Question About Improving Traction...

[makaveli]

Hi Guys,

I have been having trouble getting traction while launching and

I would like to explore some different options I have to improve it.

I have a r32 gts-t with an rb25 conversion, boost comes on heaps quicker

than the rb20 and im currently making 208 rw kw's.

The car is fitted with:

- Tein HA coilovers

- 18' x 8 wheels

- Whiteline Pineapples - set at intermediate as I like a bit of sliding too.

The tyres I question as they are really slippery in the wet when driving off boost.

They are Summitomo 235's, directional tyres.

Has anyone got any idea's?

Thanks

Mark

[Roy]

Bridgestone RE55s and a more delicate right foot

[djr81]

Like Roy said, first stop is some good tyres.

[predator]

problem is 18" tyres will always cost a fortune, and then for the good tyres.. ouch.. $2k for a set.

17's on 32 will save you a lot of hassles and a crap-load of money. So you have to weigh up looks vs performance..

[makaveli]

Hi Guys,

Thanks a heap for the advice.

My tyres are fine at the moment so I might just wait until they are worn and replace them.

Usually the back ones wear out first so I'll just buy 2 tyres at a time.

What tyres would be good for traction,especially launches? (I like to spin n slide a lil too)

Also the Bridgestone RE55's how much are they for a tyre and what type of tyre should I get (235's,245's etc...)?

[Sydneykid]

And the answer is .........................

Tein HA coilovers

Spring rate too high, shock rates too harsh, unsophisticated valving.

Second problem

It's most likely too low. If it isn't ~350 mm front and ~340 mm rear, then it's too low for traction

Third problem

Still has HICAS. It's gotta go, HICAS is not your friend

How are my guesses?

Cheers

[makaveli]

Hi Sydneykid,

Thanks for your input!

Your guesses are very good (as always)

My Hicas has been cancelled already

Im not too sure exactly how low my car is.

When you say 350mm and 340mm do you mean from the bumper?

As I said I do like a lil bit of sliding so I just want to fix my setup so it has a bit more traction so when I go to calder or have some launches I can be faster.

Would it be worth getting better tyres?

It may be too costly changing suspension set ups, and I do like the way the car handles in the dry, its just launching where my problem is.

Its so delicate launching, I ease off the clutch a 2,000rpm ease on the accelerator and get a bit of spin although I get spin through second.

Thanks for all the advice so far.

Mark

Edited May 1, 2006 by makaveli

[djr81]

When you say 350mm and 340mm do you mean from the bumper?

Measure from the centre of the rim to the underside of the guard.

As I said I do like a lil bit of sliding so I just want to fix my setup so it has a bit more traction so when I go to calder or have some launches I can be faster.

Would it be worth getting better tyres?

Absolutely, unreservedly, yes.

It may be too costly changing suspension set ups, and I do like the way the car handles in the dry, its just launching where my problem is.

Its so delicate launching, I ease off the clutch a 2,000rpm ease on the accelerator and get a bit of spin although I get spin through second.

It is probably delicate because of a lack of rear end grip. Fixing the ride height will banish some of the -ve camber at the back end & better tyres will grip better to start with.

[Roy]

Can i ask what time it ran at Calder...also your 60ft time?

[makaveli]

Sorry Roy, I havn't been yet although I want to improve it and then I'd like to go

Would you guys think that just getting rear tyres would be ok?

Thanks for all the input so far!

Mark

[Roy]

The single best mod youcan do to any car is tyres. Brakign, cornering, acceleration...the whole show.

Only problem is it can be an expensive temp modification. I have run on semi rears and normal road fronts and its not bad for day to day driving. If you are tryign to fly around corners then it could present all sorts of problems.

But i would suggest DZ02J rears as they seem tobe the quitest and best in the wet. They are also grippy as hell, but a bit more expensive then the RE55s. But the Bridgestone are good as well

[makaveli]

Roy thankyou very much for your input!

I just spoke to a contact I get my tyres from and they suggested

that the inside of my tyres could be worn because of the rear having

negative camber.

They also told me that semi slick tyres don't last long at all!

Im feeling a bit negative after hearing that information. I think my rear tyres are not worn, although maybe I can do something to fix the rear camber?

I'll just have to keep looking into it.

Please keep the feedback coming!

Thanks

Mark

[makaveli]

Is it worth trying to fix the negative camber on the rear?

Maybe I should fit 17's with better tyres, although I do like my

wheels.

[predator]

Roy is talking you up to R comp tyres which are great, but not really suitable for the street.. due to the wear, and also when cold not really suitable for driving around (as they get safe grip only when warmed up).

Sounds like you need a mix (much like me), at a price not too much out of this world.. even though tyres single most important thing on the car, yada, yada.

Mark: You could buy a separate set of cheap rear rims with expensive tyres for the rear just for drag or track.. then again what is suitable for drag isn't suitable for track .. You can never win!

[Bunta]

I have a R32 with an RB25 making 200 rwkw...I had bad traction too, I planned to get camber kits and pineaples and all that stuff to help! But when I changed from 18s with crap 265 wide tyres (Falken Ziex) to 17s that I had hanging around with decent 235 tyres I found traction improved! With 255s fitted of the same brand it should be better again! So yeah I agree ditch the 18s and spend more money on good tyres for 17 inch rims!!

[makaveli]

Thanks Gordo,

All I want to achieve is an allround set up,something that I can launch, and slide from time to time also.

I know its a very fine line to balance on although I just want the best of both worlds. I don't think ill be doing any track work so a spare set of rims and tyres wont be worth the $$$.

Maybe I can change my pineapple setting to drag, that may help a bit and put some better tyres on the back.

Is there anyway I can get rid of the negative camber?

Thanks

Mark

[makaveli]

Guys should I change the pineapple setting to drag?

there are so many things to consider!

Maybe we can work out some steps I can work with.

Thanks

Mark

[dangerous_daveo]

Rear camber adj bushes...

But track and drift set ups I feel SHOULD be almost identical. Someone once said to me drift is meant to be fast, and to go fast you need lots of grip. SK has said before go for a grippy track set up, and for drift just make that rear anti roll bar a bit stiffer.

Then when you are at the drags, just let the tyres down a bit 18-20psi or there abouts. My mate got a 0.5sec increase in time from that alone (VY SS auto ute almost stock, I mean its a consistant car).

[exodus_68]

If you want to drag then you should sort out the negative camber. What you need to remember is that when you launch the car will squat down and when the car squats the negative camber will become exageratted at the worst possible time. You want as much tyre surface on the road as possible for drag.

[Busky2k]

Definitely worth fixing the camber. More traction and less uneven wear. Win/win situation man! Any more than -1 deg is too much on the rear for a streeter IMO!! (Don't forget as the car squats you get more [dynamic] camber again..)