Tyre warmers.Worth it?

So whats the verdict on tyre warmers for a slow rider in inters groups at track days
I've never tried them, just warming up by 2 gentle laps. Do repeated cycles shorten tyre life?
Which ones are favoured by the guys in the UK

You input would be appreciated guys

The new crop of 'trackday' specific tyres are supposed to be good without warmers but I'll always use them because it gives consistency and piece of mind.
UK track temperatures, air pressures and air temperatures vary massively.
Using tyre warmers means you set your base pressures based upon conditions that are as consistent as possible and the tyres start at the same base temperature.
Plus of course it does reduce the heat cycle impact.
Having said all that though: part of it for me is feel - Dunlop N-Tec D211s feel bloody horrible at their cold pressure which is about 17psi on a rear and feel as though they're about to let go at any moment - this is, of course, because they are! They last well but have zero grip when cold and soft.
Nope don't care what anyone says (each to their own and all that) I'm sticking to tyre warmers at least they will warm my gloves on cold days!

I'm running them for the 1st time this year. The way I see is it its another variable taken out the equation.

Oulton is say a 2min 10-20 lap getting tyres warmed. If your as cautions as me and take two solid laps to warm them to be sure, that's 1/4 of your session gone.

It's just one less thing to think about imo.

I've got these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tyre-Warmers- ... 27b3c4d535

They have the advantage of being able to run of a 1000 watt genny.

Used them for the first time in Almeria feb this year

Its Piece of mind ...does not matter what group you are in ...COLD tyres are cold tyres D211 do warm up fast...with warmers you know they are ready...you can knee down on the out lap

Down side ....a lot of fannying about putting them on and off

Deffinitly worth it for peace of mind and as Viking says, not haviing to be so cautious onthe fist two laps makes the sessions more worthwhile

I rate them highly.
You get consistency and confidence... Although sometimes too much.
I realised this as I hit the wall at Winton raceway
Also if you are doing 3 or 4 track days a year, you can buy dedicated rubber for them and get them changed at the track or beforehand. It's a small price for great handling.
But then again, with all the new tyres out, maybe not worth it.
I used to run 40psi hot on my SS years ago and set my pressures the same on my first day back for years.
I was slipping and sliding all over the joint!
That's what 7 years in the outback off a bike will get ya.

Upsides -

From the 1st lap you riding on a known quantity every single time = more confidence = 2 extra flat out laps every single session, thats 16 extra laps/day average.

Downsides -

If you dont have power at the track youl need a gennie aswell, this means extra costs (genie, fuel, oil).

Look around and youl pick 1 up for a bargain, i was lucky enough to pick up a prehistoric 1200w Briggs Stratton that just keeps going and going from a garage sale for £40.

I wouldnt be without tyre warmers now

Sure that everyone who has tyre warmers will swear by them for all the above reasons. But I always ride to tracks and so I've never been able to try them. I'm not so fit or fast or driven that I can speed away off the line every session till the end of the day anyway. I've always found that I do better with a little bit of humility and appreciate the warm up laps as a way of getting myself up to speed and comfortable again - I must be getting old, ha ha My legs get stiff and my arms hurts so it's me that needs to get warmed up as well as the tyres. I also want to warm up the engine and suspension a bit before I thrash everything anyway. I have crashed a few times on cold tyres so I know what a plonker you feel being carted back to the pits covered in gravel after the first lap.

Also I've found that in the inters. the lot with warmers on disappear over the horizon and leave me a load of empty track for myself,( which I appreciate), and over a 20 minute session they aren't coming round to lap me because by then I'm up to speed.

Whichever, no one should be put off track days because they don't have warmers.

Words of wisdom. Thanks. Trying to upgrade air box at the mo so might be better to spend money in that direction

On a hot sunny day, prob not worth the faff, on cooler days they are worth it.

heat cycles DO NOT destroy tyres to give an example of how I know.....

bought a part worn racetech at cadwell couple of summers ago, used it for 3 sessions there and then two more full trackdays until it was so well worn I could only just make out the tread pattern. I didn't own tyre warmers at the time so it went through 17 cycles in the time I owned it plus at least one before I got it. Not once did it give up on me and I like to think I push my tyres hard enough to find out the hard way if they are knackered.

Did a track day in the cool with my nephew. I was B group and he was C so I went out first. Didn't do a session in the afternoon so tyres were cold when he took his turn. Crashed in turn 3. They are worth it.

Chuck, my crash at Infineon was just as I entered the track having swapped out my clutch and the tyres were NOT on the warmers. Fist time off of them and I wasn't even "getting on it" really.
The back spun up and planted me in the ground. The rest is history. I had always been quite comfortable spinning up the rear but this was VIOLENT!..and quick.
I would NEVER ride the track without warmers. Even with warm tyres, I used to do a lap just to be sure before hitting my usual pace.
I did this because I saw soooo many guys crash on the out lap. tyre warmers or not.

One more vote for warmers.

Having seen plenty bin it on cold tyres I wanted some for peace of mind, give you loads more confidence and at our level you can go pretty much as fast as you do straight from the off, when you paying £120+ for a TD and spending 2 laps warming up its a worthwhile investment.

...Recently converted ....Totally agree with DAN ....at my level nearly full bore....after half a lap ..big lean (knee down) but not all the throttle ..until the second lap you gain 2 laps every session...but more than that..you know they are hot

ok gonna try them there seems to be varying prices on these whats a decent set any recomendations please