Product Review: Holroyd Race-Tech tyre warmers

Tyre warmers are a common sight on trackdays. We review budget-priced Race-Tech tyre warmers

Posted: 8 July 2009
by Lucas Hutchings

Like most bikers, I enjoy riding on the road and getting a couple of trackdays in when the sun's out. I know what I'm doing on track but I'm not out there to set lap records. However on my last trackday I noticed that at least half of the garage had tyre warmers on their bike. I thought they were just wannabees at first but when I saw them all barrel off out of the pits while I had to cruise around slowly building pace as my tyres warmed up, I realised these guys with tyre warmers were onto something.

So I set out looking for a set of tyres warmers. All the advice I had was from racers who said I should shell out on a well-known make but they all cost £200+, so I chanced my arm on a set of Race-Tech Tyre Warmers from Holroyd. They were £99.95 delivered, are British made and come with a 12-month guarantee.

The first trackday I took them on was at Portimao and for the first couple of sessions I didn’t bother with the warmers as I was learning the track and to be honest couldn’t wait to get out there so I wobbled around for the first three laps of every session, the same as I always did.

After lunch I thought I’d give the tyre warmers a try so up went the bike on the stands and on went the warmers. Each individual warmer uses a conventional plug, so you just plug it in to the wall then attach the velcro strap at the tip of the warmer around each wheel and then spin the wheel around, stretching the warmer out to ensure it covers the whole tyre. One end of the warmer velcros onto the other holding it securely. Then 10-15 minutes later the tyres were properly hot and out I went.

Wow what a difference, I still gave it 85% for the first half lap but I’m sure as the racers do you could go flat out straight from the pits. It felt great having the confidence to ask the tyres to perform than having to wobble around on cold tyres for the first three laps. I always found I actually lost confidence on the warm up laps with cold tyres. I was converted and after every session the warmers went back on with minimal hassle. Putting them on after each session maintains heat in the tyre, stopping it from cooling down and going through heat cycles which can lessen the tyre's life span.

As far as I'm concerned, tyre warmers are a must for any trackday participant from beginner to advanced, it is the base level of confidence they create on the first lap that really makes a difference, and you can build your speed from the outset rather than wobbling around and actually losing confidence on the first couple of laps with cold tyres.

Now when I'm at a trackday, I look at the sea of tyre-warms on the pit floor and know they're not being used by poseurs, but by people who want to maximise their tracktime and confidence while minimising the chances of an avoidable crash. The Race-Tech warmers do the same job more expensive warmers do at half the price, they're perfect for the casual trackday rider like me. The only problem is how you get a set of paddock stand to the track if you're riding there!

Click here if you want to buy a set of Holroyd Race-Tech tyre warmers.


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Discuss this story


jimlindsay

What absolute bollocks. I  run in the top half the fast group on fairly ordinary tyres and I have never used tyre warmers.

Consider the amount of time you spend hanging about after you've taken the warmers off and you'll soon understand that any advantage is psychological only.

 You don't need to wobble round at first either. Tyres will warm up pretty quickly.

Spend your money on something sensible and don't be like all the other sheep.


Posted: 08/10/2009 at 18:38


Jim Jim

Don't take notice of 'jimlin' comments - he professes alot, but clearly knows little.  If tyre warmers were such 'bollocks' why do so many good riders use them?

 Tyre warmers will:

 1. Give you confidence.

2.  Save tyre wear (alot of wear occurs when the rubber is cold)

3.  Minimise the heat cycles, further enhancing the life of the tyre.

'jimlin' is clearly the arrogant type who thinks his way IS the way!  Just do what YOU feel happy with.  I've certainly benefitted from tyre warmers and I wouldn't go near slicks without them.......


Posted: 12/07/2010 at 14:59


jemmy hanson jemmy hanson

Bollocks indeed. 

At a race meeting, a warm-up lap (sighting lap) is given before the start, which is enough to bring tyres up to operating temperature.

Think about it.  Especially on a cold day (when tyre warmers are thought to be useful), from paddock to the collection area, then to the grid, takes long enough for a tyre to cool down.  Then, it cools down even more on thewarm-up lap, due to the floor being cold.

On a warm day, the tyres will be warm anyway, the floor will also be warm, so the warm-up lap will bring the tyres up to operating temperature easily.

All the joeys, sat in the paddock, with their generators making their infernal noise, want their 'tyre warmers' stuffing up their arse. And switching ON!


Posted: 01/05/2011 at 15:15


Paul Jones 3
How do you call this a review if the product itself isn't reviewed? This is a good pro / con article about using tyre warmers but how about a few notes about the Race-Tech product? How does it compare to others in the same price range? What was your overall impression with the build quality etc... some more product "review" info would be helpful mate.

Posted: 27/07/2011 at 16:54


tommy jones
Tyre warmers DO work sorry kids.

But unless they get to 190 degrees F and warm the wheel.. yes the wheel as well they will cool down by the time you get to the first corner.

also if they are just slapped on for 5 mins untill they "feel" hot chances are the will only be hot 2-3mm into the tyre and that will result in "heat shock" where the flexable outer tyre cant move the hard inner which can cause your tyres to shred.

Posted: 17/11/2011 at 20:44


Bladeboy935
Tyre warmers heat the wheel as well as the tyre. If you can retain the heat in the tyre and not let it go cold you will reduce the heat cycles. You will find that the tyre will retain the oils in the tyre and won't go hard the less cycles you go through. The wheel must get warm for the tyre to remain warm as this draws the most heat. Tyre warmers will pay for theirselves in no time as tyres are most expensive part of track days, but don't forget about suspension settings, these are also very critical if you want your tyres to last. If your rebound and compression is dialled in incorrectly you can destroy a set of tyres in one session. Also the tyre warmers in question are a good bit of kit and well worth the money!! Holroyd supply to a lot of teams in the paddock.

Posted: 23/02/2012 at 11:38


Kirstie Hall
My god ! I was gonna buy my chappie a pair but am totally baffled now! Well I will look at it this way, they can't hurt and tbh anything that has the slightest part in making him a bit safer when trying to get his knee down is worth the money in my book. And besides, we like to look a bit good in the garage so even if for that they might be worth it! One more job for me to do tho.......

Posted: 02/03/2012 at 20:52

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