How to Make Your RC Car Faster: 7 Proven Speed Upgrades
Making Your RC Car Faster
Proven upgrades ranked by impact. Whether you are a complete beginner or looking to level up, this guide covers everything you need to know.
Free: Reduce Weight
Remove unnecessary body clips, antenna tubes, and decorative parts. Lighter = faster. Some drivers drill holes in the body shell (speed holes) — this actually works, reducing aerodynamic drag at high speeds.
$5-10: Change the Pinion Gear
Swapping to a pinion gear with 1-2 more teeth increases top speed immediately. This is the cheapest performance upgrade available. The tradeoff is slightly less acceleration and more heat — monitor motor temperature after changing.
$15-30: Better Battery
Upgrading from NiMH to LiPo, or from a lower-C to higher-C-rating LiPo, delivers more voltage under load. A 5000mAh 50C LiPo versus a 3000mAh 25C pack can add 10-15% more speed. This is the single best bang-for-buck upgrade.
$15-20: Ball Bearings
Replacing stock bushings with ball bearings reduces friction throughout the drivetrain. More power reaches the wheels instead of being lost as heat. Install takes 30 minutes and the car feels noticeably smoother and faster.
$10-20: Better Tires
Speed without traction is useless. Stickier compound tires let you actually use your power. For pavement: belted, low-profile tires. For dirt: pin-spike soft compound. Matching tires to surface is the most overlooked speed upgrade.
$50-100: Brushless Motor + ESC
The ultimate upgrade. A brushless motor system doubles or triples your stock speed while using less battery. A 3300KV brushless motor in a 1/10 truck delivers 40-50 mph. Only do this after your kid can control the stock speed consistently.
$25-40: LiPo Battery (if still on NiMH)
If your car still runs NiMH, switching to LiPo is transformative — more power, lighter weight, longer runtime, and faster acceleration. You will need a LiPo-compatible charger and a fireproof charging bag.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions? Check our detailed FAQ section above or browse our related buying guides for more specific recommendations.
