Race Sim Central
Rec.Autos.Simulators Archive

GPL - cold tires at start - Ugh!!??

9 posts by 7 people · 23 Nov 1998 - 24 Nov 1998

Hammer 23 Nov 1998#436169
Ugh. At the start of the race, the Ferrari with cold tires is a BEAR to drive!! Anyone else have troubles with this? I'd rather pull a fang tooth of a greased pig with my bare hands and a pair of pliers than try to battle for postition in the first half lap of a race at Spa. I cannot control the Ferrari with anything more than 3/4 throttle until all the way *after* Malmedy. I have to shift all the way down to a high 3rd to get through Malmedy, which leaves the field rocketing away from me down the straight into Stavelot. I am loosing as much as 2-4 seconds to the middle of the pack, methinks. I feel like I'm being extra smooth and extra attentive to throttle modulation while the tires come up to pressure/temp, but I get no joy. The car is all over the place under acceleration, like one of those 4th of July things that spins on the ground like a top while discharging colorful sparks <g>. Anyone have driving tips for cold tires?? Also, how does tire pressure affect GPL, without the tire wear factor? I read in the manual the guy recommends high pressure for Spa... but why? I tried it and sure enough I gained almost 2 seconds a lap consistently over the default setup... (also stiffened suspension by 10 pounds at all 4 corners) this does not make sense to me (because I'm ignorant?). In something like GP2, tire pressure has huge affect on grip levels, heating, and wear, but in GPL - where they say the tires are so hard they last for 3 weekends- I fail to see how pressure on a global scale (not on a corner-of-the-car handling scale) can have affect one way or the other? GPL is fun... but I am a *sh*tty* plilot LOL. -=Hammer remove the x fer email reply
Trips 23 Nov 1998#436170
Quoted text (11 lines)> Also, how does tire pressure affect GPL, without the tire wear > factor? I read in the manual the guy recommends high pressure > for Spa... but why? I tried it and sure enough I gained almost 2 > seconds a lap consistently over the default setup... (also > stiffened suspension by 10 pounds at all 4 corners) this does > not make sense to me (because I'm ignorant?). In something like > GP2, tire pressure has huge affect on grip levels, heating, and > wear, but in GPL - where they say the tires are so hard they last > for 3 weekends- I fail to see how pressure on a global scale (not > on a corner-of-the-car handling scale) can have affect one way or > the other?
More pressure = less rolling resistance. At Spa, where you're flat-out a lot of the time, that translates to higher top speeds and better lap times. Trips
Have you tried tire warmers?? (or for the British... Have you tried tyre warmers?)
Hammer 23 Nov 1998#436172
>> Also, how does tire pressure affect GPL, without the tire wear >> factor? I read in the manual the guy recommends high pressure >> for Spa... but why? <snip> Hmmm, I guess I underestimate(d) that affect. With the incredible torque and power of that Ferrari engine, I did not think a couple of pounds would make a difference. Apparently it does. What's the pressures people run at Spa? I am running 23 front, 22 back, symetrically. I assume in GPL softer means more grip? (i.e., monaco?). -=Hammer remove x fer email reply
Graeme Nash 23 Nov 1998#436173
Oh yeah, they're right at the centre of our plans! (or for the Americans, they're right at the center of our plans!) Cheers! -- Graeme Nash You know what to do with "don't_spam_me"... http://www.karisma1.demon.co.uk/ ICQ# 11257824 "Useless quote"
Increasing pressure helps lap times on quick tracks -like spa- because this increases tire stiffness (more lateral rigidity) and thus reduces what is called "tire scrubbing" (lateral deformation of the tire).Having a low pressure front tyre is like driving with the front wheels blocking the movement because of the distortion of these tyres when your are in a high speed turn.For example ,on cart ovals ,you would increase tyre pressure and stiffen the chassis (springs and bars) to get a better top speed...understanding how the TYRE is WORKING is THE KEY OF CAR RACING ,and BEACAUSE GPL IS SO GOOD ,also the KEY OF GPL FAST RACING!
SteveBla 24 Nov 1998#436381
