popular with crawler drivers.
Conclusion
The right tire depends on three things: your type of car, the surface you drive on most, and how you drive. Start with a good all-round tread in a medium compound, and only specialize once you know where you drive your car most. Unsure about the size or hex? Check your car’s manual, or feel free to contact us. You can find our full range in the Tires & Wheels collection.