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Realistic hp vs. traction?

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Old Mar 30, 2013 | 08:00 PM
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Default Realistic hp vs. traction?

I am contemplating future mods. I want a street car (on coilovers) that has as much hp as possible,that is still able to maintain traction running a good set of performance/track tires. Not drag radial.....as the purpose of this car is all out performance,NOT DRAG RACING....possible hpde in the future. So my question is...what is realistic hp level at which the car will still hook fairly well and not just burn the tires off...?
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Old Mar 30, 2013 | 09:24 PM
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It doesn't matter if you have 800 or 400 HP with the best or worst tire available if you don't know how to manipulate the clutch and throttle.
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Old Mar 30, 2013 | 09:32 PM
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500rwhp is manageable while 600rwhp things start to get interesting fast.
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Old Mar 30, 2013 | 10:02 PM
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Originally Posted by saplumr
It doesn't matter if you have 800 or 400 HP with the best or worst tire available if you don't know how to manipulate the clutch and throttle.
I certainly know how to drive a sports car.....I was looking for expirienced opinions on what hp makes a well balanced/usable powered street car. Dont care about 800 hp that you can only use at 100mph+....im talking a nasty 0-100 mph street car
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Old Mar 30, 2013 | 10:20 PM
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Originally Posted by C U IN REARVEIW
I certainly know how to drive a sports car.....I was looking for expirienced opinions on what hp makes a well balanced/usable powered street car. Dont care about 800 hp that you can only use at 100mph+....im talking a nasty 0-100 mph street car
I think 420 to 450 rwhp michelin ps2 is a good combo fo the street
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Old Mar 30, 2013 | 11:03 PM
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Originally Posted by c6 376
I think 420 to 450 rwhp michelin ps2 is a good combo fo the street
All that would take is a small-mid sized cam only w/o any head work at all....hmmm. I would like to be closer to 500rwhp...
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Old Mar 30, 2013 | 11:48 PM
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Originally Posted by C U IN REARVEIW
All that would take is a small-mid sized cam only w/o any head work at all....hmmm. I would like to be closer to 500rwhp...
Headers PFadt+comp cam 224/230xer 581./592. 114 lsa
10% underdrive ati damper + vararam = 500 rwhp
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Old Mar 31, 2013 | 03:31 PM
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Originally Posted by C U IN REARVEIW
I certainly know how to drive a sports car.....I was looking for expirienced opinions on what hp makes a well balanced/usable powered street car. Dont care about 800 hp that you can only use at 100mph+....im talking a nasty 0-100 mph street car
If your interest is 0-100 then it is a drag car and it won't take much over 400 at the wheel to lose traction on the street without DR's.
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Old Mar 31, 2013 | 04:09 PM
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Depends on the tire. On Hoosier R6 (345x19) I could go wide open in second gear with 600 rwhp and 3.73 rear gear. Same size pilot sport would spin in third and break fourth loose in cool weather with 3.42 rear gear.
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Old Mar 31, 2013 | 07:05 PM
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I reckon i make 420 ish rwhp and with hankooks i can unstick in 1st and 2nd at will. I reckon if it's 0-100 (and back to 0?) you want tires will give you most bang for buck.

If it's hpde and driveability (confidence) i'd suggest changing out the poor standard suspension.

If it's bragging rights in the boozer then put a super charger on it!

I have joc stage 1, headers, hi flows, fast, killer bee and i think if i added any more power i'd need to be a much better driver!

Cheers
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Old Mar 31, 2013 | 09:40 PM
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Originally Posted by LEAVINU
500rwhp is manageable while 600rwhp things start to get interesting fast.


I'm over 600 RWHP (Corrected) at 5700 ft and even with drag radials it is a lot to handle on the street.

