Wondering how to make RC cars faster

Does your electric RC car have a need for speed? Maybe you are already bored with what the standard factory setting has to offer and would like to take it up a notch. You are at a right place because we have written this guide to show you how to make RC cars Faster.

These 5 things are not too difficult to implement. It all depends on how fast you would like to go and how much you are willing to spend. We also share some recommendations and things to consider for each method. Now without further ado, let us take a look at the top five ways to make your electric RC car go faster!

Gearing

This is probably the cheapest way to alter the speed of your RC car. Simply change the pinion (the small metal gear on the motor) or the spur gear (the large plastic gear) for a different size. Change both of them for maximum effect. You will be surprised at how different the car feels when changing gear ratios.

For a higher top speed go for a larger pinion gear (with more teeth) and a smaller spur gear (with less teeth). The trade-off here is that you will gain a higher top speed at the expense of slower acceleration and a higher motor/esc temperature. This set up is ideal for long straight runs and large areas with few corners.

For quicker acceleration go for a smaller pinion gear (with less teeth) and a larger spur gear (with more teeth). Your car will accelerate off the mark very quickly with more torque, and you’ll also benefit from cooler running temperatures, extending the life of your motor and esc. The trade-off is a slower top speed. This is ideal for smaller spaces where you wouldn’t have the room for a long speed run, or where there are many corners or obstacles to race around.

Motor upgrade

One of the easiest ways to boost up the speed power of your car is by upgrading the motor. If you are using the budget-friendly brushed motor, perhaps it’s about time to change to brushless motor.

If you are already running on a brushless motor, you can consider upgrading the turn rating, or Kv rating. This specification is usually mentioned on the product sheet. Look for it to get some idea of the speed capability of the motor – the higher the Kv rating, the faster the motor.

Once you boost the horsepower, you will notice a significant increase in your car’s speed. Plus, the brushless technology will also let you enjoy longer run times and higher efficiency.

Just keep in mind that the cost will increase as you change the motor. There are additional upgrades that will have to come together with this method.  Check out our Basics of RC Electric Motors to learn more.

Higher voltage battery

Besides the motor, there is another easy way to make your electric RC car go faster – by changing the battery voltage. For example, if you upgrade your cells from 7.4 volts to 11.1 volts, you will see an increase of around 25mph in speed! However, there is something to keep in mind. Make sure that your ESC can support the extra voltage. If not, you might end up damaging it for good.

Also, make sure the new battery can fit well onto your car chassis. Nevertheless, upgrading the batteries is still a great way to boost up the speed of your car. So, switch the 2-cell LiPo to 3-cell LiPo and see the positive changes yourself.  To learn more about batteries, read our  Basics of RC Car Batteries.

Bigger and better tires

Another method for you to try to get the maximum speed gain is by changing the tires. Firstly, always invest in high-quality tires. They are usually made of excellent compounds and can last for a very long time.

You will not only go faster with premium tires but you will also be able to handle tight corners quicker and more efficiently. Plus, with the right selection, the tires will have better grip and prevent your car from flipping from the fast speed.

Besides the quality of tire, you should also look for bigger sizes. The ones with bigger diameters can cover more ground per turning.

It has been reported that an increase of 0.5 inches in the diameter will result in 4mph to 5mph increase of speed. Now, that is a pretty significant change in the speed, eh?

Last but not least, always choose the right type of tires that suits your racing style. Following are some of the basic guides on how to choose the right tires for your electric RC car.

More aerodynamic body

Another thing that can make your RC car faster is more aerodynamic body. However, if you’re only going 25mph, aerodynamics aren’t going to play too noticeable of a role. If you’re going 50mph, aerodynamics will certainly start becoming influential on top speed. In addition to mounting a low profile, sleek body shell, mount it as low as possible and keep the wheel wells as small as possible. Open up the rear of the body to let trapped air to escape.

Reduce the weight

Reducing the weight of an RC car can certainly speed it up. You can do this by replacing heavy parts with light carbon, graphite or aluminium parts, lightweight wheels and body. If you run Ni-Mh or Ni-Cad battery packs, swapping over to Li-Po batteries is a great way to drastically reduce the weight of your car (Li-Po batteries also pack more of a punch, ideal for a high-end Motor/Esc combo).

The only downside to reducing the weight of your car is loss of traction. Less weight means the tires aren’t pushing against the ground as hard, so you’ll find the car may not corner as well. If your goal is to achieve the fastest top speed possible then this won’t be a problem, although you may need to add a little weight to the front of the car to keep it from flipping over at high speeds!

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many ways to make your RC car faster.  Most of these methods and can be done affordably and are very simple to perform.  Whether you use any or all of these methods, you now know how to make RC Cars Faster.

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