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Keyword: Heat cycling
| Léelo en: Español
Heat cycling
Tire Information World : your friendly
independent source of tire help
 Heat cycling is a must-do for competition
If you are into car racing or use competition tires
you may know about heat cycling. If you're new to motor
sports, you may hear people talk about heat cycling and
wonder what it's all about.
 Competition tires are made by leading tire
manufacturers including
BFGoodrich, Kumho, Nitto
and Yokohama, with very
sophisticated tread compounds which can sustain traction
throughout a much wider temperature range than normal
every-day tires. But, these tires are also extremely
sensitive to the first heat cycle which they are subjected
to in use.
If careful controls are maintained during the first use
the tread compound stretches as it heats, breaking the
weaker, shorter molecular bonds within the rubber. Done
correctly this process results in the tread compound
lasting longer and giving better traction. But, and it is a
big BUT, if the first cycle is not done right, the tread
may develop irregular compounding, leading to poor wear and
inconsistent traction.
Heat cycling services
Many racers used to do their own heat cycling of their own
tires but the results were often mixed. Besides getting
variable results, they also had to mount and unmount the
tires before using them to race because after the first
heat cycle the tires need to rest from 24 to 48 hours so
the molecular bonds re-form.
These days some tire retailers (one is
Discount Tire Direct)
offer a heat cycling service at a modest cost per tire.
The process involves maintaining key conditions during the
process: vertical scrubbing and controlled temperature
curve. One process uses rollers of proprietary design and
placement, to generate a uniform heating and temperature
build up throughout the tread (a condition not possible on
a vehicle because of the camber) by rolling the tire and
applying vertical scrubbing force only. No lateral
(sideways) force is applied.
The controlled temperature curve --called "soft" by some--
where the tire is gradually heated and then cooled over a
specified time, taking into account the surrounding
temperature as well, is maintained and monitored during the
cycle. By doing this the entire tread is heat cycled
uniformly throughout its entire depth and width.
If this is done at a centralized location the time delay
in shipping the tires after the heat cycling will provide
the required rest period for the tires and they will arrive
ready to be raced.
Did you know we have a special
place to show-off your favorite wheels?
See the Hot Wheels Show Room
Return to
Tire Information World's
home page from Heat cycling.
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