Overview
The Louise RC GT-Tarmac 1/8 FR/RR Super Soft Hex 17mm Spoke Black represents a premium tyre and wheel solution for competitive RC buggy and GT racing in the UK. These are pre-mounted, professionally glued tyres specifically engineered for drivers who demand maximum grip, stability and consistency on tarmac surfaces. Whether you're running an ARRMA Typhon, Losi 8ight, Team Corally Python XP, X-Ray XB-8, or any other compatible 1/8 buggy platform, these Louise RC tyres deliver the performance characteristics that serious racers rely upon. This is a complete ready-to-install tyre set for both front and rear positions, meaning you receive everything needed to transform your RC car's handling dynamics immediately.
Louise RC has established itself as one of the world's leading manufacturers of high-performance RC tyres and wheels, recognised for meticulous attention to detail during manufacturing and an unwavering commitment to quality. The GT-Tarmac series represents the pinnacle of tarmac-specific tyre technology, combining advanced rubber compounds with innovative construction techniques to deliver predictable, responsive handling that competitive drivers demand. With the super soft compound option, you're choosing tyres specifically formulated for maximum grip development and consistent performance across a wide temperature range, making them ideal for competitive racing where every tenth of a second counts.
These tyres are supplied as a set of two ready-to-run wheels, complete with foam inserts already installed and permanently bonded to the wheel rims using Louise RC's proprietary cyanoacrylate adhesive process. This means you can fit them to your RC buggy or GT car and head straight to the track without any additional preparation, assembly or gluing work required. This is genuine off-the-shelf convenience for serious hobbyists and competitors across the UK RC racing scene.
Key Features
- MFT Micro Fibre Technology — The rubber tread incorporates a textile belt that prevents tyre deformation and ballooning during high-speed acceleration and cornering, a critical advantage over standard tyres. This technology maintains consistent tyre shape under extreme forces, eliminating the diameter variation that occurs with non-MFT tyres, which directly translates to improved stability, increased road contact patch and extended tyre lifespan during competitive driving.
- Super Soft Racing Compound — The tyre rubber is manufactured using a specially formulated compound optimised for maximum grip generation combined with controlled wear characteristics. The super soft option sits at the softest end of Louise RC's compound range, developing grip more aggressively as operating temperature increases, meaning the tyres perform best after a few warm-up laps when thermal conditions are optimal for racing.
- Professional Factory Mounting and Gluing — Each tyre is mounted and permanently bonded to its wheel by Louise RC's manufacturing facility using a precision multi-stage process. The tyre bead is ground and degreased, the wheel surface is prepared identically, and a special rubber cyanoacrylate adhesive is applied via a computer-controlled dosing machine to ensure consistency. Every bonded assembly then undergoes spinning and pulling tests to verify structural integrity before dispatch.
- Engineered Wheel Construction — The rims are manufactured from high-quality nylon composite materials specifically developed by Dupont for Louise RC, combining flexibility and strength to withstand extreme cornering loads, acceleration forces and high-impact landing impacts without cracking or deforming. This material science approach ensures wheels remain structurally sound through countless racing runs.
- Precision Foam Inserts — Specialised cut-to-size foam inserts are pre-installed inside each tyre at a carefully selected density chosen to provide optimal dampening and form stability. These inserts prevent the tyre sidewalls from collapsing during hard cornering and maintain consistent contact patch geometry, essential for predictable handling characteristics.
- 17mm Hex Compatibility — These tyres feature 17mm hex adaptors, making them compatible with a comprehensive range of modern 1/8 buggy and GT-Rally platforms including ARRMA Typhon and Infraction, Associated RC8 and DB8, Carson Virus and Specter, Hobao Hyper VS, Losi 8ight, Mugen MBX and MGT series, Sworkz S35-GT, Team Corally Python XP, X-Ray XB-8 and GT8, and numerous other manufacturers' vehicles.
- Black Spoke Wheel Design — The distinctive black spoke wheel pattern provides a striking appearance while the proven design geometry has been proven through countless competitive hours. The offset specification is optimised for handling balance and traction characteristics across typical track conditions.
- Front and Rear Fitment — This is a universal tyre set suitable for mounting at both front and rear axle positions on compatible vehicles, providing a standardised grip platform across all four wheel positions for predictable and balanced handling behaviour.
Technical Performance
The Louise RC GT-Tarmac represents advanced engineering in tyre and wheel design for 1/8 scale competitive RC racing. At 104mm in diameter and 42mm in width, these tyres provide a substantial contact patch optimised for tarmac racing environments. The combined tyre and wheel assembly weighs 111 grams per wheel, a critical specification for drivers considering overall vehicle mass distribution and rotational inertia. The MFT Micro Fibre Technology textile belt system is heavier and slightly larger than standard tyres without this technology, which Louise RC advises may require gear ratio adjustment for optimal performance and potentially a servo upgrade to handle the increased mechanical loads these grippier tyres produce during competitive driving. The manufacturing process demonstrates Louise RC's uncompromising approach to quality: each tyre undergoes surface preparation including grinding and degreasing before the cyanoacrylate adhesive is applied in precisely metered quantities via automated machinery, followed by pressing to ensure proper curing and bonding. Subsequent spinning and pulling tests validate structural integrity. The super soft compound is specifically engineered to develop grip progressively as the rubber reaches operating temperature, a characteristic that demands drivers warm up their RC car through several practice laps before pushing competitive lap times. This temperature sensitivity means the tyres perform better as track sessions progress, rewarding smooth driving technique. The composite wheel material, developed specifically for Louise RC by Dupont, balances the flexibility needed to absorb impacts with the rigidity required to maintain structural integrity under extreme cornering forces. The foam inserts provide consistent dampening and sidewall support, critical factors in maintaining responsive steering feel and predictable handling balance throughout a racing session.
