[JimboJames1972]

Rubber tyres have been used in the past (about eight or ten years ago) but, like Peter said, they mostly failed.

The tyres were for the Tamyia Mini - lightly treaded and with the "stock" foam insert. Tyre warmers were (generally) not needed since the tread did a reasonably good job of biting into the carpet.

However, there were other problems. While the inner diameter of the tyre meant that they fitted the Mardave/GT12 rims, the rims themselves lacked the moulding to allow then to be mounted well. Fitting them was, to be frank, a bit of a bodge at best!

The other problem was their external diameter - if memory serves me correctly they were around 55mm. This is way bigger than most GT12 cars run, which had implications on ride heights and overall handling thanks to their very tall side walls.

More recently, a couple of manufacturers showed an interest in making rubber tyres more suited for GT12 racing - this included a new, suitable wheel rim (with all the additional ribs for correct mounting), as well as a lower profile slick tyre in a few sensible compounds and matching inserts. Unfortunately, setup cost stopped any real development. It costs many thousands to get a mould for a wheel rim made, and the same again for the tyres and insert too (if you go for a moulded insert rather than a simple foam one). With no guarantee that this would be accepted as a suitable tyre option the manufacturers pulled out.

No, GT12 is a class that welcomes beginners, improves and expert drivers. A foam tyre is the best overall for all these abilities and the only real way to control a beginner's speed (and therefore improve their driving standard and learning curve) is through motor power.

James