I developed an unhealthy obssession with rubber tires, for me it just adds so much realism and detail automatically, specifically for MP figures, but it can be for any. Older figures like alternators have them, same with some of the 2001 - 2004 RID line, and even some exclusives like the 2015 CW Devvy (only Scrapper had them) you get the gist. To each their own though, some people say they can get damaged easier than plastic, can collect grime/dust/dirt (which admiteddly is true for me,) can get stained, etc. However, they provide more grip, say if your bot is in car mode on a display shelf. it's also easier on the glass or surface. Would you think that most figures have either pins or screws holding the plastic tires in that I could remove, and order some toy chrome rims that come with realistic rubber tires? What I'd do too is make sure it's the same exact size as the plastic one. Figures I plan on doing this with is definitely some deluxes, some of my older MP carbots. Now of course I'm not gonna do this with tanks. way too much work, especially ones that have gimmicks (like splitting treads or embedded weapons).
Can't speak for "most" but many do. Unfortunately, newer mainline figures often have those plastic clip on wheels (the ones with the ugly holes in the rims). You'd have to cut that clip on area off completely and build something to pin the new wheels on. If you can manage that, there are numerous wheel options available. Hobby cars come in varying scales and 1/30 comes pretty close to MP figures. I've seen someone replace the wheels on Maketoys Downbeat with the wheels from a Porsche 935 slot car and it was beautiful. As far as the drawbacks, the ones you listed are indeed potential problems with rubber tires but the biggest drawback is they tend to just break down over time. I have the reissue of G1 Optimus that came out in like 2002 at TRU (not sure of the exact year) and he has cracks in his tires with one of them split down the middle almost completely into two tires, though my MP01 from 2004 still seems fine. All of my other rubber tires are more recent and the only one of those that's broken so far is one of MMC Azalea's (MP Arcee) though those are more akin to rubber O rings than actual molded tires (and in fact some people have replaced their broken tires with O rings).
Could you just coat the existing tires with plastic-dip? I'm not sure how well that would work but it could be worth a shot on some junkers.
I don't know what it is (maybe the northern climate) but I have never seen a cracked rubber tire on a single one of my TFs, that includes my original G1s from when I was a kid.
That plastic-dip sounds like a good idea. I have a G1 Optimus with rubber tires and they are fine. RID Optimus Firetruck has a known issue with the tires cracking. I believe it is the formula of the rubber and may crack because of Safer production methods. Or it could be cost to use cheaper materials that don’t last. Either way, good luck
Never used that. I suppose it's to make the plastic tires look like rubber tires? I like the physical feel and the advantage of it, grip. I was planning on buying whole new tires+rims. Wonder where I should start tho. Ali, eBay? I can also use the scaling system for model vehicles on these guys. Also, I noticed most figures, new and old, 3P/official/KO use a flat pin that locks the tire in, I rarely see figures use screws as axles.
