Air pressure recommendation
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
The NT01 will need some heat in them to get them sticky. Weather conditions will play a part in traction. If it's wet out, be careful! They are not the best wet tires.
28 psi should be a good starting point, but if this is your first attempt at autocross, you should concentrate on navigating the course, when and how to brake, when and how to accelerate, and watching experienced drivers. Don't worry too much about tire pressure. One thing that can happen during an event is that if you start to let out air as the tires heat up, when the event is over, your tires may have some pretty low air pressure for the drive home.
Seat time is the key to starting out. Ask experienced drivers if you can ride with them or if somebody can ride with you. Make sure you walk the course in the morning and ask to walk along with experienced entrants. Most everyone will be happy to offer advice to a Novice.
Seat Time!!
28 psi should be a good starting point, but if this is your first attempt at autocross, you should concentrate on navigating the course, when and how to brake, when and how to accelerate, and watching experienced drivers. Don't worry too much about tire pressure. One thing that can happen during an event is that if you start to let out air as the tires heat up, when the event is over, your tires may have some pretty low air pressure for the drive home.
Seat time is the key to starting out. Ask experienced drivers if you can ride with them or if somebody can ride with you. Make sure you walk the course in the morning and ask to walk along with experienced entrants. Most everyone will be happy to offer advice to a Novice.
Seat Time!!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 298
Likes: 0
The NT01 will need some heat in them to get them sticky. Weather conditions will play a part in traction. If it's wet out, be careful! They are not the best wet tires.
28 psi should be a good starting point, but if this is your first attempt at autocross, you should concentrate on navigating the course, when and how to brake, when and how to accelerate, and watching experienced drivers. Don't worry too much about tire pressure. One thing that can happen during an event is that if you start to let out air as the tires heat up, when the event is over, your tires may have some pretty low air pressure for the drive home.
Seat time is the key to starting out. Ask experienced drivers if you can ride with them or if somebody can ride with you. Make sure you walk the course in the morning and ask to walk along with experienced entrants. Most everyone will be happy to offer advice to a Novice.
Seat Time!!
28 psi should be a good starting point, but if this is your first attempt at autocross, you should concentrate on navigating the course, when and how to brake, when and how to accelerate, and watching experienced drivers. Don't worry too much about tire pressure. One thing that can happen during an event is that if you start to let out air as the tires heat up, when the event is over, your tires may have some pretty low air pressure for the drive home.
Seat time is the key to starting out. Ask experienced drivers if you can ride with them or if somebody can ride with you. Make sure you walk the course in the morning and ask to walk along with experienced entrants. Most everyone will be happy to offer advice to a Novice.
Seat Time!!
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,953
Likes: 550
From: Mission Viejo CA
Max G’s
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,751
Likes: 79
From: Monroe OH
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Being cold, it will be tough to even warm the tires. If you dont have a air tank to add air, you should start off with higher pressure and relieve pressure where you need. I would start off with 38psi at all four corners. After the second run, take a look at the tires and see if they are rolling over to the edge of the sidewall, usually marked with a little triangle. If not then you have too much pressure, but before you let air out you need to ask yourself; "am I driving hard enough to get the tires to roll at the limit?" The next thing to consider is; is the car "plowing" (understeering) or is it "tail happy" (oversteering). If understeering, let a couple lbs out of the rear tires. If oversteering, let a couple lbs out of the front tires. Run 3rd run and repeat the process. This will be a good place to start. Good Luck and Have Fun
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Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,953
Likes: 550
From: Mission Viejo CA
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,973
Likes: 341
From: Adelaide South Australia
Im guessing that hillclimb and autocross are similar in that you dont really have the chance to heat up tyres or brakes,
this is just my experience with Nitto 01's, I spoke to a guy at Bridgestone that look after our work vehicle tyres, he has worked there a few years now and is a drift racer himself. He recommended 28 psi as a starting point, then equalize as they get some extra pressure in them.
at the short track i run i dont get a chance to check tyre temps as you drive back straight away, I just go by the little arrow pointers on the sidewall. The scrub marks are pretty close.
on the long track we have to stop just up from the finish line so I have used my temp laser and the tyre temps are pretty close across the tyre.
