What PSI to run on stock tires at the dragstrip? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

mikesvert · 07-26-2012, 11:48 AM

Running the stock pirellis on my SS and trying to help with wheel spin. I assume dropping some tire pressure will help ? Whats a good # to run them at??

Thanks,

Quick · 07-26-2012, 01:56 PM

I drop mine down to 25 psi...never lower. some will, I wont.

Stingr69 · 07-26-2012, 02:38 PM

25 PSI hot worked well for me. Traction is very limited with my car. "Chirp and roll on the throttle" is about the best I can shoot for with the stock Pirellis and a blower.

-Mark.

mikesvert · 07-26-2012, 03:09 PM

Thanks fellas... ill try 25 at the strip tomorrow and see how that works.

Pro Stock John · 07-26-2012, 03:36 PM

L99, I've run 22-25 psi cold. Last time I ran 23 psi, cut 1.92 but the track was also great.

DarkneSS · 07-26-2012, 04:41 PM

I cut a 2.01 in a stock V6 RS with the pressure at 23.

blufin · 07-27-2012, 11:43 AM

I never run my Pirelli's less than 30-32 and have managed a 1.87 60" time stock, and a 1.77 60" after the supercharger was added. If you let too much air out of the tire, it will begin to cup in the middle, decreasing the contact patch and limiting traction. Stock tires are made for optimum performance at a certain psi and temp. Go outside that and the traction will suffer.

Nasty1970 · 07-27-2012, 11:45 AM

This was a conversation i just had with some friends....the tires obviously grab better at lower PSI, but how does this affect the top end i wonder? Because a maximum(according to tire) inflated tire has less resistance at higher speeds, I wonder if the tire pressure cancels itself out in this case, or is traction more important? I know traction is incredibly important, but if a consistent launch could be obtained with properly inflated tires, would the ETs be lower?
I’m not sure this is an answerable question because the results are probably negligible, but I’m curious. I run drag tires on my 1970, and run about 18 PSI. But the design of those tires is completely different than the Z-rated Pirellis on my 2011....Food for thought! Food for thought!

camslambam · 07-27-2012, 11:59 AM

Use to run 18psi on my 21s.

scrming · 07-27-2012, 12:03 PM

I would say 25 to 28 PSI... too low the tires will cup and you'll actually end up with less of a contact patch.

Other thing speaking of tire pressure... go ahead and OVER inflate your front tires! I would run them up to 45 PSI or so.... don't forget to let the air out when you leave the track though...

Pro Stock John · 07-27-2012, 12:42 PM

Car won't feel weird at 25 psi, no difference at all actually.

On other cars I've run slicks as low as 11 and drag radials as low as 14.

mikesvert · 07-27-2012, 03:21 PM

Thanks for all the feedback fellas ... great info...cant wait to experiment

07-26-2012, 11:48 AM	#1
mikesvert Drives: 2012 2SS TF & 2012 LT Conv(hers) Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: San Diego Posts: 23	What PSI to run on stock tires at the dragstrip? Running the stock pirellis on my SS and trying to help with wheel spin. I assume dropping some tire pressure will help ? Whats a good # to run them at?? Thanks,

07-26-2012, 01:56 PM	#2
Quick Drives: 2012 Camaro SS 45th Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Union City,Tn. Posts: 858	I drop mine down to 25 psi...never lower. some will, I wont. __________________ OBX 1 7/8 LT's w/high flow cats. Doug Thorley catback w/x pipe. Cold air intake by CAI w/apex scoop.V-max ported throttle body.DynoSpeed tuned by Forest.369 rwhp/385 rwtq Something wicked this way cometh...

07-26-2012, 03:36 PM	#5
Pro Stock John Writer Drives: 2010 SS / 1967 Camaro Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 7,216	L99, I've run 22-25 psi cold. Last time I ran 23 psi, cut 1.92 but the track was also great. __________________ PROJECT HEAVY CHEVY Camaro Now: Mods for the Masses Part I \| Part II 13.15@106 1.95 \| 100% Stock 12.37@112 1.85 \| + Kooks Headers/Cats + 20" 555R + CAI + BW TB + UDP + Tune 12.06@113 1.70 \| + CD 3200 + 18" NT05R + RCR Intake + NE OTR + GPI Tune 11.84@115 1.59 \| + 3.91s + Race Star 17x7 Fronts 10.90@125 1.47 \| + GPI VVT Cam + BW Ported Heads + CD 3800

