DIY tire replication

[Briddle Tee]

I'm trying to replicate some car tires that are no longer available in the manufacturer's re-released kit. I'd love to make them in a black, rubbery material like the originals. I've done a lot of resin casting before, but this is new to me. The material options are pretty overwhelming, has anyone here tried it?

 

[Captain Teemo]

I'm trying to replicate some car tires that are no longer available in the manufacturer's re-released kit. I'd love to make them in a black, rubbery material like the originals. I've done a lot of resin casting before, but this is new to me. The material options are pretty overwhelming, has anyone here tried it?

I'm not really confident about that, but if you are then that's good for you. Go for urethane rubber since it's more popular for tires. Silicone rubber is flexible and good for molds but it isn't always tough.

 

[Briddle Tee]

I'll research it more and maybe do some tests to see how it compares to the original tire feel

 

[Watchwatcher]

I'm not really confident about that, but if you are then that's good for you. Go for urethane rubber since it's more popular for tires. Silicone rubber is flexible and good for molds but it isn't always tough.

I second this. Urethane rubber is durable and in my opinion dives a more realistic look. A drop or two of black pigment and you'll have it look as good as a factory tire

 

[zippy]

Doable yeah. For that rubbery and tire like feel, many hobbyists use urethane rubber like Smooth-On's Vytaflex or PMC series. Its flexible, durable and casts well in silicone molds.

 

[PourCraft]

You're definitely headed in the right direction by considering urethane rubber for replicating tires; my background in restoring vintage models has really highlighted this option for me. Just keep an eye on the Shore hardness. It's best to target something in the A40-A60 range to achieve that realistic tire flex, without feeling too squishy or overly rigid. And if you want to ensure a bubble-free finish, particularly for intricate details, it might be worth looking into getting a degassing chamber.

 

[CanineChaos]

I'm not really confident about that, but if you are then that's good for you. Go for urethane rubber since it's more popular for tires. Silicone rubber is flexible and good for molds but it isn't always tough.

this is true, my friend actually tried it. for rubbery tires, urethane casting rubber is what you need
it's different from the epoxy or polyurethane resins you might be used to, as it cures flexible
when you're making your mold, make sure your original tire is super clean and prepped, and use a platinum cure silicone for the mold itself, they're super flexible and durable for pulling out rubber parts.
stick to a known brand like Smooth On or Polytek and start with a general purpose flexible rubber kit

 

[mattb]

How do you seal an aold rubber tire so you can use it for a silicone mold?