Two things to check regarding tires before a track day

Tire settings are the first thing you should check when participating in a track day at a circuit.
However, many people who are participating in a track day for the first time may not know what to check on their tires when riding on the circuit.
This article will explain two key points to check regarding tires when riding on a circuit.

Table of Contents

[1. Check the appropriate tire pressure for track days]
Is lower tire pressure the theory for track days?
Lower tire pressure is only good for race tires
[2. Tire temperature is also important for track days]
Use tire warmers
Expose tires to sunlight
[3. Tire temperature can also be raised while driving on the circuit]
Accelerate fully on straightaways
Drive in a way that flexes the tires
[4. Summary]

［1. Check the appropriate tire pressure for track days］

Is lower tire pressure the theory for track days?

While opinions among riders vary, it is generally incorrect to lower tire pressure just because you are riding on a circuit. The general rule is to maintain the specified tire pressure.
For OE tires (Original Equipment tires) that are installed on a vehicle at the time of shipment, the vehicle is designed to perform at its best when the specified tire pressure is maintained.
That is what the specified tire pressure is for; by maintaining the specified tire pressure, you can ride safely and comfortably.
Occasionally, some people lower the tire pressure by nearly 1.0 kgf/cm2 below the specified pressure when participating in a track day, but for OE tires, it is safest to lower it by at most about 10% of the specified pressure.

Lower tire pressure is only good for race tires

Although I mentioned that lowering tire pressure for circuit riding is generally incorrect, there are exceptions. These are production race tires.
This is because production tires are developed with the goal of winning races. Therefore, the rubber material, shape, and structure used in their manufacturing are different from OE tires.
While it varies by manufacturer and brand, production race tires are used with lower tire pressures. The current trend is around 2.0 for the front and 1.8 for the rear.
Production race tires are used with lower air pressure to allow the tire to flex sufficiently under load, expanding the contact patch and improving grip.

［2. Tire temperature is also important for track days］

Use tire warmers

When riding on a circuit, tire temperature is just as important as tire pressure. Not only for circuit riding but also for street riding, if the tire rubber is cold and hardened in winter, the tires may not perform optimally.
Therefore, using a tire warmer is recommended. A tire warmer is equipment that wraps around the tire and heats it using electricity.
It is now essential for racing. Since the optimal temperature varies for each tire, it is necessary to check how hot the warmer can get.
This is because overheating can cause the tire to become heat-fatigued.
However, once set up, it is a very convenient piece of equipment because it warms the tires even if left unattended.

Expose tires to sunlight

This method is most effective when you don't have tire warmers or can't use them.
While it involves warming the tires with the sun's heat, be careful not to expose race tires to sunlight too frequently, as UV rays can cause cracks on the tread surface. Additionally, if you can change tires with the wheel on the spot, another option is to pre-warm race tires in a heated car and then set them up.

［1. Tire temperature can also be raised while driving on the circuit］

Accelerate fully on straightaways

Rubber, the material of tires, generates heat when force is applied and it deforms. Therefore, you can warm up the tires by actively opening the throttle on straightaways and subjecting the tires to stress from engine power.
However, be careful not to apply sudden braking to put stress on the front tire, as this can be dangerous.

Drive in a way that flexes the tires

During the warm-up lap, overall speeds are low to medium, so it's often not possible to gain speed even on straightaways. In such cases, you can warm up the tires by applying more brake drag or accelerating slightly earlier during cornering, thereby putting stress on the tires.
Also, some people try to warm up their tires by swerving, but this is not effective except for breaking in new tires, and it increases the risk of falling, so it is not recommended.

［4. Summary］

When attending a track day at a circuit, the two most important things to check about your tires are "air pressure" and "temperature."
Checking these two points beforehand will not only allow you to enjoy the track day safely and comfortably but also help you improve your lap times.
When you participate in a track day, please check your tire "air pressure" and "temperature."