UK Karting - Notice Board (2-Stroke Karting) : Re: Too Much Grip!!!

Notice Board (2-Stroke Karting)

Re: Too Much Grip!!!
Posted by 'itpro' on 26 May 2009 @ 01:15

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itproJoined: August 2001
Total Posts: 6
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Be careful what you ask for, you might GET it!

Realistically, it is IMPOSSIBLE to have 'too much grip'! Do you have as much as Button had on Sunday? Do you think he asked for LESS 'grip'? If he had MORE than you when you have too MUCH, why didn't HE ask for less?

If you mean, you have 'too much grip AT THE REAR', that might make more sense. Strictly, 'grip' refers to the whole KART's ability to grip the track, i.e., front AND rear!

Blistering tyres are NOT proof of too much grip! If you 'played' an oxy acetelene flame on your tyres, they'd blister even though they were giving you ZERO grip!) Blisters usually mean the tre surface is simply getting too hot! They can get too hot in places simply by being over-inflated (too much pressure). Too much pressure makes the tyres bulge about the middle and that reduces the 'contact path' (he piece of tyre which actually TOUCHES the track at any instant). Reducing the contact patch means that all of your 'cornering/braking energy' is now focused into a small area; if that area is too small, it simply overheats..... and then 'blisters'.

You CAN blister tyres with NO (very little) rear grip. Move your weight forward and then simply spin the tyres by using too much power and 'doing doughnuts'! You'll develop a NICE set of blisters if you do that even though your 'rear grip' was rubbish!

So, 'blisters' may NOT mean that you have too much rear-end grip!

*******

Too much rear-grip normally means that you will get 'understeer'. That's when the kart does not want to turn as 'sharply' in the corners as you have 'asked for' with the steering wheel. It leads to you turning the wheel MORE than you want to, just to get ROUND the corner! 'Oversteer' (usually caused by too little rear grip) is when the kart turns MORE sharply into the corner than you 'asked for' with the steering wheel!

Oddly enough, too much rear-grip can make the FRONT tyres blister! The fronts are forced (by the rears) to slide in the corners (when there is too much REAR grip) and this can overheat the fronts!

So.... tell us more about the tyre pressures you are using and more about the sypmtoms. We'll do our best to help you!

ian

Message Thread:

Too Much Grip!!! by 'GillardKid' (25 May 2009 @ 20:56)

Re: Too Much Grip!!! by 'BanzaiBoy' (25 May 2009 @ 21:09)

Re: Too Much Grip!!! by 'itpro' << You are here!

Re: Too Much Grip!!! by 'PeterM' (26 May 2009 @ 7:56)

Re: Too Much Grip!!! by 'PaulMRotax' (26 May 2009 @ 8:07)

Re: Too Much Grip!!! by 'pratty' (26 May 2009 @ 8:49)

Re: Too Much Grip!!! by 'PaulMRotax' (26 May 2009 @ 10:33)

Hi Paul by 'itpro' (26 May 2009 @ 10:49)

Re: Hi Paul by 'PaulMRotax' (27 May 2009 @ 20:28)

Re: Hi Paul...... oh dear..... how sad. by 'itpro' (28 May 2009 @ 12:14)

Re: Hi Paul...... oh dear..... how sad. by 'PaulMRotax' (29 May 2009 @ 18:54)

Re: Hi Paul...... oh dear..... how sad. by 'itpro' (30 May 2009 @ 12:47)

Hi Peter, Paul.... where's Mary, by the way? by 'itpro' (26 May 2009 @ 10:44)

Re: Hi Peter, Paul.... where's Mary, by the way? by 'BanzaiBoy' (26 May 2009 @ 15:47)

Re: Too Much Grip!!! by 'GillardKid' (26 May 2009 @ 16:05)

Re: Too Much Grip!!! by 'itpro' (26 May 2009 @ 16:28)

Re: Too Much Grip!!! by 'GillardKid' (26 May 2009 @ 16:41)

Re: Too Much Grip!!! by 'itpro' (26 May 2009 @ 17:09)

Re: Too Much Grip!!! by 'davidmc' (26 May 2009 @ 18:10)

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