KU36 Tyre Pressures

Wheels, Suspension, Brakes & Tyres questions and answers

Moderators: timk, Stu, zombie, Andrew, -alex, miata

User avatar
zossy1
Racing Driver
Posts: 1979
Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2010 8:48 am
Vehicle: NA8
Location: Southern Highlands, NSW
Contact:

KU36 Tyre Pressures

Postby zossy1 » Sat Dec 03, 2011 1:00 pm

Hi guys,

Has anyone out there experimented with tyre pressures with their KU36 tyres? I'm running KU36 in 205/50/15 on my NA and looking for some good baseline pressures to try at Wakefield tomorrow.

Thanks guys!

User avatar
Guran
Speed Racer
Posts: 3754
Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 6:42 pm
Vehicle: ND - 1.5
Location: Albion Park NSW
Contact:

Re: KU36 Tyre Pressures

Postby Guran » Sat Dec 03, 2011 1:59 pm

The Kumho motorsport tyre retailers (Peak) reckon their tyres need to run at higher pressures than other equivalent tyres. For example, the V70As tend to prefer around 35-36psi hot ... and they're R-specs. Aim for around 38psi hot with the KU36s and then tweak it from there. The aim is to get an even temperature across the face of the tyre. 8)
Standard 2006 NC - YouTube
WP 1:11.89 | SMP-S 1:05.90 GP 1:54.93 N 1:18.09 L 2:22.49 | PW 1:02.52
PI 2:00.55 | W-S 1:12.44 W-L 1:43.36 | SR 1:33.25

User avatar
KRM
Fast Driver
Posts: 124
Joined: Fri May 09, 2008 4:49 pm
Vehicle: ND - 2 GT
Location: The Shire

Re: KU36 Tyre Pressures

Postby KRM » Sat Dec 03, 2011 2:21 pm

Set your tyres at 36 psi cold. After the first run check and adjust them to 40 psi hot. Do the same after the second run and re-adjust. By that time they should be stabilised.
Have a great day.
Keith
93 Red One(gone) 00 Blue One

project.r.racing
Speed Racer
Posts: 3722
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2009 10:16 pm
Vehicle: Non MX-5
Location: Glasshouse Mountains, QLD

Re: KU36 Tyre Pressures

Postby project.r.racing » Sun Dec 04, 2011 12:04 am

KRM wrote:Set your tyres at 36 psi cold. After the first run check and adjust them to 40 psi hot. Do the same after the second run and re-adjust. By that time they should be stabilised.
Have a great day.

Agreed. I go for the extact same temps.

User avatar
JBT
Speed Racer
Posts: 7946
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: NC
Location: Brisbane

Re: KU36 Tyre Pressures

Postby JBT » Sun Dec 04, 2011 8:18 am

I've found 33-34 psi cold works out to about 37-39 psi hot on the track and that works best for me.
Image

project.r.racing
Speed Racer
Posts: 3722
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2009 10:16 pm
Vehicle: Non MX-5
Location: Glasshouse Mountains, QLD

Re: KU36 Tyre Pressures

Postby project.r.racing » Sun Dec 04, 2011 4:11 pm

JBT wrote:I've found 33-34 psi cold works out to about 37-39 psi hot on the track and that works best for me.

Do you run 205/50R15s?

User avatar
JBT
Speed Racer
Posts: 7946
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: NC
Location: Brisbane

Re: KU36 Tyre Pressures

Postby JBT » Sun Dec 04, 2011 4:17 pm

Ooops, no. Do you run 215/45 17s?
Image

project.r.racing
Speed Racer
Posts: 3722
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2009 10:16 pm
Vehicle: Non MX-5
Location: Glasshouse Mountains, QLD

Re: KU36 Tyre Pressures

Postby project.r.racing » Sun Dec 04, 2011 5:35 pm

JBT wrote:Ooops, no. Do you run 215/45 17s?

Nope, 205/50R15.

User avatar
JBT
Speed Racer
Posts: 7946
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: NC
Location: Brisbane

Re: KU36 Tyre Pressures

Postby JBT » Sun Dec 04, 2011 6:01 pm

On an MX-5?
Image

project.r.racing
Speed Racer
Posts: 3722
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2009 10:16 pm
Vehicle: Non MX-5
Location: Glasshouse Mountains, QLD

Re: KU36 Tyre Pressures

Postby project.r.racing » Sun Dec 04, 2011 9:27 pm

Astina

User avatar
Luke
Racing Driver
Posts: 781
Joined: Sat May 23, 2009 1:11 am
Vehicle: NC
Location: Wetherill Park NSW

Re: KU36 Tyre Pressures

Postby Luke » Mon Dec 05, 2011 4:12 pm

I'm running around 38psi hot on 215-45-16.

I just balance the front and rear depeding on how much oversteer I have from that point.
2022 BRZ 10AE
2021 GR Yaris
2008 Peugeot HDi Lemans, Number 1027/2000, White with Red stripes

User avatar
Guran
Speed Racer
Posts: 3754
Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 6:42 pm
Vehicle: ND - 1.5
Location: Albion Park NSW
Contact:

Re: KU36 Tyre Pressures

Postby Guran » Mon Dec 05, 2011 7:35 pm

Chris, what did you end up using on Sunday? Any feedback on pressures vs temperature profile vs handling behaviour?
Standard 2006 NC - YouTube
WP 1:11.89 | SMP-S 1:05.90 GP 1:54.93 N 1:18.09 L 2:22.49 | PW 1:02.52
PI 2:00.55 | W-S 1:12.44 W-L 1:43.36 | SR 1:33.25

User avatar
zossy1
Racing Driver
Posts: 1979
Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2010 8:48 am
Vehicle: NA8
Location: Southern Highlands, NSW
Contact:

Re: KU36 Tyre Pressures

Postby zossy1 » Mon Dec 05, 2011 7:57 pm

Guran wrote:Chris, what did you end up using on Sunday? Any feedback on pressures vs temperature profile vs handling behaviour?


Well I didn't have a laser thermometer with me so had to go by feel a bit. I aimed for 40psi hot.

Starting at 36psi, on my first quick run I found that the outside front and rear were at 42psi and 43psi, whereas the inside tyres were both at 41psi. I adjusted all down to 40psi as soon as I got back to the pits.

I ended up at cold pressures of around 33.5psi outside rear, 34psi outside front, and 35 psi for the inside tyres.

At those pressures, I got 4 quick laps before I noticed the tyres begin to overheat.

First time out though Bryan - both in this car and on that track! I'm not sure how much value this will be to anyone but there it is!

Note also that I'm running scuba air in my tyres - not nitrogen and not compressor air. It's what I use in my kart tyres - similar to nitrogen but not quite as good, and MUCH cheaper :)


Return to “MX5 Wheels, Suspension, Brakes & Tyres”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 233 guests