Tyres at 45psi for track days!
Discussion
Spoke to an experienced track day driver and autocrosser recently about tyre pressures on track days. He owns a 993TT.
Our local track is usually hot and dry, with occasional sand drifting across. He drove a Ferrari 360 on the circuit and experimented with tyre pressures as the Ferrari was very nervous. Interestingly he found that upping the pressures by around 10psi made the car much more stable and recommended I do the same to my GT3 to counter the effect of sand on the surface.
Now, I respect this guy's opinion a lot as he's an accomplished racer, but that seems somewhat daft to me.
As per usual Porsche practice, my normal approach is to drop the front tyres to around 26 cold (or approx 32 hot) to get more bite at the front and drop the rears to around 34 cold (approx 40 hot) to stop the back end moving around too much.
Does anyone recommend I go with his advice? I have already had a couple of spins at this track (one at high speed), both attributable to a split-friction surface (one side slightly dusty, the other dry).
Our local track is usually hot and dry, with occasional sand drifting across. He drove a Ferrari 360 on the circuit and experimented with tyre pressures as the Ferrari was very nervous. Interestingly he found that upping the pressures by around 10psi made the car much more stable and recommended I do the same to my GT3 to counter the effect of sand on the surface.
Now, I respect this guy's opinion a lot as he's an accomplished racer, but that seems somewhat daft to me.
As per usual Porsche practice, my normal approach is to drop the front tyres to around 26 cold (or approx 32 hot) to get more bite at the front and drop the rears to around 34 cold (approx 40 hot) to stop the back end moving around too much.
Does anyone recommend I go with his advice? I have already had a couple of spins at this track (one at high speed), both attributable to a split-friction surface (one side slightly dusty, the other dry).
Other than cosworth (you mentalist!) I would say the received wisdom is to do the normal 911 thing, that is let the air out gradually to maintain 32/36 hot or similar.
This chap reckoned the ultra-high pressure allows the tyre to get better purchase on a dusty surface, but I'm honestly too scared to experiment with those kinds of extreme pressures. I will keep an eye on his progress next time, and maybe try a careful one-lap experiment.
Thanks for all the replies.
This chap reckoned the ultra-high pressure allows the tyre to get better purchase on a dusty surface, but I'm honestly too scared to experiment with those kinds of extreme pressures. I will keep an eye on his progress next time, and maybe try a careful one-lap experiment.
Thanks for all the replies.
Thanks Melv et al. As usual PistonHeads delivers. I know this is all stuff that has been done to death many times over, but it helps to remind oneself of the difference between idle bar-room chat and informed opinion.
On a slightly different note, my wife said to me yesterday, "Say hello to your NerdHeads from me."
"Eh?" says I.
"NerdHeads, you know all those sad people who talk about tyre pressures."
"Tyre pressures, er, I don't know what you're talking about...."
On a slightly different note, my wife said to me yesterday, "Say hello to your NerdHeads from me."
"Eh?" says I.
"NerdHeads, you know all those sad people who talk about tyre pressures."
"Tyre pressures, er, I don't know what you're talking about...."
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