Drag Radials with TPS
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 296
Likes: 13
Drag Radials with TPS
I am planning to run drag radials at the track on a 2008 C6. When you reduce tire pressure down to 16-18psi, how will the TPS system react? Will it go into limp mode? Other issues?
Any help appreciated...thanks.
Any help appreciated...thanks.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
Likes: 266
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
I don't run TPS in my drag radials. I drive 80 miles up to the track, sometimes after 60 miles I get a DIC message to check rear pressure monitors, and they will read XX on the DIC. When that happens I cannot select Comp Mode - only Traction Control on or off.
Sometimes it doesn't trip the TPS message - there's no pattern that I can discern as I always drive the same route, sometimes it gives the message sometimes not. Overnight when I park in the garage it'll read the TPS in my street wheels if I leave the DR's on overnight. If you swap tires at the track you won't have any problem for sure, I do that with my road course tires and it always gets a reading back in the pits.
So long winded message to say just don't run TPS in your DR's and you'll be fine.
IMPORTANT - my car is an 05 built in May 05. Different years may react differently. If you do a search in the Autocross and Roadracing section you'll get some other owners checking in on this topic it's been discussed to death. Some guys build a can with the sensors in it and pressurize them and leave it in the cubby in the back! I don't have any problems the way I do things.
Sometimes it doesn't trip the TPS message - there's no pattern that I can discern as I always drive the same route, sometimes it gives the message sometimes not. Overnight when I park in the garage it'll read the TPS in my street wheels if I leave the DR's on overnight. If you swap tires at the track you won't have any problem for sure, I do that with my road course tires and it always gets a reading back in the pits.
So long winded message to say just don't run TPS in your DR's and you'll be fine.
IMPORTANT - my car is an 05 built in May 05. Different years may react differently. If you do a search in the Autocross and Roadracing section you'll get some other owners checking in on this topic it's been discussed to death. Some guys build a can with the sensors in it and pressurize them and leave it in the cubby in the back! I don't have any problems the way I do things.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,150
Likes: 2
From: League City tx
It doesnt go into limp mode, but you will not be able to use the traction control system, (unless the tires are exactly the same height/diameter as stock)...If you leave the traction control on, it will always try to engage and wont drive right. Once off, it is fine. It will say something about either not having sensors or the tire pressure low, but you can clear that off the dic with the reset button. Drive on and Good luck!!
Safety Car
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 4,827
Likes: 352
From: Albuquerque NM
On my 07 Z06 when I lower the tire pressure below 24 PSI the tire warnings are displayed on the DIC everytime I start the engine and I have to hit reset multiple times before I can turn off the traction control. It never went into limp mode or had any other effect on the car's performance.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 296
Likes: 13
I don't run TPS in my drag radials. I drive 80 miles up to the track, sometimes after 60 miles I get a DIC message to check rear pressure monitors, and they will read XX on the DIC. When that happens I cannot select Comp Mode - only Traction Control on or off.
Sometimes it doesn't trip the TPS message - there's no pattern that I can discern as I always drive the same route, sometimes it gives the message sometimes not. Overnight when I park in the garage it'll read the TPS in my street wheels if I leave the DR's on overnight. If you swap tires at the track you won't have any problem for sure, I do that with my road course tires and it always gets a reading back in the pits.
So long winded message to say just don't run TPS in your DR's and you'll be fine.
IMPORTANT - my car is an 05 built in May 05. Different years may react differently. If you do a search in the Autocross and Roadracing section you'll get some other owners checking in on this topic it's been discussed to death. Some guys build a can with the sensors in it and pressurize them and leave it in the cubby in the back! I don't have any problems the way I do things.
Sometimes it doesn't trip the TPS message - there's no pattern that I can discern as I always drive the same route, sometimes it gives the message sometimes not. Overnight when I park in the garage it'll read the TPS in my street wheels if I leave the DR's on overnight. If you swap tires at the track you won't have any problem for sure, I do that with my road course tires and it always gets a reading back in the pits.
So long winded message to say just don't run TPS in your DR's and you'll be fine.
