Tire Prep - Carlson Motorsports

Popular tire preps:

Let's break down the most popular preps that we offer and see what can be understood about them and their specific applications a little better.

Pink Panther

Often called, "red", or other versions of the color red, Pink Panther prep works well as a topical, "surface prep". Pink Panther is one of the least harsh of tire preps avialable on the market. For this reason, Pink Panther makes an excellent mild softener/conditioner, (will not dry out the rubber,) that induces natural resins back into the rubber. Paint it on about ten minutes before you grid for a good "temporary" take off, (1 or 2 lap advantage).
Pink Panther prep can also be soaked into the tread in advance for deeper penetration and will soften the duro. if saturated over time. You can paint the prep on one coat at a time until it stops absorbing, then wrap the tires in aluminum foil to keep them wet, or rotisserie prep them from the outside for 2-8 hours, (depending on the amount of penetration you need,) 24 hours before race time. You can then wipe them with surface prep or a PRW at the track to maintain them.
You can also prep the tires from the inside out (works best for storage over the winter or to drop the duro. significantly). About 4 ounces inside of right side tires, and 3 ounces inside left side tires...Roll a minimum of 12 hours to assure complete absorbtion. For long duration storing of your tires, simply bag them up as a set (wheels and all) in a large black trash bag. Remove as much air as possible from the bag, then tie it tightly to prevent the elements from affecting your tires.
The introduction of heat to the tires as Pink Panther prep is applied will aid in the saturation of the prep into the rubber, but is not necessary. Some racers experience additional benefits of prepping in a hot box or by using heat to expediate the prep into the rubber. Your results may vary. Be careful not to expose Pink Panther prep to an open flame or ignition source, as it is highly flammable.
Pink Panther works best on dry slick, low bite, hard packed, loose and dusty track surfaces. It also works well on cold, wet or damp tracks that retain moisture when a softer durometer tire is needed. Pink Panther is a great all around prep that does not dry out the rubber, and actually conditions the tire by adding natural resins back into the rubber. It aids in keeping tires moist when not in use, (great for tire storage), and brings new life back to old dry tires.
Pink Panther is NOT an aggressive prep that will easily ruin a tire, (although ALL tire preps should be used with caution.)
Special care should be taken when ANY prep is applied. Be sure to use in a well ventilated area with no open flame as Pink Panther is very flammable. Pink Panther needs to be stored in an all metal container. It will quickly dissolve plastic bottles common to some other preps available in karting.

Gold Flash

Gold Flash, "'ol yeller", or more commonly called "goat pee", is a common chemical used in the printing industry. Goat Pee; who exactly first coined that name? Disgusting, and it both looks and smells disgusting! It is obtained through most major kart shops in quart and gallon jugs and is relatively inexpensive. There are several "cut" versions of this prep in circulation and should be avoided. Pure Gold Flash is the real thing and can be cut down if needed by the end user. Gold Flash (Goat Pee) softens the tire and there's rarely anything that works better on moist track surfaces. It is easy to over prep using Gold Flash though. If you are rotisserie prepping, be sure to prep lightly and in several layers or coats, so as not to ruin a good set of tires. Gold Flash will drastically drop the durometer (softness) of your tires and could render them useless if over-prepped. I recommend 3-4 oz. rolled inside the right side tires, and 2-3 oz. rolled inside the left sides to drop the tire's tread 10 to 15 durometer points. Be careful to thoroughly roll the tires. My program insists on 12 hour roll in periods for any prep going on the inside of a tire carcass. Some may take longer! You need to make very certain that the prep is completely absorbed into the tread of the tire and that the prep doesn't "puddle up" in the bottom of the tire as it sets on a tire rack. If you are surface prepping, Gold Flash can be rolled in about 4 hours, and often times even less, depending on the level of saturation and penetration you are looking for. My typical surface rotisserie prep would start at least 24 hours before race day, and consist of just enough prep to get the duro where you want it on race day, then wrap the tires up. Once you get to the track, you can unwrap the tires, and wipe the tread surface with Gold Flash just to touch them up. If you are wanting to significantly drop the duro (softness) of the tires, start your prep program 4 or 5 days in advance of race day.

