Tire Pressures for AutoX

AutoX Z

Some people use chalk on the sidewall of the tire to see how much the outside shoulder of the tire is touching the ground. It's a simple way of making sure you're not running WAY too low pressure but not really much of a tuning tool beyond that.

Tire temperatures can be used to tell you which parts of tire is actually touching the ground and doing most of the work to make the car turn. When checking temperatures you want to make sure there is an even distribution from the inside to the outside of the tire. This is usually done by taking a reading at three points (Inside Middle Outside). You want to see some type of linear distribution between these two points with the middle falling in between the inner and outer temperatures. If the middle is lower, you need to increase pressures; if the middle is higher, you need to lower pressures.

Temperature data can also be used to set the camber. If the outside is much higher than the inside you need more camber and if the inside is much higher you need less camber.

Keep in mind all of this applies if you are trying to optimize the grip of the tires. In some classes, like stock, with limited tuning options you may purposely compromise the grip at one end of the car in order to change the handling characteristics.

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