Roadster-friendly adhesive numbers?

[Tdave]

Is the body magnetic?

I must admit I don't even know if carbon fiber is magnetic. I plan to drive my Roadster at Autocross events. I'll need to put temporary numbers on the side of the car, which are typically made of magnetic sheets. Will they hold on the body panels of the Roadster?

[doug]

umm... no.

Aluminum is non-magnetic as well. Do they have vinyl stickers? Maybe you can use painter's tape.

[Tdave]

Vinyl, even the thick stuff meant to be temporary, has a stickiness to it that I'd rather not apply to the paint. I may try static cling numbers, although they sometimes come off, even at autocross speeds, which for the Roadster will tend to be higher than other cars.

[doug]

Static cling may actually work better on the carbon fiber. Try that first.

Yeah, I wouldn't want to put anything sticky on the paint either. Just that the magnets won't work.
I've seen the guys in the shop use blue painter's tape on some painted surfaces on the car, so perhaps it's ok.

There's another special kind of white plastic tape (sorry don't know the name) that we use on the Stanford basketball court when setting up for taekwondo tournaments (actually we got it from the volleyball folks) and it doesn't leave any residue as far as I can tell. When the Roadster's are delivered, there's some kind of white tape on them to protect the body work. (Of course the car is detailed after the tape is removed.) You might contact Tesla and find out what they're using.



.

[ChargeIt!]

Or if you are getting the 3M armor package you could ask them to apply an extra patch where needed for the numbers. Then use the vinyl version in that area. ( I think some owners have had that done in areas where the white California EV sticker is to be applied. )

[Tdave]

I'm not getting the armor package, but that would have been a good idea. I'll be trying the static cling numbers, most likely, as a first try.

[TEG]

Someone at Tesla must know a good way - we have seen all sorts of Roadsters with numbers and logos on the side... From the Gumball 3000 car, etc.

http://www.madwhips.com/upload/images/2008_gumball_3000_tesla_roadster_1-568-426.jpg (http://www.madwhips.com/2008-gumball-3000-tesla-roadster/)
http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/autopia/images/2009/04/02/tesla_zr4.jpg (http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/04/tesla-fiesta-an/)

[SuperB]

If you use sticky vinyl, use a blow dryer to heat it up when you remove it, it's much easier that way.

[TEG]

As seen at EVS24:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2319/3534599348_e019ce438e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/21016250@N04/3534599348/)
A-ha! (Photo copyright by Planet 3, used with permission)

[Slackjaw]

This seems like something probably covered here but I can't find it with the search...

I am planning on taking our Roadster to Englishtown (http://www.etownraceway.com/road_course.aspx) in a few weeks to do the road racing course. They require adhesive numbers to be stuck to the car.

Can anyone out there give any advice which stickers to use or not use? I'm talking about the type of sticker to use here, not whether "13 " is cooler than "69"... :rolleyes:

Thanks in advance

[doug]

It has been covered here (Is the body magnetic? (http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showthread.php/2773-Is-the-body-magnetic)), but the original title makes it hard to find. I'll change the title and merge.

Edit: now merged, please read up thread.

[doug]

Btw, someone seems to have a line on some nice looking Tesla branded numbers.

http://www.naderassemi.com/picture/june-26-speedventures%20-%20refuel%20z_pits-etc%20cp4_3173.jpg?pictureId=10225907

[Slackjaw]

I'm not getting the armor package, but that would have been a good idea. I'll be trying the static cling numbers, most likely, as a first try.

Tdave... Any advice on this? Did you have any success? Thanks in advance.

[Slackjaw]

Btw, someone seems to have a line on some nice looking Tesla branded numbers. ...

Interesting... Thanks. Something like that would be ideal.

OT: That white Roadster 04 has the little side blinkies of a European model, that's unusual isn't it? I'm assuming the meet is in the US, based upon the driver location and language of the signs.

[TEG]

OT: That white Roadster 04 has the little side blinkies of a European model, that's unusual isn't it? I'm assuming the meet is in the US, based upon the driver location and language of the signs.

Yes, that was at Laguna Seca last weekend.
I think some Tesla employees came out and ran 3 (or so) Roadsters at the event.
Yes, it is unusual that (what appears to be) a Euro-Spec Roadster showed up there.

[Doug_G]

Can anyone out there give any advice which stickers to use or not use?

Painter's tape. The number comes out looking ugly but it comes off no problem.

[TEG]

Painter's tape. The number comes out looking ugly but it comes off no problem.

Make SURE to use real painters tape (like the blue kind), not masking tape (yellow) which doesn't come off easily.

[Slackjaw]

Painter's tape. The number comes out looking ugly but it comes off no problem.

I think I already lower the tone of the vehicle by just sitting in it - sticking ugly tape on the side may trigger some neural-net-based self destruct sequence... :crying:

[kgb]

I used blue painter's tape once. I had Number 1, so it was a single strip on each door. It left no marks.

[S-2000 Roadster]

Btw, someone seems to have a line on some nice looking Tesla branded numbers.
http://www.sounds.wa.com/photos/june-26-speedventures.jpg

Not to change the subject, but the logo on that van looks like it is SSR Wheels. Either that, or BMW M-series. But it looks more like purple in the middle stripe, which would be SSR Wheels. Anyway, I've been trying to get Type C semi-solid forged SSR Wheels for my Tesla Roadster, so I'm very curious whether any of these pictured roadsters have non-stock wheels.

[TEG]

It looks like SSR & BMW are blue-purple-red, not red-purple-blue, so it may be something else.
http://preracing.com/images/ssr-logo.jpg
http://burtondeakinbmw91.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/bmw_m_logo1.jpg?w=294&h=114

It looked like all of the Roadsters were using stock wheels.

[Roger Reid]

Make SURE to use real painters tape (like the blue kind), not masking tape (yellow) which doesn't come off easily.

I'll second that. Yellow masking tape is not fun to remove. Don't ask me how I know:rolleyes:

I just went to my local sign shop. Most will be able to print and cut anything you want. I have peeled the numbers off my car several times inbetween racing seasons. There is a slight residue that can be removed with goo (tar)remover available at any auto parts store. The goo remover also removes the cone scuffs if you hit one during the autocross. Then wax the car and there is no trace.

[Oricle]

Btw, someone seems to have a line on some nice looking Tesla branded numbers.

http://www.naderassemi.com/picture/june-26-speedventures%20-%20refuel%20z_pits-etc%20cp4_3173.jpg?pictureId=10225907


#04, #10, and #16 are the Tesla factory cars brought to the ReFuel event.


For the Tesla i would recommend static cling or vinyl numbers. You can find them a lot of places, for example:
Autocross Numbers (http://www.soloperformance.com/Autocross-Numbers_c_34.html)

[Slackjaw]

For the Tesla i would recommend static cling or vinyl numbers. You can find them a lot of places, for example:
Autocross Numbers (http://www.soloperformance.com/Autocross-Numbers_c_34.html)

Thanks for the collective advice. I've ordered some static cling numbers. If they don't fall off, I'll post some pictures back to this thread.

[dhrivnak]

I ordered some static cling decals for the upcoming 4th of July parade to help spread the word about electrics. I took a 25 mile drive at speeds up to 65 and had no problem with the decals.

2075

By the way if you want some signs like these I can get them to you for $35 plus postage.

[deidrar]

If you are looking for some good static cling I strongly suggest bigtexbanners.com
I think static clings are the best when it comes to short term displays on cars