Tire Softener

[5ton]

I race a 4 cy. at my local dirt track and they only allow Street tires. I read that Methylnaphthalene would soften tires? The same stuff that is found in paint stripper? If this does work what paint stripper do you recommend? The tires I have now durometer at 60..I would like to get them down to about 40.

 

[Metten]

It is not possible to soften vulcanised rubber without hurting the mechanical properties. Natural rubber or SBR (used for tires) will absorb oils and many solvents, but by doing so the rubber matrix will be streched/destroyed. The abrasion will be a lot higher and possibly you will have a sticky surface.

It may be a wild guess, but you maybe can use wintertyres, preheated. (they are designed to give more grip, but at elevated temperatures, they tend to stick/abrade more)