I tried searching for this, but came up with nothing. Sorry if this Q has been posted before...

While ripping through 1st and 2nd, it seems like my car *always* loses traction. Even to the point of getting sideways. I have to ease off the throttle in order to re-gain control. I'm not talking about "off the line" either. I'm talking about after you get rolling. I've tried this on both Touring and Sport mode (Z51).

It is a bit cold - so maybe that contributes. By "cold" I mean 40-50F (California heh). Is this normal? Any suggestions?

TIA

-Sean

 

Yes it's normal.. cold weather and ultra sticky summer tires do not mix well. You should try it here in MO when it's 10 degrees

 

With 460 hp and theses tires, yeah, it's normal.....

 

I find that in temps under 70 my tires don't like to hook. These are summer tires and they like warm weather!

 

Hey Sean,

Another bay area guy here. I had the same issue with my '11 Grand Sport. The traction control was a little bit "hands off" and not so micro managing, but if the car was getting really sideways or really losing momentum from wheel spin traction control and active handling would kick in. Mornings in the 40's were pretty interesting for sure.

I think it's pretty normal. Even in warmer weather it was normal for the tires to break loose under full throttle as the car got into the power in 1st and 2nd with the varying roads we have here.

 

Thanks for the response guys. At least I know this is "normal" now.

On to searching threads for better tire recommendations...

-Sean

 

Good luck, the selection with sizes is limited. Also, when you get your car modified you're going to have plenty of traction problems.

 

Is this the OP's first car with substantial power?

 

No Sir.

I've had numerous muscle cars in which I rebuilt the motor (all 400HP+).

As for Vettes, I've had a 78 Pace Car which I rebuilt (383 stroker). A 2003 anny. edition which didn't have this problem, and this Z51.

-Sean

 

Ok, just wondering.

About a month after I first bought my C5ZO6, it had stopped raining for several hours but the roads were still "moist" in areas. I took a turn a little hard, punched it and ended up doing a 180, almost into a ditch. Fortunately there were no other cars in the way and aside from a bruised ego, no harm-no foul. But I learned a lesson about my car that day (instilling the fear of G-d tends to do that ) to take it easy in all but the best conditions.

And that was before I replaced those crappy GY runcraps with real tires

With the new Michelins on the C7, I suspect that lesson learned will best be remembered

 

At least you have traction control - my '08 Z06. now blown to over 950 RWHP, shreds traction control as if it isn't there, and might as well not be, because I don't think it was designed for anything over 450 RWHP.

 

You will have a tough time getting a more grippy tire than the PSS in the summer when it is warm. There probably is no "better" tire available unless you went straight R compound and then good luck in cool temps or rain.

For colder temps, through on an all season but when the temps get warm you really won't like those compared to the PSS.

 

The temp has a lot to do with the diminished traction.

 

Weather mode will help the traction control be more aggressive when driving the summer tires in colder temps.

 

Yep. Summer tires become very hard at 40 degrees and lower, whereas winter tires are just the opposite: they get softer the colder it gets. Of course most cars are equipped with all season tires, which are great for a typical DD, but not for a sports car.

 

Lower traction when cold is obvious, and I've seen the same thing in my 2011. The real question is why doesn't the traction control handle it? The computer knows that the rear wheels are spinning, so why just let it happen?

The only thing I can imagine is that maybe the computer can only pull power up to a certain percentage, say 20%. If that were the case, maybe it pulls 20% of the power and you're still spinning the tires, so you don't even notice that it reduced power.

Someone mentioned weather mode possibly being more aggressive. That would make sense, so perhaps the computer is given a larger percentage of control in that mode.

I still don't think the computer should let you spin the tires uncontrolled if traction control is on, but I'm not the one programming it.

Cheers,
Rusty (T-minus 2 days to C7)

 

It's been years since I've posted but I'm a vette owner again. Happy to be back.

I've got a 2012 Grand Sport 3LT and it seems like there's almost no traction control. Temperatures vary and it's currently pretty cold. Like 30-50 degrees with no specific difference in how the car acts. It just seems it's looser than it should be. I've been in other cars where the slightest wheel spin causes the traction control to engage. Not so in the Vette. I've tested it a few times. In first, if I hit the throttle, wheels definitely spin. In second, when I hit the gas, the car reaches the power band and begins to get loose. Turning onto the highway from a side road in second, the car will get sideways (I haven't let it get too far) but I let off the gas before the TC does anything.

I have no error lights and the push button switch will cycle through all modes.

My questions is whether this is normal and also....what is it supposed to do? It doesn't seem very safe and I'm not exactly light footed. Any clues? BTW, the tires suck. The are the F1's. I presume that's what you guys are talking about. Regardless, the wheel sensors should pick it up...right?

BTW...I'm building a GTM with Race Logic and that system is on top of things compared to the Vette.

John
http://gtm410.com

 

I may be in the minority, but I like the fact Corvette's traction contol does not intervene in a draconian fashion.

 

Kind of sounds like fun!!

 

i sure do envy you, Sean. i asked essentially the same question a couple weeks ago, and every a-hole in the forum (including 3 that answered you) reamed me out for asking such a stupid question. two or three of the good guys on the forum finally gave me the same answer everyone here gave you. : [ btw, personally, despite the sage advice you are receiving here, i might check it out anyway, just to be on the safe side. if you run any other tires than the summer/sticky ones, it might be worse, and 50 degrees should be in the safe zone for the stock tires. also, when i experienced the fishtailing and spinning, it was from a dead stop, and at about 1/2-2/3 throttle, with all weather tires (Michelin A/S 3s), 35 degrees temp, and i have the AT--which granted, is considerably different.]