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Less tire pressure, more grip?

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Old 07-11-2006, 12:46 PM
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Default Less tire pressure, more grip?

I was running my tires at 38F/35R and the ride was harsh. so I tried running at 35F/32R and it feels more comfy, a little softer than the previous. However, I feel more grip on sharp turns. I guess less pressure increased the contact surface.
what do you guys think?

I have stock P6 all seasons.
Old 07-11-2006, 12:51 PM
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Default correct

but also higher tire wear and higher probability in damaging wheel / tire on impact with pot hole
Old 07-11-2006, 01:31 PM
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Default Re: correct

For a good feel and to eliminate understeer that the car has, you can try to run your fronts just a little under factory recommendations(3-5 lbs less than recommended), and overinflate your rears (about 3-5 lbs more than recommended). By taking just a little out of the fronts, you may gain some grip(It is true that you will burn through your tires if you run too soft). By overinflating your rears, you are actually losing grip on the rear tires. This , however, allows the rear to slide out a little bit and decrease that annoying understeer.
Old 07-11-2006, 05:03 PM
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Default Actually.......there is such a thing as too much and too little. You have to seriously over-inflate

a tire to make it lose grip, and then it's often from it bouncing and losing contact with the ground as well as reduced contact patch (only center touches). Traditionally racers for fwd cars increase front tire pressures to reduce the effects of the sidewall rolling over (maximixing footprint), and reduce the rears, which allows them to deform, and reduce the amount of tread on the ground.

You could say that if reducing pressure in the front makes it feel better, you aren't pushing to the limit of the car;-P

Each brand and size tire has it's own inflation sweet spot for max grip, so there is no blanket statement that covers everything.<ul><li><a href="http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AR4&amp;url=%2Ftires%2Ftiretech%2Ftechpage .jsp%3Ftechid%3D58">here's a good guide from a respected name</a></li></ul>
Old 07-11-2006, 10:09 PM
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Default I agree with your suggestion.

I also think that reducing pressure by a moderate degree (5 psi) will decrease grip, increasing pressure by that amount will increase grip.
Thus, F+ and R- will enhance oversteer.
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