Weening off Traction Control
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 993
Likes: 105
From: Dallas TX
St. Jude Donor '15
Weening off Traction Control
My car is a daily driver. I leave traction control on all the time.
Very rarely, I go in to competition mode because I want to spin the wheels a bit.
I'd like to hear some stories from those of you who have transitioned to being in comp mode or TC completely off all the time.
Does the car seem more fun?
Is it really that much more dangerous?
Do you still leave the nannies on in bad weather? (I imagine you do or should)
I want to get the most fun experience from the car...but since I don't actively drive it all the time with nannies off, I'm afraid it will get away from me and I'll end up needing to file an insurance claim.
Very rarely, I go in to competition mode because I want to spin the wheels a bit.
I'd like to hear some stories from those of you who have transitioned to being in comp mode or TC completely off all the time.
Does the car seem more fun?
Is it really that much more dangerous?
Do you still leave the nannies on in bad weather? (I imagine you do or should)
I want to get the most fun experience from the car...but since I don't actively drive it all the time with nannies off, I'm afraid it will get away from me and I'll end up needing to file an insurance claim.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,001
Likes: 243
From: Surprise, Az
If you want the most fun experience with your car, I suggest signing up for an hpde event. As a beginner, you will have an instructor with you as you learn to explore the limits of your car.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 993
Likes: 105
From: Dallas TX
St. Jude Donor '15
Definitely the most fun I've had in it, but events are far apart for me (maybe 2-3 times a year max is what I'll be able to do) and I'd like to see if I can squeeze more fun out of it on a regular basis.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 226
Likes: 14
From: Houston TX
Normally I just leave everything on. The car is not a monster to be afraid of with everything off, but traction control can save you from a lot of normal street driving danger. I just my best judgement and so far haven't had any problems or done anything I didn't want the car to do.
For long freeway trips, I often turn everything off when I'm just going to cruise and enjoy driving. As long as I'm relaxed, the tires are warm, and can pay full attention to the car, everything off is ok for me. If I'm going to speed or drag or carve some corners, traction off, stability on. I don't find any use for competition mode on the street, but that's just me.
For long freeway trips, I often turn everything off when I'm just going to cruise and enjoy driving. As long as I'm relaxed, the tires are warm, and can pay full attention to the car, everything off is ok for me. If I'm going to speed or drag or carve some corners, traction off, stability on. I don't find any use for competition mode on the street, but that's just me.
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 40
Likes: 10
From: Wilmington Delaware
When I took delivery of my brand new 2013 base convertible at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, I still remember my guide, when he went over the car with me, saying the most important button in the car was the traction control button. "If you don't leave it on, you're going to end up in a fence, or a tree, or something like that".
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,486
Likes: 1,659
From: Las Vegas NV
On the street, anyone who's driven a Corvette for a while can tell you that 400+ HP and relatively light weight means that the rear of the Vette can get away from you, sometimes irretrievably, and damn quickly.
Also keep in mind how a prosecutor would salivate after they found out that you purposely and deliberately switched off the safety features of your car, just before you caused an accident involving personal injury. Oh boy. Fun.
Finally, there are hundreds of videos on YouTube of C6 guys going into the ditch backwards or into guard rails with the nannies turned off as they "just goosed it a little" coming out of a parking lot.
Overall, doesn't look like more fun to me.
Also keep in mind how a prosecutor would salivate after they found out that you purposely and deliberately switched off the safety features of your car, just before you caused an accident involving personal injury. Oh boy. Fun.
Finally, there are hundreds of videos on YouTube of C6 guys going into the ditch backwards or into guard rails with the nannies turned off as they "just goosed it a little" coming out of a parking lot.
Overall, doesn't look like more fun to me.
