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My stock 98 auto with 3.15 gears would spin the runflat 275 Michelin tires from a dead stop with traction control on, a little worse with it off but wasn't that bad either way. When I changed wheels I put brand new 305 Hankooks on the back and now the car just hooks and goes!
3.15s make a big difference in the acceleration of the car
I had a 98 automatic convertible with the 2.73 gear it was the same way it would not spin unless you foot braked it a bit. And yes it was a dog off the line but after you were rolling it would fly.
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I have an A4 with the 3.15 rear gears and have no problems spinning the tires if I want to. If you do have the 2.73s, then that could be a lot of your problem.
I grew up in a era when performance cars could break traction with ease. It was a combination of very high torque numbers and the tire technology of the day. I miss that option, as I too don't find my car willing to break loose from just the application of the throttle alone. I almost never turn off the AH as I have no reason to do so. From what I have read on here if you want to be able to smoke'um at will you need either H/C/I or F/I which recreates the hp and torque of the old big blocks.
I grew up in a era when performance cars could break traction with ease. It was a combination of very high torque numbers and the tire technology of the day. I miss that option, as I too don't find my car willing to break loose from just the application of the throttle alone. I almost never turn off the AH as I have no reason to do so. From what I have read on here if you want to be able to smoke'um at will you need either H/C/I or F/I which recreates the hp and torque of the old big blocks.
Put some tires from 1969 on your C5 and you will be able to burn them off the rims.
I grew up in a era when performance cars could break traction with ease. It was a combination of very high torque numbers and the tire technology of the day. I miss that option, as I too don't find my car willing to break loose from just the application of the throttle alone. I almost never turn off the AH as I have no reason to do so. From what I have read on here if you want to be able to smoke'um at will you need either H/C/I or F/I which recreates the hp and torque of the old big blocks.
Gearing is HUGE
Performance cars back in the day had steep gears and crappy tires, resulting in easy burnouts. Even a 1969 Z/28 could easily light the tires up (despite having lower torque compared to the SS350 and SS396) due to the 4.11 gears. Any Corvette with 3.15 (auto) or 3.42 (manual) gears will easily spin the tires. An auto C5 with 3.42s will have burnout and accelerate like a beast; an automatic C5 with the 2.73s will be a turd without significant engine modifications.
Performance cars back in the day had steep gears and crappy tires, resulting in easy burnouts. Even a 1969 Z/28 could easily light the tires up (despite having lower torque compared to the SS350 and SS396) due to the 4.11 gears. Any Corvette with 3.15 (auto) or 3.42 (manual) gears will easily spin the tires. An auto C5 with 3.42s will have burnout and accelerate like a beast; an automatic C5 with the 2.73s will be a turd without significant engine modifications.[/QUOT
It is primarily about gearing. My Z06 breaks them loose at 25mph with just the application of the throttle and they stay loose to red line. Hit second and it is loose again. I am still on the Goodyears and plan to upgrade to Michelin PSS to get them to hook. I think you are just up against an auto and 2.73 gears.
Performance cars back in the day had steep gears and crappy tires, resulting in easy burnouts. Even a 1969 Z/28 could easily light the tires up (despite having lower torque compared to the SS350 and SS396) due to the 4.11 gears. Any Corvette with 3.15 (auto) or 3.42 (manual) gears will easily spin the tires. An auto C5 with 3.42s will have burnout and accelerate like a beast; an automatic C5 with the 2.73s will be a turd without significant engine modifications.
As Corvette owners we all understand the effects of tires and gearing. But I know my car has 312-317 rwhp and 323 rwtq and it will not light up the tires from a slow roll in first. With the mods I mentioned I don't think it would be an issue. I do have 3.42's so I guess not "all" of them will. I'm fairly sure I could force my car to spin the tires but I'm speaking of the ability to break them loose in 3rd at 45mph as well as a standing start.
As Corvette owners we all understand the effects of tires and gearing. But I know my car has 312-317 rwhp and 323 rwtq and it will not light up the tires from a slow roll in first. With the mods I mentioned I don't think it would be an issue. I do have 3.42's so I guess not "all" of them will. I'm fairly sure I could force my car to spin the tires but I'm speaking of the ability to break them loose in 3rd at 45mph as well as a standing start.
Same here. Not sure why you want to lose control, but if you do, just put it in "Competition Mode" and floor it.
You didn't say anything about having engine tuned by a Corvette shop, which I think is necessary for any new owner. There's a probability that you will come down with the 'mod disease' which leaves many of us with with too much spin...
Good luck
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Im running Z06 wheels with 295's on the back. They are Nokian, a performance all weather tire from Europe. Cant believe they are all that sticky. Non runflats.
Im running Z06 wheels with 295's on the back. They are Nokian, a performance all weather tire from Europe. Cant believe they are all that sticky. Non runflats.
hmmmm... may need more input from drivers with autos. You maybe have to power stall it a bit to breakem loose... it's a good thing they won't if your wanting to race somebody...
He who spins the tires comes in second at the finish line
I just bought my 2003 50th edition a couple weeks ago and the other day I was feeling comfortable and ready to try a burn out. Shopping center rear parking lot, first with the traction control on, I was able to get a little wheel spin, then turned it off and got about the same or just a tad more. So I decided to put my foot on the brake gave it a little rev and got about twice the wheel spin. Now it wasn't a smoking spin, just enough of a squeal to know I broke them loose on each of my three tries. I’m sure if I was more aggressive with the brakes and gas I would have been pretty impressed.
I have an auto with 2.73 gearing but it also has an unknown computer chip, K&K cold air intake and Flowmaster 80 mufflers and about 20% tread left on rear 275 Toyos. So not stock. Plus my wife was with me.
There were a lot of good interesting comments about not wanting to break them loose, good stuff and I need to try the competition mode and see what results I get. I was thinking about doing a gear swap also after my experience, I still may but I think I’m happy with my results so far.
I've made a few U Turns and punched it coming out of it with awesome results, very fun but be careful.
Last edited by nickaz2003; 02-26-2015 at 08:07 PM.
Mine too is an automatic which originally had 2:73 gears in it. I can tell you that on any dry pavement with that ratio, spinning the tires in quite difficult. I swapped mine out to 3:42 and now I can light the tires at will. I am guessing that yours is a 2:73 car. If you want to know get under the back end and look at the tag bolted to the differential. It will mostly likely say 2.73 on it.
My 99 with 2:73's would hardly spin, now in an 01 with 3:15's will spin em if i want to...but have only done so twice...but spring is coming...someday..
If you have 2:73's and switch to the 3:42's you will get the desired results you are looking for.
02-25-2015, 05:51 PM
It is primarily about gearing. My Z06 breaks them loose at 25mph with just the application of the throttle and they stay loose to red line. Hit second and it is loose again. I am still on the Goodyears and plan to upgrade to Michelin PSS to get them to hook. I think you are just up against an auto and 2.73 gears.
