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The noiseless breakaway of these tires occurs even in the summertime. In the cold temps, ease into the power until you get a sense of how well the tires are going to stick. Since they don't have a lot of grip when cold, it only makes good sense that when they do let go in the cold, it's going to take longer for them to rehook when cut the power than if it was hot out. Once the tires are heated up, they stick fairly good on cold roads(50-60 degrees).
Our group goes on a spirited run on a local road and there have been times when the ambient temp dipped into the 30's and even temps causing windows to fog up. My current C6 was running on all season Goodyear run-flats during our last Mines Road run and I don't charge bolls out into a turn like I might when it's 90 degrees outside. I just installed Michelin Super Sports non runflats and now I have to learn all over what the car can do.
I have gotten my car signicantly sideways by surprise three times: once when i glanced in the review mirror then got a windshield view of oleanders that were supposed to be in the center divide. The other two times were in cold weather with a sudden blip of the throttle while turning and came around 45-90 degrees so fast that the traction control and active handling didn't contain it. No need to be a hero. Know you and your cars limits and abilities...
Last edited by cheetah45; Dec 28, 2015 at 03:03 AM.
When active handling kicks in, you'll know it. Especially if you're getting sideways.
Find a big open parking lot and learn how to handle it. I'd suggest either a helmet or open the window, in case the correction is on the violent side.
Find a parking lot where you won't hit anything if the car spins. I don't know what your comfort level is when the car is going sideways but it can be controlled (just look at all of those DRIFT idiots). Also, try it with the system in various modes. Full Nannies, Competition Mode and Everything Off.
The noiseless breakaway of these tires occurs even in the summertime. In the cold temps, ease into the power until you get a sense of how well the tires are going to stick. Since they don't have a lot of grip when cold, it only makes good sense that when they do let go in the cold, it's going to take longer for them to rehook when cut the power than if it was hot out. Once the tires are heated up, they stick fairly good on cold roads(50-60 degrees).
Our group goes on a spirited run on a local road and there have been times when the ambient temp dipped into the 30's and even temps causing windows to fog up. My current C6 was running on all season Goodyear run-flats during our last Mines Road run and I don't charge bolls out into a turn like I might when it's 90 degrees outside. I just installed Michelin Super Sports non runflats and now I have to learn all over what the car can do.
I have gotten my car signicantly sideways by surprise three times: once when i glanced in the review mirror then got a windshield view of oleanders that were supposed to be in the center divide. The other two times were in cold weather with a sudden blip of the throttle while turning and came around 45-90 degrees so fast that the traction control and active handling didn't contain it. No need to be a hero. Know you and your cars limits and abilities...
I think next set will be the Super Sports for me as well. Tire Rack seems to love them to pieces. I'm just glad I got my lesson on a fairly wide road with no one next to me. Yes, I'd like to do testing in a controlled environment. Sounds like you have had some white knuckle times beyond most!
I thought I was a bit of a whimp backing off the throttle when I did! I'm sure it would have kicked in by the time I was about to hit the center divider...right???.
I wouldn't count on it.
Relatively light car, 400+ HP.
It is very *easy* to drive these cars FAR beyond the point that the electronics can save you. The Nannies can only do so much. "Canna change the laws of physics!"
The best safety device in the C6 is located between your ears.
It is very *easy* to drive these cars FAR beyond the point that the electronics can save you. The Nannies can only do so much. "Canna change the laws of physics!"
The best safety device in the C6 is located between your ears.
Keep it safe!
Now you are REALLY going to far!! Asking ME to use common sense! We are in big trouble!!
Drive it like an Impala in cold weather. Last week on the interstate at 70 MPH, full throttle broke the tires loose at 44 degrees. Traction control and all kept me straight. Wanted to get by semi and leave behind a tailgater. First time in cool weather for me in my 09 C6.
Drive it like an Impala in cold weather. Last week on the interstate at 70 MPH, full throttle broke the tires loose at 44 degrees. Traction control and all kept me straight. Wanted to get by semi and leave behind a tailgater. First time in cool weather for me in my 09 C6.
Now I am more curious than ever to have trac control actually kick in!
Now I am more curious than ever to have trac control actually kick in!
OP,
I have a manual GS but I assume the A6 is very similar. In first gear you should be able to break the tires free by going WOT from a dead stop in anything below 60F.
Now when I still had the OEM Gen2 Goodyears I noticed that if both tires spun at the same rate Traction Control would NOT engage until I was well above 4500 RPM. I assume it takes a moment to realized that the fronts weren't moving fast enough.
Also during my experimentation I noticed that from a dead stop or slow speed (less than 10MPH), Active Handling would only kick in if I had the wheel turn more than about 10-15 degrees and while the back end was stepping out.
Lastly, if you consider keeping runflats the Bridgeston Potenza Pole Positions are great tires and for me they work well year round. FTR: I live in North Carolina and our winters are considered mild by most.
I have a manual GS but I assume the A6 is very similar. In first gear you should be able to break the tires free by going WOT from a dead stop in anything below 60F.
Now when I still had the OEM Gen2 Goodyears I noticed that if both tires spun at the same rate Traction Control would NOT engage until I was well above 4500 RPM. I assume it takes a moment to realized that the fronts weren't moving fast enough.