I start at 28 cold, and they grow at least 2 to 4 on the rear, depending on the weather and about 2 on the front, and Im happy with the way they perform. these tyres give good grip even when they are cold !
this is just my experience with Nitto 01's, I spoke to a guy at Bridgestone that look after our work vehicle tyres, he has worked there a few years now and is a drift racer himself. He recommended 28 psi as a starting point, then equalize as they get some extra pressure in them.
at the short track i run i dont get a chance to check tyre temps as you drive back straight away, I just go by the little arrow pointers on the sidewall. The scrub marks are pretty close.
on the long track we have to stop just up from the finish line so I have used my temp laser and the tyre temps are pretty close across the tyre.
I start at 28 cold, and they grow at least 2 to 4 on the rear, depending on the weather and about 2 on the front, and Im happy with the way they perform. these tyres give good grip even when they are cold !
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,356
Likes: 291
From: MA
Air pressure recommendation
L98tpi, you stated if the car understeers lower a few pounds from the rear tires? Won't this make the car understeer even worse by increasing the contact patch on the rear tire?
I would think you should increase the rear tire pressure or decrease the front tire pressure to reduce understeer. Same with the oversteer statement if you lower the pressure on the front you will have more oversteer.
Please correct me if I am wrong but this is what I use to do on my Camaro when I raced.
I would think you should increase the rear tire pressure or decrease the front tire pressure to reduce understeer. Same with the oversteer statement if you lower the pressure on the front you will have more oversteer.
Please correct me if I am wrong but this is what I use to do on my Camaro when I raced.
Last edited by grandspt; Jan 25, 2016 at 10:46 AM.
Max G’s
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,751
Likes: 79
From: Monroe OH
NCM Sinkhole Donor
L98tpi, you stated if the car understeers lower a few pounds from the rear tires? Won't this make the car understeer even worse by increasing the contact patch on the rear tire?
I would think you should increase the rear tire pressure or decrease the front tire pressure to reduce understeer. Same with the oversteer statement if you lower the pressure on the front you will have more oversteer.
Please correct me if I am wrong but this is what I use to do on my Camaro when I raced.
I would think you should increase the rear tire pressure or decrease the front tire pressure to reduce understeer. Same with the oversteer statement if you lower the pressure on the front you will have more oversteer.
Please correct me if I am wrong but this is what I use to do on my Camaro when I raced.
I admit it took me a long time to figure it all out. I used to just have my alignments and balancing done by other people and just watch the roll over of the tires. I always just assumed the guys checking pressures all the time were wasting time. But I finally got a tip from a Pro that made me change my approach and completely understand the balance and net wheel(tire) weight.
Air pressures are a big part of the equation, but a good alignment, good suspension components, and good balance all together make up the total package to allow the car to handle at it's best.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,356
Likes: 291
From: MA
OK, yes the quick answer is, if the car understeers you would want to lower a little air pressure from the rear. Why? Because, when you lower air in the rear, you increase the weight on the front tires which should increase handling. It will be the opposite for oversteering. If you have an oversteer tendency, you want to lower the air on the front tires to increase the weight on the rear tires.
I admit it took me a long time to figure it all out. I used to just have my alignments and balancing done by other people and just watch the roll over of the tires. I always just assumed the guys checking pressures all the time were wasting time. But I finally got a tip from a Pro that made me change my approach and completely understand the balance and net wheel(tire) weight.
Air pressures are a big part of the equation, but a good alignment, good suspension components, and good balance all together make up the total package to allow the car to handle at it's best.
I admit it took me a long time to figure it all out. I used to just have my alignments and balancing done by other people and just watch the roll over of the tires. I always just assumed the guys checking pressures all the time were wasting time. But I finally got a tip from a Pro that made me change my approach and completely understand the balance and net wheel(tire) weight.
Air pressures are a big part of the equation, but a good alignment, good suspension components, and good balance all together make up the total package to allow the car to handle at it's best.