[Major_Lee_Slow]

Well to date I've sold over 28 sets of Tire Blankets in both large and small sizes. The blankets have been purchased by people all over the US and even Canada, but I've only sold 1 set to a fellow FRRAX member/ESP competitor/friend. Well, what are the rest of you waiting for? (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/whip.gif) Maybe you'd like to hear what a few satisfied customers have had to say about them:

I got to use my MLS blankets (my wife calls them tire cozies) for the first time at the Houston Tour and they worked better than expected. When we first pulled into our grid spot after a run the tires would be around 120 degrees and after 10-15 minutes of waiting with the blankets on, they would still be 110 degrees. I won my class and the blankets helped (and no, I'm not sponsored by MLS). - Mark Sawatsky 4/6/09, SCCAfourms.com
2008 Nationals Rookie-CS Trophy winner
2009 Houston Tour-CS winner

I don't normally give away speed secrets, but I'm damn impressed with the MLS blankets I bought from Eric, and he deserves credit for a great product. Believe it or not, but I had warm rear tires between runs on Sunday and HOT fronts! There's no way my old foil over bubble wrap blankets would have done that. Plus, they didn't blow away and I could stuff all four in the Z06 without worryng about damaging them. - Steve Wynveen 4/21/09, ChicagoAutox Yahoo Group
2008 Nationals Super Stock Trophy Winner

The weather on the day Steve was referring to was 40°F and windy!


I was very impressed with the blankets. I was most worried that they would blow off of the car but they stayed put, even with a decent breeze. - Eric Tucker 4/21/09, ChicagoAutox Yahoo Group

You can order you set of tire blankets directly thru my website: www.MLSMotorRacing.com

Thanks in advance,

Eric Thompson

This post has been edited by Major_Lee_Slow: Apr 23 2009, 03:42 PM

[Applejack]

Have you tested the blankets in hot sun, and have you thought about making a batch with lighter/reflective fabric for summer use? I'm asking because of a local novice with a Miata-based "Locost" Seven who spent yesterday rolling his car back and forth a foot or so to keep the tires from frying. Our weather just snapped form 50's and low 60's to sunny mid 80's overnight. Have you tested the blankets on an open-wheel car in wind?

I did a small test of this yesterday. It wasn't really hot (mid-60's), but one side of my car was in the sun while I went to do my course walks. I put an MLS cover on the front and left the rear tire exposed. When I returned from the course walk the outer edge of the rear tire (in the sun) was 15 degrees hotter than the outer edge of the covered front tire (as measured with a probe type pyrometer). FWIW, I did the same on the side in shade (from the car body) and there was no difference in tire temp.

My conclusion: The layer of insulation dominates and keeps the heat form the sun off the tires. I don't think they would significantly benefit from having the outer material a different color.

[Major_Lee_Slow]

Have you tested the blankets in hot sun, and have you thought about making a batch with lighter/reflective fabric for summer use? I'm asking because of a local novice with a Miata-based "Locost" Seven who spent yesterday rolling his car back and forth a foot or so to keep the tires from frying. Our weather just snapped form 50's and low 60's to sunny mid 80's overnight. Have you tested the blankets on an open-wheel car in wind?

I did a small test of this yesterday. It wasn't really hot (mid-60's), but one side of my car was in the sun while I went to do my course walks. I put an MLS cover on the front and left the rear tire exposed. When I returned from the course walk the outer edge of the rear tire (in the sun) was 15 degrees hotter than the outer edge of the covered front tire (as measured with a probe type pyrometer). FWIW, I did the same on the side in shade (from the car body) and there was no difference in tire temp.

My conclusion: The layer of insulation dominates and keeps the heat form the sun off the tires. I don't think they would significantly benefit from having the outer material a different color.

Jason, thanks for independently verifying the insulating properties of the Tire Blankets and posting it up here. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/2thumbs.gif) The tire blanket's material does not care if the heat source is on the outside or the inside of the blanket, they will reduce the convection rate of heat in either direction.

So what did you think of the performance of the Tire Blankets ability to keep your tires warm between runs?

I am attempting to collect data on heat cycles vs. durometer. I theorize that by using the tire blankets after every run (even the last run of the morning) I am slowing the cooling rate of the tire which may reduce the effects of heat cycling. My control data is not ideal so it will be difficult to come to any to solid conclusions.

Anther use for Tire blankets, UV Protection: I always keep my tire blankets over the tires even at home per Hoosier's recommendation to minimize the tires' exposure to UV.

This post has been edited by Major_Lee_Slow: May 26 2009, 06:37 PM

[Eskimo]

I am attempting to collect data on heat cycles vs. durometer. I theorize that by using the tire blankets after every run (even the last run of the morning) I am slowing the cooling rate of the tire which may reduce the effects of heat cycling. My control data is not ideal so it will be difficult to come to any to solid conclusions.

From my experience with motorcycles, your theory is sound. Guys who have been doing track day events (where there can be ~45 minutes-1 hour between runs) for a long time say that their tires last a good bit longer (as in - numbers of heats before they get too heat cycled) when using tire warmers, to where the $$ break even point happened quite quickly..