+ or - Tyre Pressure for More Heat?

[djones]

I was always under the impression to get more heat into the tyre you would lower the pressures a bit to create a bit more movement in the walls (causing friction etc).

I've just read a small article that says to get more temperature into the tyre surface you increase the pressure. This apparently puts the stress onto the tread (causing heat) rather than the side walls.

Thoughts on this theory?

[noname]

by increasing pressure you are making tire stiffer and contact area smaller. tire is sliding more and there is more heat generated.

[Jersey Tom]

Tire isn't necessarily sliding more with increased pressure. Could very well slide much less and bump grip levels up.

It really depends. Sometimes taking air out will allow for more tread deformation, thus more heat. This is certainly the case on the straights, where lower air will start cooking the tire more.

Sometimes adding air increases grip level (and deformation) and/or increases footprint stress, thus more heat.

More heat is also not necessarily good. A lot of times its bad.

In any event, the effect is going to be small relative to the effect of how much speed the driver can carry through turns, and how much load he can work into the tires.