Promotion RC Tires

Tires are easily one of the, if not the most important part of your vehicle setup. It doesn’t matter how good your setup is, none of it will matter if your tire choice is wrong! There is plenty of other factors like saucing, gluing foams, and sidewall stiffeners. We will not get into that here, this is focused on tread pattern and compound. I have run many brands of tires in the past ( Pro-Line, Team Losi, AKA, etc. ) and they all make a great tire. The past few years I have been using Promotion RC Tires ( Love ‘em ) so my guide will be based around what they offer and what I use. Let’s get started!!!

All Promotion Tires

Promotion Raptor

- From Promotion’s Website -

The Raptor is designed with small/medium sized pins in a straight line pattern to provide even and consistent pin engagement. The design also provides greater lifespan and wear characteristics. All of these features will have your car feeling consistent in the corners and great forward bite. The bridged pins will help with pin fold and that "wish wash" feeling that comes with excessive folding.

Advanced carcass design
Straight line pin pattern
Multiple rows of bridged pins for consistent feel
Includes Advanced Cell inserts
Available in Clay, SS, S, SSLW, SLW, MLW, and XLW compounds
- My Take -
The Raptor is my go to tire for my home track Epic RC, just pick your compound and go! The mediumish sized pin provides great side bite without being too aggressive and the multiple rows of bridged pins provide tons of forward drive. For me it’s a tire that provides a great balance of grip with some forgiveness. I will run the Raptor on higher bite surfaces or a medium bite surface that is rough. The pin size gives a little forgiveness when the track gets rough, while still providing the drive needed to win.

Buy Promotion Raptor

Promotion Talon

- From Promotion’s Website -

The Talon brings a small pin design with pin spacing strategically to provide grip in many conditions, and close enough together to withstand higher wear track conditions. Center pins are bridged in a 3x2 alternating pattern to provide superior forward bite as well as resist pre mature wear. The Talon is fast enough to grab that TQ position in qualifying, and consistent enough for your next long main.

Advanced carcass design
3x2 center bridged pin design
Angular outer pins
Includes Advanced Cell inserts
Available in SS, S, SSLW, and SLW compounds
- My Take -
The Talon provides TONS of grip with its small pin design while providing good wear. I feel this tire shines when the track is low grip, but can also be run in higher grip conditions with a harder compound. But from my experience I find them a bit “too much” on high grip tracks. Not saying that is a bad thing in anyway. My teammate runs this tire almost exclusively on his buggies and he has the #goffspeed we are all looking for. On a low/medium bite track with dust they simply work amazing for me. Soon as the grip comes up I will typically move to a Raptor or Phantom.

Buy Promotion Talon

Promotion Phantom

- From Promotion’s Website -

The Phantom brings a unique tread pattern and multi pin design that will allow for superior grip and forward bite in both indoor and outdoor conditions. The Phantom features a center tread pattern designed to deliver forward bite and extended wear. Moving outward the next section of tread features multi shaped and siped treat to help in track conditions that are deteriorating and may have some dust in the line. The next section of tread features split and staggered pins similar to the Talon to help provide the grip and speed needed in almost all conditions. Lastly the outside section of tread help to reduce sidebite slightly for stability and taper off on the sidewall for high speed cornering.

Advanced carcass design
Multi pin design, 10 different pins
Superior performance both indoor and outdoor
Includes Advanced Cell inserts
Available in SS, S, SSLW, SLW, MLW, Clay, Gold Clay

- My Take -

Got a track surface that is hard packed and low dust? This is the tire to run on that surface! Great wear for abrasive tracks. This pattern has TONS of forward drive and a more forgiving outer section for high traction fast cornering. It doesn’t seem bothered by any track temperature, it works well in all temps I have ran them which ranges from 40F to 95F. The only downfall I find is if the track is dusty or loamy. Which is still manageable just a little looser feel.

Buy Promotion Phantom

Promotion MIG

- From Promotion’s Website -

The MIG was designed for long main events and high abrasion, high wear situations. Featuring tightly placed pins in groups of four. The pin size increases as you go from the outside of the tire to the center, this helps to provide a "nimble" and fast tire that can hold up to almost any condition!

Advanced carcass design
Pin sizes increase for responsive steering and superior wear resistance
Longest lasting tire in the Pro Motion lineup
Includes Advanced Cell inserts
Available in SS, S, SSLW, SLW, MLW, & XLW

- My Take -

It’s almost laughable how wear resistant this tire is while maintaining a responsive feel and plenty of drive. Typically we associate high wear to a loose tire. Or picking a tire that will fade before the end of the race or comes in later in the race. The MIG gives you the ability to kinda have the best of both worlds if tire wear is a concern at your track.

Buy Promotion MIG

Promotion Blackbird

- From Promtion’s Website -

The Blackbird is packed with so many different features all rolled up in one package! First up are the pin sizes, varying from small square pins, medium rectangle pins, to larger rectangle pins resulting in more grip, in more conditions. The Blackbird also features "reliefs" around the tire to help move dust quicker, this can be especially useful when a track is in the transition stage and has dust on the groove before it becomes "polished" and clean. Lastly is the directional sidewall designs. One side features angled outer pins for more side grip, while the opposite side features a connected bar design that will remove side grip in rough conditions when your car is "edgy".

Advanced carcass design
3 pin sizes
"Relief" cuts throughout tire
Directional sidewall patterns
Includes Advanced Cell inserts
Available in SS, S, SSLW, & SLW

- My Take -

If I had to pick one tire that “does it all” in the Promotion line up, it is without a doubt the Blackbird. Loamy, dusty, or packed the Blackbird doesn’t care. It can be mounted two ways, bar out for less side traction or pin out for more side traction. You can also mount pin out for the front and bar out for the rear etc.

Buy Promotion Blackbird

Promotion Spitfire

- From Promtion’s Website -

The Spitfire features a medium sized square pin design that is unique and designed for rough, dusty conditions, and a tire that is great for a "green" racetrack that you can start the weekend on. The center pins feature a staggered design with bridged pins that follow certain sets of 3 pins at a time. Theater row of pins are angled to reduce side bite and help in bumpy conditions, while the next row is straight and spaced closer together helping to provide a more even feel with cornering at higher speeds.

Advanced carcass design
Two different pin layouts on one tire
Staggered pin design for rough inconsistent conditions
Includes Advanced Cell inserts
Available in SS, S, SSLW, & SLW

- My Take -

The Spitfire is another does well with all things kinda tire. What I like most about it is how forgiving it is. It is easily one of the most compliant tires I have ever used. Where this tire shines though is when the track is fresh. That first chunk of the day when laps are getting put into the surface is Spitfire territory 100%!

Buy Promotion Spitfire

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