Quick Tips

Rubbin’ Is Racin’, But Friction Is Not Your Friend

No FTE wheels? No problem! Just follow these quick tips when modifying your cars to reduce friction and make your cars faster than ever.

1. Sand your wheels.

Even them out to reduce friction from those little bumps and grooves. Check out League of Speed’s "Speed Shop Episode 2 – Wheel Sanding".

https://youtu.be/GCToxpONGXo

2. Swap your axles with nickel-plated sewing pins.

Use axle tubes, and that nickel plating will make all the difference when it comes to race day! Join the discussion at Redline Derby Racing and follow Skeeter Racing’s "Custom Axle How To".

https://youtu.be/PDOKUEST1CI

https://www.redlinederby.com/topic/using-17-sewing-pins-as-axles/3224

3. Polish your axles.

No matter what axles you use, a little polish goes a long way. See how at "Polishing FTE axles for racing" by Chris Raab.

https://youtu.be/TFFNcFSPLhE

4. Swap your wheels for narrower wheels.

Less wheel in contact with the track means less friction. WheelsNThangs takes you through the basics of wheel swapping in the video "Hot Wheels Customizing: Part 2".

https://youtu.be/HLzHZXgbSI8

5. Lubricate your axles.

Hear Red Pill Racing explain why at "How I Use Graphite to make Hot Wheels Faster!"

https://youtu.be/GIBTht_H_Wk