Race Worn tire (marble build up)

Hi guys,

If you've ever been to a circuit race of any type and been able to see a fresh seat of just off the track tire's you'll know they look like hell. The best place to see fresh race tire's has been in F1 coverage when the top three cars roll into their 1/2/3 spots during presentation.

In some of the shots you can really see all the worn marbles and junk the hot rubber picks up, not only tire marbles but anything in their path.

The follow is something I came up with 10 yrs ago. The key is to find a kit tire that crumbles and makes a dust, some tire's only shred and turn into little rolled up elongated bits of rubber this is not suitable for this method. You need dust.


1. Start with 120grit paper and sand the hell out of a spare tire so as to acumulate tire "dust". You'll need at least a tea spoon to start.

2. Mix white glue and semi gloss black acrylic paint. Sorry I don't know the ratio but it's more glue then paint.

3. On a flat smooth surface spread a small amount of the "dust"

4. Next using a flat wide brush, brush on a thin coating of the paint/glue.

5. Now roll the tire in the "dust" covering it completely,

6. Let the glue dry for a bit then roll the tire on a smooth flat surface to embed the dust into the glue.

7. Repeat steps 4/5 until you achive the look you want. Once the rubber starts to look compacted your on your way to achieving the affect.

8. Put on a final coat of black acrylic semi gloss, this give some sheen to the rubber making it look "fresh" off the track.


Final step is optional...you can also sand up different colour plastic and scrape off some grit of the 150paper  and sparingly sprinkle a very very tiny amount to give the tires the look of picking up "garbage and pebbles" while rolling through the pit garage or into the winners circle.

I must admit, they do look rather 'sticky' like hot rubber would.
Very good!

Mr Hirakawa wrote:I must admit, they do look rather 'sticky' like hot rubber would.
Very good!

Thanks David

I hope to see you use this technique on one of your awesome builds.

Nice effect - thanks for sharing that!

You're welcome Kats.

They drive over the Marbles on purpose these days on the in lap just to add any weight they can to the car before it and a 5 foot 4 man can be weighed.

dublin boy wrote:They drive over the Marbles on purpose these days on the in lap just to add any weight they can to the car before it and a 5 foot 4 man can be weighed.

Are you making that up? How much weight could possibly be picked up that is going to have an impact on weight.

Tis indeed so Curt and in fact they can pick up several kilos in the process. (sorry that's pounds in your old money!! LOL)

The tyres look good.

Instead of using ground up old tyres, I wonder if using talcum powder would give a 'finer' finish? May try that on the Tyrrell.

Skid wrote:Tis indeed so Curt and in fact they can pick up several kilos in the process. (sorry that's pounds in your old money!! LOL)

The tyres look good.

Instead of using ground up old tyres, I wonder if using talcum powder would give a 'finer' finish? May try that on the Tyrrell.

Never would have thought kilos could be picked up, interesting.

We've been using kilos since the mid 70's here in Canada Al. It's the yanks who still use the old ways.

Talc might do the trick too.

Ah yes of course. My apologies.

I'll try to get you on Skype tonight about 10pm my time. That's about 5pm your time.

Skid wrote:Ah yes of course. My apologies.

I'll try to get you on Skype tonight about 10pm my time. That's about 5pm your time.

I'll be around .