Leading tire manufacturers including BFGoodrich, Kumho, Nitto and Yokohama offer competition type tires that qualify as DOT legal for street use. Autocrossing, race days, driving schools and other racing venues demand this category of tire for maximum performance. But like any high performance part, these tires require careful break-in to achieve the full benefit of their construction.

A competition tire is built with a highly sophisticated tread compound, capable of sustaining traction throughout a much wider temperature range, but also extremely sensitive to the first heat cycle of its use. During this cycle, if controlled precisely, the tread compound stretches as it heats, breaking the weaker, shorter molecular bonds within the rubber. The benefit of this process is a tread compound that lasts longer and provides better traction. However, if the first cycle is not performed correctly, the tread may develop irregular compounding, leading to poor wear and inconsistent traction.

In the past, many racers tried to “heat cycle” their own tires with mixed results. Besides the inconsistency, there was the inconvenience of mounting and dismounting the tires before using them to race (after the first heat cycle, a competition tire must be rested 24 to 48 hours to reform the molecular bonds). In response to customer requests, Discount Tire Direct now offers heat cycling service.

The Discount Tire heat cycling system ensures consistent results by maintaining key conditions during the process: vertical scrubbing and “soft” temperature curve. Using rollers of proprietary design and placement, the system generates uniform heating and temperature build up throughout the tread (a condition not achievable on a vehicle due to camber) by rolling the tire and exerting vertical scrubbing force only. No lateral force is applied. A soft temperature curve, where the tire is gradually heated and then cooled over a specified time (ambient temperature must be consistent as well), is maintained and monitored during the cycle. In this way the entire tread is heat cycled uniformly throughout its depth and width.

At completion, the tire receives a Discount Tire Heat Cycle stamp. This service costs $15 per tire. All competition tire manufacturers recommend heat cycling service. In the time it takes to freight the tires, they have “rested” long enough to be race ready.

I never heard of this before. Seems like cheap insurance considering how much our tires cost. But then as much as we all burn our tires whats the point...
Just curious what you guys think.
Thanks
Greg

 

WOW, Heat Cycle 101
Very informative Post, nice job Greg.

Schitt for an extra $30.00 for the rear tires,
I'd give it a try, what do you have to loose ?

 

What kind of tires are you talking about doing this with? Your average street tire will not benefit from heat cycling. If you're talking about road race / autocross slicks, heat cycling may help, but my own experience has been contrary. I bought a set of BFG R1's from the tirerack and had them heat cycled. I bought a second set and heat cycled them myself with rather moderate street driving followed by storage. I got more life out of the ones I did myself. Tire rack and discount's process does cause some tire wear and I dont think the benefit is great enough to justify the wear. All you're really trying to do is get the tire up to a temperature to loosen the bonds in the tire compound then cool them down and let those bonds reset.

 

sounds like their just tryin to make some cash.....

 

My opinion. It looks like additional profit for Discount Tire.

 

I say Gimmick.

My BIL swears by having his new tires siped at Discount Tires, but I read an article in Consumer Reports that said it actually did more harm than good

 

Hi guy's this may be way off the point but here goes,I talked with several folks at my local drag strip we were talking about getting F-1's to hook someone stated that on street compound type tires that after a few heat cycles at the track (burnouts) and then a few day cool down that the rubber compound would get hard and may not hook as good after that has anybody else tried or heard this? ore is it too just more smoke?

 

Heat cycles are bad in my type of racing because they get harder every heat cycle. We usually run a set of tires through 2-3 heat cycles then its on to the next set which is 500 bucks and we go through 5-6 sets a weekend.

 

i heard heat cycling was bad on hoosiers, but good for other brands of slicks. i used to work for discount. sipes work good for non perf tires and in wet weather traction