Flex tuning, weight balance, and gearing for competitive club & BRCA racing
Overview
The Tamiya TA‑08 Pro is a dual‑belt, mid‑motor touring chassis designed for high‑grip carpet and asphalt racing. Its flexible lower deck, low rotating mass, and efficient drivetrain make it highly responsive to flex tuning, weight balance, and gearing changes. This guide provides a complete BRCA‑ready setup for club and national‑level racing, including carpet and asphalt baselines, flex tuning, droop, camber, toe, and recommended upgrades.
Baseline Setup (UK BRCA‑Ready)
Ride Height
- Carpet: 5.0 mm Front / 5.5 mm Rear
- Asphalt: 6.0 mm Front / 6.5 mm Rear
Droop (Chassis‑to‑Ground)
- Carpet: 0.5 mm F / 1.0 mm R
- Asphalt: 1.0 mm F / 1.5 mm R
Camber
- Carpet: −1.5° F / −2.0° R
- Asphalt: −1.0° F / −1.5° R
Toe
- Front: 0.5° out (carpet) / 0° (asphalt)
- Rear: 2.0° in (both surfaces)
Gearing TA‑08 FDR Ranges
- Blinky 17.5T: 4.0–4.5 (carpet)
- 4.2–4.8 (asphalt)
- Blinky 13.5T: 5.0–5.5 (carpet)
- 5.2–5.8 (asphalt)
Shocks
- Carpet: 450 cSt F / 400 cSt R
- Asphalt: 400 cSt F / 350 cSt R
Differentials
- Carpet: 5000 cSt Front / 3000 cSt Rear
- Asphalt: 7000 cSt Front / 5000 cSt Rear
Springs
- Carpet: Tamiya Blue F / Yellow R
- Asphalt: Yellow F / Red R
Motors & Gearing
Flex & Weight Balance
Deck Choice
- Carbon‑reinforced deck: High‑grip carpet
- Standard FRP deck: Outdoor asphalt
Weight Placement
- +20 g under servo for stability
- +10 g behind battery for rotation balance
- Longitudinal battery = smoother flex
- Transverse battery = sharper rotation
Top Deck Tuning
- Remove centre screws for more flex on carpet
- Tighten fully for asphalt stability
Tuning Notes
- Slightly tighter front belt = more precision on carpet
- Slightly looser rear belt = more traction on asphalt
- Loosen one servo‑mount screw for extra mid‑corner steering
- Use harder ARBs on carpet, softer on asphalt
Tyre Prep
Carpet
- Sweep 28 or Volante 32
- Clean with lighter fluid
- Additive: 10 minutes before run
Asphalt
- Ride 33 or Volante 36
- Mild additive only
- Wipe clean after each heat
Recommended Upgrades
- Tamiya 54993 Aluminium Steering Set
- Tamiya 22036 Carbon Upper Deck
- Tamiya 22037 Aluminium Motor Mount
- Tamiya 22038 Aluminium Servo Mount
- Tamiya 22039 Carbon Battery Holder
Quick Reference Table
| Surface | Flex | Steering | Traction | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpet | Medium‑High | Sharp | Consistent | Use carbon deck |
| Asphalt | Medium | Smooth | High | Use FRP deck |
