JOINPeople at the track like to discuss about compound specifc pressures, setup and weather — but very few think about the asphalt underneath. Yet when we analysed global circuits for Tyre Pressure Tool 2.0, one thing became impossible to ignore:
track surfaces around the world behave nothing alike.
Climate, local construction standards and surface ageing all shape how much grip you feel and how fast your tyres come alive. The difference is big enough that one universal calculation would never stay accurate everywhere.
Here’s a short overview of why.
1. The “Global” Pattern
A large group of tracks worldwide share a fairly similar feel: no extreme heat or grinding abrasion, creating a repeatable pattern and rubbering-in happens at a steady pace. Countries like Europe, the US, Oceania, even South Africa use well-graded aggregates and modern asphalt mixes with stable binder ratios.
This means the surfaces dry consistently and grip builds in a predictable way. These regions also share more moderate climate variability, making grip changes easier to model.
That’s the reason why most regions fit into one Global model without compromising accuracy. It forms the base for almost 75% of countries.
2. Why Asia Feels Different?
Many Asian karting circuits use asphalt mixes with softer bitumen binders. These binders tend to release oils, especially in warm and humid climates, leaving the surface slightly “moist” even when dry.
The result?
A driving feel that is slidy, light and unresponsive, with very slow grip buildup. Even though many tracks in South-East Asia are physically rough — using less refined local aggregates that wear tyres quickly — the oiliness and moisture content prevent the surface from ever developing strong mechanical bite.
This behaviour is far outside the neutral Global pattern, which is why Tyre Pressure Tool 2.0 uses a dedicated Asian model that scientifically interprets how the surface behaves.
3. How does South America measure up?
Many South American tracks — for example Chile —use asphalt with very coarse, hard local stone (often basalt-rich aggregates). These stones are extremely durable but create a naturally abrasive, high-texture surface.
Because the climate is dry and hot in many areas, asphalt often contains lower bitumen content, ensuring the surface doesn’t soften or bleed oils. The trade-off is more exposed stone, which produces high tyre wear, intense mechanical grip, and strong grip changes as rubber builds and heat increases.
The grip evolution pattern here differs sharply from both the Global and Asian regions, warranting a dedicated Sudamerican model inside Tyre Pressure Tool 2.0.
Karting asphalt behaves very differently depending on where in the world you race. Tyre pressures are hard to model but can be predicted when you know what changes them. These contrasting surface properties are exactly why Tyre Pressure Tool 2.0 separates its calculations across Global, Asian, and Sudamerican profiles to reflect how each region’s asphalt truly behaves. Asphalt is the foundation karts race on, thus of primary importance, but it’s only one of many contributors that affects tyre pressures.
