Traction problems
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Pro
Joined: May 2008
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Traction problems
My car is a 2001 6 speed, stock motor w TS long tubes, 3" high flow cats, TI cat back and varram intake, tires are Kumho PS31. Under hard acceleration from a stop I can't get any traction w TC off, tires just spin. W TC on I can get traction w some spinning but reduced power. I want to be able to accelerate w/o spinning tires wildly and TC off. I want to switch to a different tire for better traction and thinking Nitto NT05 or maybe even the Nitto R tire for the rear. Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions on tires. I don't want to start breaking stuff but it seems futile to have horsepower and not be able to get it to the ground and enjoy the acceleration the car should be capable of. I don't do any track, or racing of any kind just enjoy the power of a vett. Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Granbury Texas
My car is a 2001 6 speed, stock motor w TS long tubes, 3" high flow cats, TI cat back and varram intake, tires are Kumho PS31. Under hard acceleration from a stop I can't get any traction w TC off, tires just spin. W TC on I can get traction w some spinning but reduced power. I want to be able to accelerate w/o spinning tires wildly and TC off. I want to switch to a different tire for better traction and thinking Nitto NT05 or maybe even the Nitto R tire for the rear. Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions on tires. I don't want to start breaking stuff but it seems futile to have horsepower and not be able to get it to the ground and enjoy the acceleration the car should be capable of. I don't do any track, or racing of any kind just enjoy the power of a vett. Thanks
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Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
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From: Philo IL
I just bought new tires and hunted around for opinions before doing so. The Toyo R888R was the one that everyone unanimously recommended. Sadly grip comes with a price, short lifespan... How often do you want to buy tires? How much do you drive the car? 6-7k miles a year means a set of those every year.
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drag radials will give you the best traction but if you drive the car a lot they may not be the best choice because they won't last as long... it's true that drag radials will not handle as well as tires designed for a road course but if you are mainly doing street driving then you will not be throwing it around hard corners anyway so that isn't really an issue in my opinion... drag radials are also more expensive... I do agree that at near stock power levels you shouldn't have a hard time getting the power down
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2016
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From: SF Bay Area
I run Continental DW 285/40/18 on the rear of my mostly stock (engine-wise) Corvette, and unless I do a 4000-5000 RPM clutch dump, I cannot break traction. I think any good summer tire should provide the level of traction you need. What is your budget for new tires? Also, how old are your current tires?
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2013
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From: Lynn MA
I run Continental DW 285/40/18 on the rear of my mostly stock (engine-wise) Corvette, and unless I do a 4000-5000 RPM clutch dump, I cannot break traction. I think any good summer tire should provide the level of traction you need. What is your budget for new tires? Also, how old are your current tires?
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Safety Car
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From: Chandler AZ
My stock 1999 convertible 6 speed will spin wheels some if I hit it, with traction control on.
I think it then activates traction control.
Also will start to slide sideways a bit when making a left turn and stepping on it (about half throttle)a bit as it's almost straightened out.
Probably need new tires even though tread is good, I had it parked in garage over 4 years.
I will try non run flats (currently Michelin zero pressure) when getting new tires, apparently they give better feel and performance from what people say here.
I think it then activates traction control.
Also will start to slide sideways a bit when making a left turn and stepping on it (about half throttle)a bit as it's almost straightened out.
Probably need new tires even though tread is good, I had it parked in garage over 4 years.
I will try non run flats (currently Michelin zero pressure) when getting new tires, apparently they give better feel and performance from what people say here.
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With your mods, you should be able to get traction as long as your tires are good. I run Hankook Ventus V12 EVOs on my car and yes I can spin the tires but traction is not severely limited by any means. The suggestion of Michelin Pilot SS would also be a good choice.
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Thanks for the reply's. I only drive around 3000 a year, never in bad weather. I know that traction is not a big problem w TC on but w it off the tires really spin. To my thinking I would like to get a lot better traction w TC off because it must limit power until the spinning stops. It would just be really nice to put ALL that power to the ground. I am considering the Toyo r888's, the Nitto NO 05 and Nitto drag radial. I never dump the clutch either, just drop it in gear let clutch out then goose it good, it's one of the main reasons I love the vett so much. There are also a couple of really nice twisty roads here which are fun to drive. I am sure my tires are old, I just want recommendations for a really good street tire that can handle the power w TC off and not spin terrible.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2008
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I just bought new tires and hunted around for opinions before doing so. The Toyo R888R was the one that everyone unanimously recommended. Sadly grip comes with a price, short lifespan... How often do you want to buy tires? How much do you drive the car? 6-7k miles a year means a set of those every year.
