Heat in the tyres is generated by 'tyre flex' ... that is not only 'tyre flex' when cornering but as the tyre squishes itself with each revolution (ie. bending metal spoon principle) - that is what generates a lot of heat in a tyres. Not only that by heating up the tyre will heat up the air inside and therefore increase the pressure. So things in a tyre are pretty complicated. It's pretty complex to write an accurate 'tyre model'.

Not only that by allowing the tyre to have not enough pressere means that you could be rolling onto the edge of the tyre. The edge of the tyre does not have very good grip - therefore you never want to drive on anything but the actual thread (ie. the area that's ment to be driven on). Another thing, I second the comment that adding +10psi to your tyre will not make it 'bubble' and reduce the contact patch, you need to have a lot more pressure than that to do that.

Also, if you follow racing car then when you probably know what they do when they're overheating tyres - they INCREASE the tyre pressure. Last of all, every racing course that I've been on forces everyone on 50psi all around - so I doubt that is the 'detrimental factor'.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Penforhire
[B]Jeff, I agree with your statement of benefits of higher pressure but less roll-over does not mean higher traction.

 

Regarding the original issue, why was I loosing traction on corners? Is the consensus that the tires were getting too hot because my air pressure was too LOW for the hairpins? I.e., the pressure is low, causing a) more tire flex and b) rolling on to the sidewall?

Thanks for hashing this out,
Tanq

 

Tangeuray,

Check those little arrows on the sidewall. They will tell you if you're rolling on the sidewall or not. I don't have a digital camera or I'd post a picture of them. The SO-2 is one of the few tyres that have these arrows.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Tanqueray
[B]Regarding the original issue, why was I loosing traction on corners?

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by pfb
[B].