How Fast Can An RC Car Go?

Gone are the days when toys, including RC cars, were just for kids. Nowadays, many collectors have fun hunting for the most unique and rare RC cars.

Of course, regarding cars, one of the factors that people care about and hunt for the most is speed. How fast can an RC car go? What factors affect the speed of RC cars? How can you make them become faster?

Those are the questions that we will help you answer through this article.

How Fast Can an RC Car Go?

Typical RC cars can reach top speeds ranging from 1 mph to 70mph. Their speed will depend on various factors.

Premium enthusiast RCs who own DIY modified cars that can go as fast as 100 mph or even higher!

The speed record for an RC car currently sits at 202.02 mph, a fantastic speed.

If you want to invest in RCs as a hobby, you will need to pay quite a bit if you want to own something that reaches speeds above 100mph.

If you are on a tight budget, there are various ways to upgrade your existing RC car to reach there.

What Determines an RC Car’s Top Speed?

Your RC Car’s Batteries

Regarding RC vehicle batteries, they come in two different types and are commonly used: LiPo (Lithium Polymer) and NiMh (Nickel Metal Hydride).

Both have their own pros and cons, and there are always categories to shine.

However, if you focus on speed and want your RC car to go like the wind, you can’t go wrong with the LiPo battery.

While NiMH batteries deliver many benefits, such as affordability, ease of maintenance, and safety, they don’t function well for the purposes of speed.

Unlike the NiMhs battery, Lithium Polymer is much lighter and can maintain a constant voltage during use.

Your RC Car’s Weight

It is an obvious factor, but many people overlook it when looking to make their RC cars faster. The heavier your model is, the slower it goes. So one of the ways to help improve its speed is to reduce weight.

The simplest and most accessible way to make your RC car lighter is to use LiPo batteries, which are usually lighter than other popular RC batteries.

The Model of Your RC Car

The model of your RC car will determine how fast it can go. If you pick an RC model with a manufacturer-recommended top speed of 20mph, you can’t expect it to exceed 20mph.

The only way to get your RC car past the advertised speed is to modify it and replace a few parts.

DIY enthusiasts love to tweak their models to end up with a one-of-a-kind model. However, it’s not the way for everyone.

So if you have no experience in modifying RC cars but still want something with remarkable speed, you should invest in a model built for that.

Your RC Car’s Tires

Tires also significantly affect speed. You should know that the tires that come with your RC car are not always the best and most suitable.

They are even poor quality. It is an ingenious way for the manufacturer to motivate you to upgrade your model in the future.

These tires typically have poor handling, poor traction, and less durability than others. Of course, they still get the job done, but they won’t perform well. So you won’t be able to get the most out of your RC car.

Traction and solid handling are necessary for reaching and maintaining the vehicle’s top speed. If your RC car does not have proper traction, it is far from reaching its potential max speed.

The reason is its energy will be wasted on spinning its tires unnecessarily.

Your RC Car’s Wheels

Many people won’t think about wheels when looking to make their RC cars faster.

The truth is that the type of wheel that comes with your RC can be a significant factor in whether or not your RC reaches its potential top speed.

Your RC Car’s Motors

In the RC world, cars will typically use one of two different types of motor, including brushed motor and brushless motor.

The Brushed Motor

These motors are an older technology, but they still get the job done well.

Because of their design, a small portion of the energy is lost to the friction created between the brushes inside them, making these motors less efficient than newer designs.

The Brushless Motor

These motors are most typically utilized in RC cars. They are designed to allow your vehicle to save about 15% energy.

They don’t have the brushes that cause energy to be lost to friction, so they come out with many extra benefits.

For example, these motors are quiet, require almost no maintenance, and can last longer.

Nitro And Electric RC Cars: Which Are Faster?

Before the advent of current technologies, Nitro cars were the undisputed speed kings in the RC world.

Their nitromethane engines are built to resemble real car engines, even including spark plugs closely.

However, improvements in current battery technology have allowed electric RC cars to reach speeds unmatched by the Nitro cars.

Nitro RC cars are still quite popular and favored by many RCers, with some models can reach speeds of 70 mph or more.

If you want something faster than 100 mph, an electric RC car is the one to get.

How to Make Your RC Car Faster?

If you are not satisfied with the current speed of your RC car, the good news is that you can take its speed to the next level. Also, you don’t have to be a DIY expert to get the job done.

Engine Replacement

Not all RCs are built with the same engine. If your model isn’t costly, chances are its engine isn’t the best one.

So you can improve the speed of your RC by replacing its motor, such as replacing the brushed motor with a brushless motor. That way, you can expect it to be able to achieve higher speeds.

Choose the Right Type of Battery

The batteries that come with your RC car are not always of the best quality.

Sometimes they may not provide enough power, causing your vehicle to run inefficiently or give too much power causing voltage problems.

We recommend choosing the battery that provides a stable voltage and has a minimum weight that is expected to increase your RC car’s potential top speed.

Use Better Tires

You may also consider upgrading or replacing your current RC tires with one that is made of higher-quality rubber and is built to provide better traction.

As a result, your RC vehicle can reach and maintain faster speeds. Ensure you buy tires made for your car model and the correct size.

Lose Weight

Reducing your RC’s weight will allow it to experience less drag, resulting in higher speeds. You can do this by replacing metal parts with others, using lighter batteries, or removing vehicle components that are not needed.

Power Up Your RC With Nitro

You can try adding a nitro system to your vehicle and expect it to get your car up to speed without having to worry about any other minor modifications.

FAQs

What Is The Most Common Scale in the RC world?

RC vehicles are available on many scales, including 1:12, 1:10, 1:8, 1:6, and more. The most common size is the 1/8 or 1:8 scale.

How Big Are 1/5 Scale RC Cars?

An RC vehicle with a 1/5 scale will usually have dimensions ad:

Weight: From 60 to 80 pounds
Width: From 28 to 32 inches
Height: From 16 to 24 inches
Length: From 36 to 40 inches

How Big Are 1/8 Scale RC Cars

An average 1/8 scale RC will have the following dimensions:

Weight: From 2.45 to 4.54kg (From 5.4 to 10 pounds)
Height: From 100 to 250 mm (From 3.9 to 9.8inches)
Width: From 265 to 422 mm (From 10.4 to 16.6inches)
Length: From 470 to 595mm (From 18.5 to 23.43inches)

How Big Is A 1/28 Scale RC Vehicle?

Averagely, one 1/28 RC vehicle will have the following measurements:

Height: 4.65 inches
Width: 3.46 inches
Length: From 3 to 7 inches
Weight: From 1 to 1.98 pounds

The Bottom Line

Technology is evolving and making RC cars faster. With these tips, you will make your vehicle push its limits and become an absolute monster in any race. Hopefully, this article was helpful to you. Thanks for your time!