Tire Pressure for first time at the track

[Looki]

Hey all

About to head out to the track for the first time and I am wondering about tire pressures. Running Corsas on the car right now?
Any other quick tip would be appreciated.

Looki

[IHOP]

Where are you tracking and what are the air temps? Have you ever tracked a car?

[ViperGeorge]

Regardless of the pressures you run (I'd suggest maybe starting at 26-27psi) keep an eye on the front tires. Check them after each session. The Corsas have been known to chunk. Pieces of rubber will come off. They also have been known to get down to the cords quickly. Some people on here love the Corsas, I'm not one of them. I've gone through a set in one day at the track. Given the cost per track mile I won't use them again. The PZeros (which I'm not a fan of either) last a lot longer on the track in my experience. I had a friend that corded two sets in about a day and a half. If you drive the car to the track remember you have to be able to drive it home.

[Bruce H.]

I've run a few sets and start at factory 29 psi to prevent undo stress, wear and heat on the edges. Warm your tires and brain up slowly for a few laps so as not to "shock" the tire and come in to check pressures and bleed them down to a target pressure around 32-34 psi hot. Put heat into the tires with harder and briefer braking rather than harder cornering...both your tires and brake system will thank you. You'll find you need to keep bleeding down pressures to the target as ambient and track temps rise in the morning and then not so much, or at all, in the afternoon.

The Corsa is a street tire that is good on the track if you don't drive balls to the walls. You do need to manage heat, particularly on their edges and the above is a good way to do it. I have -2.5* front camber and -1.5* rear on my TA and the tires wear remarkably evenly with lots of street use in addition to 4-6 lapping days. If you have less camber, or your driving style is to "push" through the corners, or don't manage pressures and heat, then your results will suffer.

[Bill Pemberton]

I suggested running them at 29 just like Bruce H. especially since your first time. Do as George suggests also and keep an eye on the fronts, though if this is your first time you will likely be conservative, working to learn the track and the car and you should be all right.

[SRT_BluByU]

Bruces’ comments appear spot on here in my opinion..

[SilveRT8]

Tracking with Corsas ?
Bruce rules !!!

[HUBBELL RACING]

If you’re running banking 2# higher on right side tires

[Bruce H.]

Tracking with Corsas ?
Bruce rules !!!

Haha...I'm blessed with North America's fastest road course in my own backyard!

I should probably note that not all track rats are fond of the Corsas on a stock Viper but I don't really care what drivers of various Ferrari, Porsche, AMG, R8, GT-R, BMW, Corvette, Mustang and Camaro think. I don't ride their bumpers (much) and almost always wave thanks for their pass-by signal as I go by because that's just the kind of guy I am :D

[Bill Pemberton]

Way to go Bruce , waving shows what a nice guy your are --- fast and friendly, ha!!

[HUBBELL RACING]

I prefer MICHELIN or DUNLOPs

[Arizona Vipers]

Hey all

About to head out to the track for the first time and I am wondering about tire pressures. Running Corsas on the car right now?
Any other quick tip would be appreciated.

Looki

If it's your first time you'll be going pretty slow you won't be gaining a ton of psi during your session, I'd start about 30psi. As you get faster you'll figure it out yourself and start dropping pressures.
More importantly, check the date codes on those tires, I've seen guys show up at the track on cars they bought that have 7+ year old tires on them.

[Bruce H.]

I prefer MICHELIN or DUNLOPs

Hang on...I thought you had never tracked a Viper. Have you actually tracked a Viper with the Corsa, or on some other car, or is this a general preference?

I tried Michelin SC2 last year on the 911 and while the grip felt good initially they did heat cycle out too soon. Dunlop doesn't make a track tire in Viper sizes, although they did seem pretty good on two others I've tracked in the past.

[Arizona Vipers]

Hang on...I thought you had never tracked a Viper. Have you actually tracked a Viper with the Corsa, or on some other car, or is this a general preference?

I tried Michelin SC2 last year on the 911 and while the grip felt good initially they did heat cycle out too soon. Dunlop doesn't make a track tire in Viper sizes, although they did seem pretty good on two others I've tracked in the past.

Hubbell is talking race slicks.