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How To Get More Out Of Your
Competition Tires
When developing your vehicle's handling, maximize your:
Wheels
Always use the widest wheel allowed on your car's
class, that fits your car and/or is recommended by the tire
manufacturer for your tire size.
Alignment-Springs and Sway Bars
Keep our tires
perpendicular in corners, try to achieve neutral steer (With
power over steer for rear wheel drive cars)
Shock Absorbers
Can help tune transitional handling
Inflation Pressures
Always use the lowest pressure
possible, while higher inflation pressures may enhance
responsiveness, they sacrifice traction. If uneven wear
begins while at low pressures, increase them.
Tire Tips
Between races, never store tires exposed to the elements on
your race car trailer's tire rack or outside your shop,
store them in a cool, dry place away from electric motors.
Immediately after every track session, remove debris and
inspect your tires for damage and wear. If possible, let
them cool while they are off the ground
Your tire's tread temperatures as read by a pyrometer will
"never" be even across your tire's tread (Unless you have
just completed a successful tuning session on a skid pad.)
Tire pressure increases 1 psi for every 10 degrees in
ambient temperature
Shade pairs of tires from direct sunlight between sessions
as much as possible. The sun's heat will raise your tire's
pressure.
Autocross inflation pressures should be adjusted warm, road
racing inflation pressures should be adjusted hot.
For racing or track events, your rain tire's starting
inflation pressure should be higher than your dry tires.
Tires are part of your suspension, using lower profile tires
is like using shorter, stiffer springs.
article descriptions and images courteousy
The Tire Rack |