07-27-2012, 11:43 AM	#7
blufin Drives: Fire Engine Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: WPB, Florida Posts: 1,415	I never run my Pirelli's less than 30-32 and have managed a 1.87 60" time stock, and a 1.77 60" after the supercharger was added. If you let too much air out of the tire, it will begin to cup in the middle, decreasing the contact patch and limiting traction. Stock tires are made for optimum performance at a certain psi and temp. Go outside that and the traction will suffer. __________________ 12.618 @ 110.75 Bone Stock 1/4 mile 8.165 @ 86.52 Bone Stock 1/8 mile 11.189 @ 124.44 on a 1.73 60' TVS2300 3.4 pulley, JRE tuned, Kooks LT headers and HF cats, MBRP catback exhaust, CAI intake, ADM scoop. Stock wheels/tires. Sold

07-27-2012, 11:45 AM	#8
Nasty1970 Drives: 2011 Red 2SS RS Convertible Join Date: May 2011 Location: Houston TX Posts: 377	This was a conversation i just had with some friends....the tires obviously grab better at lower PSI, but how does this affect the top end i wonder? Because a maximum(according to tire) inflated tire has less resistance at higher speeds, I wonder if the tire pressure cancels itself out in this case, or is traction more important? I know traction is incredibly important, but if a consistent launch could be obtained with properly inflated tires, would the ETs be lower? I’m not sure this is an answerable question because the results are probably negligible, but I’m curious. I run drag tires on my 1970, and run about 18 PSI. But the design of those tires is completely different than the Z-rated Pirellis on my 2011....Food for thought! Food for thought! __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1970 Camaro ,2011 Red Convertible 2SS,2008 Saturn Sky,2012 Jeep Wrangler

07-26-2012, 02:38 PM	#3
Stingr69 '69 Owned Since '79 Drives: '69 Z/28 LeMans Blue w/White Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: LR AR Posts: 1,847 View My Garage	25 PSI hot worked well for me. Traction is very limited with my car. "Chirp and roll on the throttle" is about the best I can shoot for with the stock Pirellis and a blower. -Mark.

07-26-2012, 03:09 PM	#4
mikesvert Drives: 2012 2SS TF & 2012 LT Conv(hers) Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: San Diego Posts: 23	Thanks fellas... ill try 25 at the strip tomorrow and see how that works.

07-26-2012, 04:41 PM	#6
DarkneSS Account Suspended Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS 6MT Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Westchester, New York Posts: 3,715	I cut a 2.01 in a stock V6 RS with the pressure at 23.

07-27-2012, 11:59 AM	#9
camslambam Account Suspended Drives: 2010 SS, 06 SRT10 Ram Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: C. America Posts: 1,658	Use to run 18psi on my 21s.

07-27-2012, 12:03 PM	#10
scrming Red Brick of Vengeance! Drives: 12 Second Brick Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: at my pulpit Posts: 7,745	I would say 25 to 28 PSI... too low the tires will cup and you'll actually end up with less of a contact patch. Other thing speaking of tire pressure... go ahead and OVER inflate your front tires! I would run them up to 45 PSI or so.... don't forget to let the air out when you leave the track though... __________________ 2011 Ford Flex EcoBoost Limited - 12.727 @ 109.790 MPH

07-27-2012, 12:42 PM	#11
Pro Stock John Writer Drives: 2010 SS / 1967 Camaro Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 7,216	Car won't feel weird at 25 psi, no difference at all actually. On other cars I've run slicks as low as 11 and drag radials as low as 14. __________________ PROJECT HEAVY CHEVY Camaro Now: Mods for the Masses Part I \| Part II 13.15@106 1.95 \| 100% Stock 12.37@112 1.85 \| + Kooks Headers/Cats + 20" 555R + CAI + BW TB + UDP + Tune 12.06@113 1.70 \| + CD 3200 + 18" NT05R + RCR Intake + NE OTR + GPI Tune 11.84@115 1.59 \| + 3.91s + Race Star 17x7 Fronts 10.90@125 1.47 \| + GPI VVT Cam + BW Ported Heads + CD 3800

07-27-2012, 03:21 PM	#12
mikesvert Drives: 2012 2SS TF & 2012 LT Conv(hers) Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: San Diego Posts: 23	Thanks for all the feedback fellas ... great info...cant wait to experiment