I have an automatic Firebird Trans AM WS6 (its RWD, 320HP if it helps), and if you just floor it from a stop the tires spin even w/ traction control on, then they grip and it launches forward. is it better to accelerate this way, or to go easier on the throttle so the tires dont spin from a launch?
2006-10-02 05:50:32 · 6 answers · asked by icnmayhem 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
Harry has it pretty much right-on.
Ideal situation is tire sidewalls howl without the tread noticeably (to most people) slipping. To get there with the WS6, you'll need to lower rear-tire air pressure.
I think 20-23 psi is what you're looking for with stock tires at the drag strip, but keep notes and make small adjustments.
No matter what, don't drive on the street with low air pressure.
On normal street tires, the tread will "squirm" and deform under acceleration (whether forward, as in drag racing -- or "backwards," as in braking -- or laterally, as in cornering)
Maximum acceleration is obtained by "rolling into" the throttle. You need to practice for consistency.
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2006-10-02 07:59:38 · answer #1 · answered by wireflight 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tires provide maximum traction when slipping very slightly (I'm talking just barely faster than the car is moving, not a smoke-producing burnout), so the earlier answer about a happy medium hits it right on the head. Your T/A's traction control will severly retard power to prevent wheelspin, so your best acceleration will be achieved with the TC switched off. From there, it's a matter of finding how much throttle will keep from lighting up the rear tires. My Z28 usually responds well to a clutch drop from about 2000 RPM, and then applying more throttle after the car jumps off of the line. Of course, you have an automatic, so brake-torquing (applying throttle while still on the brakes, then releasing them), will probably work best. The type and condition of your tires, as well as what kind of surface you are running on, will affect how much traction you have, and therefore, how aggressive you can be with the throttle.
2006-10-02 13:18:39 · answer #2 · answered by Harry 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The trick is to brake the tires loose just enough to keep RPM up and not bog engine down. If you tires are spinning you not moving Experiment with different RPM ranges to see witch gives you the best hook up. If you can get your car to hook up it will go like hell. If you drag race this car you had better own it out right, because if the finance company finds out you'll be walking. If you don't have a lot of money, stay out of drag racing it is very expensive. I have been there done that, so I'm talking from experience
2006-10-03 00:09:51 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
in racing, you have to find that happy medium, spinning the tires at launch gets you nowhere fast, light acceleration to prevent spinning gets you nowhere fast. Find the medium, right before the point when you lose traction, launch then stomp the pedal for max acceleration
2006-10-02 12:53:42 · answer #4 · answered by Mike C 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
don't spin them.
Watch any Drag race and they try not to spin their tires at the start. Yes, they spin them a lot in the beginning before the race, but that's to get them warmed up stick to the ground better.
Spinning them costs you precious seconds, in a race they matter. If your not racing, then spin away.
2006-10-02 12:53:58 · answer #5 · answered by Kevin J 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
spinning the wheels wastes power but for a quick start you need high revs so a little spin action is good, just not too much
2006-10-02 12:59:24 · answer #6 · answered by mrmoo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