Tyre pressure for trackday

[Bezza4]

Doing my first trackday in my own car on Thursday. Ive heard some people say put tyre pressures up, others say put them down. Which is right?

What pressures should I set them to?

 

[MarkCup]

Just play it by ear...

If you're fairly calm round the track, normal pressures will probably be just fine.

After each session check how they're wearing though, if through corners you find you're rolling onto the sidewalls and destroying the writing on the side...bump them up a bit.

If you're getting nowhere near to working the full width of the tread...let some out.

Ultimately, there's no right or wrong pressure...just what works for you.

 

[Dan@SJM]

I ran 25psi at the airfield, but on the road i run 32, and i still rub out the writing on the sidewall!!!

 

[haitch]

had the same dilema myself a while ago, it seems as Mark says whatever works for you, bit of trial & error. i ran mine at 34 all round & i drove it like i stole it after my session with the instructor, no problems. next one il try some different pressures.

 

[Guy]

also depends if your meaning hot or cold..

i went on warm up lap and let a load of pressure out till they were at 30 warm..

 

[Bezza4]

Do they have facilities to adjust your pressures at the track then?

I am going to Donnington just in case it is different depending on the track.

May just set them to what the service book says for M'way use, think its bout 33, and see how I get on.

 

[bradfincham]

I have mine at 28 on road, gives me much better feel!

do a lap and then drop the pressures back when they get hot

as its a front wheel drive car you will want them slightly lower than the backs

go with like 33 rear and 34 front when hot?

 

[izibizi]

I run them around 40/38 psi f/r hot.
I hate underinflated tyres because they need too much steering input.

 

[Ali]

I ran 25psi at the airfield, but on the road i run 32, and i still rub out the writing on the sidewall!!!

General rule of thumb is up a couple of Pounds all round... So about 33 34psi.

 

[jwarren2k2]

i find if the back is about 2psi higher, it handles alot better, much less understeer, but the back doesn't step out either.
I run 30 rear 28 front on the roads and roundabouts

 

[MarkCup]

^^^ good man, agile back-ends are grrrrreat

 

[Lunner]

Do they have facilities to adjust your pressures at the track then?

I am going to Donnington just in case it is different depending on the track.

May just set them to what the service book says for M'way use, think its bout 33, and see how I get on.

Yeah its called a foot pump lol

I'd also take oil and water.

Be careful at donnington if its wet, its like a fooking ice ring in the wet, and dont' go into the gravel sideways

 

[Bezza4]

Cheers for the advise. It is only an evening session, so hopefully I wont get through too much water and oil.

It looks like it is going to be nice, so fingers crossed the rain stays away. I am not planning on going in to the gravel at all, let alone sideways (positive thinking always helps, lol)

 

[CHRIS172CUP]

izibizi, 40 at the front. that must squeel and spin like a b**ch!!

I normally only go up a couple of psi if at all. maybe a bit more with PE2's cos the sidewalls are well soft.

bezza, you'll be hard pushed to use any oil. mine didn't drink any over the last 12,000 miles including bedford trackday and the ring trip a couple of weeks ago. just had the 72k service and was full right up.

 

[Peperami]

You're telling me the sidewalls are soft... thanks to a curb i now have a huge chunk out of the front left. new tyre me thinks... lol

 

[Bezza4]

I thought it was just mine. Mine had just had its 48k service, and I hadn't used any oil since the last.

Ive got PE2s, so will have to keep my eye on the side walls.