I may have to start next weekends race with two new sets of tires which means I won't be able to heat cycle one set and leave them overnight. I will heat cycle both sets first thing in the morning but have to use one set in the next session while the other sits for a day. They will be Pirelli Slicks.

What will I lose on the set that doesn't get heat cycled properly? Tire Life? Grip level?

Any suggestions? I was thinking about taking the car to a parking lot and "autocrossing" for a bit as one possible solution if the ramifications of not cycling are bad enough.

Thanks

I don't think it's that big a deal. I've also read that if you don't let them sit for 24-48 hours it not that effective. We have a race on Friday. At the rate we're going I suspect we'll hit cord long before the longevity becomes an issue. I cycle them if I can. But I don't panic if I can;t.

I have heard that it is beneficial to let slicks sit for a day or two after a cycle but I have never actually tested that theory. I can say the the last set of Hoosier R6's I had heat cycled by Tirerack when I bought them from Tirerack last August were the best set of tires i have ever had. I was running 1:07, 1:068 at Beaverun last weekend on Friday and then 1:056, 1:054 on Saturday morning and  a 1:041 (which might be the JP lap record for this track) in the last race on sunday on the new tires. I will now always buy heatcycled hoosiers from Tirerack and let them marinate at least a few weeks before I use them




Jason

Mark

I had four new Dunlops slicks 235/620-17 for the 2008 BMW CCA club race. No heat cycling done. They lasted one week-end ( 3h30 min of track time and 8 heat cycles ). I spent the last 20 min of Sunday's enduro with corded front tires. Laptimes were consistent throughout except when corded )

Then, I heat cycled a new set of the same tires. 3 laps at 10 seconds slower than race pace and a 4th lap at 98% no locking no spinning. Then you bring them to paddock, lift the car ASAP and let the tires rest for 7 days. I used them 3 days at VIR ( 4 hours and 9 heat cycles ) and 1 day at NJ ( 1 hour and 2 heat cycles ). I won the last race with these tires. I still have 50% of the rubber left and they are still soft according to my Longacre hardness tester. I think I will do 7 hours and 15 heat cycles before I cord them.

I have to say the car is 200 pounds lighter. I also use 1 deg more neg front camber. These two "adjustment" might have helped with longevity of this set.

I have had 3 years experience with Hoosiers R6 and they behave differently. The sets that did not have a proper first heat cycling kept their lap times for the first 8 heat cycles and then lost 1 second/lap till the 15th heat cycle when they lose all their useful grip.
The sets with the proper first heat cycle kept their lap times for 12 to 15 heat cycles than lost all their grip suddenly. I do not feel they lasted longer overall.

In conclusion, I am a strong believer in heat cycling. They make my slicks last longer and the they give more useful heat cycling to my Hoosiers.
So it makes it easier on the tire budget. Except you need more wheels.....

Easiest way to do it is to heat cycle a set in the first practice of a week-end and keep them for the next week-end. And race on the set you heat cycled the week-end before.....

My 2 cents

Thanks for the detailed reply Jean Luc. You confirmed my thoughts and fears.

I will give one set as much marinating time as I can. I guess I'll live with shortened life on the other set.

Going forward I'm definitely buying another set of wheels so I can manage tires better. Sounds like the wheels could pay for themselves

Wheels are less expensive than tires and they do pay for themselves

BTW Bring rains to Calabogie......

Mark, you will find that the Pirelli's are way more forgiving than the Dunlops. I never went through the heat cycle process and have had great wear. Be fast!