Do I need tire warmers....?

[Mapoipoi]

Hello,

I can't thank this forum enough for all of the useful information. I wanted to get some advice from some of the track people here. I have been running the Q2's and have been really pleased with the results- lasts a long time and good grip. I am thinking of sticking with these until my skill level hits expert before moving up to race rubber such as the N-tecs.

My question is....with the Q2s, is there a need for tire warmers since it is DOT street tire? Would using warmers improve the life span even though it is /is not necessary?

And if I don't go for tire warmers, then I don't really see the point of buying pit bull stands...?

Thank you in advance for helping a track noob in need...

[1000RR]

You do not need tire warmers. That said, tire warmers will provide the following benefits (taken straight from Chickenhawk's website):

Benefits of Tire Warmers

Most racers and track day riders want tire warmers to avoid cold tire crashes and to go fast right from the green flag.

It is true that these are two clear advantages of using Tire Warmers, but there are other benefits that are equally important. A Tire Warmer provides the ability to tune and manage tires in the paddock beyond the grip offered on the opening laps:

• Go Fast from the Green Flag
• Set Hot Tire Pressures in the Pits
• Avoid "cold tearing" tires
• Save "Heat Cycles" by keeping tire warm in between sessions
• Tires last longer

Go Fast
Hot rubber grips the track surface better since not only does the coefficient of friction increase, but the Tire’s ability to form the track surface through "mechanical keying" is increased

Set Hot Pressures
Tires will increase in pressure about 20% on the track (ie: 30 to 36 psi) which makes a huge handling difference. CHR Tire Warmers will get your tires surface AND carcass into the proper temperature range (same as you’ll see on the track). Without Tire Warmers 6-8 laps would be needed to get a tire to its proper "hot pressure".

Many of the current race compound tires are "low pressure" tires with psi recommendation of around 22-24 psi. These tires are more sensitive to being at hot pressure before they work properly.

Set the Tire Warmers to the temperature you anticipate seeing on the track, allow them to "heat-soak" for an hour and set the Hot Pressure. When you hit the track, there will be minimal change. Getting your Hot Tire Pressure set on the Tire Warmers gets you going right away

Avoid "Cold Tearing" tires
Taking a 70 degree tire and pushing it hard on the track will increase the very outer surface of the rubber in a couple of laps. However the rubber 2-3 mm down is not yet warm and not as elastic. This causes the outer rubber to grip the track surface and underlying rubber to rip or tear. This shredded look or graining once developed in the tire almost never goes away and basically ruins the tire. By pre-heating the rubber, cold tearing is simply avoided.

Save Heat Cycles
When tires are heated & then cooled, a change occurs that can be seen, measured and felt. On some tires you can actually see a blue haze form over the tire as some "oils" migrate to the surface and oxidation occurs. On other tires one might observe much drier grayish haze depending on individual tire composition. Putting the tire though these hot to cold cycles reduces the tires grip, hardens the rubber and reduces its useful life. A tire warmer can keep tires hot or simply warm (for longer periods of time) between track sessions and reduce the amount of heat cycles a tire goes through. If the tire is to see more than one track session it makes sense not to allow that tire to cool all the way to ambient; this can extend how many sessions the tire can perform at near maximum grip. By operating in this manner the tire’s grip life is increased.

Tires last longer
Taking tires from ambient temperature and bringing them to race temperature on the track may take from 3-6 minutes depending on the machine, track and rider. Aside from giving up speed during these opening laps, it is truly too fast to heat the tire in an ideal manner. For example on a 75 degree day, the rider gets the tire surface hot in 4 laps, which takes 6 minutes. This increase of 100 degrees in such a short amount of time actually "heat shocks" the tire. Race compound tires have several "activator" chemicals in them and get set into motion with heat. Getting the tire hot quickly actually spends or wastes some of the chemicals and tires will lose grip sooner than if warmed slowly on a warmer.

[crabman]

Just to give you my experience, I do a few track days a year and have never used tire warmers. I usually run intermediate class and run on the street often. For me I thought, "I'm not a racer and I don't have race tires" so why mess with tire warmers.

This past November I went to Barber for a track weekend. The first day I didn't use any tire warmers as usual and had no issues on the track. The second day my buddy that's with me asks if I want to use his tire warmers, I really didn't think I needed them so I didn't really care to use them. By the lunch break my buddy is telling me, "you need to try the warmers". So I put them on and went out onto the track...
All I can say is WOW!!! Big difference in confidence and speed right out of the gate. I'm looking to buy a set after Christmas.

Do you NEED them? NO. Do you WANT them, hell yes!!

[M-Coupe99]

+1 to what 1000RR posted.

Additionally, if you're a novice using the typical OEM street tires, I feel there is less of a need to use tire warmers as these tires are typically designed to heat up quicker and to be able to withstand multiple heating up / cool down cycles. If you're using DOT race or slick tires then you are better off using tire warmers as these tires need more heat in them to grip properly and may not be able to withstand as many heating up / cooling down cycles.

[LEEnBMW]

Tire warmers are pretty much a must for racers. Just remember to know what your target hot temperatures are for the tires you are using.

Many tire warmers have different temperature settings. Race tires run high operating temperatures. Remember that track/race tires like Q2's can operate at lower temperatures than race tires. Don't "overcook" the tires or they will be greasy and slide a lot. Having an IR surface temp gauge works good for testing actual tire temps and for testing track temperatures too.

In hot environments like here in the SE USA, I usually put the tire warmers on and set my hot pressures. I go out for a session and when I come back in I immediately check my pressures. Most of the time they are higher than what I set them when they were on the warmers. I adjust to the target pressure and then adjust tire warmer hot tire pressure accordingly so I will hit the target pressure out on the track.

In cold temperatures the tires will actually be colder when you come in than what you set them on the warmers....

Just some stuff to think about...

[Slim]

oh man i had tire warmers in novice. haha! its just a peace of mind thing. i have a habbit of getting peeved when someone passes me that i know im better than, when im riding with cold tires and riding slow. so to save a high side i got them, and never looked back.

[bens1000rr]

preventing cold tire falls gives me peace of mind, so i got them.
do i needed them no! but i still got them hahhaha

[QCD]

I did, too...
Don't need them, but found a GREAT deal on WERAclassifieds...
Would've been irresponsible of me to pass up

[S&Kmotorrad]

yes, tire warmer is on my list too...

on the safe side, please read your tire at the end of each session.

in November, its getting colder and colder as days goes by, and cold tears on the tire do prevail, it might be good off the gate, but, still need to check on tire pressures and observed properly, ask the "tire guy" at the track, he will give you the heads up...

[FUSTYD]

Originally Posted by QCD

I did, too...
Don't need them, but found a GREAT deal on WERAclassifieds...
Would've been irresponsible of me to pass up

I saw these on WERA and agreed for $150/set they're a great deal and with a solid warranty. I figured this will help prevent cold tearing and reduce heat cycles so they should pay for themselves. They fit on the bike well and heat up quick so a great buy.