A Complete Guide on How To Tire Prep for Go-Kart Racing
Less time on the track means more time in the winner’s circle!
Choosing the right amount of traction for the track is crucial. Several days before a race, you will want to scuff your tires and apply the tire prep formula.
You can save tenths of a second per lap with proven tire prep formulas. This will significantly improve your finish time.
Please confirm that tire prepping is legal before we move forward. Let’s get started!
Steps To Apply Go-Kart Tire Prep
Preparing your racing go-kart tires is relatively simple, but there are a few steps you need to consider before you begin. The steps mentioned below will help you prepare your tires for application effectively.
Scrub Your New Tires
In most cases, people will use brand-new tires; others will use tires with rubber coatings removed. It’s best to scrub your tires first, regardless of how you decide to proceed.
The shiny rubber you see on your tires is more of a protective coating that will be gone within the first two turns, so it’s not worth treating.
Scrubbing your new tires includes several options, including blasting around the race track or using sandpaper to remove the first layer. Take your tires out for a couple of laps around the circuit and then continue the process.
Identify the Number of Applications Needed
It is essential to plan when it comes to tire prep for go-kart racing. Decide how many layers of coatings you will apply to your tires. To calculate this, you’ll need to know the type of track you’re participating in and how your tires are performing.
If you want to apply more tire prep formula to a track, apply it lower the bite. Therefore, you may use a little more than usual in tracks with low bite.
Spritz the outer tire with four ounces and the inner tire with three ounces of lubricant. The outer tire should carry 3 ounces of oil and the inner tire 2 ounces.
The outer tire should have 2 ounces of foam applied to it, and the inner tire should have 1 ounce applied to it. If the track bites very well, you might opt to skip tire prepping altogether.
Taking into account your tires’ condition is also essential. Because they have a smoother surface and less traction, new tires tend to have less grip. Wear-and-tear tires may need less traction since they already have a good grip.
Place the Kart on a Stand
You can easily access all four tires and make sure none is touching the ground during the process. This is why we recommend placing your go-kart on a stand.
The best way to secure your go-kart is to use a dedicated go-kart stand as long as it doesn’t touch your tires. Whenever possible, go-kart stands are the most appropriate.
You should be able to move all four go-kart tires after placing your go-kart on the stand. Applying the tire prep formula requires you to move all four of them.
Grabbing onto the axle or wheel will allow you to move the tires, so ensure these areas are accessible and not blocked.
Make sure to perform this indoors as well. To prevent these from getting wet, it’s best to prep tires in your garage or somewhere else indoors, as you’ll need to allow them to dry naturally.
Apply The Formula
You should read the instructions carefully before preparing tires. In most cases, they give instructions on how much and in what manner to apply the formula. The following is a general guideline for anyone preparing tires themselves or unsure.
To apply the tire compound, you can choose one of three methods. Either a spray, a brush, or a roller will do. It’s up to you what suits you best. For an idea of how much tire prep formula to apply, use the table below.
For Low Bite Tracks
- 4 ounces on Outer Tire
- 3 ounces on Inner Tire
For Medium Bite Tracks
- 4 ounces on Outer Tire
- 3 ounces on Inner Tire
For High Bite Tracks
- 2 ounces on Outer Tire
- 1 ounce on Inner Tire
As soon as you notice the difference, you have to use more tire prep formulas for the outer tire. Especially during cornering, the outer tire will be in closer contact with the track. The outside tires wear out faster and need more traction and formula as a result.
For extra traction, you need a thicker application when the bite of the race track is lower. You can also apply half or a third of the amount separately instead of all at once.
There’s no rule as to whether you should apply all the tire prep coatings in one go or divide them into thinner applications. Remember that your tires must have at least 48 hours to dry after your last application.
Let the Formula Soak
The application now needs to dry. After drying, the go-kart tire formula penetrates and dries.
Typically, drying takes between 24 and 48 hours, so be sure to give it at least 48 hours. As the tires dry, they shouldn’t make contact with the ground. Due to this, it is best to store your go-kart inside in a dry environment.
