Tire Pressure.....

[SouthrnMaro1]

This sunday i'm going to enter into my first Autocross race. I have cooper cobra gt tires on stock 16in wheels. Can you give me any recommendations on what tire pressure i should go with?....and any advice so i dont screw up too bad.

[FireFighter]

35/32

[zlexiss]

I'd go closer to 37-38 in front to keep them from rolling. 32 in back is fine, but you might end up dropping it a bit.

The shoe polish trick is an easy way to get close. Put a dab of white shoe polish in a couple spots on the shoulder block of the tire.

If the shoe polish is scraped off clear onto the sidewall, you need more pressure in that tire - ask someone with an air tank if you can borrow some air.

If the polish is gone to where the shoulder is sloping up to the sidewall, you're good.

If polish is gone pretty much only on the flat tread area of the tire, you might be too high - try bleeding a pound or two.

Remember, your pressure will go up as the tire heats during your runs, so check after each run and bleed air as required to keep the pressure in the right range.

As far as other advice:

1) If you haven't read the Solo II Novice Handbook, I'd look it through.

2) Make sure to get there plenty early. 1-1/2 hours before the driver's meeting. That'll give you enough time to get though tech and walk the course twice.

3) Ask for help. The people at registration can probably grab a good (and friendly) driver to walk the course with you and explain many things. Most everyone is glad to help novices

4) Get rides and have people ride with you. See what other people are doing, and let them help you by telling you how to improve

5) Have fun! V6's are not the best cars for being competitive with everyone else, since they don't fit in too well, especially with street tires. Even with my list of mods [img]smile.gif[/img] However, they're great to learn in, a blast to drive, and when you start driving well, you'll get a lot of good words from impressed V8 drivers on how smooth you drive your car.

Any other questions, ask me in the autocross forums - we need some new posts there!

-Jeff

[SouthrnMaro1]

Thanks for the help zlex.