You need to learn how to chalk your tires so you can learn where the edge of your grip is between runs. Also you can't just set it and forget it, as temps go up so will your psi. This past weekend at autocross I had to bleed 2-3psi from both front tires and 1-2psi in the rear 2 between each run to keep them in the optimum window of grip. My fronts are set to 39psi and my rear to 35psi, Firestone Firehawk Indy 500's for tires. Sounds like you need a rear swaybar upgrade(if you don't already) to help combat that understeer because I never felt that I was plowing unless I made a mistake on entry which I correct for with more braking when such mistakes happen.
Tire's and psi
I'm curious as to what tires and psi everyone is running. I recently got a set of new tires and am starting to play around with tire pressure. With my setup right now I'm facing some mid corner exit understeer. To combat understeer, should the rear tire pressure be over or under inflated?
My current setup for my 2014 Mazda 3 Hatch:
- Federal RS-RR 235/40/18 F & R
- 35psi front and rear hot (too high?)
Alignment setting:
- 0 toe, -3F -2R
My current setup for my 2014 Mazda 3 Hatch:
- Federal RS-RR 235/40/18 F & R
- 35psi front and rear hot (too high?)
Alignment setting:
- 0 toe, -3F -2R
1 - 2 of 12 Posts
33psi seems kinda low, sounds like you could be pushing harder. I don't think a stiffer swaybar is the answer, if your progress rear swaybar is set to full stiffness you should not be getting much understeer. Some better tires would definitely help too. Last season I had understeer like a pig, even with my progress rear swaybar. The answer was definitely better tires because Im getting great rotation now and very little plowing. The difference is day and night. Im not getting oversteer, just some very light plowing if I get my line wrong but otherwise its pretty neutral which is a very weird feeling for a FWD, but lol the new Civic Type-R's get oversteer so.....lol yeah. Also, we have 2 new civic Type-R's in our club, one has stuffed 285 wide tires up front, the other guy, 295 up front, my gawd wtf lol, superman front grip.That's currently my method for finding what tire pressure to go with for the front. My tires seem to like 33psi. I'm gonna experiment with low pressures in the back.You need to learn how to chalk your tires so you can learn where the edge of your grip is between runs. Also you can't just set it and forget it, as temps go up so will your psi. This past weekend at autocross I had to bleed 2-3psi from both front tires and 1-2psi in the rear 2 between each run to keep them in the optimum window of grip. My fronts are set to 39psi and my rear to 35psi, Firestone Firehawk Indy 500's for tires. Sounds like you need a rear swaybar upgrade(if you don't already) to help combat that understeer because I never felt that I was plowing unless I made a mistake on entry which I correct for with more braking when such mistakes happen.
I currently have a progress rsb but am looking to get the stiffer JBR one or up my spring rate.
1 - 2 of 12 Posts
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