Best tire pressure for dragstrip passes?

D

Dyoct

Member

Jul 13, 2005

77

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7

Sep 28, 2005

#1

• Sep 28, 2005

• #1

Hi all, I'm heading back to the strip, second trip in 'Stang, Thursday night. I remember reading in Car & Driver, in an older issue, that they got some better times by playing with the tire pressure a bit and their best at XX PSI. I want to say it was like 28 or so? But anyways, what would you all recommend for passes. I'll bring my little air tank so filling up won't be a problem. Thanks in advance. Hoping to do much better than the 14.2 I did last time.

 

cleveland

Founding Member

Feb 19, 2002

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SF>...

Sep 29, 2005

#2

• Sep 29, 2005

• #2

28psi or 40+psi didnt shorten my 60foot times at all. I say it doesnt really matter much what you use if you've still got the stock suspension.

-Dan

 

K

kerg

New Member

Aug 22, 2005

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SF Bay Area,CA

Sep 29, 2005

#3

• Sep 29, 2005

• #3

Tire Pressure is very important depending on the way you drive.
If you pop the clutch when you launch your back will be infront of you or if you feather it. On nitos I'd run 12 to 15 also depending on the temp out side and the conditions of the track you run on you want lessssss air for more grip it will help your 60ft
just try it and you will see

 

cleveland

Founding Member

Feb 19, 2002

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Sep 29, 2005

#4

• Sep 29, 2005

• #4

Stock Pirelli tires arent going to matter so much since they really arent an ideal tire for the power that gets placed to the pavement.

I suggest burning through the stock rubber ASAP and get some known to be good sticky rubber for the track.

Mickey Thompsons Streets (radial or not) and Nittos (555r) are widely used as drag tires that are capable for the street.

-Dan

 

bhuff30

Founding Member

Dec 11, 2001

6,037

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129

Olathe KS

Sep 30, 2005

#5

• Sep 30, 2005

• #5

On radial tires, you can actaully lose contact patch by reducing the air pressure. The tire will cup in in the center as the sidewalls try to support it. You can try losing a couple psi in the rear, but it won't make much difference either way.
The front is a different story though. Try the maximum recommended pressure for the front (44psi ish). This will reduce rolling resistance and may net you a few fractions of a second.