How to remove pickup from track tires?

[GTP]

We all experienced a lot of tire pickup last weekend at NCM. Ambient temp both days was 92. My tire temp reached 145F.
How do you remove the pickup? Is it even worth it?

This is how my tires looked, even after the 250 mile return trip home.

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[Egparson202]

Mine looked exactly like that after my my last track event. I did nothing to remove it. It will come off on it’s own.

 

[Scootsmcgreggor]

Just drive it, it will come off.

 

[NightmareMoon]

Ya it will come off driving it.

The best way to get it off is to do donuts on a wet skidpad, no joke.

 

[Dana Pants]

That’s nothing, ignore it. If the boogers were huge, an oscillating tool with a dull blade can do the job pretty well. But the only reason to manually remove them is if you’re in the middle of a timed competition and out for blood.

 

[GTP]

I thought of using a heat gun and putty knife, but it's been a lot of work just getting the brake dust off the rotor hats.

I thought that driving them would just put on more tread wear, but if I'm just driving on the pickup I guess I'm not driving on the tread, haha.

 

[kz]

What Nightmaremoon suggested, Heat gun and Milwaukee (or another one) multi tool is what's commonly used to remove it by people who really want their tires to be clean next time they go out.

I would not worry about it too much, it'll come off eventually or on first lap when you go back to the track if the lines will be somewhat clean.

 

[GTP]

So I should "embrace the clag", haha.

 

[Gearz]

Wet skidpad works best, it'll scrub off. It's common to end up with "Other People's Rubber" - OPR at big autocross events on concrete so I use a Harbor Freight cordless oscillating tool to remove it between run days. Some of the FWD guys get it really bad on their rear tires and have to clean them off between runs at Nationals.

 

[Ewheels]

it's been a lot of work just getting the brake dust off the rotor hats.

Cleaning the rotor hats?? Man, you care for your track toy like a show car. I rarely even remove the rubber marks from the paint anymore

 

[TundraOnKings]

Cleaning the rotor hats?? Man, you care for your track toy like a show car. I rarely even remove the rubber marks from the paint anymore

My car is white, so the black track rubber shows like crazy. I was using GooGone and a ton of elbow grease, before realizing this is about 100X quicker and just as safe. I’ve used these for years (my first one lasted 8 years) on multiple vehicles after pulling off emblems/decals - glue residue.
Works perfect for the track rubber.

 

[Ewheels]

My car is white, so the black track rubber shows like crazy. I was using GooGone and a ton of elbow grease, before realizing this is about 100X quicker and just as safe. I’ve used these for years (my first one lasted 8 years) on multiple vehicles after pulling off emblems/decals - glue residue.
Works perfect for the track rubber.

I just use Mother's R3

 

[TundraOnKings]

I just use Mother's R3

And a rag by hand? Does it wipe right off? GooGone is pretty harsh/works well on most things but was still requiring a good amount of pressure and buffing.
Depends on the amount of scuffs I’d imagine and the size. I had a 6” long one on my hood that would’ve taken 5 minutes by hand vs 5 seconds.

eta - just watched a video on the R3, looks like it works amazing!

 

[kz]

eta - just watched a video on the R3, looks like it works amazing!

It works very very well. Recommend it as well. Having said that, this has drifted little bit away from what OP was asking about (OPR).

 

[GTP]

Cleaning the rotor hats?? Man, you care for your track toy like a show car. I rarely even remove the rubber marks from the paint anymore

Hey at least I can look good when first driving through the gate!

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