I had PS2 run flats (Forget those at 600rwhp) and I also have a set of Pilot sport Cup tires, they only hold the power on a track when the tire temperature is way up there, not easy to reach those temps on the street driving normally.
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Old Mar 31, 2013 | 09:49 PM
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i have just over 400 to the rear tires...with kumho's escta's...its pretty slippery when cold less than 60 degrees out........

if i bogged it...i got grip, but pretty slow in the 1/4 mi

Last edited by bud miller; Mar 31, 2013 at 09:52 PM.
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Old Apr 1, 2013 | 08:29 AM
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Have you run the car in some HPDEs yet? You may want to do that before you start modding. You may be surprised that HP won't be your biggest concern.
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Old Apr 1, 2013 | 10:26 AM
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Originally Posted by LEAVINU
500rwhp is manageable while 600rwhp things start to get interesting fast.
Agreed!
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Old Apr 1, 2013 | 11:10 AM
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Originally Posted by LEAVINU
500rwhp is manageable while 600rwhp things start to get interesting fast.
Originally Posted by Alvin@PCMofNC
Agreed!


500rwhp and you can stick on the street with a GOOD street tire (not nitto invo's or some similar bullcrap).

I'm at 550rwhp and can hammer on it pretty hard at 40mph with 345/30/19 Khumo XS

You definitely won't be doing any max 0 - xxx runs though on the street on a street tire. Definitely need an R compound for ANY type of low-speed acceleration.

Last edited by FloydSummerOf68; Apr 1, 2013 at 01:30 PM.
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Old Apr 1, 2013 | 01:22 PM
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Originally Posted by FloydSummerOf68


500rwhp and you can stick on the street with a GOOD street tire (not nitto invo's or some similar bullcrap).

I'm at 550rwhp and can hammer on it pretty hard at 40mph with 345/30/19 Khumo X

You definitely won't be doing any max 0 - xxx runs though on the street on a street tire. Definitely need an R compound for ANY type of low-speed acceleration.
i am simply at full bolt on now w/ fast 102 and ported tb,on coilovers....it hooks well with my kuhmo xs tires. would love to boost to around 550 rwhp if It can be usable power (all this 650-1000hp) is silly,unless you are doing the texas mile or possibly drag racing,imho....ive seen many 500 hp cars take down some 600+ hp cars in a real world situation due to traction....im not interested in doing a smoke show at every press of the throttle.
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Old Apr 1, 2013 | 01:32 PM
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Well like I said, I'm at 550rwhp right now and at 40mph I can roll into WOT without spinning my 345 Khumo XS.

500rwhp seems like it would be a really good # for these tires. I still feel like I would benefit from the 345 NT05Rs, but I don't want to give up cornering.
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Old Apr 1, 2013 | 02:09 PM
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I think TQ is a bigger issue than HP. I'm at 470hp and 420tq with a cam/bolt on GS. I run NItto NT05 street tire and she does fine when its warm out.

I think 500rwhp and 450tq would do fine on the street/tires. IMO any more would need a Drag Radial to stick at low MPH.

I agree with 68, Drag radials suck on the corners. Thats the biggest reason why I went with a cam instead of nitrous. I didn't want to run DRs.
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Old Apr 1, 2013 | 02:16 PM
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Originally Posted by NospdLimit


I'm over 600 RWHP (Corrected) at 5700 ft and even with drag radials it is a lot to handle on the street.

I had PS2 run flats (Forget those at 600rwhp) and I also have a set of Pilot sport Cup tires, they only hold the power on a track when the tire temperature is way up there, not easy to reach those temps on the street driving normally.

I'm just shy of 700 to the wheels and on MT DR's. Its a hand full, especially from 30 or 40.

On the stock tires? Forget it. I kept them on for a minute just to see what it was like. It wasn't even fun.
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Old Apr 1, 2013 | 02:34 PM
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Originally Posted by The_AK_Kid
I'm just shy of 700 to the wheels and on MT DR's. Its a hand full, especially from 30 or 40.

On the stock tires? Forget it. I kept them on for a minute just to see what it was like. It wasn't even fun.
That's a good point to remember...big horsepower is NOT fun if you can't use it.
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