I really got sick of unbranded kit tires and tried something

[Lownslow]

It was something thats been nagging me for weeks since i started working on the Porsche but now i dont have to worry about it since i now can detail the sidewalls with my laser engraver. the process was insanely quick about 2 for the pass shown, the downsides are Fiber Lasers are stupid expensive, its incredibly difficult to center, it wont be black, and not all kit tires will react the same way to being shot at with lasers.

[Bainford]

Well now, that's very interesting. Looks much better than a featureless sidewall.

I hate undetailed sidewalls, too. A lot. I hoard branded tires when I find them, and will buy built-ups and even older issues of kits just to get the branded tires. I am surprised and somewhat disappointed that the model manufactures haven't come up with some sort of creative solution to this shortcoming. Perhaps less common brands with cheaper licensing or brands no longer in production. Even fictitious brand names would be better than nothing. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

That, sir, is really really cool.

[stavanzer]

Yeah, That is awesome!

[FoMoCo66]

Holy cow 🐄! That is amazing, what engraver did you use?

[Bugatti Fan]

You can blame the tyre and car company bean counters for a number of things affecting scale models these days.

Die casts might be another source for branded tyres on knocked about toys etc.

[Lownslow]

14 hours ago, Bainford said:

Well now, that's very interesting. Looks much better than a featureless sidewall.

I hate undetailed sidewalls, too. A lot. I hoard branded tires when I find them, and will buy built-ups and even older issues of kits just to get the branded tires. I am surprised and somewhat disappointed that the model manufactures haven't come up with some sort of creative solution to this shortcoming. Perhaps less common brands with cheaper licensing or brands no longer in production. Even fictitious brand names would be better than nothing. 

Thats the plan is to come up with a tire brand for myself, i dont see myself marketing this as a side gig for myself

[Perspect Scale Modelworks]

That's really cool. It appears upside-down though. 

[SpeedAndViolence]

Yeah.... That is seriously cool... 

[Lownslow]

On 9/12/2025 at 3:33 PM, FoMoCo66 said:

Holy cow 🐄! That is amazing, what engraver did you use?

40w Chinese fiber laser

[Lownslow]

Made an actual attempt on a set these are the tires on the Revell Porsche Targa it brought life to the tires 

[bobthehobbyguy]

An absolutely brilliant idea. 

[Monty]

On 9/13/2025 at 6:48 PM, Lownslow said:

40w Chinese fiber laser

Can you elaborate a little more on the product(s) and processes used to achieve this?  I know a number of people (non-board members) who'd be elated to be able to do this kind of thing.  

[stavanzer]

Yeah. And pay for it, too.

[Lownslow]

5 hours ago, Monty said:

Can you elaborate a little more on the product(s) and processes used to achieve this?  I know a number of people (non-board members) who'd be elated to be able to do this kind of thing.  

Theres a few products on the market now the most user friendly is Gweike, the process was simple low power/fast speed i cant say exactly because no two tires engrave the same like soft foose tires dont engrave well at all even at the lowest settings.

 

this is the lowest cost machine i found that should do the job

https://www.gweikecloud.com/products/g2-fiber-laser-marking-machine?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20510607347&gbraid=0AAAAABdYeuo0gD57OuLpMAvIO3IY3zyvv&gclid=Cj0KCQjwuKnGBhD5ARIsAD19RsZwCSzwxr87tzBNPor0HBxjgi1dZVGZhNbco75QhXfgqpdOVVSnpygaAl8OEALw_wcB

[peteski]

I love it. On most kit tires where the sidewall detail is present, the lettering protrudes from the sidewall much more than it should. It is way out of scale.  These laser-etched examples look perfect. Not overstated at all (since they are actually depressed into the sidewall).

 

Actually I looked at the Continental tires on my car and the lettering is not raised  but debossed, just like what is done with the laser etching, so for some brands or types of tire this would actually be accurate.

[BKF]

That's pretty cool. Is there any smell when engraving the tires?

[vincen47]

2 hours ago, peteski said:

I love it. On most kit tires where the sidewall detail is present, the lettering protrudes from the sidewall much more than it should. It is way out of scale.  These laser-etched examples look perfect. Not overstated at all (since they are actually depressed into the sidewall).

 

Actually I looked at the Continental tires on my car and the lettering is not raised  but debossed, just like what is done with the laser etching, so for some brands or types of tire this would actually be accurate.

Exactly. When they are branded, the lettering is often raised out of scale, and/or raised when it should be recessed.