[Nivek]

While I do not drag my car at all, I did notice something when I inflated my tires today. I will usually slightly overinflate my tires if I am traveling a long distance in a straight line (i.e. 20 miles on the freeway) to get better gas mileage. From what I understand, less tread will be touching the ground if the tires are overinflated which means less rolling resistance (is this right?). If this is right, then those that go to the drag strip may be able to benefit from the same technique, which is actually being used when dragging rear wheel drive vehicles.

If you want to try it, first get consistent going down the strip at the same approximate times and speeds, then over inflate your tires by a few pounds of pressure. See what kind of results you get. I imagine it could be good for a tenth or two...which if you already ahve a 12.1 second car this could put you into the 11s...hust a thought on how to squeeze the most of your times at the drag strip.

Please post your results if you have a chance to experiment with this. I imagine the incidental benefit would be less drivetrain strain if you launched your car hard because your car could break traction easier. Since the STi is AWD, gaining traction again should never be a problem as it would in muscle cars (with one caveat).

If you overinflate your tires too much and you begin to widen the time gap so much from the point when the tires break loose to when they gain traction could adversely affect your time, so you might have to find the optimal over inflated tire pressures if that makes sense (and if this truly works).

I know the Mustang crowd over inflates their front tires when they go to the drag strips, but not their rear tires because they rely on their rear tires for traction.

I am sure you guys know more about this than I do, so post up your thoughts. I was just throwing out an idea out that might help those of us that drag race acheive better times using the power they already have (even if only trying to match the times posted by Car & Driver in the 1/4 mile with their stock STi).

[drdome99]

On friday I went I was at 35psi all the way around and getting low 1.7 (1.68 best) 60's like it was my job.

[mike_]

overinflated tires also help you get off the line faster at the track with an AWD car. With lower pressures you have a bigger chance of bogging the car on the launch due to having too much initial grip. Higher pressures allow you to have a bit of wheel spin, less bog, and lower 60 foots--which equates to lower ETs. The difference isn't huge, but like you said...every little bit counts.