No kidding. I was going nuts trying to get under two minutes at Rouen; particularly, getting a nice set through turn one at speed and sticking Gresil on the back side with minimal lift. A one psi increase in the left front tire and voila; a happy Lotus, its driver grinning like a fool at his 1:59. I need to read more about setup theory. Steve B.
Now you see why the Ferrari symbol/logo is the prancing stallion... Like a real stallion, though, once you have tamed it, it will reward you. Of course, in 1967, it won't reward you with enough top-end power and speed to win much at a track like Spa, but that's another whole story.... Marc.
Quoted text (11 lines)>Ugh. At the start of the race, the Ferrari with cold tires is a >BEAR to drive!! Anyone else have troubles with this? >I'd rather pull a fang tooth of a greased pig with my bare hands >and a pair of pliers than try to battle for postition in the >first half lap of a race at Spa. I cannot control the Ferrari >with anything more than 3/4 throttle until all the way *after* >Malmedy. I have to shift all the way down to a high 3rd to get >through Malmedy, which leaves the field rocketing away from me >down the straight into Stavelot. I am loosing as much as 2-4 >seconds to the middle of the pack, methinks.
Hammer 24 Nov 1998#436383
On Tue, 24 Nov 1998 02:56:19 +0100, jean louis duhenois
Quoted text (9 lines)>Increasing pressure helps lap times on quick tracks -like spa- because >this increases tire stiffness (more lateral rigidity) and thus reduces >what is called "tire scrubbing" (lateral deformation of the tire).Having >a low pressure front tyre is like driving with the front wheels blocking >the movement because of the distortion of these tyres when your are in a >high speed turn.For example ,on cart ovals ,you would increase tyre >pressure and stiffen the chassis (springs and bars) to get a better top >speed...understanding how the TYRE is WORKING is THE KEY OF CAR RACING >,and BEACAUSE GPL IS SO GOOD ,also the KEY OF GPL FAST RACING!
thanks Jean, appreciate it. I'm still left with questions though, and would love to hear your further opinion. Above being the case, then why not jack up pressures to 30lbs or so?? There must be some tradeoff if the pressure is set to high. What are the tradeoffs of higher (even "too high") tire pressure in GPL??? My guess would be firstly reduced grip, which at a place like Spa would not necessarily be too bad a thing. Secondly, I would guess the suspension would get even stiffer, as the tire would inflate to even further pressure when heated. In a modern F1 car, a pound of air pressure is worth something like 50lbs (?????? - itsa guess, don't flame me, n e 1 know??) worth of suspension resistence, or something like that - pretty considerable. How would that model to GPL?? Just for fun, last night I raised all 4 tires again by 1 pound... and set a new fast lap (3:28:04 - WAHOOOO!). I'm now running 25lbs in front and 24lbs in the back... pleasant little understeer setup for horsing the Ferrari through Malmedy at brilliant speed. I hate to be long winded (bad habit), but I have further question in relation to ride height. As the tire heats and inflates further, would the ride height not be affected?? In a modern F1 car, I think it would be very minimal (??), but in these older cars/tires/tyres, I'm wondering what the affect would be on ride hieght? Thanks all for your ideas/input/help. I'm determined to get good at this sim, it's the best piece of entertainment/sim software I have ever bought!! -=Hammer remove x fer email reply

Sponsors

Affiliate Links

Sim Gaming Expo MOZA Racing Sim-Lab Fanatec TrakRacer Asetek Internet Privacy From NordVPN Dreamhost Capital One Credit Card Application Fanatical CDKeys Amazon Amazon UK Project Motor Racing iRacing Get your racing gloves, boots and more from Demon Tweeks. Enlist at Roberts Space Industries, developers of Star Citizen and Squadron 42


Back from the ashes since July, 2019. First created in 2001 with the merger of Legends Central (founded 1999) and simracing.dk.

A site by a sort of sim racer, for sim racers, about racing sims. News and information on both modern and historic sim racing software titles.

All products and licenses property of their respective owners.


Facebook Threads Bluesky Twitter Mastodon Instagram YouTube Tiktok Twitch Reddit Google News Apple News Subscribe via WordPress Flipboard eBay

Race Sim Central © 1999-2026 | Some links pay RSC a commission. Advertising does not equal endorsement.Cookie Policy