What's in the Box
- Two Louise RC GT-Tarmac 1/8 tyres mounted and glued on 17mm hex black spoke wheels
- Pre-installed foam inserts (cut-to-size) for immediate use
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are these tyres suitable for my 1/8 RC buggy or GT car? — Yes, provided your vehicle features a 17mm hex wheel adaptor. Louise RC provides a comprehensive tyre-wheel compatibility chart covering all major manufacturers including ARRMA, Associated, Carson, Hobao, Losi, Mugen, Sworkz, Team Corally and X-Ray. We recommend consulting this chart to confirm your specific vehicle model is compatible before ordering.
- What does MFT Micro Fibre Technology actually do? — MFT refers to a woven textile belt integrated into the tyre tread rubber that prevents deformation and ballooning during high-speed driving and hard acceleration. Without MFT, standard tyres expand and contract, changing diameter significantly under load, which disturbs handling consistency. MFT maintains tyre shape under extreme forces, improving stability, increasing road contact area and extending usable tyre life during competitive racing.
- Do I need to do any assembly or gluing work? — No. These tyres arrive factory-mounted and permanently glued to the wheel rims. Simply fit them to your vehicle's hubs using the 17mm hex adaptors and you're ready to head to the track. Louise RC's manufacturing process eliminates any preparation work from the user.
- Why are these tyres heavier and larger than some alternatives? — The MFT textile technology and super soft racing compound add weight and diameter compared to standard tyres without these performance features. Louise RC recommends checking your vehicle's gear ratio after fitting these tyres and potentially upgrading your steering servo, as the increased grip these tyres provide places greater mechanical loads on standard servos. This is a worthwhile trade-off for competitive drivers seeking maximum traction.
- How long will these tyres last during racing? — Tyre lifespan depends heavily on driving style, track surface, ambient temperature and competitive intensity. The super soft compound is engineered for maximum grip development rather than maximum longevity, so these are considered medium-wear racing tyres suitable for competitive sessions. Louise RC's MFT technology does extend tyre life compared to standard designs by maintaining consistent shape and contact patch throughout use.
- What is the difference between soft and super soft compound options? — Louise RC offers both soft and super soft racing compounds. The super soft provides maximum grip generation, particularly valuable in cooler racing conditions or for drivers prioritising cornering traction. The soft compound offers a balance between grip and durability. Super soft tyres typically require warm-up laps to reach optimal performance temperature.
- Are these competitive-grade racing tyres or basher tyres? — These are genuine competition-grade racing tyres designed specifically for structured track racing. The super soft compound, MFT technology and precision manufacturing process indicate these are engineered for drivers pursuing lap time improvement and competitive victory rather than casual bashing or recreational driving.
Why Buy from RC Model Shop?
RC Model Shop is a trusted UK RC retailer and authorised dealer for all the brands we stock, including Traxxas, ARRMA, Losi, FTX, Hobbywing, Spektrum and more. Based in Walsall, we have a physical store where customers are welcome to come in, view products and purchase in store. Whether you are a seasoned competitor, a weekend basher, or just discovering the world of RC for the first time, our team of experienced RC enthusiasts is here to help you find the perfect setup and provide ongoing support. Order the Louise RC GT-Tarmac 1/8 FR/RR Super Soft Hex 17mm Spoke Black today with confidence, knowing you are buying from an authorised retailer with genuine products, expert knowledge and a commitment to customer satisfaction. Shop online or visit us in Walsall — we look forward to helping you get the most out of your RC experience.
- Scale: 1/8
- Tyre type: MFT Micro Fibre Technology racing compound
- Tyre compound: Super Soft
- Tyre diameter: 104mm
- Tyre width: 42mm
- Wheel colour: Black
- Wheel rim type: Black spoke design
- Wheel hex fitment: 17mm
- Wheel offset: 0 offset
- Rim bead diameter: 83mm (3.3 inches)
- Wheel material: Nylon composite (Dupont-developed formula)
- Tyre/wheel weight per wheel: 111 grams
- Tyre inserts: Foam cut-to-size inserts (pre-installed)
- Tyre mounting: Pre-mounted and factory-glued to wheels
- Adhesive type: Special rubber cyanoacrylate (formulated for Louise RC)
- Fitment position: Front and Rear compatible
- Vehicle type compatibility: 1/8 Buggy and GT-Rally
- Compatible with: ARRMA Typhon, ARRMA Infraction, ARRMA Limitless, Associated RC8, Associated DB8, Carson Virus, Carson Specter, Hobao Hyper VS, Losi 8ight, Mugen MBX Series, Mugen MGT Series, Sworkz S35-GT, Team Corally Python XP, X-Ray XB-8, X-Ray GT8 and other 17mm hex compatible vehicles
- Manufacturer: Louise RC
- Model number: L-T3285VB / LR-T3285VB
- Barcode: 5413911280730
- Pack contents: 2 complete mounted wheels
- Tyre performance characteristics: Maximum grip development, especially after warm-up laps; intended for competitive racing rather than casual use
- Manufacturing quality assurance: Each bonded wheel passes spinning and pulling tests before dispatch
We want to make sure your delivery goes smoothly, so here are some important details about our service:
- For orders above £120, we offer delivery to most mainland UK addresses. For orders under £120, we can still deliver to Northern Ireland and the outlying isles, as long as the item can be sent by Royal Mail, weighs less than 30kg, and fits within 61cm × 46cm × 46cm. Some highland and remote areas may carry an extra delivery charge as couriers often apply surcharges in these locations. If you live in one of these areas, feel free to contact us before ordering so we can confirm the delivery options and costs for you.
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