THSCC Forums

Just wanted to bouce something off of you guys. I have the opportunity to add a heat cycling machine at my store. I have a few questions before I give the go ahead.

1. Is there anyone in the triangle area that heat cycles tires? If so how much do they charge? I have only ever heard of one place that shaves tires in Greensboro and that is a different process all together.

2. How many of you that order from the Tire Rack actually get them cycled?

3. Discount Tire Direct (our mail order side) provides this service for $20/tire. Does this seem reasonable to you guys that would use it?

Because I am only gauging interest at this point, feel free to cross post this on other area racing forums and let me know what you find.

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1993 Crystal White Miata ST 27 - Slow, but always finishes
2006 Flint Mica Metallic Lexus LS430 - Pure luxury
2005 Toyota Sienna XLE - The "new" Mobile Closet, Sandbox and Grocery Getter

Hey if you need tires, I know a guy....

I'm not sure about other guys, but I haven't heat cycled a set of tires in a long time... especially the A6's. I've not found they last any longer with a heat cycle and while some say it helps get rid of the mold release compound, I haven't noticed any difference in longevity either way. - AB

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'14 Toyota Sequoia Platinum 4WD
Super Westerfield Bros - '93 Integra - LeChump Du Jour
STX 93 - Scion FR-S

I wouldn't pay for it either. I haven't purchased that many sets of r-comps though new, so take that for what it's worth.

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2001 Honda S2000 - SOLD
2012 Boss 302
2003 BMW 330i

shaving > heat cycling

I used to have Tire Rack heat cycle my V700s, but gave that up when I went to A6s on the new car. Just like Sam Strano told me, they're pretty greasy on the very first run, but ready for combat by run two.

However, if I was using an R-comp tire whose manufacturer recommends heat cycling, I'd go back to paying the seller to do that for me. Heat cycling on the street is hard to do well, particularly if the weather is cold, and you also have to think about the risk of puncturing a new race tire.

The question is, as you already know, do you sell enough r-compound tires to make any money on the subset of customers who will want them heat cycled by the seller?

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Art McDonald
Premier Amateur #518
2008 Dishman Cup
Pivot Cone Snob

Rodney is a waxer (but in a good way)

We buy a shit load of tires (V710's) and we don't heat cycle any of them.
If there is a difference it's virtually undetectable. Nor do Iwith the hoosier r6's for the track either.

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2004 C5(415whp,390ft/lbs),
1997C5,1997Trans Am, 1986 C4,
1990 Miata, 1976 MGB,1997 Protege, 1989 MR2

I'm a Hoosier user, and haven't had a tire heat cycled in years. I believe it was Aaron who told me the exact same thing that he posted above - it doesn't seem to do anything useful on the A6.

Jeb, I just don't see it being a moneymaker, unless the machine is pretty inexpensive. Seems to me like maybe the ability to shave tires would be a better play for the store, although I'm not sure how much money that would bring in either. I haven't paid very close attention to what the fast ST guys are doing as far as shaving with the current generation of ST tires.

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Karl S.
2014 Baby, 2014 House, 2013 Ford Focus ST, 2013 BMW 328i, 1994 Mercedes E320
(Insert passive aggressive signature line here)

I've bought many sets of new r-comps over the years and never had a set heat cycled. I used to try to heat cycle them myself on the street, but have given up that practice even. As Karl said, I doubt this would be a money maker for your shop.

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'07, '08, '11 Autocross VP
'06, '10 Mike Dishman Cup
'21 MX5, '13 Corvette GS, '92 Corvette 383 c.i. 413whp/390wtq, '03 Expedition

I'm in the same boat.

I heat cycled my first set of A4's a while ago on the Type R and they lasted about 20 runs less than the succeeding sets of V710's I ran on the car but that's probably because they cord quicker. All the sets of r-comps since then have pretty much just gone straight to the wheels from the UPS truck or your store.

It would be interesting to run another set of the same tires from you guys next year that are cycled to see if the grip is better around the 30-40 run territory. Diminishing grip in race tires is such a bummer. Why can't they grip like new forever?!

One idea that comes to mind is maybe Discount could do promos occasionally and offer heat cycling at no extra charge to snag business from the 'Rack. Then again I'm sure the margins are thin and that might not be realistic.

yep...i wouldn't pay for it.

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05 MCS