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Forum nameReal Racing
Topic subjectHere's a way to find the perfect tire pressure for cornering.
Topic URLhttps://forums.2gnt.com/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=i11&topic_id=2590
2590, Here's a way to find the perfect tire pressure for cornering.
Posted by Mystic511, Mar-26-03 05:29 PM
I've been reading up on it recently and I found this really good article on a (gasp) integra site. team-integra.com, not a site plug, but gotta give credit where credit is due.

The following wasn't copied word for word from the site, this is just from my memory of it.

So we know that cornering is all about maximizing your contact patch. Most tires on a daily driven basis are inflated at a higher pressure, since it's better for highway driving, gas mileage, etc. But what is the best tire pressure to use when on a road course or something? This of course varies depending on what tires your actually running. There really is no rule of thumb.

To find the perfect tire pressure for the best contact patch on your tires, you can really only go out and experiment.

Here's what you need:
Parking lot (or some other safe open area)
White shoe polish
pressure gauge
Access to air pump
and some free time

Mark your tires with the shoe polish from the sidewall of the tire to the center of tread.

Drive your car in hard circles, left and right, basically pushing your car to it's turning limit.

After a while, stop the car and get it. Check the polish lines, you'll notice that the polish wore down due to the turning.

If the polish was rubbed off the sidewall, then your tire pressure is too low. Put some more air into the tire, re-mark with shoepolish and try again.

If there is still polish on the tread, then you aren't fully utilizing your tires. Release some tire pressure and go one more time.

I recommend starting at a high tire pressure and slowly releasing some air little by little until the polish is completely faded from the tread and ONLY on the sidewall.

With the tire pressure gauge, you can record your optimum tire pressure for cornering. Refill your tires with air and get better gas mileage in daily driving. :thumbsup

Also keep in mind that you can change your tire pressure in the front and back to create oversteer and understeer. But that's almost a whole other topic. :)
2595, RE: Here's a way to find the perfect tire pressure for cornering.
Posted by 98Talon, Mar-27-03 04:08 AM
Wow... that was REALLY useful. Thanks a lot man, we need more people like you on this board.
2598, RE: Here's a way to find the perfect tire pressure for cornering.
Posted by Mystic511, Mar-28-03 06:26 AM
Thanks for the complement, I knew someone would find it useful. :7