I have some parts coming so now in hopes that I am able to at least get a car built for testing.

While I am waiting I am working on tires. Here is a look at the progress on the tires.

I am having trouble finding the proper size tire so I am working on a rim and tire that can be 3D printed. The rim is no issue but I am concerned about the tire. I will be 3D printing TPU tires with different walls and infill amounts to see if there is any difference in traction. Also with tread and no tread. I have added nubs to the rims so tires do not have to be glued in place. This means I can have one set of rims and test many different tire prints.

Below are a few pictures to show the progress.



Here is my rim design.


Here is a look at the first rim I printed.


Then I created a tire that fit the rim.



Here the rim and tire are mounted to the car. I re-printed the rim in yellow so it would show up better in the pictures.


Then I created a tire with a tread pattern that I am still working on with the help of a "Rocket Scientist". Literally LOL.

I needed a way to hold the tire on the rim so it does not have to be glued in place. The way I did this on the front tires was to add 3 nubs and then put 3 pockets in the tire so they fit together.




Here you can see the nubs as the updated rim was printed.


Here is a look at the rim after it was printed.


Here is a look at the updated 3D printed TPU tire. You can see one of the three nub pockets that will help keep the tire firmly on the rim.



One thing is for sure, If the TPU tires do not work out for racing at least I know I can print tires for display cause I think they look pretty good and worth the effort it has taken to get them printed.
Look close and you will see the rims are designed to use a 3X7X3 flanged bearing. (2 per rim)