8 replies to this topic

[Funracer]

I read the GCR and know they are not legal. I am talking about the electric
plug in type like those made by Chickenhawk that can be set to a specific temperature,
not tire blankets that simply retain heat.

I bumped in to a guy who swore by them for motorcycle racing. They are not cheap but
they seem to have two big plusses. By reducing heat cycles because the tires dont get cold
in between track sessions you may extend the sticky life of the tires. Longer tire life=
lower cost long term.

Second with tires up to temp immediately on track we might reduce excessive pace lap
weaving and first turn/first lap offs (or worse) due to poor traction on cold tires.

Seems like they would be especially valuable on cold racing days.

As I said earlier the commercial ones are not cheap but also looks like something you could
make yourself if you wanted to save a few bucks.

So whats the down side?

Just curious.

Thanks
Neil (Funracer)

[steveracer]

I read that rule also, but believe it said they weren't allowed on the grid, meaning in your pit was ok.

[dmathias]

Sign on the wall in VIR's garages.

Guess you have to sit on the fourth tire.

[dmathias]

In all seriousness I use tire warmers... err, I should say my crew use tire warmers to heat the sticker tires put on before each qualifying and race. While they're busy with that, it gives me time to work-out the menu for the weekend with the team chef (the team manager can never be bothered). Tire warmers are not as costly as you might think.

By the way, am I the only one who thinks it's crazy NOT to put in a fresh motor between races?

On an unrelated note I'm renting the Monaco street curcuit right after this year's GP. My yacht can hold 30 Miatas on the lower deck - who wants to come with?

Ciao y'all

[NPiekarski]

I road raced motorcycles for almost 10 years and can tell you first hand that when the tire warmers became available...it was the best thing you could have purchased. It indeed extended tire life but more than that was the safety factor. Going out on cold tires on a green track is down right scarry...wanna see some scar's Its hard for me to see the need for them in car club racing. On 2 wheels life is a bit differnt with cold tires, the only heat you get in the side carcas of the tire is when your scrubbing that part of the tire...tipping a bike in at 100mph on cold tires is un-nerving and you will "cold tear" the tire and say good bye to traction for the rest of the tires life. Warm up lap is never enough to get good heat in the tire...then you sit and wait at the start line for 2 min and let all that heat go away..good old standing starts. Power to weight is the last note...Well preped new 1000cc race bike- 385 pounds, 185 rwhp + cold tires= broken bones

[ChrisA]

I went to a DE at Roebling last May and someone with Porsche RSR was using tire warmers. Everybody was getting a good chuckle out of it.

[James York]

Since there is not any grid provisions for use, I would think by the time your roll off and get around to a start, the tires would have cooled to a point not any different from the guy that wasn't using them. Grid waits and pace laps are usually fairly lengthy.

So I am thinking they would be ineffective.

[Sean - MiataCage]

Was he promoted to a faster run group because he was driving flat out?

[Eau Rouge]

Having worked on Superleague cars where tire warmers are used I can say that unless the warmers are left on the tire until immediately before the cars head out onto the track they are useless.
Now a tire oven....that's another thing all together.