Also during my experimentation I noticed that from a dead stop or slow speed (less than 10MPH), Active Handling would only kick in if I had the wheel turn more than about 10-15 degrees and while the back end was stepping out.
Lastly, if you consider keeping runflats the Bridgeston Potenza Pole Positions are great tires and for me they work well year round. FTR: I live in North Carolina and our winters are considered mild by most.
Love the photos!! White is a great color! OK, good info, but then there is also "Launch Control" what the heck is that compared to "traction control"?
On the oversteer issue, remember that most roads are crowned so when you do spin the rear tires, the rear of car will probably will drift to the right. On a flat surface, it should be easier to stay on it and go straighter.
Love the photos!! White is a great color! OK, good info, but then there is also "Launch Control" what the heck is that compared to "traction control"?
In the C6 only the manuals have it. Short Answer: it is a feature that "assists" the driver in launching the car from a dead stop. In my experience it isn't very good because RPMs are held at ~4500 which does nothing but roast the tires for most of 1st. It is suppose to modulate the throttle but on my car it usually doesn't modulate wheel spin fast enough.
The video below was shot WITHOUT using launch control and I still get a little bit of wheel spin. If I used launch control I would be dumping the clutch from 4500 which is a total riot ... lots of fun but not very fast.
On the oversteer issue, remember that most roads are crowned so when you do spin the rear tires, the rear of car will probably will drift to the right. On a flat surface, it should be easier to stay on it and go straighter.
I was in the fast lane...and the tail end swept to the right..so I guess that follows the crowned road logic? Also another great point. Man you guys make me feel like I know nothing. .and I used to be an ASE tech in the 90s! This is all new to me.
In the C6 only the manuals have it. Short Answer: it is a feature that "assists" the driver in launching the car from a dead stop. In my experience it isn't very good because RPMs are held at ~4500 which does nothing but roast the tires for most of 1st. It is suppose to modulate the throttle but on my car it usually doesn't modulate wheel spin fast enough.
The video below was shot WITHOUT using launch control and I still get a little bit of wheel spin. If I used launch control I would be dumping the clutch from 4500 which is a total riot ... lots of fun but not very fast.
First time posting, so not sure if I am doing this correctly?
Problem: under hard acceleration (80 percent of full throttle) car is starting to fishtail and I have to back off throttle to regain straight line direction.
-2013 Grand Sport
-6 speed Auto trans
-tires at 30 psi cold pressure
-8000 miles on Factory Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar EMT- worn to 4/32nds
-47 Degrees ambient temperature, dry road conditions
Is this due to:
Summer tires starting to harden in colder temps?
At what point should active handling or traction control be helping my problem? And what will I see (on the dash) or experience once these do kick in?
Dkoch:
I think next set will be the Super Sports for me as well. Tire Rack seems to love them to pieces. I'm just glad I got my lesson on a fairly wide road with no one next to me. Yes, I'd like to do testing in a controlled environment. Sounds like you have had some white knuckle times beyond most!
The white knuckle times happen when chit takes you by surprise. At times I push it, but in the end I am not as ballsy as I could be. The tires I have had on the car for the last 2 years (Goodyear a/s)were holding me back and I know I could overwhelm their abilities on a whim(there's a reason that Tirerack gives them an overall rating of like 2.7/10). CF member Ptroxx had an unfortunate incident where his car was totaled and it just so happened he had the Michelin Pilot Super Sports with low mileage on them. They are now on my car, but I haven't had much chance lately to try them out.
Just a reminder on the Base/z-51 option/GS models.
GM programmed a touch of delay into the throttles to get better gas mileage. Hence when you get into the throttle and come off it, it not like the old carb cars where the rpm change was instance, but a slight delay instead (rpms will hand for a slight moment before dropping down when you come off the throttle).
So short of pushing the clutch in, which will allow the rpms to drop instantly instead, when you just come off the throttle with the tires spinning/back end way out, the tires are going to keep spinning with the RPM's hanging for a slight moment, since the rpm are not going to drop instantly like on a carb car instead.
So when you hang the rear end out on purpose, you have to take in account the delay throttle to TB reaction time of the car programming for fuel economy as well.
Just a reminder on the Base/z-51 option/GS models.
GM programmed a touch of delay into the throttles to get better gas mileage. Hence when you get into the throttle and come off it, it not like the old carb cars where the rpm was instance, but a slight delay instead (rpms will hand for a slight moment before dropping down when you come off the throttle).
So short of pushing the clutch in, which will allow the rpms to drop instantly instead, when you just come off the throttle with the tires spinning/back end way out, the tires are going to keep spinning with the RPM's hanging for a slight moment, since the rpm are not going to drop instantly like on a carb car instead.
So when you hang the rear end out on purpose, you have to take in account the delay throttle to TB reaction time of the car programming for fuel economy as well.
.
Find a parking lot where you won't hit anything if the car spins. I don't know what your comfort level is when the car is going sideways but it can be controlled (just look at all of those DRIFT idiots). Also, try it with the system in various modes. Full Nannies, Competition Mode and Everything Off. 
... lots of fun but not very fast. 
