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Drastic lack of traction

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Old Dec 20, 2008 | 10:21 AM
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Default Drastic lack of traction

Hi,

Whenever I give it a decent pedal bash the rear end slides out, especially in the wet.

I plan to add Koni (was hoping to do them over christmas, but now got to wait untill march), and I will make some custom LCA, PHR and SFC. What is the next weakest link, I'm guessing tires? I think my LT install is going to get pushed back even further, as I can't stand the lack of traction. I am at stock height FWIW (just hose mod).

Your thoughts please.
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Old Dec 20, 2008 | 12:28 PM
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What kind of tires are you running? Thats probably your problem.
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Old Dec 20, 2008 | 02:55 PM
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I have 3 Cooper zeon 2xs 275/40/r17,
and 1 Cooper radial GTZ 275/40/zr17.

All r rated, with plenty of tread left.
They have been on the car since it got it 4 years ago, and I have only put 7000 miles on them since.
I check the pressures regularly.
When I drive in the wet, it feels like I'm driving on ice.

Still think it's the tires?
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Old Dec 20, 2008 | 02:59 PM
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Yes, with what limited experience I have with coopers, they suck. Get a decent set of tires and try it again. I'd look into some Nitto INVO's for a decent street tire.
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Old Dec 21, 2008 | 10:06 AM
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Thanks for the replys.
I guess tires are the general opinion of those reading about my lack of traction issues.

Just what I need, another expensive item on the 'to do' list.
At this rate my cam will be in 2011!! LOL
Thanks for the advise,
Paul.
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Old Dec 21, 2008 | 11:46 AM
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I agree part of it is the tires but it is just the nature of a high HP RWD car. I can toast my 275 MT DR's at 25mph if they are not heated up. AWD car would be a different story.

Be careful in the rain..... My GF 180'ed and bounced my car off the curb driving home from a night out two weeks ago This was after a shower but the road was still damp. Dam curb rash
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Old Dec 21, 2008 | 12:38 PM
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I'll throw in a vote for firestone wide ovals for a good summer/wet weather tire...I really like mine in 275/40/17. Decent price and they seem to be holding up better than I thought they would for treadwear. I just had to put them away for the winter and throw my stock 16's back on the car with some snowtires...but I am very happy with those tires.

Last edited by Mike454SS; Dec 21, 2008 at 12:44 PM.
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Old Dec 21, 2008 | 02:45 PM
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Don't mash the pedal... You will only ever have as much traction as your tires and setup gives you. Fix the driver. Learn how to launch given what you have.

I'm on 555r 315 wide nittos and I'd get nowhere if I mashed the pedal. Launching is tough. I still suck at it
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Old Dec 22, 2008 | 11:41 AM
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Driver mod would help out alot I'm thinking.
I'm comfortable driving my car now, but the wet does put me off.
I think the tires must be a bit to blame, because I drive two other cars, and am much more comfortable driving in the wet with those. But then again, I drive them much more frequently.
Will practice my launches more, and mabey get some more driving lesons.
Thanks for letting me know even good tires aren't going to compleatly solve this problem.

Bye for now,

Merry Christmas!
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Old Dec 22, 2008 | 11:46 AM
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progressively pushing in the pedal is better than mashing it, not a shock to the drivetrain and you get traction.
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Old Dec 22, 2008 | 01:01 PM
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Go to the drag strip. Work on getting the 60 foot times down.

I don't launch on the best surface really, but I slip the clutch around 3500 rpm and I'll sometimes bog or spin depending on how smooth my pedal input is. Mashing the pedal definitely wouldn't work for me.

Rain is rain... less traction in the rain... gotta be even more gentle on the pedal.
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Old Dec 22, 2008 | 04:40 PM
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Sound like great advise.
And Santa Pod is only like, an hour and a half from me

Keep meaning to get there, just always seem to be so dam busy.
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Old Dec 22, 2008 | 07:24 PM
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shocks and struts and LCA's will happen with traction, but with any rear wheel drive sports car putting out respectable numbers, you cant just floor it and not spin (nor dump the clutch at 3000RPM), you have to learn the manners of the car.
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Old Dec 22, 2008 | 09:11 PM
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i can easily make my tires spin ~30 on stock power, and i can easily get traction. it just comes with learning the car like bryan stated earlier.
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