Tire warmers?

I am interested in a set of tire warmers, but am mostly only finding ones for motorcycles at a pretty high price.

I was also a little surprised to see they were tire size specific.

Anyone know of a decent source for car tire warmers at a halfway reasonable price?

I'm running 20.5" tall x 10" wide, but would like to be able to use them on a few different sizes (if possible).

Sources? Sources for used ones?

Any creative ideas? Heating blanket? Blowtorch?

Move to Texas and you don't have worry about things like that. You could use something like this.

MLS blankets are available, in size small, but that's all I've been able to find other than for motorcycle applications, as far as blankets go.
Powered warmers, yeah, no clue.

After borrowing a set twice in the last month for AX (once helpfully), have been pondering making my own blankets.

Chicken Hawk makes 'em for cars.

I've seriously considered them for my sports racer. I cycle out the Hoosier bias slicks (8 and they're done) w/ rubber left.

On a Saturday when I qualify for 9 laps at 9:00 AM and do a 12 lap qualifying race at 1:00 PM, leaving them on warmers would make it all one cycle. Tires could last one more weekend. One season would almost cover the cost of warmers, then I'd be saving about $1200/year after that.

Electricity is the X factor.

In reply to SVreX:

I searched a bit after we talked. I did see someone talking about wheel and brake temp being a big driver of tire temp. That made me think maybe you could heat the wheel with a ring of heat trace cable to pre-warm and maintain tire temps. Many of the varieties or cable like to self regulate around 150F which would be a nice "almost warm enough" temp for our road race tires.(prob need some blankets too)

This stuff:

contact Lotus F1 and see if they're selling off assets yet ?

I wonder if there would be a way to warm tires in place without an outside source? Two things that brainstorm into my head: 1. a lightweight exhaust cutout that while the car is in grid could direct exhaust gases into the wheel wells.

2 . Wheels with electric grids in them run off the alternator to warm the tires from within.

I know both of these would have problems but I wonder if there has been any research down this path...

In reply to KyAllroad:

I did read one guys page who said that technically the SCCA had only banned electric tire warmers. A lightweight coolant loop in each wheel well that you could switch on between runs isn't electric.

This:

Amazon: heat reflective emergency blanket - $4.50

plus scissors and duct tape? For under ten bucks you should have something that keeps your tires warm significantly longer. For that price you can make a few sets for different sized tires.

KyAllroad wrote: I wonder if there would be a way to warm tires in place without an outside source? Two things that brainstorm into my head: 1. a lightweight exhaust cutout that while the car is in grid could direct exhaust gases into the wheel wells. 2 . Wheels with electric grids in them run off the alternator to warm the tires from within. I know both of these would have problems but I wonder if there has been any research down this path...

You won't have a sufficient source of heat for 1 or a sufficient source of electricity for 2 (a single tire warmer would draw at least a kilowatt). 1 will also get soot in your wheel wells.

I think the emergency blankets could be a great idea for keeping temps up between runs. Dirt cheap, no power needed, and it would work well. I might steal that idea myself

MrJoshua wrote: In reply to KyAllroad: I did read one guys page who said that technically the SCCA had only banned electric tire warmers. A lightweight coolant loop in each wheel well that you could switch on between runs isn't electric.

Again you might not get enough heat...but it sounds like propane-powered tire warmers would be fair game

The other thing you can do with no mods in autox situations where you need to keep more heat in the tires is to drive around the paddock after your run dragging the brakes. Like was mentioned earlier, hot rotors mean hot wheels, and hot wheels mean hot tires.

Double this up with the blanket idea and I bet you can keep your temps up pretty well.

Good thoughts on keeping tires warm.

My goal is actually to GET the tires warm, THEN keep them warm.

I am running tires that are designed for higher operating temperatures, and need to get them up to temperatures that can't be reached in just a few short autocross runs.

Yes, there is a reason I am using the wrong tires, and no I can't change them.

MrJoshua wrote: In reply to KyAllroad: I did read one guys page who said that technically the SCCA had only banned electric tire warmers. A lightweight coolant loop in each wheel well that you could switch on between runs isn't electric.

I like this (mostly because I always like your wacky ideas), but I don't see it working.

The first problem would obviously be some sort of swivel fitting that could rotate 360* in order to conquer the full range of suspension movement...

Then you will have to maintain liquid flow through 4 different independent loops that all have nearly unlimited opportunities for air pockets (any pumping mechanism would take the path of least resistance and leave the harder routes starved)...

THEN you have to fight the dissipation through convection/ radiation. You will capture the heat by conduction (fluid-pipe-wheel surface), but the wheel/tire at speed is a LOT of surface area with a LOT of air moving through and around it. That is a lot of opportunity for cooling and/or temperature imbalance.

Engine coolant is 212F. Hoosier optimum operating temperature varies between 180F and 260F (depending on tire/ use/ etc). You've got a lot of exposed surface area of piping, wheels, etc.- lots of heat loss. You are not going to heat the tires.

BUT, the idea would be useful for maintaining temps in the paddock.

You might want to look into just renting a set of tire warmers, some quick Googling found a few trackside support companies offering them for around $50 per day. You'd also need a generator or AC power source that can put out enough to power them.

So, teach me something...

Forgetting the price etc., why are the sizes SO specific?? Chicken Hawk's website makes it look like we are custom fitting a darned tuxedo for the prom.

Has NO ONE figured out a method of wrapping something slightly larger around virtually any tire?

It is completely INSANE to consider buying a set of warmers for nearly $2000 which will only fit one tire size.

There's a lot of engineering brain power here. Surely we can come up with a better solution. This shouldn't be that hard- am I missing something?

The level of precision fit they are looking for makes me think that the compound, cord type, tread pattern etc. would all effect warming capability. I can't imagine this matters that much.

Guessing, but:
-Snug fit makes heating easier because your heating element is in full contact with the tire, sealing is easier, etc...
-Its a small market and they are making them one at a time. If making them one at a time the company might as well make them custom fit and charge more.
-It's possible there is some benefit to tire longevity to having the tire in a fairly air tight environment (stop some of the aging effect due to "gassing out" oils and such?

Like I said, guessing.

BTW-my coolant hose deal would work man, you're just jealous you didn't think of it first.

I'm sure I've seen tire warmers before with velcro strips built in so that you have some adjustment in diameter at least.

Get a fiberglass blanket that will go from left fender to right fender around the car and touch the ground. Hang it from the body half way up, so to cover the wheel wells. Magnets would work grate to hold it in place. Now let car idle. until the desired temperature is reached. ?$60 at HFTs?

In reply to GVX19:

That particular method is prohibited by safety rules.

Gotta believe that if you dont have a great fit (really snug with even contact and little if any air gaps), you will eiather:

A - lose tons of energy trying to heat to 200 degrees, or

B - have uneven heating, to unknown effect

Also, high price because the market is probably quite limited (mentioned above), low volumes

In reply to SVreX:

Okay so you don't idle the car. There is still LOTS of heat in the drive line. To keep the temp up.