Thread: tire pressures ???

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anybody got any ideas on tire pressures for my hossier's
the're 31x14.5x15 's
been told to run between 6-8 psi ....

I do not run as wide of a tire as you have, I run 9" wide but I always run 10.5-12lbs depending on track conditions.
If you have raced this tire size in another brand I would try where you left off and see how the car handles and how traction feels. If you go with too low of tire pressure the car won't be as stable.
If this tire size is a first for you start a little higher 9-10lbs and drop it till you are comfortable with traction and handling.
If your tire happens to be a radial then much higher tire pressure is reccomended.

I have tried all brands over the years and I am very happy and most impressed with Hoosiers

I run a Hoosier 29x14.5x15 and have best luck around 12-13psi. There are many variables including how heavy the car is and how the weight transfer is. I have run them as low as 10.5psi. In short you need to tune them in... change the tire pressure about 1psi on every run and look for your best 60'. A fellow racer told me if you see burnt rubber wrapping over the edge from the tread to the sidewall, the pressure is too low. You can run a shoe polish line across the tire and see where it wears off... you want it to wear evenly if the chalk stays in the middle the pressure is too low if it stays at the edges the pressure is too high... I think around 12psi will be a good starting point...

-Chris

it's my first time with tires like these , so thanks for the advice , i guess it's down to track time now !!!
the other thing is that the rear axle is a solid mount ...
the van seems to just bounce a lot !!!

i think we may have to go back to ladder bar rear end ....

thanks phil

If your van is pretty heavy (4000+ lbs?) you'll probably want to start with a bit more pressure maybe closer to 14-15psi then go from there... you can almost eyeball it looking at the tire where it meets the pavement... maybe about 3-4" wide contact (flat) with the ground from front to back of contact patch then adjust up or down from there...

-Chris

Originally Posted by skids72

If your van is pretty heavy (4000+ lbs?) you'll probably want to start with a bit more pressure maybe closer to 14-15psi then go from there... you can almost eyeball it looking at the tire where it meets the pavement... maybe about 3-4" wide contact (flat) with the ground from front to back of contact patch then adjust up or down from there...

-Chris

that's great , i'll give it a try
i'll have to weigh the van i guess for a more accurate idea

thanks for the advice

I ran Firestone and Goodyear slicks for years then I switched to a set of Hoosiers If I droped the pressure in the Hoosiers to the 7 to 8 pounds that i used in the Goodyears My car was all all over the track . I found they like between 12 -15 pounds to hook good and handle well in the top end . Hoosiers or M/T slicks don't like low pressure .

now that`s a nice ride, a few years back a guy at ower track ran a caravan with a mid-engine 440 dodge, where is your engine located?

granted my mickeys arent slicks i have my best luck at 5-6lbs

Originally Posted by terrylittlejohn

now that`s a nice ride, a few years back a guy at ower track ran a caravan with a mid-engine 440 dodge, where is your engine located?

thank you

it's right in the middle of the van , front pullys are just behind the bulkhead

I agree that's wild,check your tire (psi) at the last possable secound before you run,if you check it and it's ok,then you set in the staging lane for A long time with the sun shining on one tire or another the (psi) will change in that tire exposed to the sun VS the one in the shade,the one in the sun will have A grater (psi) reading.