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:PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
by Chris Kovachevich
MAXIMIZER PRODUCTS
Bead Lock Wheels
Vital Stats
NAME: DSM 3-channel Pro Series Surface Module/Rx
MANUFACTURER: Spektrum
DISTRIBUTOR: Horizon Hobby
STREET PRICE: $179.99
CHANNELS: 79
CHANNEL SPACING: 1 MHz
FREQUENCY BAND: 2.4-2.4835GHz
RANGE: 3000 ft.
LATENCY: 3.0ms
TRANSMITTER OUTPUT: 10mW
RECEIVER POWER
CONSUMPTION: 40mA@4.8V
RECEIVER WEIGHT: 11g
What We Liked:
• Improved response time
• Receiver protected against moisture/grunge infiltration
• Spektrum claims shutdowns are a thing of the past
• Cool translucent-gray cases
• No crystals, no conflicts,
no hassles
What Could Be Improved:
• Still a bit pricey (but worth it)
One of the hardest things to explain to a new RC car hobbyist is how we routinely glue tires to our wheels, and when the tires are worn out, we throw the wheels and tires in the trash. Gluing tires is also one of those acquired skills that we spend lots of time developing, and mistakes can be costly (tires are $12 to $25 a pair). The folks at Maximizer Products have addressed this issue by developing a high performance bead lock wheel system that allows tires to be mounted and dismounted without using any adhesives, so the wheels can be reused over and over.
MAXIMIZER RACE BEAD LOCK SYSTEM
The Race bead lock system has evolved through extensive research by the folks at Maximizer—the goal was to make a product that is durable, holds the tire well, and is light enough to be used as a racing wheel. These goals have been achieved with the No. 1136 system that we were provided for evaluation.
Mounting tires with any bead lock system is a bit of a challenge, but the clear and complete instructions that were supplied with our wheels made this task relatively easy. Simply stated, my fourth tire was mounted to the wheel in about half the time it took to mount the first.
The tires and wheels fit perfectly, and the entire mounting process was accomplished in about 30 minutes for all four wheels. Following the instructions, with the simple but clear illustration, made this task quite easy. Since these wheels were designed to be used in a racing environment, I drilled a couple of 1/8 in. vent holes in the wheels for pressure relief, as I don’t run my vehicles in the wet and snow.
I must admit that the fit and trueness of the Maximizer wheels surprised me a bit; the system is proven and has evolved to a very high level. The weight of the wheel and tire is only 9.9 oz.—not a great deal different than the weight of a non-bead lock wheel/tire combo. This system is the ideal solution for those of you who are tired of gluing and who would at least like the option of re-using wheels.