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How Do I Warm Up Tires in Iracing

Answer to how do i warm up tires in iRacing for drivers: quick, practical steps to get grip fast, avoid understeer, and heat your tires properly before racing.

If you’re asking “how do i warm up tires in iracing” the short answer is: do controlled warm-up laps — gentle braking and throttle, smooth steering, and a few heat-building maneuvers — then check the tire temps and pressures before pushing. You’re in the right place to fix this fast.

Quick Answer — how do i warm up tires in iracing

Warm the tires with a short out-lap and a couple of progressive warm-up laps: avoid aggressive inputs, build lateral and longitudinal load, and use short bursts of speed and braking to raise tread and carcass temperatures. Verify temperatures in the garage or via the in-car app and only push when temps are in the target window.

What’s really going on

Tires need heat to reach the rubber temperature where they grip best. Cold tires are stiff and slippery; they don’t generate the same traction or cornering force. iRacing simulates tire carcass and tread temperatures separately — the tread temp is most important for grip, but carcass temp affects handling and pressure. If you start fast with cold tires you’ll slide, lose time, or spin, and you risk damaging your race (and your Safety Rating).

Step-by-step fix

Start with a gentle out-lap. Drive at about 60–80% pace, avoid full throttle launches, and make smooth steering inputs so the tires heat evenly.
Do 1–2 warm-up laps. Add a couple of progressive full-power runs on the straights and shorter, firmer braking zones to build braking heat into the fronts.
Add some lateral loading. In a safe corner, apply steady, slightly firmer throttle/steer to load the outside tire — this raises tread temps where you need them most.
Use a short braking zone hard but controlled. One or two heavier brake applications build heat in both tread and carcass; don’t lock wheels.
Return to the pits or a cool-down zone and check temps. Aim for the range shown in your setup notes or in the car’s recommended window.
Adjust pressures if needed. If tread temps are too low, add a small amount of camber or run a slightly higher pressure next session; if too hot, reduce pressure or be gentler on the next warm-up.

Extra Tips / Checklist

Watch both inner and outer tread temps — evenness matters for balanced grip.
If you have tire blankets (real-world), ignore them — in iRacing you must warm tires on-track.
For wet conditions, warm up by making smooth laps but avoid standing water; temperatures matter less but heat still helps compound grip.
Use the in-car temp display or the crew chief app to monitor actual numbers, not just feel.
If you still feel loose after warm-up, add a lap before pushing or drop tire pressure 0.1–0.3 psi next session.

FAQs

Q: How many laps does it take to warm tires in iRacing?
A: Usually 1–3 progressive laps depending on car and track. Open-wheel cars heat faster than heavy GT cars.

Q: Should I do burnouts to warm tires?
A: No. Burnouts heat the tires unevenly and can over-stress the carcass. Use controlled laps instead.

Q: What temp range should I aim for?
A: Each car has a target. Generally aim for tread temps in the mid-range shown by the car’s baseline setup or your notes.

Q: Can I warm tires in the pit lane?
A: Not effectively. Pit lane speed limits limit heat build; use an out-lap and the first couple of corners.

Short wrap-up

Warming tires in iRacing is about controlled, progressive loading: out-lap, 1–2 warm laps, a couple of firmer brakes/accels, then check temps. If you follow those steps, you’ll have grip when it counts — try one extra warm-up lap next time and watch your consistency improve.