I found a product that does an excellent job improving Tank Tread traction.
I don’t know if it is allowed in competition as I am not involved with that.
It works extremely well and is very easy to use.
I have used both the Black and the Clear types in the “Spray On” version. You just spray the Tank Treads with a few coats.
The name of the product is “Plasti Dip” by Performix.
I am currently coating my treads in this Plasti Dip and it looks fantastic. I built a ~6 foot long single tread and ran it slowly through a shallow bath of the plasti dip. It isn’t quite perfectly even, and some of the links are now connected… but I’m continuing to run it in circles hoping it’ll break as it dries.
Yep, that is exactly what it is meant for. In fact, the “dip” I got (not the spray on kind) is in a tall cylinder so you can dip things with handles in easily. Lowes only had black, I was hoping for one of their other colors like clear or blue… but black is sure better than no traction on most surfaces.
Unfortunatly, I’ve started running low on some key parts (collets and those black plastic things with 3 holes) so I had to partially dis-assemble one robot to make the silly long treaded one. Last night, when it was done drying I took back some of the parts. I still have enough tread to do a visual mock up (just sticking some axels in the metal holes) so I’ll do that.
I can even put a tupperware down as the bowl and take some pictures of the mess I made that I shouldn’t have
I’ve since run my treaded chassis outside on a cement sidewalk and in dirt/ivy. The traction is incredible, both compared to the bare treads and my previous attempts at improving traction (which was to clue screen window repair uh… string? into the channels).
That said, I’m not sure how long it will hold up. I suspect it will start peeling off after a few uses outside. I suspect enough of them will remain plasti-dipped that it won’t matter until most of is gone.
It took 1 can (~$6) to do a section of track that was probably an 8 foot loop. I think that was totally worth it, and it would probably last a lot longer if I only used them on carpet/indoor.
I would love to coat my garage floor with that rubber material, but the cost would be out the roof. I bet it would be possible to add “teeth” using it by building a spiked wire frame of sorts that would hold on to the treads long enough for them to dry. It’s a lot of work, but it’d probably pay off.