johninar

I've had real issues with grip today.
Nitto NT01, 98degrees outside, mildly aggressive street alignment and I started today with 35psi cold.
Two laps and they started going away.
Later in the day I dropped the pressure to 30. That seemed to help.
Any suggestions for tomorrow?
And a cracked rotor to boot.

argonaut

I'm interested in what pressure folks are running also. On a very hot day at NJMP recently my NTO1s (well used front, sticker rears) had plenty of grip for about 15 min and then got looser and looser. Starting pressure was 30 front, 28 rear. I was pretty disappointed in them.

VetteDrmr

I believe the Nittos are the same compound as the Toyo RA-1s. The Toyos don't like tire pressures more than about 40 psi hot. When I'm running at MSR in summer I start out at around 33 psi front, 30 psi rear.

Also, if they're getting greasy and your pressures are in the high 30s to 40, then you may have just picked up some more pace during the session.

HTH, and have a good one,
Mike

lbs90ZR

On a 80-85 degree day I start at 30psi and the tires were 140 in the pits when not running them too hard with only+5psi. I've seen them go +10psi on hotter days running them harder. Above 90 I might try starting at 25 psi, but I'm also running almost -3camber. I've never ran on a 98 degree day though !!

johninar

When I started the 4th session at 30 I ended up at 37-38.
I may drop 2 more and see what that feels like.

johninar

It's only 90 today. I started with 28 cold and ended up 37 after 15 min session.
Laps were a bit better and held up during the session.

rikhek

John,

I've always had good luck at 40 to 42 hot with NT01s. Start at 33 to 35 cold.

Rick

VetteDrmr

That hot temp would be at the bottom of the sweet spot, based on my RA1 experience.

Glad things improved for you!

Have a good one,
Mike

brkntrxn

I start my NT01s around 27psi cold and aim for 36-38psi hot.


-Kevin

JimbeauZ06

Depends on how you drive the car though. For AutoX maybe you can get away with higher temps since you don't have as much time to warm them up? With Nittos on the road courses (I'm on my 3rd season with them), I never start with more than 28lbs unless it's raining and cool (less than 60 degrees) and even then I start at 30lbs. For summer I've gone as low as 24 front and 26 rear (at Daytona last year) and still had to let air out coming off the track. Front pressure should generally be acouple of pounds lower since the fronts will get hotter. Starting pressures above 30 are going to push you way above the sweet spot on these tires quickly. Just my .02.

johninar

28 was better for sure. I didn't see them going away so quickly as they had. I'm going to us a pyrometer next time to help see how the tires are heating. I wish Longacre would have a sale next week.

02impactblue

I have good grip starting 25-26. They seem to like the 30-32 range hot. Keep in mind this is my driving style and car set up. This will differ from car and driver. I've had guys say 38-40 but when I try that I'm in the weeds! If you go out mid 20's, it will take a good couple laps before going all out but I usually have decent grip until the end of a 25 min session.

johninar

That's exactly how I felt. After a couple of laps, every turn was like I was on marbles. Next outing I'm going to drop it down to 26. I should have a longacre pyrometer by then. I really want to see what my tire temps are looking like. Thanks for the response.

Buckeyefaninks

Greetings from Iraq!

I've ran Nitto NT-01's in about 5 weekend long HPDE's. Here's what I do...

1) Mark the little triangles on the on the edge of the tires by dabbing with white shoe polish (mark ~three different locations so at least one will always be facing up when car is finally parked after session), then 10 min before first session, set TP at 28 PSI all around.

2) Conduct first session.

3) 10 min before start of second session, check how much of shoe polish has rubbed off (indicator of how much tread in contact with road). If the wear is above the triangle lower TP .5-1 LB, if below the triangle raise TP .5-1LB. Remark triangle's with polish.

4) Conduct second session.

I just repeat this all weekend long. I think this is a cheap way to ensure you have the most tread in contact with the ground. My pressures normally end up around 28.5 on the front tires, and 27.5 on the rear tires. So... if you just make sure you have 28 lbs before each session, that will probably be fine.

Hokie, yes, but it is a fair indicator...

Also: if this was your original thought, and not mine, forgive me for claiming credit for your idea!