Scottish Elises

I'll be taking my Elise on track for the first time on Monday (Knockhill - Instructional Day) so would like some advice on where to set the cold tyre pressures.

I know this has been discussed in previous posts but there seems to be varying advice based on driving style, personal preference, weather etc.

My car is an Elise R wearing standard AD07s, 175F & 225R. Thinking 23F & 25R PSI based on most posts I have found on the subject.

As this is my first time on track I don't know what my confidence level will be, how close to the limit I'll be getting and subsequently how much temperature I'll build in the tyres. Just looking for a good starting point for the day.

Roll on Monday!!

Those pressures look fine. TBH, it's just about making sure they are set to something sensible and not all over the place at first - to give you a baseline to develop your preferences later. Folk will advise other pressures no doubt, but they are in the right ballpark, so might as well go with them.

For something like that the normal road use tyre pressures recommended by lotus will be fine. Only really when pushing hard and really building up heat and therefore preesure in the tyres do you need to reduce the pressure. I usually heat them up then when hot reduce them to road pressure so get the same handling/feeling etc as on road.

No doubt others will have their own ways and by all means let us all share our knowledge/experience so can learn from it.

It's down to personal preference really. You'll be able, over time, to work out what tyre pressure suits you and your tyres. I run a higher tyre pressure than most, usually 26psi all round, but it suits me and my car and seems to give better grip. But that will be down partly to my driving style and the way the car is set up.
As a base line start with something around 22-25psi and keep an eye on them throughout your session as they will go up the herder you push so will need bleeding back after a while.
Just remember to pump them back up before you leave the track.

What are the guys with S2 Exiges running? Looked in book and nothing for exige all elise based info. Looked on techwiki on seloc and they state 24 front and 26 rear then I go and ask Murrays and they say 29 all round. Thought this would be too hard.

Rears were about 28-29 when last checked before changing them and the centre of the tyre was worn and the outsides were not hence I think they have been over inflated.

Advice would be greatfully recieved.

Cheers.

Depends on track temps as well, can go as low as 20 if it's hot although generally I stick to about 22-24 front-rear up to 24-26 if it's cold. Actually prefer them harder (oo-er) but lower them slightly to preserve wear.

I run 25/27 psi - nothing but road driving - Toyo T1R's.

After seeing this post and feeling my ride was quite hard, I checked out my tyres and found I was running 27F-29R. After reducing this to 23F-25R the car feels absolutely transformed. Very interesting and something I'll now experiment with. It was only on the road, but the difference was still considerable. These pressures are a bit low fo rthe road maybe, but I feel my T1Rs are quite stiff sidewall wise.

Thanks for prompting me to look into it.

I'm pretty much the same as Kenny (my car is feckin' heavy though). Nig the Stig is right to warm them up and then drop each individual tyre to keep them consistent at the book pressures. Can be different for car, driver and circuit (just remember to pump them up at the end of the day).

I have a cheap thermometer which can be used to measure the temperature gradient across the tread pattern. You want this to be linear inside to outside - too hot in the middle means too much pressure etc. Gradient also points to camber requirements...

Chaps, advice a little hardcore for an instructional day, no?

I'm all in favour of getting into this stuff with a few trackdays under your belt and the time to experiment (like on a LoT day) but for a first intro to track driving, fannying about with tyre pressures every time you come in the pits is a trifle OTT, no?

Yep,

Can't beat time in the car, find a good base setting and spend some time learning the car. Far to much time is wasted fannying about with Geo, Tyre pressures IMO.

Alan

Err absolutely! I was more answering Nig the Stig.

Back to the original question, those pressures are fine and don't worry about messing with them on the day.
Is it today? have a good one!

Shug wrote:Chaps, advice a little hardcore for an instructional day, no?

I'm all in favour of getting into this stuff with a few trackdays under your belt and the time to experiment (like on a LoT day) but for a first intro to track driving, fannying about with tyre pressures every time you come in the pits is a trifle OTT, no?

would still think would be wise to check pressure at some point just to make sure they are not sky high.

We're assuming set pressures at beginning of day - you honestly think pressures will rocket on an instructional intro day to KH? What is it, an hour on track? I don't mate. Just something else to distract from learning the car. By all means, at an SIDC, I'm with you.

Still, opinions are like ar$eholes... And thats all IMVHO

First thing to do is make sure the pressure gauge is accurate most are several psi out, thats not an issue if you use the same gauge all the time and just use the numbers/readings as a reference point to go up and down from, test different pressures and find what suits your driving style