Tire Warmer Question

[PolishPete]

How quickly do you guys put on your tire warmers after you get off the bike.  Do you take off your gloves/helmet and immediatly throw them on, or do you take your time a little more (take off helmet, gloves, undo top of leathers, unstrap backprotector, then put them on? 

Basically I'm asking, how long will the tires hold the heat.  Do you have to rush to put the warmers on?

Thanks

[HAWK]

The idea is that if you keep the tires warm there is less of the heat cycling that cures the rubber and makes the tires harder. I put the warmers on as quickly as possible but do not turn them on right away, kind of like insulation blankets. Then turn them on for about 20 minutes before your next session (longer if the tires have cooled), you don't want to let the tires sit and bake all day.

[dylanfan53]

I put them on after I get done cussing myself inside my helmet for getting beat by the same people again...

[Sobottka]

gloves and helmet first

[Super Dave]

If I'm racing almost immediately, warmers on and turned on first before the helmet for me.

If not, I still try to get the warmers on as soon as possible to keep the tires happy.  As for hardening?  Mine don't last that long.  They are spent long before.

[HAWK]

Remember, I just ride a little ole SV, I can make my fronts last 3 or 4 weekends and I can easily push a rear for 2 weekends if I need to. All depends on what you ride and how hard you push but they do continue to cure and harden with each use.

[Super Dave]

Ok, someone can't have it both ways.

I post how long a tire lasts on a 600 when someone asks what kind of bike they should start out with, an SV.  Then all the lightweight guys way that they don't get much more life than the 600 guys.

So, either they are full of it or you're leavin' yours on too long.   

[PolishPete]

So what would you guys do if you were in my position.  I really don't ride that hard.  I did maybe 5 trackdays on 1 set of tires (8 sessions a day).  How should I heat/retain heat on them to keep them from hardening and in the best shape? I ride a 600rr btw.

[Super Dave]

What times are you turning?

How good is your medical insurance?

Do you want to go faster?

[HAWK]

Well, I know that the front DOT on my SV has 5 trackdays on it and it still has some life left in it. Rears I'm a little harder on but nowhere near as hard as a 600. We'll see how that changes when I get the superbike motor done.

As Dave mentioned, without laptimes or tire types Pete it's hard to say. Also the type of tire makes a difference too, if you are using race compounds they will start to suffer from heat cycles sooner than say a pilot power but then you really don't need warmers on a pilot power either. As I mentioned if you are doing a track day then I would recommend putting the warmers on as quickly as possible and if it is 40 min to your next session then turn them on 20 min before you go out.

Dave, I think made a comment that LW would start matching the 600 tire budget if we start seeing 125 HP LW bikes, kind of trying to make the point that LW could start to get as expensive as MW if some trends continue but that really doesn't apply here.

[PolishPete]

What times are you turning?

How good is your medical insurance?

Do you want to go faster?

1.  Not that great times.  Don't know, but I did just buy a lap timer, so I'll keep you informed.  NESBA Int. pace.
2.  Good insurance.  I prefer not to use it.
3. Of course I want to go faster!!

Now how can I use this info to answer my question?

[Super Dave]

Buy tires more often.

Everything else just covers your risk for what you do.