In wet environments, freshly coated tires might become ineffective, and the drying process might slow down.
Put the Tires back on the Rims
You can treat the inside of the tires as well if you want to go the extra mile. Your tires should be back on the rims after the tire prep, so you should spin them a few times.
The tire roller is perfect for ensuring that the tires keep rolling and the chemical absorbs into the tires.
It is advantageous because the tire gets treated from both sides, and the chemical won’t just wear off after a few sessions on the track. Saran wrap, used by some people to prevent the chemicals from evaporating, isn’t necessary.
Pump up The Tire
The final step is putting the tires back on the rims or pumping them up to the desired tire pressure. With your tires gripping better, you should be able to reduce your lap time a few tenths.
Understand the Track Conditions & Surfaces
You must know the track conditions to understand how many layers and how much formula to use.
The bite of race tracks differs. It basically refers to how much traction you get from a track. Each type of track surface has a different level of grip.
Concrete tracks are typically less biting than older asphalt tracks that have more rubber deposits. Traction on dirt surfaces is very low when compared to traditional racetrack surfaces.
When it comes to low bite tracks, you should apply a thicker layer of tire prep formula. Ideally, you should aim for a medium application of the sealant on a medium bite track.
A race track with a high bite may require a thin coat or even no tire prep at all, depending on how high it bites.
Tire Pressures
Testing is essential before your race meeting to see what works best for you and how different weather and track conditions affect your tire pressure. In advance of the race, you should know what sort of pressure you will face.
It is sometimes necessary to pump your tires to a specified pressure when applying tire prep formulas and let them air dry. Even though this step is not required, it makes it easier to coat your tires evenly.
Tire Prep Formulas For Go-Karting
1. Pro-Blend Hot Lap
Pro-blend is a tire preparation formula suitable for all types of kart racing, including dirt-kart racing. This formula, they claim, can reduce lap times by up to half a second while extending tire life by 50%.
2. PJ Track Bite
Asphalt karting drivers (who don’t use their brand of tire enhancers) seem to prefer this tire enhancer the most.
This formula originated for drag racing, but because of the amount of grip it provides, it has become more prevalent in other motorsports. No matter what the weather is like, this formula will work.
3. Pimp Juice
Since this formula originated explicitly for karting, you can expect incredible amounts of grip on your kart tires; however, there is no mention of the effects of the tire prep formula on tire life. As a biodegradable formula, it is also safer than most.
Legality
Some leagues prohibit tire prep. If your advantage is not glaring, you might not specifically get scrutinized for it in other leagues. If you’re not sure whether tire prep is illegal where you race, you can ask your local race organizer.
Knowing that being caught will save you from disqualification in the long run. You can get away with it, even if scrutineering actively searches for tire preparation formulas in some leagues.
Several tire preparation formulas claim they are undetectable as well. If you violate a league’s rules, you do so at your own risk; some leagues can be strict about these kinds of violations.
FAQs
How do you prep kart tires for a race?
We recommend prep and rolling the tire three days before the race to give the tire a chance to be fully set. With the use of a fuel line, preparation is injected or drawn into the valve stem. You should then roll the tires for at least six hours continuously on a tire roller.
What does go-kart tire prep consist of?
Formulas for tire prep mixtures typically contain mineral spirits and acetone, fuel, transmission fluid, and other various substances. Racers use tire prep formula atop their tires before a race to improve traction and shorten lap times.
How do you make homemade tire prep for go-kart racing?
Mix up a solution consisting of a third of acetone, a third of mineral spirits, and a third of transmission fluid. Use a rag or a paint roller to apply the mixture to tires. After mixing tires for 15-30 minutes, allow them to soak. It is essential to ventilate the area during the mixing process properly.
Final Thoughts
Tire prep formulas increase your lap time in numbers. It’s like steroids for kart tires. But many karting organizations prohibit the use of these formulas. You must ask your race organizer whether it permits using tire prep formulas in your league.
Additionally, we always recommend you to use these chemicals with extra care.