Traction after mods question
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 589
Likes: 0
From: Navarre Florida
Traction after mods question
I am getting ready to have full exhaust/intake/tune done to my currently stock 09 MN6 base coupe but curious if my stock sized tires will handle the increased power. I have firestone tires right now and they were decent until the temps went down. Now, here in FL I spin tires even in 2nd in 50 degrees weather. My question is to guys with boltons 420ish rwhp how do your stock tires handle the increase of HP and TQ? What tires do you have/like? I don't want to go with wider rims/tire combos right now but would like to have good traction in the colder temps as well as in the summer.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 130
Likes: 1
From: Jacksonville FL
All about tire compound. Pretty much regardless when it starts getting cold you're going to lose done traction. Performance tires don't like temps below 50s. The stick tires are not going to work at those temps. Especially runflats. I'm not dating you need winter tires, but ultrahigh performance summer tires aren't designed for cold weather.
Go to some tire websites and read about different tires and compounds.
Go to some tire websites and read about different tires and compounds.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,030
Likes: 9,789
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Actually it is all about how you put your foot on the gas pedal. In the low to mid rpm range where most street driving is done there will be little difference in HP or even torque. Mods like exhaust/intake increase HP by increasing air flow in the higher rpm ranges where the stock systems are limiting air flow. If you are in 3rd gear at 20 mph and drop the throttle to the floor the car won't act any different. If you are in first gear at 20 mph then it will act different since the rpms will be up in the range where wide open throttle HP is starting to increase but it really won't be much different until you get over 30 in low gear. Look at any before and after HP curves that people post on the forum and you can tell by the graphs how little HP difference there is in the lower rpm ranges. There is only so much better gripping tires can do for wheel spin. The driver does the rest with their choice of throttle input and gear selection. You can choose to be the guy who burns up his tires or the guy who smoothly accelerates away at a high rate without an issue.
Bill
Bill
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 589
Likes: 0
From: Navarre Florida
Actually it is all about how you put your foot on the gas pedal. In the low to mid rpm range where most street driving is done there will be little difference in HP or even torque. Mods like exhaust/intake increase HP by increasing air flow in the higher rpm ranges where the stock systems are limiting air flow. If you are in 3rd gear at 20 mph and drop the throttle to the floor the car won't act any different. If you are in first gear at 20 mph then it will act different since the rpms will be up in the range where wide open throttle HP is starting to increase but it really won't be much different until you get over 30 in low gear. Look at any before and after HP curves that people post on the forum and you can tell by the graphs how little HP difference there is in the lower rpm ranges. There is only so much better gripping tires can do for wheel spin. The driver does the rest with their choice of throttle input and gear selection. You can choose to be the guy who burns up his tires or the guy who smoothly accelerates away at a high rate without an issue.
Bill
Bill
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 213
Likes: 5
From: Crestview Fl
Could upgrade to wider rear fenders and get some Z06 size tires stuffed under the car if your that worried about grip. I agree with Bill, a lot of it is about the driver. My Z06 is putting down 525rwhp it did take some getting used to not to smoke the tires and actually get them to grip after I had the cam and other tidbits put on. Just get out and drive it with all your upgrades and you'll figure it all out and what works best for you and your set up.
