Air pressure for Porsche DE

[X51]

Doing a Porsche DE this weekend and wondered what people have found to be the most optimal tire pressures to run on the track. I have a 2002 996 C2 with the 18" OEM wheels and tires and have been running the recommended tire pressures for street driving.

Any and all input welcome.

Thanks.

[jmj996]

Doing a Porsche DE this weekend and wondered what people have found to be the most optimal tire pressures to run on the track. I have a 2002 996 C2 with the 18" OEM wheels and tires and have been running the recommended tire pressures for street driving.

Any and all input welcome.

Thanks.

I noticed there haven't been any responses yet. I would also like to know this. Have a DE event coming up on 9/7. I recently picked up a set of 18" Sport Classic II BBS's with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires on them. I have no idea whether I should be running higher or lower pressures than street. Generally, I've heard that higher pressures are better since we're only out there for about 20 minutes at a time and don't generally build up a lot more pressure during the run.

[Izzy]

I start with 8-10 lbs under factory recommended. It depends on the track and the temp of the track. Long tracks with sweeping turns as opposed to short tracks with many turns (tires will get hotter on the latter). Track temps in the morning can be 50F or 90F. The other factor is how you drive, i.e. first DE so you are cautious and in traffic v.s. Solo group with the the other banshees. Finally the tires and how the tire wall rolls over (stiffness)

So, first time out, do 5 lbs under. When you get off the track, measure the pressure and reduce further if needed. Look at the wear marks for tire roll and see if you are getting the corners. If you are new to DE, your instructor will be a great resource to help you with that too. The more events you do with different instructors, they will all have different perspectives. So learn from all.

For comparison, Here in the Carolinas, I have run 14 lbs under when the track temp is 140F and I run CMP, lots of turns and shorter track. Falken Azenis RT tires.

John, on the wheels, I use old spare wheels for track days. Keep my nice wheels for street only. Just a suggestion so you don't hit a gator on a turn and bend a nice wheel.

[jmj996]

I start with 8-10 lbs under factory recommended. It depends on the track and the temp of the track. Long tracks with sweeping turns as opposed to short tracks with many turns (tires will get hotter on the latter). Track temps in the morning can be 50F or 90F. The other factor is how you drive, i.e. first DE so you are cautious and in traffic v.s. Solo group with the the other banshees. Finally the tires and how the tire wall rolls over (stiffness)

So, first time out, do 5 lbs under. When you get off the track, measure the pressure and reduce further if needed. Look at the wear marks for tire roll and see if you are getting the corners. If you are new to DE, your instructor will be a great resource to help you with that too. The more events you do with different instructors, they will all have different perspectives. So learn from all.

For comparison, Here in the Carolinas, I have run 14 lbs under when the track temp is 140F and I run CMP, lots of turns and shorter track. Falken Azenis RT tires.

John, on the wheels, I use old spare wheels for track days. Keep my nice wheels for street only. Just a suggestion so you don't hit a gator on a turn and bend a nice wheel.

Thanks Izzy. That helps clarify things a lot. The gators won't be a problem at Laguna-Seca, they're not rumble strips, they're a series of little ramps (all relatively new). At my first DE event in March, we were warned that these were new and to watch out for them. It was not a problem, people actually began USING them at times to get more traction on the outer tires. I admit I am doing the reverse of what most people do with street vs. track wheels/tires - I have 17" street tires on plain twist wheels, and 18" track tires on nicer 2-pc wheels, but that's only because the Pilot Sport Cup tires came with the 18" wheels when I bought them, so it's just temporary until I use up the Pilot Sport Cup tires, then those wheels will wear a set of street tires and become my daily drivers. I am still planning to stay in the novice group this year and probably part of next year.

Anybody use simulators as well? I have GTR-2 with the Logitech G25 wheel & pedals, and it's really amazing.

[X51]

I start with 8-10 lbs under factory recommended. It depends on the track and the temp of the track. Long tracks with sweeping turns as opposed to short tracks with many turns (tires will get hotter on the latter). Track temps in the morning can be 50F or 90F. The other factor is how you drive, i.e. first DE so you are cautious and in traffic v.s. Solo group with the the other banshees. Finally the tires and how the tire wall rolls over (stiffness)

So, first time out, do 5 lbs under. When you get off the track, measure the pressure and reduce further if needed. Look at the wear marks for tire roll and see if you are getting the corners. If you are new to DE, your instructor will be a great resource to help you with that too. The more events you do with different instructors, they will all have different perspectives. So learn from all.

For comparison, Here in the Carolinas, I have run 14 lbs under when the track temp is 140F and I run CMP, lots of turns and shorter track. Falken Azenis RT tires.

John, on the wheels, I use old spare wheels for track days. Keep my nice wheels for street only. Just a suggestion so you don't hit a gator on a turn and bend a nice wheel.

Thanks Izzy. That helps clarify things a lot. The gators won't be a problem at Laguna-Seca, they're not rumble strips, they're a series of little ramps (all relatively new). At my first DE event in March, we were warned that these were new and to watch out for them. It was not a problem, people actually began USING them at times to get more traction on the outer tires. I admit I am doing the reverse of what most people do with street vs. track wheels/tires - I have 17" street tires on plain twist wheels, and 18" track tires on nicer 2-pc wheels, but that's only because the Pilot Sport Cup tires came with the 18" wheels when I bought them, so it's just temporary until I use up the Pilot Sport Cup tires, then those wheels will wear a set of street tires and become my daily drivers. I am still planning to stay in the novice group this year and probably part of next year.

Anybody use simulators as well? I have GTR-2 with the Logitech G25 wheel & pedals, and it's really amazing.

Izzy,

Thanks for the info as well. John - thanks for asking the question again. I'm running the Carrera open spokes (18") on the Contisports (ugh), so once I scrub those tires I''ll be in the market for a dedicated track set of wheels and tires as well. Would like to get the same wheels I have (OEM), but improve the rubber. These tires were on the car when I bought it a few months ago. I will experiment with pressures and take input from the instructors as well. I'm driving at Mid American Motorsports - a couple year old track in the midlands.

Thanks again.

[alprus]

I run stock wheels and tire sizes. I run on PS2s right now. Great tire.

I have found that on the first morning run i start at 32 front and 35 rear. If it is a cool day, I usually keep close to that pressure. If it gets hot out, I end up taking some out at the day goes on. It does depend on the track and the weather - sunny or overcast.

I try and run my tires so they come off the track at about 37 - 40. Much higher than some of the R compounds run. But the tires wear very well and stick. I am on my 16th day on my stock PS2's and they still look good. I will probably get 5 more days out of them.

Good luck.

Adam