Can't spin tires!
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Can't spin tires!
I bought my 2001 c5 convertible last June with 36,000 miles on it. I's a beautiful car,looks like new! It is 350 H.P.,automatic,with brand new tires on it.Should I be able to spin the tires from a dead stop going straight ahead? It is the fastest car I've ever driven as it is,slams me back into the seat,but won't spin the tires on dry pavement! Is this normal? Just wondering!
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Have you turned the AH off? The Active Handling is automatically on when you start the car...everytime. You have to push the AH button to turn it off.. there will be a C5 rear end peeling out on your instrument cluster.. that means the AH is off and you can burn rubber... Hold the button down for 5 seconds it will go to competitive mod...You can still burn rubber and have the Active Handling to assist if you bite off more than you can chew.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 858
Likes: 75
From: Medford, Oregon
I bought my 2001 c5 convertible last June with 36,000 miles on it. I's a beautiful car,looks like new! It is 350 H.P.,automatic,with brand new tires on it.Should I be able to spin the tires from a dead stop going straight ahead? It is the fastest car I've ever driven as it is,slams me back into the seat,but won't spin the tires on dry pavement! Is this normal? Just wondering!
OP, not spinning those tires whether your AH is on or not is a 'Good' thing, launching your car from a dead stop and not spinning will almost optimize your results if you are doing a little spirited race with someone. Spin your tires, you 'Lose'. Jus' Say'n 
As a side note, you should be able to light-up the rear hides with the AH off.
Pro
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 595
Likes: 84
From: Colonial Beach Virginia
Only reason I know mine does is I tried it twice, and wont again. More wear and tear on the drive-train then I need to be putting on it, for no benefit.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 341
Likes: 11
From: Auburn Hills Michigan
why would you want to spin the tires? I think bolting out of the cage is much sexier then someone spinning tires....it means your car is balanced well enough to hook and go and haul ***
be proud you have good enough tires on your vette and not some crappy tire with crap tread
Good luck and be safe racing
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,481
Likes: 267
From: So-Cal California
2023 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C5 of the Year Winner - Modified
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.
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 36,838
Likes: 438
From: Manassas Park VA
St. Jude Donor '07-'08,-'13-'14, '16-'17
2.73 gears
Drop some 3.42's or 3.90's in it and it will roast them off into the sunset
and you will feel like you picked up 100 HP...lol
Regards
Chip
Drop some 3.42's or 3.90's in it and it will roast them off into the sunset
and you will feel like you picked up 100 HP...lol
Regards
Chip
__________________
..................Click for
..................Click for
Racer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 341
Likes: 11
From: Auburn Hills Michigan
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,190
Likes: 4,178
From: Kannapolis NC
You may have 3:15's. Look in the glove box door code list for G90 and G92. If they're there, you have the 3:15. Your tires will spin regardless of gears, but why would you want to spin new tires. The amount of rubber on the road with the tire size specifically gives better take off without spinning. If you want to sound fast, get a mustang with 14" tires, they'll spin like crazy.
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 64
Likes: 1
Mine will try to spin the wheels even with the Active Handling activated from a standstill, firmly applying the throttle in a straight line, but after a couple seconds the System minimizes the amount it spins up.
Turn it off, and she'll spin up pretty easily.
Turn it off, and she'll spin up pretty easily.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 197
Likes: 6
From: Lindstrom MN
St. Jude Donor '15, '17
I have a '98 auto with the 2.73 rear. it does feel doggy off the line and will not spin the tires. I am not looking to shred my tires, just want more acceleration off the line. My '88 with 3.15 had more seat of the pants feel than this car. I recently picked up a used 3.42 and will get it installed this spring. Can't wait!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,423
Likes: 200
From: Atlanta GA
I have a '98 auto with the 2.73 rear. it does feel doggy off the line and will not spin the tires. I am not looking to shred my tires, just want more acceleration off the line. My '88 with 3.15 had more seat of the pants feel than this car. I recently picked up a used 3.42 and will get it installed this spring. Can't wait!
At Summit, you can get a Ring and Pinion for $ 369.00.
Note, your top end and gas mileage will drop, but it will definitely cut down on 1/4 mile time and roast the tires with AH in Comp mode or Off.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,774
Likes: 363
From: Midland TX
Same here. Not sure why you want to lose control, but if you do, just put it in "Competition Mode" and floor it.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,168
Likes: 21
From: Sunniest city on Earth
It's your gearing. As the others have said, a swap from the factory 2.73s will do the trick. I would recommend 3.42s from a manual car, simply because it should be rather easy to source a used diff for the swap.
I've had the opposite problem in my car... wheelspin on the freeway onramp in 3rd
I've had the opposite problem in my car... wheelspin on the freeway onramp in 3rd
Pro
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 657
Likes: 181
From: Houma Louisiana
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!