The tire wear so far is even, but I don't know whether looking at tire
wear is an accurate enough indicator. The car still feels "tight" at 26
PSI but that doesn't necessarily mean the pressures are high enough. . .
Josh said the G-Force sidewalls are so stiff and strong that treadwear
rollover is not a safe indicator. Combine that with the narrow sidewall
of a 295x35x18 tire, mounted on a fairly light car, and it looks like I
won't get any "jello" feel as a warning before something BAD happens.
I'm realizing my only option is the pyrometer. . . And I'm glad I asked
because otherwise I would have used sidewall treadwear as a guide and
that could have been very BAD.
Thanks everyone,
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kirk Meline [mailto:kirkm@zeta-idt.com]
> Sent: Monday, April 08, 2002 14:19
> To: Michael R. Clements; 'james creasy'; 'Autocross'
> Subject: RE: great school
>
>
> Michael
>
> Yes its a heavy car and I used to drive it every day so the
> negative camber had to be moderate. I also have to set the
> tire pressures for tire life rather than ultimate traction.
> The best thing is to get the pyrometer and watch your tire
> temps closely after each run. On the other hand you can just
> add more drivers like James. If you go too low on the
> pressure than the tires get too much flex and the car feels
> like jello. Good luck.
>
> Kirk
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-ba-autox@autox.team.net
> [mailto:owner-ba-autox@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Michael R. Clements
> Sent: Monday, April 08, 2002 1:41 PM
> To: kirkm@zeta-idt.com; 'james creasy'; 'Autocross'
> Subject: RE: great school
>
>
> Kirk,
>
> Are you talking about a '93 Mustang? If so, doesn't that car
> weigh like 3300 lbs. with more than half over the front
> wheels? So we're talking about cars that are roughly 1,000
> lbs. lighter with close to 50/50 distribution. I would expect
> lower pressures, but how much lower?
>
> James, your pressures seem low even for your light car. But
> maybe I should try it. The treadwear goes all the way to the
> sidewall corner but not over. So maybe I can go even lower?!?
> At that low pressure I'm afraid of damaging the rims. Maybe I
> shouldn't worry about that until the treadwear starts coming
> over the corner of the tire.
>
> On my 2850 lb. RX-7, using V700s, I got the best sticktion at
> 30 F / 28 R. Using R1s on that car, the sweet spot was 29 / 27.
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Kirk Meline [mailto:kirkm@zeta-idt.com]
> > Sent: Monday, April 08, 2002 13:24
> > To: james creasy; Michael R. Clements; 'Autocross'
> > Subject: RE: great school
> >
> >
> > Those are some pretty low numbers. I run about 44psi up
> front and 37
> > in back. Any less and the old Kumho sidewalls wear too
> quick. Just
> > FYI and redundant but I am back on the this list again.
> Mark Watson
> > and I will be chairing the next Candlestick event so if you
> have any
> > suggestions fire away.
> >
> > Kirk Meline
> > ESP - Extreme Surface Pleasures
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-ba-autox@autox.team.net
> > [mailto:owner-ba-autox@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of james creasy
> > Sent: Monday, April 08, 2002 12:53 PM
> > To: Michael R. Clements; 'Autocross'
> > Subject: Re: great school
> >
> >
> > i use 21 front, 23 rear on my v700 victoracers. just
> ordered some of
> > the new escta, and a bigger size for the front as i dont
> seem to have
> > as much bite on turn-in as the other cars i rode in for the school.
> >
> > -james c
> > OSP - Outrageous Sidewall Pressures
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Michael R. Clements" <mrclem@telocity.com>
> > To: "'james creasy'" <Black94PGT@pacbell.net>; "'Autocross'"
> > <ba-autox@autox.team.net>
> > Sent: Monday, April 08, 2002 12:44 PM
> > Subject: RE: great school
> >
> >
> > > Speaking of traction, where do I get some? I'm down to 26
> PSI on my
> > > G-Force tires and they still don't stick much better than street
> > > tires. Over the past year I've gone from the BFG
> > recommended 40 PSI to
> > > 26 PSI in 2 PSI increments. Lower pressures do stick a bit
> > better, but
> > > I have yet to get any serious "grip" with these tires.
> Nothing like
> > > what I used to get with Kumhos on the RX-7.
> > >
> > > Do G-Forces really suck that bad? Is that why BFG stopped
> > making them?
> > >
> > > OSP - Obtesting for Sticktion Perpetually
> > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: james creasy [mailto:Black94PGT@pacbell.net]
> > > > Sent: Monday, April 08, 2002 12:22
> > > > To: Michael R. Clements; Autocross
> > > > Subject: Re: great school
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > bumps? at candlestick? ive never heard anyone
> mention this. :)
> > > >
> > > > dude, if it didnt actually BREAK your car, you should
> be glad! i
> > > > was a bit bouncy, but seemed to have plenty of traction
> > (most of the
> > > > time). my headers got loose sunday, but it seemed to
> > survive sunday
> > > > ok.
> > > >
> > > > -james c
> > > > OSP - Ouch, Sucky Pavement
> > > >
> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > From: "Michael R. Clements" <mrclem@telocity.com>
> > > > To: "Autocross" <ba-autox@autox.team.net>
> > > > Sent: Monday, April 08, 2002 12:04 PM
> > > > Subject: great school
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > Thanks to Vernon and everyone else who made the school
> > > > happen. I had a
> > > > > great time. The exercises were instructive and the course
> > > > was fast and
> > > > > fun. It was a blast to be in the car helping my "students"
> > > > go faster
> > > > > and faster. I use the word "student" in quotes because I
> > > > felt like a
> > > > > student myself as trying to help them go faster made me
> > > > really analyze
> > > > > and improve my own driving too.
> > > > >
> > > > > P.S.
> > > > > On the back side after the 2nd slalom, my car felt like a
> > > > pogo stick,
> > > > > bouncing up and down working the suspension, unsetting the
> > > > tires and
> > > > > losing traction even in a straight line. It seemed smoother
> > > > in Frank's
> > > > > BMW 540. Is that just me or did others experience the same
> > > > thing? Do I
> > > > > have suspension adjustments in my near future?
> > > > >
> > > > > Michael R. Clements
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