Last edited by tombrammer; Mar 25, 2018 at 08:23 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
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From: Philo IL
Sadly I don't even have my tires yet. Hopefully they ship tomorrow, already mounted on my new wheels. Also, I bought Michelin Pilot Super Sports because with as much as I drive my Z I'd probably go through a complete $1600 set of Toyos every year. I can't see spending that per year on tires. I am nervous that the Pilots won't have the grip I want though. They'll probably be ok for now, but I have a blower here and once it's on I may be more willing to spend the loot on the Toyos. Blower install isn't planned until next winter.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2016
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From: SF Bay Area
Sadly I don't even have my tires yet. Hopefully they ship tomorrow, already mounted on my new wheels. Also, I bought Michelin Pilot Super Sports because with as much as I drive my Z I'd probably go through a complete $1600 set of Toyos every year. I can't see spending that per year on tires. I am nervous that the Pilots won't have the grip I want though. They'll probably be ok for now, but I have a blower here and once it's on I may be more willing to spend the loot on the Toyos. Blower install isn't planned until next winter.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 837
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From: Philo IL
Yea, I'm already in that range. 420 currently. They should be fine this season. Then next season, post blower install, I'll probably have enough traction issues that I break and go with the Toyos for the following season.
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Sadly I don't even have my tires yet. Hopefully they ship tomorrow, already mounted on my new wheels. Also, I bought Michelin Pilot Super Sports because with as much as I drive my Z I'd probably go through a complete $1600 set of Toyos every year. I can't see spending that per year on tires. I am nervous that the Pilots won't have the grip I want though. They'll probably be ok for now, but I have a blower here and once it's on I may be more willing to spend the loot on the Toyos. Blower install isn't planned until next winter.
I almost wonder if I'm the only vett driver here that loves to goose it up to interstate speeds as often as I can. If I leave TC off there is wild tire spin, I know I need different tires, really good tires made for TRACTION, regular street tires won't do it, I have street tires now. I am looking still for some good reviews with those who have solved this problem.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2016
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From: Somewhere in the middle of Kansas
What wheels did you get? I would like to get wheels and tires together, so much cheaper w included balance and mount. Be sure and let us know how you like the Michelin at your current power level.
I almost wonder if I'm the only vett driver here that loves to goose it up to interstate speeds as often as I can. If I leave TC off there is wild tire spin, I know I need different tires, really good tires made for TRACTION, regular street tires won't do it, I have street tires now. I am looking still for some good reviews with those who have solved this problem.
I almost wonder if I'm the only vett driver here that loves to goose it up to interstate speeds as often as I can. If I leave TC off there is wild tire spin, I know I need different tires, really good tires made for TRACTION, regular street tires won't do it, I have street tires now. I am looking still for some good reviews with those who have solved this problem.
Oh, you're not the only one. I love to romp on the gas going down on an on ramp or the like. When I bought my '02 Z in 2016, I was spinning out bad through the first three gears and my tires had great tread. I then looked at the date code and they were over 10 years old. I slapped a set of Hankook Ventus on it and it was night and day difference. Even with a Magnuson supercharger it hooks up really well now in warm temps. I have to be careful when it gets below 50 degrees though.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Iowa
The Toyo R888 are VERY noisy. I have two C5 ZO6's, one has the R888 and the other has the R888R. I can almost hear the noise of the tires over the exhaust on the supercharged car, which is extremely loud exhaust. The other car has R888R with stock exhaust, and the tires are incredibly loud. The sound is similar to rear differential whine and the pitch changes with RPM.
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I ran r888's when my car was n/a and they weren't noisy, not enough to bother me anyway... they did however still spin more than I liked and I knew a blower was in the future so I sold them while they were still in good shape, the 305/30/19 are pretty expensive... they did handle really well though which is what they were really designed for and they are popular for 1/2 and mile events because of this and their stiff sidewall