RE540s track pressure
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Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Lisbon, Portugal
RE540s track pressure
Just installed a brand new set of RE540S Type R (hard compound) tires on all 4 corners of my teg. I'll be using them on track soon.
I'm using my normal road going pressure which is 2.3 bar (33 psi) at the front and 2.1 bar (30 psi) at the back.
I took a quick glimpse at Bridgestone's catalogue and for track they recomend 1.6~1.8 bar (23~26 psi) at the front and 2.0~2.4 bar (29~35 psi) at the rear
Are they completely bananas? Or am I missing something?
I'm using my normal road going pressure which is 2.3 bar (33 psi) at the front and 2.1 bar (30 psi) at the back.
I took a quick glimpse at Bridgestone's catalogue and for track they recomend 1.6~1.8 bar (23~26 psi) at the front and 2.0~2.4 bar (29~35 psi) at the rear
Are they completely bananas? Or am I missing something?
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Joined: Mar 2002
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Re: RE540s track pressure (PahLok)
From what I can tell RE540S is a track day/competition tire that we don't get in the U.S. Comparable to what we often call R-compounds (road legal soft compound track/competition tires). So most people on here won't have any experience with specific pressures for that exact tire & chassis combo.
But what they are recommending sounds reasonable, sustained circuit use with soft/softer compound tires builds heat which in turn causes the pressures to rise. You generally try to set the cold pressures so the hot pressures level off at an optimum point/tread temperature. You really need a pyrometer to determine this, plus the manufacturer's recommended tire temp range. But it sounds like they are trying to get you in the ballpark without having to do all that.
I'm assuming they are referring to the starting/cold pressures. The higher rear pressure is probably to compensate for a front weight biased vehicle (FWD), so you end up fairly equal all the way around once up to speed. You might want to verify what the recommendations are based around (cold vs hot pressures, FWD vs RWD, heavy vs light car, etc.)
I wouldn't compare your regular street tire pressures with these types of tires. Normal street tire rubber is harder and you're not expected to be pushing the car as much. So the pressures start off higher and are expected to increase less.
But what they are recommending sounds reasonable, sustained circuit use with soft/softer compound tires builds heat which in turn causes the pressures to rise. You generally try to set the cold pressures so the hot pressures level off at an optimum point/tread temperature. You really need a pyrometer to determine this, plus the manufacturer's recommended tire temp range. But it sounds like they are trying to get you in the ballpark without having to do all that.
I'm assuming they are referring to the starting/cold pressures. The higher rear pressure is probably to compensate for a front weight biased vehicle (FWD), so you end up fairly equal all the way around once up to speed. You might want to verify what the recommendations are based around (cold vs hot pressures, FWD vs RWD, heavy vs light car, etc.)
I wouldn't compare your regular street tire pressures with these types of tires. Normal street tire rubber is harder and you're not expected to be pushing the car as much. So the pressures start off higher and are expected to increase less.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 56
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From: Lisbon, Portugal
Re: RE540s track pressure (XrcR6)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Are they street tires?</TD></TR></TABLE>
The values I shown are indeed for a FF on a medium to high temperature track surface.
The RE540s are like barely legal slick tires:
Thanks for answering
The values I shown are indeed for a FF on a medium to high temperature track surface.
The RE540s are like barely legal slick tires:
Thanks for answering
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