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Advanced
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 82
Likes: 3
I alway used to drive in competitive driving mode. I like to be able to break the tires loose when I wanted and slide around turns. Then this summer I started driving with everything off. This makes me more aware of the road surface, speed of the car and engine rpms. Competitive driving mode is amazing in the fact it let's you get sideways but not lose control. But I find it can be unpredictable at times. You are never sure how far the system will let you go. Them when the AH system kicks in it stops the power suddenly. I got sick of that. Now with all the systems off the car is more free to do what it wants but I'm the one in control of how far it goes. I found this way I know the limits more. I know when the tires will break, what happens if you just jump off the gas in a slide or if you punch it too far into the turn.
My advice is take the nannies off and get to know your car and it's limits. Just take it slow get used to the power as far as normal driving around turn all the nannies off will never hurt you unless you stomp the throttle. Also leaves everything on in the rain. AH has saved me once from a hydroplane. I think the AH is unbelievable when it come to entering a corner too fast. that had saved me many times at hpde but that is when I'm really pushing myself and the car
My advice is take the nannies off and get to know your car and it's limits. Just take it slow get used to the power as far as normal driving around turn all the nannies off will never hurt you unless you stomp the throttle. Also leaves everything on in the rain. AH has saved me once from a hydroplane. I think the AH is unbelievable when it come to entering a corner too fast. that had saved me many times at hpde but that is when I'm really pushing myself and the car
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 993
Likes: 105
From: Dallas TX
St. Jude Donor '15
I alway used to drive in competitive driving mode. I like to be able to break the tires loose when I wanted and slide around turns. Then this summer I started driving with everything off. This makes me more aware of the road surface, speed of the car and engine rpms. Competitive driving mode is amazing in the fact it let's you get sideways but not lose control. But I find it can be unpredictable at times. You are never sure how far the system will let you go. Them when the AH system kicks in it stops the power suddenly. I got sick of that. Now with all the systems off the car is more free to do what it wants but I'm the one in control of how far it goes. I found this way I know the limits more. I know when the tires will break, what happens if you just jump off the gas in a slide or if you punch it too far into the turn.
My advice is take the nannies off and get to know your car and it's limits. Just take it slow get used to the power as far as normal driving around turn all the nannies off will never hurt you unless you stomp the throttle. Also leaves everything on in the rain. AH has saved me once from a hydroplane. I think the AH is unbelievable when it come to entering a corner too fast. that had saved me many times at hpde but that is when I'm really pushing myself and the car
My advice is take the nannies off and get to know your car and it's limits. Just take it slow get used to the power as far as normal driving around turn all the nannies off will never hurt you unless you stomp the throttle. Also leaves everything on in the rain. AH has saved me once from a hydroplane. I think the AH is unbelievable when it come to entering a corner too fast. that had saved me many times at hpde but that is when I'm really pushing myself and the car
This is the path that I think I will be taking.
I've starting to leave it in comp mode all the time, though still not taking advantage just yet. Just wanted to see if there was any difference at all with normal driving. Nothing terribly noticeable, but maybe a placebo effect that's making me feel like it's more powerful.
I'll take it easy for sure...but I'm looking forward to learning how to power slide when there's no one around on an abandoned road.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,821
Likes: 204
From: Lincoln CA
So, I've had my 09 in Competitive Mode with the traction control off several times on twisties. I just don't feel any SOTP difference in the car's handling. Maybe the suspension on my Vette is beat after 28K miles, but I sincerely doubt it. What is supposed to happen in Comp Mode?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,168
Likes: 242
From: Pittsburgh PA
So, I've had my 09 in Competitive Mode with the traction control off several times on twisties. I just don't feel any SOTP difference in the car's handling. Maybe the suspension on my Vette is beat after 28K miles, but I sincerely doubt it. What is supposed to happen in Comp Mode?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 11,973
Likes: 463
From: Tonawanda New York
Spinning ain't winning. And with the cost of GS tires not worth it. The only person I need to impress is myself with my right foot. I keep tc on at all times and can make the back end slide out any time while turning with simple throttle input. 