Tread Wear

[Peter Matteson]

Originally Posted by Cory

We were wondering the same thing a few weeks ago. We're planning on doing some wear/traction tests with the different roughtop types.

We did this and ended up with the compound we use because of it. I highly recommend taking the time to look into it. Like I said before all our practice driving, 2 regional, nats and 2 off seasons we still haven't retreaded 2007.

[Josh Murphy]

We used 6 IFI wheels on our machine last year. We used the same tread the entire season. Not one ripped or fell off. They did however have wear on them. If we use them again we probably will change the treads after every competition as needed. Overall I think they were pretty good to us and they worked great with our design.

[ParkerF]

This past year, 148 used six 4"x2" IFI wheels with the roughtop. From what I understood, the team never had to replace the treads. They survived through 2 regionals, and nationals with no problems. Right before going to IRI we went ahead and replaced the treads to be sure they'd perform their best. Our practice bot finally started blowing treads in the last few driving practices right before IRI. It had been through the build season and summer without needing treads replaced, even though it never saw carpet. Concrete sounds like it would wear more than the carpet at competition, but I could be wrong.

-Parker

[Gamerboyb1]

hey sorta off topic but does anyone need to replace their treads because if you do and you have a good method please let me know.

[ParkerF]

Which treads are you using and which size wheels? I've replaced the IFI wheel treads several times so I could sort of explain how to do that, but it all depends on what you're using.

-Parker

[Gamerboyb1]

It is not the putting them on its how do you keep them on like rivets or screws and yes they are iri

[ParkerF]

Well, 148 just uses the rivets that come in the package with the treads. As mentioned above in a few posts above, some teams purchase rivets with broader heads to cover more area around the hole so the small standard rivet-head doesn't rip through the hole. My main problem has been the nail part of the rivet popping out of the head and breaking the rivet before actually riveting it down.

I've never heard of using screws, so I don't know how that would work out or if it would do any good. From the size of the holes in the wheel, I would think the screw would be so small that the head of it wouldn't cover enough area around the tread hole to do any good.