rec.autos.simulators

Wally,
There isn't really a rule, it's just that with the radial tires, there
isn't a need to adjust stagger anymore.  You can't change the size of the
tire with radials by adding air pressure.  With the old bias ply tires
(we use them on our dirt late model stock car) you could stretch the
tires by pumping them up for a while and then letting them down.  You
could control the stagger.  You can't do that with radials.  They don't
get bigger, just more solid.  Goodyear builds a little stagger into the
tires, and everybody gets the same stagger.  They control the left to
right side grip by changing air pressure in the tires, sometimes by the
1/4 pound.  Since Nascar teams don't change stagger, Papyrus decided that
we shouldn't either.  After all, this is a realistic sim, isn't it?
Great job Papyrus!
Tom

NASCAR teams have not been able to adjust stagger for quite some time.
Goodyear gives all the teams the same tire compounds and stagger setup. I
gather the change was based on input from Bobby Labonte, who was a
technical consultant on the project. Same thing with the front air dam and
also, you have to qual and start the race with a full 22 gals.

Dave (davids) Sparks
Late Night League
http://www.sequoia-dev.com/Hawaii/latenite.html