Camber with Kumhos

[sam919]

I was just wondering what the consensus was with camber and Kumho ecstas, im running 2.5 deg neg front and 2.0 neg rear! they are working fine but i ws wondering if any other have had any experience with these settings? They have quite a square and hard wall so i might be too negative.

235 and 215 mediums by the way

[SimonRogers]

In my opinion having tried a full range and checked temps etc using 215 fronts you need to be down to .75 neg.

Rear I use the standard radial ears.

With 175 fronts 1.5 neg is OK

[sam919]

Thanks Simon, what camber are the standard radials, i bought some to replace what i had when they showed signs of cracking, but they are 2.0.

[alanplumbridge]

I've got 185 Kumho Ecstas all round, soft compound. I've zeroed in to about 3/4 to 1 degree negative camber on the front by using an infra-red thermometer. . On one particular public road racetrack I use, the outside shoulders get a bit hot, but that's because of five sharp hairpins. If you like playing with this sort of thing, why not invest £30 in an infra-red thermometer and take readings across the tyres after each blat. You can see just how the tyres are working and while away hours!

I wouldn't know how to change camber at the back. How is that done?

[mickrick]

alanplumbridge said:

I've got 185 Kumho Ecstas all round, soft compound. I've zeroed in to about 3/4 to 1 degree negative camber on the front by using an infra-red thermometer. . On one particular public road racetrack I use, the outside shoulders get a bit hot, but that's because of five sharp hairpins. If you like playing with this sort of thing, why not invest £30 in an infra-red thermometer and take readings across the tyres after each blat. You can see just how the tyres are working and while away hours!

I wouldn't know how to change camber at the back. How is that done?

Shim the de-dion ears.

[sam919]

Thanks for the input. I have an infra red thermometer, and i did find the insides a little hotter than the outsides, but as the car was going well i never bothered to change it.

There's a company on ebay selling shims to might have to invest in some.

[one eyed mick]

not knowing Cat suspension well I would have thought that 1 to 1'5 degs would have been ample ?

[mickrick]

Depends on the tyre Mick. Also whether they're radial or crossply tyre.
I don't know much about them, but I read that the new Avon ZZR's like lots of camber.
I can't make my mind up whether to try them or stick with the CR500's.
I know nothing about Kumho's.
I prefer to stick with a soft walled tyre designed for a light car like the Caterham. I find it gives the car a nice progressive feel on the limit.

[Incorrigible]

Also, measuring the temperature works well at the track, but you may find that nature of public roads leads to skewed data. Look at how the tread blocks are moving to ensure that full contact is happening during cornering

[Red Seven]

Sam919,

What are you using the car for?

A track car is likely to benefit from more rather than less camber.
I know of a successful race car that runs 3 degres fron and 3 degrees rear, and has very even wear.

A road car is a completely different situation....