Car tyre
In spite of the colossal progress made in the fields of mechanics and aerodynamics, tyres are lagging behind. Their biggest weakness is their fragility on the race track. Witness the number of times F1 drivers change their tyres during a race. A proper heat cycle is the only way to solidify the tyre and ensure a decent tread life.
What is a tyre heat cycle ?
The heat cycle is a unit of measure to describe the specificities of a competition tyre. It is the complete cycle a tyre goes through from cold, to hot to cold each time it is used.
How can heat cycles influence the way my tyre wear out ?
When a tyre is fresh from the plant it requires a breaking-in period before performance are optimal. It comes from the fact that their are weak and strong links between rubber molecules. The stakes involved in proper heat cycles is to get rid of weak molecular bonds thanks to the phenomenon known as tyre deflection. We want to get rid of weak bonds, because those are the cause of early tyre aging..
How to reinforce the structure of the tyre ?
The lifespan of competition tyres can be understood in terms of their heat cycles. The heat cycle that matters most is the first. Please ensure you are in keeping with the following instructions if you want to make the most of your tyre
The first heat cycle should always be progressive. You are advised to gradually increase the speed of the vehicle. Also, beware of aggressive turns....
It is preferable that the heat cycle be included between 10 and 15mins. In order to do so, drive several laps, gradually pushing the car harder into the high speeds. You should always finish the first heat cycle at the highest possible speed..
Once idle, the car should not be driven during at least 24H to leave time for the molecular bonds to reconstitute themselves.
