Steering
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 1,255
Likes: 316
From: Western NY
Steering
Some time back I had reported on my work all things steering. Gary did a beautiful job on the steering box while I replaced or rebuilt everything else between the horn button and the spindle. I did remove the damper and I did set the tie rods on the quick steer setting. I have a L79 and no power steer assist. For me the results were impressive and I have commented on how she steers more precise than some R&P's I have owned including my F150. At the time I had Goodyear Assurance tires running 30 psi. This did come with a higher steering effort especially at very low speeds but my shoulders are in good shape and I kinda like the effect especially on the track. I pulled the trailing arms weeks ago and had them rebuilt at Bairs who did an excellent job. Yesterday I finally got the alignment pretty close to what I wanted and mounted Vredestein Classics that have a inflation spec of 51 psi. I set them to 45 psi to start and it would not come as a surprise to you that the steering effort is now reduced by easily 25% over the Goodyear's. An unanticipated additional bonus. I am shooting for a track and tune event in 2 weeks and will see how she does.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 10,558
Likes: 8,355
From: San Antonio, TX/Mahopac, NY
2024 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C7 of the Year Winner - Modified
All great news! Are you sure 51psi isn’t the maximum? Even 45psi seems very high for a tire, but then I’m not familiar with those specific tires.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 1,255
Likes: 316
From: Western NY
Mark, the 51psi is what is embossed on the tire so it may well be the max. I too was a bit surprised but I did a quick google search and 51 is what came up. It's a W-rated tire with the extra nylon wrap so I am thinking 45psi is Ok. Others may chime in on that.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,658
Likes: 3,665
From: Central Arkansas
51 psi is the max and 45 seems very high psi to me also for a reasonably light car. In hot weather on the road you could easily pick up 2 or 3 psi and be up close to that max. As long as the tires are sized for a load range within the car manufacturers specifications, pressures for normal driving should be per the car manufacturers recommendations. Of course on a C2 those were for old bias-ply tires so it doesn’t help much. I would think something around 30-32 would be fine but the steering effort is going to increase.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 10,558
Likes: 8,355
From: San Antonio, TX/Mahopac, NY
2024 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C7 of the Year Winner - Modified
Paul, you could always chalk the tires to know for sure. I used this method on my Jeep when I upgraded to 37x13.50R20 tires.
Rub chalk heavily across the tread width and about 6” of the circumference. I did all four tires to be sure but one front and the opposite rear is probably fine. Drive the car on a relatively flat surface. You should be able to observe an intact chalk “footprint” left behind.
Rub chalk heavily across the tread width and about 6” of the circumference. I did all four tires to be sure but one front and the opposite rear is probably fine. Drive the car on a relatively flat surface. You should be able to observe an intact chalk “footprint” left behind.
- Clear in the middle and thin or missing on the edges says too much tire pressure.
- Clear on the edges and thin or missing in the middle says to little tire pressure.
- Clear on one edge and thin on the other says camber is incorrect (thin on the inside is too much positive, thin on the outside is too much negative, but evaluate after tire pressure is correct)
Last edited by Factoid; Jul 7, 2024 at 05:31 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 1,255
Likes: 316
From: Western NY
Well it was on my list today to check the tire pressures, the young guy who mounted them also inflated them. Good thing, he had 45 psi in (3) and 60 psi in (1). Fortunately I only drove her 10 miles home. I reset all 4 tires to 32 psi and will absolutely use Marks caulk technique to dial them in. Thanks for the tips!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,662
Likes: 2,344
From: Lake Minnetonka, Mn
2018 C1 of Year Finalist
50 psi is the manufacturers' allowable pressure (total). If you pump those tires to 50 psi, you will feel every piece of gravel and spent pieces of gum that have been left on the road in your backside. It will feel like you are driving on four boulders.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 10,558
Likes: 8,355
From: San Antonio, TX/Mahopac, NY
2024 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C7 of the Year Winner - Modified
Thanks, Steve, I just fixed it.
Now that I’m retired, any post I write prior to noon requires a more thorough review!
Now that I’m retired, any post I write prior to noon requires a more thorough review!
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,343
Likes: 2,272
From: Central Maryland
