Autocross Tire Pressure and Suspension Question
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Autocross Tire Pressure and Suspension Question
Hi guys,
I'm going to be autocrossing for first time on Sunday and was hoping some one can recommend a good start point for tire pressure and damping prior trial and error on the course.
Here is my current set up:
Buddy club racing spec coilovers
Work Emotion CR Kai 18x9.5 wheels all around. 245F/265R Nitto NT05 tires with 3000 miles.
Thanks for your help guys.
I'm going to be autocrossing for first time on Sunday and was hoping some one can recommend a good start point for tire pressure and damping prior trial and error on the course.
Here is my current set up:
Buddy club racing spec coilovers
Work Emotion CR Kai 18x9.5 wheels all around. 245F/265R Nitto NT05 tires with 3000 miles.
Thanks for your help guys.
#2
10-8-10
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Try searching in the Race Tech section. I think I posted a similar question over there before my first autocross. I can't comment on your suspension. Regarding tire pressures I found that I was running lower pressures than most of the autox guys recommended. My tires were stock sized and not ultra grippy so I was able to lower the pressures to 28 and get the correct amount of tread roll over. Good luck and take it easy on the first few laps just to get the course down. Walk the course plenty before hand. Have fun.
#4
Rotary Freak
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Try searching in the Race Tech section. I think I posted a similar question over there before my first autocross. I can't comment on your suspension. Regarding tire pressures I found that I was running lower pressures than most of the autox guys recommended. My tires were stock sized and not ultra grippy so I was able to lower the pressures to 28 and get the correct amount of tread roll over. Good luck and take it easy on the first few laps just to get the course down. Walk the course plenty before hand. Have fun.
ALSO!! DO NOT BE AFRAID TO FLOOR THE CAR ... yup every chance you get make sure your pedal is to the floor specially with those tires you got. brake in straight lines . that means dont brake mid turn , if you go into a turn to fast you can brake to scrub some of that speed off but if you brake tomuch the car will spin .. I dont know howmany times I tell people to brake in straight lines but actually doing it seems to be harder then you may think .
also DONT BE AFRAID TO FLOOR THE CAR , yeah i said that twice its a little frustrating when you see people on course that look like they are going out for a sunday drive to the beach. But its very common with new people .
Now after I said dont be afraid to floor the car.. make sure you stay on course which leads back to walking the course plenty of times . doesnt matter howmuch you floor the car if you are offcourse. so dont be afraid to give it gas but still keep the car in the course.
The most important thing of all is to have fun .
now that answered lots of questions you didnt evne ask LOL
as for the tires I cant tell you what to run with those kinds of tires as I run RS-3's .
Like was stated above best bet is prob the racing section . and goodluck have a great time .
#7
Cheap Bastard
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I would start with tire pressure of 29 front and 27 rear. Set with cold tires. If your shock stiffness is adjustable, I like the front a little stiffer than the back, with medium stiffness in the front. I like about 1.6 degrees negative camber in front, and 1.3 degrees in the back.
The handling limits of our cars are pretty high. You can push harder than you think. Most important, have a good time.
The handling limits of our cars are pretty high. You can push harder than you think. Most important, have a good time.
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#8
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You will get tire pressures all over the map and how people drive really effects what pressures they prefer etc...
BUT General rule 34 to 38 hot.
So street tires I'd start at 32
R competition tires like RA1s or 888s 28 to 30
Slicks or A6s, 710s etc.... around 27 or 28
General rule for grip is to up the pressure for traction and lower for rotation or push but the problem with that is if your tires are super wide or you have wide wheels like you the tires won't roll over as much so you have to be careful you don't under inflate when trying to find a the sweet spot. Under inflated tires will slow you down because you want the car to set or react as fast as possible.
Bottom line If I was driving your car I'd start at 32 cold
The buddy clubs have fairly stiff springs and those tires don't have much grip so I'd start pretty low on setting with even front and rear. PUSH is the enemy when auto crossing especially when you 1st start out because most beginners over slow and then over accelerate which is the push equation in a nut shell.
BUT General rule 34 to 38 hot.
So street tires I'd start at 32
R competition tires like RA1s or 888s 28 to 30
Slicks or A6s, 710s etc.... around 27 or 28
General rule for grip is to up the pressure for traction and lower for rotation or push but the problem with that is if your tires are super wide or you have wide wheels like you the tires won't roll over as much so you have to be careful you don't under inflate when trying to find a the sweet spot. Under inflated tires will slow you down because you want the car to set or react as fast as possible.
