<Oh where, oh where, has the search function gone...?>

I'll be driving on my new Azenis mounted on 15 x 7 SSR wheels for the first time at a BMW/CCA-sponsored autocross this evening. Any recommendations about where I should start with the front/rear tire pressures? My only point of reference is what I've been using thus far-- 205/50-15 RE730s on my stock GSR wheels-- which I've found to like being set at 38-39psi front/42-45psi rear for my car. Thanks.

 

Hey Casey,
I spoke with Pedro Ebert extensively on this very subject last weekend. To quote him:"I run pressures up front with these (Azenis) that scare me to death and give me nightmares".
Translation: 32 f/52 r
And he still has a hard time rotating his car.
Of course, that is Pedro. Your Sanity May Vary.
He definitely has a point about the front pressures, though. Start out with 32. He wasn't rolling them at all. And he is friggin' insane.

 

only 32psi up front? And that's on his Golf, right? Yes, he borders on insane, w/ his Brazilian-bred WRC-style of autocrossing. I seem to remember Alex M. having his front pressures in the mid 40s for his Azenis on the Talon. He said the tires felt mushy and unresponsive at lower pressures. How much of a difference do tire & wheel size make w/ regard to tire pressure, 'cause I'm wondering if we're comparing apples to apples here....

 

I would start a little higher than 32. Not knowing how you have your car set up...I would start at about 35-36 up front and around 30-32 in the rear. If you have a typical STS setup. You then can adjust from there. If you can get your hand on a pyrometer, that would help.

 

You aren't, I have run several GS-R's with Azenis and they are usually in the mid to low 30's in the front and around 30 in the rear. I usually like to start a little high and work my way back down. That is why I suggested the pressures I did above.

 

Well, he *is* on 14's but I don't think it's a big enough difference to matter. The sidewalls on those are really stiff, so I don't think rollover is going to be that much of an issue. Split the difference. Run 36, and you can bleed down. My guess is that you will see best results right around 34 or so. I could be wrong, though. I haven't run on them myself, though I ran those pressures on the AVS's and found them better there than higher.
--Chris, who's street tire experience is going to get some work--next year.

 

the consensus from y'all, then, would suggest that starting in the high-to-mid 30s for the fronts, and mid-to-low 30 in the rear, and then bleeding down from there would be the way to go. Thanks, I'll let you know how it goes (while I attempt to open up a big ol' can of GSR whoop *** on those bimmer boyz... )

 

...isn't vehicle weight a factor in dialing in the needed tire pressure to make the car responsive as desired (to the limit of the tires).

heavier car = more pressure needed, lighter car = less pressure needed....

Maybe that's why the DSM is "mushy" and the VW is "crazy"....


[Modified by Vracer111, 8:40 AM 4/19/2002]

 

Yes, an important point which we have heretofor overlooked. Thanks for the reminder.

 

I am interested to know this as well. I am going to try to autox my R for the first time on Sunday...

 

I have had them for 4 events on stock 15X6 wheels. I like 38-40psi in front. Any more the car had a tendency to push and any less the tire rolled over. I have Kumho's in back at 38-40psi. Helps the car to rotate with crappy 712's in back.

CB

 

I rolled 14in azenis on my accord with 33 front, not fun, will be using 36 from now on

 

Well, I after all the advice I got, I was more confused about what to do than when I started... Some folks said 35-39 psi front, 32-35 rear. Other said 33-35 psi front, 36-39 rear. Not knowing what to do, I decided to set all four tires to 37 psi for my first run, and the fronts felt too firm -- I felt a push in more parts of the course than I thought I should. So for the next run, I dropped the fronts to 35 psi and left the rears alone (yes, I'm of the ilk that believe it's better to run higher pressures in rear compared to the fronts). The results were much better, and I left the tire pressure alone for the rest of the event (a total of only 3 runs). For the next event, I'll try dropping the fronts another # or two and I'll leave the rears alone.

First impression on the Azenis? They were terrific. And I knew they were different from the beginning of my first run -- For the launch, I usually run the tach up to 4-4.5k and drop the clutch. Usually, I get a little slippage, no bogging, for a nice clean get away. I tried the same w/ the Azenis... no tire slippage and a little bogging. Yikes! For me, these tires lived up to all their accolades. Can't wait to scrub them in some more...

 

you should keep checking the tire pressure, to keep them constant. bleed air in-between runs if they gets high

 

I'm running this in my 96 Civic with 205/50-15s
36-38 front
32-32 rear

Seems to work very well on the track and street too.

 

10-4 good buddy! Yep, I always do that, even if I forget to mention that I do...