|
|
Post by Rodderick on Apr 2, 2013 13:19:32 GMT -5
I am completely new to karting and I was wondering where I needed to start with the tire pressures? I have a 6 year old running a Kid Kart and an 8 year old running a Jr. Clone. Any help or tips are appreciated. We will be running at Twin Fountains Raceway in Shelbyville, TN this season, it is a 1/2 mile road course with a 1/4 mile oval.
I also would like any info you would recommend on helmets. I have helmets for both of them but they are not new and I wanted to get them good safe helmets so any help as to recommended brands and where to purchase them would be helpful.
|
|
|
|
Post by scorekeeper on Apr 2, 2013 19:07:49 GMT -5
What brand of tires and what are your minimum weights? Typically, kid karts and Juniors run a little bit higher pressures because they don't weigh much and it takes longer for the kids' tires to warm up.
We run Junior Sportsman with a Yamaha at 250 pounds with Bridgestone 4.50 YLC tires. For that class, we try to run 15 or 16 PSI to get the tires to get hot enough to get some grip.
Hope that helps....
|
|
|
|
Post by Rodderick on Apr 3, 2013 15:21:55 GMT -5
That is great, we currently have Bridgestone YLB tires and weight designations are Kid Kart is 150 and the Clone Jr. is 275.
|
|
|
|
Post by scorekeeper on Apr 4, 2013 12:00:55 GMT -5
YLBs are a little softer than my YLCs, I think, so you may be able to run slightly less pressure.
Since you're at 275 on your clone, I'm guessing you may want to run your YLBs somewhere between 13-15. We run Junior Supercan at 305 and run between 8-12 on the YLCs, depending on the temperature (12 on cold days, 8 on hot days).
Checking your "hot" pressures is a good way to figure out what PSI is too much or too little. My rule of thumb is the tire pressure should grow between one through two pounds when the tire gets hot. So, if your pressure after a practice is more than 2 PSI than your starting PSI, drop your starting PSI. If your pressure after practice is less than 1 PSI, you need to raise your starting PSI.
You have to be careful with YLCs -- and soft tires in general -- because if they get too hot (which means they have too much pressure) they could blister and lose their grip.
|
|
|
|
Post by Rodderick on Apr 4, 2013 13:27:46 GMT -5
Great info to have, thank you for all the heads up tips. I have worked with Drag Racing for years and have even in the past helped with a Late Model Stock Car so I have some familiarization with some aspects of how things should work but since I am completely new I am asking all the questions I can. We are planning to get our first real practice this weekend, so I'm sure I will have more questions after this weekend.
|
|
