Miata Mailing List: March 2000, Message #20

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M97C94B90@aol.com wrote:

> Oh great and wonderful list...I need your advice once again...yeah, what else
> is new.  :P
>
> I am getting conflicting stories about heat cycling from the factory/vendor.
> Some say Tire Rack and the like have machinery which can heat cycle a tire in
> their facility.  Others say they just throw them on a car like I would and
> run them to heat cycle them.  Anyone got the real story here?
>

TR has it: its a big set of rollers that can *evenly* heat up
the tires.

Doing it yourself? Sure it works. Sorta. How do you uniformly heat
the tires? Take a few sharp highway ramps? Donuts in the parking lot.

The answer is you don't. Not very uniformly.

I agree that running R compounds hard on your car for a few minute
then letting them cool for a day is better then not heat cycling them,
but if you want the real deal, TR will do it for you.


>
> What is the best method for me to heat cycle my tires if I need to do it
> myself?  Heard run them at 55 - 60 for an hour and then run them at a higher
>

An hour? that is too long. They will be at operational temperature
before an hour.


> OK, y'all...help me out here.  I have to make my arrangements now to do this
> on time for my event.  I'm getting a local tire quote returned tomorrow and
> have already worked out what to do if I purchase them at the destination if
> they can be heat cycled for me at the warehouse.
>

If you want it done right, spend the $40 and let TR do it for
you. Their prices are pretty damn good as well. Personally,
I never invested in shaved tires as I wanted a little bit longer life
at the expense of ultimate performance. JMHO, as I am in
it for fun, not to win at all costs.

- b

--
Brian P. Van Lieu
95 Frost GSR Coupe - Philly Region SCCA ST1 #88
92 Sunburst Miata #1035 - Not CS legal anymore <grin>

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