Wheels & Tires Forged | Billet | Cast | Radials | Slicks

Soften your tires

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 3, 2004 | 01:26 PM
  #1  
Tiger2o69's Avatar
Thread Starter
11 Second Club
iTrader: (16)
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,223
Likes: 0
From: MS
Default Soften your tires

I went to buy some tires today so i could hook a little better at the track tonight. They were out of stock and the guy asked when i needed them and i told him tonight because my tires are really hard and dont get any traction. so he says i can tell u how u can soften them up really good and get good traction. He told me to put kerosene mixed with dish washing liquid on the tire and it would make them really soft and i would hook up really good. He also said alcohol would make them soft. Is this true? My tires are really bad hard and i cant get any traction. im going to buy new tires but is there anything like this that can be done that actually works?
Reply
Old Jul 3, 2004 | 01:39 PM
  #2  
ta12sec's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,652
Likes: 0
From: miami beach fl
Default

I have never tried this..........................but I would not do it. Have you ever worn rubber gloves while using mineral spirts or even gasoline ? the gloves will dissolve in a matter of minutes, I would picture kerosene to do something similar to your tires, and even if it didnt I would imagine, soaking your tires in an oil like kerosene would not be the best idea for increased traction maybe for a burn out contest.
Reply
Old Jul 3, 2004 | 01:53 PM
  #3  
Tiger2o69's Avatar
Thread Starter
11 Second Club
iTrader: (16)
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,223
Likes: 0
From: MS
Default

i was doubting this also but im still new to racing so i wasnt sure.
Reply
Old Jul 3, 2004 | 02:55 PM
  #4  
98_1LE's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (17)
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,147
Likes: 18
Default

I would not use Kerosene. I have been racing a long time and nevr heard that one. I bet he invented that by seeing folks put VHT down from a dish soap bottle.

I have used Formula V. It works, but only on tires that are very hard and only once. It is to get the last race out of a set of tires. I would not do it to your street tires.
Reply
Old Jul 3, 2004 | 03:21 PM
  #5  
sawedoff's Avatar
20 Year Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 0
Default

Ditch your current recipe for disaster! Here are some better tire doping formulas that are more consistent.

Formula V (the stuff that Chuck just got through talking about). It's advertised in Grassroots Motorsports Magazine.
http://www.formulavtraction.com/

HMS Industries (tire conditioners & equipment)
http://www.hmstires.com/

Track Claw- Brothers Research
http://www.trackclaw.com/

Lubrication Dynamics
http://www.lubricationdynamics.com/

Here's a really good online retailer that carries alot of the aforementioned tire treatments: They're Pitstop USA
http://www.pitstopusa.com/searchresu...ategoryID=1557

They're like premade cake mixes. Each has their own formula and approach.
Reply
Old Jul 3, 2004 | 05:53 PM
  #6  
Tiger2o69's Avatar
Thread Starter
11 Second Club
iTrader: (16)
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,223
Likes: 0
From: MS
Default

Thanks, i think ill try the formula v, it says it softens them and makes them sticky ever time u race. Will work untill i get my tires
Reply
Old Jul 3, 2004 | 06:16 PM
  #7  
parish8's Avatar
single digit dreamer
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 9,757
Likes: 4
From: omaha ne
Default

does that stuff really work? does it help street tires? i would use this stuff for sure if it actualy helps but have never heard of it before today.

i see alot of mentioning of "unsniffable", is this stuff not leagal for some forms of racing?
Reply
Old Jul 3, 2004 | 06:48 PM
  #8  
badass 2002 z28's Avatar
9 Second Club
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,300
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis, MO
Default

you can soak ur tires in VHT overnight and it'll make em soft
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jul 3, 2004 | 08:24 PM
  #9  
sawedoff's Avatar
20 Year Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by parish8
does that stuff really work? does it help street tires? i would use this stuff for sure if it actualy helps but have never heard of it before today.

i see alot of mentioning of "unsniffable", is this stuff not leagal for some forms of racing?
Yes, some sanctioning bodies will not allow the use of traction enhancing products. They'll kick your *** off the track and will disqualify you.That's especially true in circle track racing, NASCAR and I'd imagine other forms as well. That does not stop them though. Once you get on the tech inspectors' radar, they ride maximum ***. It happened to Jeff Gordon (Tire Gate), and there were allegations by rival teams that he was using traction enhancements on his car.
I am not a drag racer, but have a strong preference towards road racing and such along that line. It reconditions old tires that have lost their oils and have become hard and glazed. Or if you have a set of brand new tires that have been sitting around for a while and have not been used they can become stale. These chemicals return the tires to their like new state. There's a point of no return though. I'd imagine that you could use these conditioners on street tires. I mean why not. Just make sure you get the stuff that doesn't wash off.
Reply
Old Jul 3, 2004 | 09:44 PM
  #10  
GM Muscle's Avatar
10 Second Club
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,878
Likes: 0
From: Laconia, NH
Default

My dad always used Xylene to soften up his speced circle track tires. It worked great and the car won a couple of chapionships that way. We also used to score the slicks horizotally but they caught on to that after a couple of weeks. Xylene is only about $8 a gallon at Home Depot but I don't know if it has any adverse affects on a street tire.
Reply
Old Jul 4, 2004 | 11:47 AM
  #11  
Tiger2o69's Avatar
Thread Starter
11 Second Club
iTrader: (16)
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,223
Likes: 0
From: MS
Default

Thanks, my tires are extremely hard and i was hoping that there was something i could do. I would buy drags now but i would really like to hold out till i get my c5 rims so i dont have to sell the 16s. i try this stuff on my tires and let u guys know. i dont have anything to lose im getting new ones in about a month anyway.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:05 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE