Tire Warmers

Tire warmers really necessary during the warmer months? I mean @ Fontana or Willlow Springs in the summer the temperature is hovering around 95 degrees plus. Minimal flame will suffice.

[minimal flame]Unnecessary[/minimal flame]

At a track day? No.

Depends. If you're talking about riding - no. If you want that "serious racer" damn-the-bucks, "I am the next Vale Rossi" - kinda mojo - then you abso-frickin'-lutely need them.

Race? Can't hurt. Track day? You'll look cool.......

Can't hurt & cold tires are one less thing to worry about..... Also, a good DOT track-oriented tire will last longer with fewer heat cycles on it.

Many people crash on the first lap or 2 & automatically blame cold tires.... yeah, it usually isn't the actual reason they crashed, but they still use it a an excuse...

I use tire warmers all the time. But I use it as a mental thing (no not you Layne, thats gross). I feel that if I can get out there and chuck it in right off the bat I will not be "trained" to take it easy.

When I was racing full time I rarely practiced either for the same reason. I would show up for Friday practice and do three 5 lap stints to scrub in 3 sets of tires. Then I would park the bike and go get dinner, hotel, movie, etc. The next morning I would show up at the track late and skip practice. My first lap of the day was my warm up lap, which I would run at about 95%. It worked for me. Some of my fastest laps of my life were the first two of a race.

I always use tire warmers for track days for all the reasons hank noted. Ask steve about throwing the bike away on the 2nd lap. tire warmers are good insurance.