IMPORTANT - my car is an 05 built in May 05. Different years may react differently. If you do a search in the Autocross and Roadracing section you'll get some other owners checking in on this topic it's been discussed to death. Some guys build a can with the sensors in it and pressurize them and leave it in the cubby in the back! I don't have any problems the way I do things.
Thanks for the input. I will be changing tires at the track, so if I leave the tires close enough to the vehicle, looks like it will pick up a reading?? Any idea on how long the reading will hold?
Think I will leave out the TPS sensors, change tires at the track and go from there?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
Likes: 266
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
Joe,
Thanks for the input. I will be changing tires at the track, so if I leave the tires close enough to the vehicle, looks like it will pick up a reading?? Any idea on how long the reading will hold?
Think I will leave out the TPS sensors, change tires at the track and go from there?
Thanks for the input. I will be changing tires at the track, so if I leave the tires close enough to the vehicle, looks like it will pick up a reading?? Any idea on how long the reading will hold?
Think I will leave out the TPS sensors, change tires at the track and go from there?
You will be just fine I'd say!
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,990
Likes: 1
From: Corpus Christi Texas
I drive 40 miles one way to the local track and my traction control usually kicks in after only a few miles with my DR's on. I just select it off and all is good. Like JoeG, I have an 05 model though, might react differently than your 08. BTW, so far, I've run my best mph to this point with 22-23psi. Any less, my mph falls, any higher, my car spins quite a bit.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
Likes: 266
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
I've been having better luck lately with 18 lbs in my M/T DR's. Used to run 20 and more spinning, 18 seems to be good for traction.
I run mine on C5 fronts 8.5" so that might be part of the reason, my rims are technically too thin. I do note a little wobble at 125 at the top end at that pressure so I won't go lower.
I run mine on C5 fronts 8.5" so that might be part of the reason, my rims are technically too thin. I do note a little wobble at 125 at the top end at that pressure so I won't go lower.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,990
Likes: 1
From: Corpus Christi Texas
I've been having better luck lately with 18 lbs in my M/T DR's. Used to run 20 and more spinning, 18 seems to be good for traction.
I run mine on C5 fronts 8.5" so that might be part of the reason, my rims are technically too thin. I do note a little wobble at 125 at the top end at that pressure so I won't go lower.
I run mine on C5 fronts 8.5" so that might be part of the reason, my rims are technically too thin. I do note a little wobble at 125 at the top end at that pressure so I won't go lower.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
Likes: 266
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
It's 48 degrees as I type this in Miami Beach...coldest weather in 5 years....and the track is open tonight and my Drag Radials are mounted! Wish me luck buddy!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,066
Likes: 0
From: Canonsburg home of Yenko Chevy (gone but not forgotten) Western PA
I find 18 to be much more consistent...as I think about it, I don't think I've spun at 2 different tracks since I went to 18. 22 was dicey for me, I'd spin if track prep was less than optimal.
It's 48 degrees as I type this in Miami Beach...coldest weather in 5 years....and the track is open tonight and my Drag Radials are mounted! Wish me luck buddy!!
It's 48 degrees as I type this in Miami Beach...coldest weather in 5 years....and the track is open tonight and my Drag Radials are mounted! Wish me luck buddy!!
I went drag racing about a couple of months ago. It was about 50 degrees and I had bad wheel hop with my 07 and run flats on. I dropped the pressure to 24lbs and still had bad wheel hop. My best time was 13.4. I had to back off when I hit second gear all 3 times. So be carefull in cold weather wheel hop will break a rear. (cold tires = wheel hop)
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,990
Likes: 1
From: Corpus Christi Texas
I find 18 to be much more consistent...as I think about it, I don't think I've spun at 2 different tracks since I went to 18. 22 was dicey for me, I'd spin if track prep was less than optimal.
It's 48 degrees as I type this in Miami Beach...coldest weather in 5 years....and the track is open tonight and my Drag Radials are mounted! Wish me luck buddy!!
It's 48 degrees as I type this in Miami Beach...coldest weather in 5 years....and the track is open tonight and my Drag Radials are mounted! Wish me luck buddy!!