One of the
most important components on a kart is the tire. Tires impact the handling and the speed of
the cart directly and need to be selected based on a variety of factors. Most kart racers have a variety of tires to
suit the elements on the day of racing because if you race go karts and want to
win, understanding tires is one of the most important criteria for being
successful.
Tread:
Slicks – These
tires have absolutely no tread on them and are used for racing on a paved tracks.
Treaded tires
– These tires resemble car tires with normal looking treads. They do not grip the track as well as slicks,
but provide a mechanism for water to be pushed away if you are on a wet
surface.
Knobby or
studded tires - These tires are used in off-road environments where the cart needs
to handle well on very rough dirt and uneven surfaces because they grip better.
Sidewall:
Stiff – if you
are racing on a paved track, you want stiff sidewalls to prevent the tire from
bending when you corner.
Soft – if you
are racing on very rough terrain, a softer sidewall will help provide some
cushion and allow the tire to conform to the uneven racing surface providing
more grip.
Size:
Some karts
will use smaller tires up front to make it easier to steer. The diameters are the same, but the widths
are typically different. For racing on an oval track, tires are
typically different sizes on left and right.
Tire pressure
is extremely important. Make sure all
tires are properly inflated (within the manufacturer specified range) each time
you go out. Underinflated or
overinflated tires will not wear as well so you will reduce the life of the
tires. Tires improperly inflated can
also cause stability problems because they will not have the proper shape. More about this
next time.