Wintergreen

If it's green and has a strong health club odor, it's likely wintergreen. Now, there's a big difference between wintergreen and Simple Green. If you don't know the difference, just take a whiff of each. Wintergreen is a tire softening prep, whereas Simple Green is simply a cleaner. What exactly is wintergreen prep? Man, it sure does smell funny. (As if the others don't.) This is a deep penetrating prep with a strong wintergreen odor. It works good for dirt and asphalt applications, and is especially good if the track gets some dew on it between races. Its best use may be on cold or damp pavement tracks. Apply one to several coats of Wintergreen allowing the prep. to complete absorb between coats. You can also wrap the tires in plastic for a deeper penetration overnight. A few ounces rolled inside the tire will also soften the duro, compound, when used in a tire rotisserie. Wintergreen also makes a very good "disguise" of your current tire prep program with it's strong odor. A light wipe at the track will do very little to enhance or detract from the performance of your tire, but it will most certainly get the attention of your competitors.

Green Dragon Grip

There's another kind of green that's been taking the karting prep world by storm recently, and it's an environmentally friendly(er) tire prep called Green Dragon Grip. Green Dragon Grip, GDG,or Dragon as it is more commonly called, is most often used as a PRW, but can also be used similarly to Speedy 500, Acrysol, and other agents to reduce or cut/thin other preps. GDG is gaining popularity because of it's "greener" (pun intended) characteristics in a world of very harsh chemicals used in karting today. GDG is less agressive than it's counter parts, Acrysol and Speedy 500, but has much of the same effect without the strong odor and quick evaporation rate. For this reason, Green Dragon Grip works awesome as a pre-prep cleaner. Typically, you would wash the excess loose dirt from your tires with normal soap and water. Dry the tire tread surface, then rub in Green Dragon Grip with a lint free cloth. The tires will clean up very well and be immediately ready for any additional prep that you desire to apply.

Acrysol

Acrysol is a great tire cleaner to remove exisiting preps from the tire surface. Simply rub Acrysol into the tire tread with an absorbent rag. Be sure to wear rubber gloves and use only in a well ventilated area.
Acrysol is also a great pre-prep wipe to open up the pores of the rubber and let other preps penetrate the tire quicker and deeper.
You can also use it as a pre-race wipe right before you go on the grid; it will help the tire "fire" for the first few laps and is preferred on hard clean racing surfaces (not dusty).
Acrysol can also be used to dillute certain preps so they're not as aggressive, (ie Creosote, Gold Flash, Hot Lap, etc.)
Acrysol is NOT intended for long duration or deep saturation use. Use of Acrysol by itself will dry rubber out and make it like a pencil eraser over time, (softer, but also wear quicker.) Acrysol should not be used in conjunction with heat, as it is extremely flammable. Acrysol also has an extremely high evaporation rate and should only be used internally if combined with another prep which induces resins or oils back into the tire. (Popular combinations might include Black Max, Gold Flash, Hot Lap, Marvel Mystery Oil, creosote or transmission fluid.)

Speedy 500

Speedy 500's use is essentially the same as Acrysol. It makes the perfect tire cleaner to remove exisiting preps from the tire surface. Simply rub Speedy 500 into the tire tread with an absorbent rag. Be sure to wear rubber gloves and use only in a well ventilated area.
Speedy 500 is also a great pre-prep wipe to open up the pores of the rubber and let other preps penetrate the tire quicker and deeper. We especially like to use it ahead of Pink Panther and Gold Flash.
You can also use it as a pre-race wipe right before you go on the grid; it will help the tire "fire" for the first few laps and is preferred on hard clean racing surfaces (not dusty).
Speedy 500 can also be used to dillute certain preps so they're not as aggressive, (ie Creosote, Gold Flash, Hot Lap, etc.)
Speedy 500 is NOT intended for long duration or deep saturation use. Use of Speedy 500 by itself will dry rubber out and make it like a pencil eraser over time, (softer, but also wear quicker.) Speedy 500 should not be used in conjunction with heat, as it is extremely flammable. Speedy 500 also has an extremely high evaporation rate and should only be used internally if combined with another prep which induces resins or oils back into the tire. (Popular combinations might include Black Max, Gold Flash, Hot Lap, Marvel Mystery Oil, creosote or transmission fluid.)

