It’s no secret that having optimum tire pressures makes a hell of a difference in iRacing.
That’s because they will give you the optimum level of grip throughout the whole race distance or grapping that pole position in qualifyng.
It’s really not something that you should guess at either, so we’ve got a handy guide to help you out.
The table you will find at the end of the article is based on the default pressure settings for each car in the Gt3 class.
Of course, if you are feeling particularly brave (or have found a different sweet spot), feel free to experiment with pressures that fit best for your driving style.
Table of Contents
How does tire pressure affect sim racing?
Tires are the race car’s only form of contact with a race track, and as a result, they may be the difference between a winner and a mid-fielder.
Many variables can influence how well a tire grips the track surface, including tire compound, load, and especially its own behavior when exposed to various loads.
That’s why it is so important to get the tire pressures right for each session and track.
What are good starting pressures?
The driving style will have a major impact on the starting points for cold pressures.
A good starting point is to use the default pressure settings that we have listed in our table, and then make small adjustments from there as needed.
If you find that your tires are overheating too quickly or wearing down too fast, then you may need to decrease the cold pressure a bit and see what happens.
On the other hand, if you are not getting enough grip or the car is understeering, then you may need to increase the tire pressure and compare the car behaviour.
What should I do if my pressures change during a race?
Your tire pressures will most likely change during a race, especially as the tires heat up.
This is totally normal, and you should expect the pressures to vary by as much as 1.5-3 psi from the starting point.
If your tires are losing grip or you are experiencing excessive wear, then you may need to adjust the pressure accordingly for the next pit stop.
What PSI should my tires be for iRacing?
In this table you can find both the cold and hot tire pressure targets based on the weight of each car.
|
Vehicle Weight |
Cold starting pressures (psi) |
Target (psi) |
Target (bar) |
|
Very Light Car <800kg |
17 – 21 | 22 – 29 | 1.5 – 2.0 |
|
Light 800kg – 1000kg |
20 – 24 | 24 – 32 | 1.6 – 2.2 |
| Heavy 1000kg – 1400kg |
23 – 25 |
28 – 40 |
2.0 – 2.75 |
| Very Heavy >1400kg |
27 – 32 |
37 – 40 |
2.5 – 2.75 |
Here’s an example of what we could have for our iRacing Gt3 cars:
|
Gt3 Car model |
Cold tire pressure |
Hot tire pressure |
|
Aston Martin Vantage Gt3 |
20.5 |
26 |
|
Audi R8 LMS Ultra Gt3 |
21.5 |
27 |
|
BMW Z4 GT3 |
21.8 |
27 |
|
Lamborghini Huracán GT3 |
21 |
27 |
Wrap up:
Having optimum tyre pressures are of paramount importance in sim racing nowadays.
It’s something that you really should not guess at, because it could be the difference between winning and losing.
Keep in mind to check your tyre pressures regularly throughout a race to see that you’re not overheating your tires.
If they are starting to wear out too quickly or underperforming, then consider making small adjustments at your pitstop from what we have suggested above.
Tire pressure is a major factor in getting the most grip possible from your race car.
Driving style and car weight will have a major impact on the starting points for cold pressures.
It’s unquestionably a crucial component of shaving off a few tenths from your times, so make sure you pay close attention to your tire pressures!
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