Todays lesson: Tire pressure!

[OverDrive418]

After the Test n Tune I discovered I had some cording on the front drivers side tire so I got it swapped out with another from the Used Hoosier Bunny.
The tech at the tire shop did the exchange and just filled it up with air and away I went, never checking the pressure.
I get to the event today and slap on the ol' racin' wheels and head to the grid...never checking the pressure.
I head out on run #1. Usually run #1 is a wash because the tires are cold, the car is light, and the course is gravelly/dusty so...
Run #2 I feel like something is off but just chalk it up to maybe just not enough heat in the tires yet...never checked the pressure.
Run #3 something defineatly is off. By now the car should begin to come into its own but I'm still fighting it. Is the suspension screwed up somehow? Is a wheel loose? The brakes and steering feel fine I just seem to be having a hard time getting it to stabilize and stick...

This is where it hits me, "You know I never did check what the tire pressure was on that tire I just got replaced."

Get over to the paddock and get the digital gauge..."39 psi?! WTF?! No wonder it feels all screwy!" the other 3 tires were between 31.5 and 32.5 psi mind you.

Dropped the pressure down to 32 psi, went out for a 4th run...knocked 2 seconds off the last time!

Duh! Check your tire pressures kids!

[TouringBubble]

Pressures really got me on my first lap this morning. I set them to 38 warm when I arrived, but they spiked to 41-ish on the first run and it was REALLY loose. High pressures and a cold surface don't mesh well.

[J2870]

Its ok I had some 2254517 nittos on the front compared to the stock 2155017s in the back and was running the same psi as the 215s. Needless to say by the last run, I happened to look down at my tires and see the nice scrub marks on my sidewall(check the photography and video pics). The pressure was fine in the 215s but i forgot to check how it affected the 225s, so Sara freaked out a got me the compressor then I upped it to 40 and ran my best run of the day lol.

[EvoLady]

yeah sorry I need to add that to our novice talk to check pressure and up it from normal driving. glad you were able to get a good run out of them though.

[OverDrive418]

It is usually part of my checklist right after keys and gas! I think I was just too hyped to get the first runs in I just went at it without checking, I don't know. It bit me in the ass that's for sure.