Has anyone here ever tried to make tire warmers?
I'm thinking about making a set for the front tires for auto-xing.

Anyone have any experience in this?

 

does propane torch = tire warmer ??

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by baonest &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">does propane torch = tire warmer ??</TD></TR></TABLE>

lol. I was thinking about taking apart a electric blanket and putting the electrical wires into jean legs. Wiring it up via alligator clips to the battery.

The front tires on the SE-R could use some grip at takeoff. I imagine I lose a good second spinning.

 

Not legal. Not allowed to pre-heat tires. You could fashion blankets from sunshade material that would keep heat in after you've done one run (or wrap trashbags over the tires between runs).

 

Active tire warming vs. passive tire warming. There are rules against active tire warming. The silver reflective cardboard-type stuff you place over the tires is pretty popular around these parts. The question is, can you leave your engine running while wrapping your tires to trap heat? Isn't that active?

 

actually...you need to clarify that statement before you assume that is illegal. if you have individual tire warmers for each tire, you can run the motor while those are on. however, if you have a blanket that you wrap around the perimeter of the car, that is a no go.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by carl_aka_carlos &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">actually...you need to clarify that statement before you assume that is illegal. </TD></TR></TABLE>

What statement? Actually... I asked a question.

 

hehe....you certainly did.


you CAN NOT leave the car running if you wrap thermal wrap around the perimeter of the car, but if you have individual tire warmers it's all good.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by carl_aka_carlos &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you CAN NOT leave the car running if you wrap thermal wrap around the perimeter of the car, but if you have individual tire warmers it's all good.</TD></TR></TABLE>

well, i saw numerous cars this way (car running, perimeter wrapped) in grid at topeka. i didn't see anyone making a fuss..... personally, i would wrap each individual tire, as i need to maintain more heat in the rear of my car vs. the front.

 

well, they could have been protested. my co-driver and i made certain that a certain bimmer had his car off when it was wrapped.

and i definetly think the individual tire blankets are more effective.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rodney &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

well, i saw numerous cars this way (car running, perimeter wrapped) in grid at topeka. i didn't see anyone making a fuss..... personally, i would wrap each individual tire, as i need to maintain more heat in the rear of my car vs. the front. </TD></TR></TABLE>

There's lots of cars every year that *could* be protested. It usually comes down to THEIR finishing spot, and who else is in the class. There are a few guys that have decent track records of protests, minor and major.

Same thing with the numbers this year. Still a lot of cars running "illegal" by the letter of the rules numbers that weren't protested this year.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by carl_aka_carlos &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">well, they could have been protested. my co-driver and i made certain that a certain bimmer had his car off when it was wrapped. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I worked grid for you guys (DS/FSP) at Topeka. We were told to watch for cars with fully wrapped cars with the engine running. (Not to bring up a protest but as a second eye should there be a protest.)

So it is definitely illegal but, again, up to the individual competitor to bring it up.


Also, remember the Subaru "Concrete Dryer" on Friday morning South? That was an interesting marketing tool...

Andy