Bottom line If I was driving your car I'd start at 32 cold
The buddy clubs have fairly stiff springs and those tires don't have much grip so I'd start pretty low on setting with even front and rear. PUSH is the enemy when auto crossing especially when you 1st start out because most beginners over slow and then over accelerate which is the push equation in a nut shell.
#9
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I competed with them day in day out....some cars like mini cooper - fiat 500 - honda pot pot CRX does much better because its small and agile. None of these full heavy wide cars beats my car....yet
Z06 - Viper - Mustangs in autocross? forget it.
Z06 - Viper - Mustangs in autocross? forget it.
#14
Rotary Motoring
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i'm just telling you the truth.... they are big -- and single turbo even worse for autocross.
I've done it so many times at airport tarmac.....i haven't seen anyone beats my 7...yet
Your statements do not measure up to the results from national autocross events.
What you are doing is either not similar to SCCA autocross or the drivers are not similar to SCCA autocross drivers.
We have a similar issue where we autocross on a small lot with lots of gravel and low power, skinny tired and underpowered and/or awd cars do much better in pax than they should.
Our issue is the venue and course is not really autocross as defined by how the sanctioning body runs the events (as seen on the national level).
I've done it so many times at airport tarmac.....i haven't seen anyone beats my 7...yet
Your statements do not measure up to the results from national autocross events.
What you are doing is either not similar to SCCA autocross or the drivers are not similar to SCCA autocross drivers.
We have a similar issue where we autocross on a small lot with lots of gravel and low power, skinny tired and underpowered and/or awd cars do much better in pax than they should.
Our issue is the venue and course is not really autocross as defined by how the sanctioning body runs the events (as seen on the national level).
#15
Rotary Motoring
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Hi guys,
I'm going to be autocrossing for first time on Sunday and was hoping some one can recommend a good start point for tire pressure and damping prior trial and error on the course.
Here is my current set up:
Buddy club racing spec coilovers
Work Emotion CR Kai 18x9.5 wheels all around. 245F/265R Nitto NT05 tires with 3000 miles.
Thanks for your help guys.
Most beginning drivers (once they find the course) will do best with lower tire pressures and softer damping as things will happen slower and they will have time to "correct"
Advanced drivers will want higher pressures and taut suspension as they are correcting before the beginner driver would even know they are in trouble.
So, you don't necessarily want to run the same set up as the fast guys right off.
That said sometimes I see new drivers come out that are already the "fast guys". They usually have carting, or motorcycle experience or live in remote locations with dirt roads.
If you find yourself already at the top of the leader board, by all means start following the fast guys set ups- otherwise go with what you are most comfortable with at first.
I'm going to be autocrossing for first time on Sunday and was hoping some one can recommend a good start point for tire pressure and damping prior trial and error on the course.
Here is my current set up:
Buddy club racing spec coilovers
Work Emotion CR Kai 18x9.5 wheels all around. 245F/265R Nitto NT05 tires with 3000 miles.
Thanks for your help guys.
Most beginning drivers (once they find the course) will do best with lower tire pressures and softer damping as things will happen slower and they will have time to "correct"
Advanced drivers will want higher pressures and taut suspension as they are correcting before the beginner driver would even know they are in trouble.
So, you don't necessarily want to run the same set up as the fast guys right off.
That said sometimes I see new drivers come out that are already the "fast guys". They usually have carting, or motorcycle experience or live in remote locations with dirt roads.
If you find yourself already at the top of the leader board, by all means start following the fast guys set ups- otherwise go with what you are most comfortable with at first.
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Lol: its not rx7 but a lotus super 7
Http://imageshack.us/scaled/landing/29/7engine.001.jpg
Http://imageshack.us/scaled/landing/685/mama047.jpg
F20c s2000 engine supercharged 400 hp @ 900 lbs car
Http://imageshack.us/scaled/landing/29/7engine.001.jpg
Http://imageshack.us/scaled/landing/685/mama047.jpg
F20c s2000 engine supercharged 400 hp @ 900 lbs car
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Thanks for the help guys. I'll let you know what settings I end up using and will post some results. Hopefully I can borrow my buddy's gopro and will put up a video of the event.
#22
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Playing around with various pressure settings on A6 I have found that 30-32 lbs is the sweet spot.
I have started running 32 psi front and 30 psi rear on 285/30/18 all around.
A co-driver and I tested this last year, and I just had the same results a couple weeks ago during a practice session.
This of course is dependent on many variables, these are just my results.
My car is an FD in SSM, about 2650 lbs.
I have started running 32 psi front and 30 psi rear on 285/30/18 all around.
A co-driver and I tested this last year, and I just had the same results a couple weeks ago during a practice session.
This of course is dependent on many variables, these are just my results.
My car is an FD in SSM, about 2650 lbs.