I just bought a 97 Miata last fall for cruising and local autocrosses. I just
got some Kumho 205/55-14 and I'm really in a quandry as to what to do about
tire pressures. The first event i went to I started out with 34 PSI all around.
I got pyrometer readings with the inside 20 degrees cooler than the outside
with the middle right in between. It became evident I needed a more aggressive
aligment than stock. I went to my favorite aligment shop and set the from to
-.75 camber (most they can get), +5 degrees caster (most they can get also) and
1/16" toe out, rear is set to -1 camber and 1/16" toe in.
The next event reulted in the exact same relative readings! This last weekend I
added 2 lbs (36 PSI cold) and got the same relative readings again. I added 3
more lbs and still got readings where the inside is 20 degrees cooler than the
outside and 10 degrees cooler than the middle for both front and rear. It seems
like these tires are just plain indifferent as to tire pressures. Anyone have
any ideas. With the amount of air I added, I would have expected the middle
temps to come up ocnsiderably but they didn't.
Fred Schwarz
SCCA Iowa Region
Waterloo, IA
ITB Golf GTI
BS 97 Miata
schwarz.alfred@mcleodusa.net (H)
rx31981@deere.com (W)
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