What's this I hear about creosote?

Black Gold, Black Sand, Black Magic, Black "just about anything", will be a creosote based tire prep. Now, you may already know all about creosote, or you may not. IF you do not, then I suggest you do a little research online. Creo can be nasty nasty stuff, but it can also really hook up your kart. If used correctly, it can definitely make you faster. If used incorrectly, it will most certainly lock you down, or even worse, ruin a good set of tires. Creo is used primarily when no other prep will do. Creo is the "solve-all" grip prep that will lock down about any kart on any track surface, as long as it does not have dust lying on the groove. On a cool, damp, or wet surface, it's the ultimate hook-up. For that reason, creo is often referred to as glue, rather than a prep. Creo can be cut with just about anything. We have had huge success running on coke syrup indoors on creo and kerosene cut 50-50. Creosote is also often cut with Acrysol, Speedy 500, laquer thinner, mineral spirits, naptha, Hot Laps or Hot Laps II, and many more. One of our more popular blends makes one of the best wet track low grip tire preps available today, Black Gold.

Black Gold

Black Gold is one of the best grip preps for midwestern black dirt tracks and is especially beneficial when used on Buirris tires on low grip tracks where you just can't get the tires soft enough or gain enough tire grip. When the track has moisture in it, Black Gold is the way to go. If the track starts dusting up, then we switch to Pink Panther. Black Gold is equally successful on very low grip clean dry track surfaces. The ultimate condition being "clean". Black Gold is intended for a quick lauch surface prep to aid in firing the tire the very first lap of a race. It is best applied just minutes before going to the grid. For a 2-5 lap advantage, roll or spray Black Gold onto the tire tread within, but no more than, ten minutes prior to going to the grid. Applying Black Gold earlier in the week, or over saturating the tire, will undoubtedly kill the tire. If you are wanting to soften the tire considerably, consider rotisserie prepping from the inside using Gold Flash, or Atomic Orange. Both will soften the tire, while Atomic Orange will also put needed oils back into the rubber.

Black Max

Black Max is one of the best grip preps for extreme grip on midwestern black dirt tracks and is especially beneficial when used on Buirris tires on low grip tracks where you just can't get the tires soft enough or gain enough tire grip. Black Max is also our favorite indoor prep on coke syrup. When the track has frozen over or is "wet", Black Max is the way to go. If the track starts dusting up, then we switch to Pink Panther. Black Max should be avoided if the track gets dusty or marbley at all. The ultimate condition being "clean, cold, and damp." Black Max is intended for a quick lauch surface prep to aid in firing the tire the very first lap of a race. It is best applied just minutes before going to the grid. For a 2-5 lap advantage, roll or spray Black Max onto the tire tread within, but no more than, ten minutes prior to going to the grid. Applying Black Max earlier in the week, or over saturating the tire, will undoubtedly kill the tire. Never roll Black Max internally (inside the tire.) If you are wanting to soften the tire considerably, consider rotisserie prepping from the inside using Gold Flash, or Atomic Orange. Both will soften the tire, while Atomic Orange will also put needed oils back into the rubber

Atomic Orange

Atomic Orange is a fairly harsh prep that softens the tire's rubber dramatically, while not drying it out. Used mainly as an internal prep, rolled inside of the tire, Atomic Orange can also be applied to the surface of a tire for quick adhesion and immediate penetration. Atomic Orange's sticky feel will gain much needed grip early in a run, while only lasting as deep as the penetration. Atomic Orange can be rolled in deeply, with caution being taken not to soften the rubber too much.

