How do you attach tread to VEX traction wheel?

[JVN]

Hi Adam,
Last fall I experimented with a few things including rivets, self-tapping plastic screws, and glue. The best results involved large-head 1/8" rivets (they are available from places like McMaster, and we sell a pack here: http://www.vexrobotics.com/217-0396.html).

My preferred method is as follows...
I cut the tread to size (if you feel fancy, make it so the seam is a "/" which is at an angle not parallel to the wheel axis), then zip-tied the tread in place. Once in place, I drilled my rivet holes, 3x on each side of the seam, and then installed my rivets. It did not seem to make a difference if the rivets fell on the high or low parts of the "toothed" wheel rim as long as I made sure I had good engagement. The quality of the seam is everything -- spend time figuring out the size of the tread you want, and cutting it to shape. That is a mistake my team frequently makes over the years, we've found that by spending more time on the seam we're much happier with the result.

Some people will also sprinkle rivets along the outside of the wheel periodically, but I'm a big believer in the "if you pull the tread tight so it can't bunch up, and you get a good seam attachment, you don't need to do this" method.

Your Mileage May Vary... I hope you're season is going well so far!
Good luck.

-John