Other popular tire cleaners:

Simple Green, Pro Blend, Trac Tac & others

Simple Green is a popular cleaner / degreaser that can be effectively used to clean your tires between races, or before you load up to head home for the night. Simple Green has tons of uses, from air filter cleaning, to degreasing chains. This makes Simple Green an obvious choice for the budget kart racer wanting to clean his tires without forgoing the money to buy a commercially made and marketed tire "specific" cleaner. Of the many popular tire cleaners available, Pro Blend has probably one of the best I have used. Equally as effective is the Blue Tire Wash from Trac Tac Products. Both do a superior job to Simple Green or waterless hand cleaners and degreasers. The Pro Blend Tire Cleaner also makes an excellent accelerant for other preps to penetrate the rubber. Blue Tire Wash contains an additive known by the manufacturer as DRT, or "dirt repelling techonology".

Other preps worthy of mention:

Hot Lap and Hot Lap II are both very good preps available from Pro-Blend and most major kart shops. I especially like rolling HL II on the inside of my tires along with a surface prep of Pro-Blend's Victory Lap for a great "predictable" grip, especially with Maxxis HT-3's. Victory Lap makes a great topical solution prep for that first lap grip that predominantly natural rubber tires like Hoosier and Vega area known for. Hot Lap works real well in conjunction with Marvel Mystery Oil when rotisseried as well.

Trac Tac has some great products as well. One advantage of them is that they are all relatively easy on the rubber, that is, not harsh. I have already made mention of their Blue Tire Wash, which is pretty good stuff, but they also offer Black Sand (not creosote based) prep for the dry slick dusty surfaces, and something they like to call DRT in their pre-race wipes. DRT is "dirt repelling technology", and this stuff is pretty cool. If you've ever looked at your competitors tires and wondered why they were so black, while yours picked up dust, this just may be the product they are using. DRT actually keeps the dust from sticking to the tire. This is especially nice if you need to roll your kart to the grid before entering the track.While DRT is pretty amazing, it is NOT to be used with some of the more popular preps. DRT preps are best used with the Trac Tac product line. You would be wise to consult with Trac Tac directly for specific interactions and instructions.

Venom Juice. Venom Juice is the product of Eric Rendleman, and is very much along the same lines as Trac Tac Products, as it is made in the same plant from my understanding. Eric's experience with tires and prep is worthy of a mention here. Although we do not promote his products, they are a high quality option available to karters everywhere. Please contact Eric directly with any questions reguarding his products.

Palmetto Speed Shop. Palmetto offers a wide variety of preps and are available in smaller quantities to make them affordably priced. Their online presence is well established, and customer service is in high regard. I have only ever tested a few of their products, and was pleased with the results. Please contact them directly if you have any questions or to see their entire product line.

Gecker Preps. Sheldon Gecker has introduced his own line of tire preps as well. His success at some of the bigger indoor races cannot be argued with, so his preps obviously deserve a mention here. Please contact Sheldon directly for his preps.

Track Claw: Track Claw has been around for years and has been used in stock cars mostly until the karters got ahold of it for use in kart tires. It is readily avilable and can be contacted directly for technical information.

Of course, there are MANY other preps available out there to karters. Choosing the correct one shouldn't be as hard as some make it out to be. It takes a lot of time, patience, and most importantly in the end, experience, to find what works best for your particular application. If there's one thing I advise all my customers, it's to get on one person's/shop's/manufacturer's regiment, and stick with it. You can get really out in left field when you start mixing chemicals incorrectly, or in conjunction with another that was not meant to be.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us directly.

Thanks,
Carlson Racing Engines / Vector Mfg.
www.CarlsonMotorsports.com
(765) 339-4407