[wjones14]

This may sound weird, so please don't judge.

I live in a populated beachfront community, and it's really not cool or safe to drive like a hooligan. In the seven months I've owned this car in fact, I've never gone WOT in 1st gear.

Until tonight. I turned onto a 50 mph limit road and from a rolling start at about 20 mph I floored it in 1st gear. I was planning to shift hard into 2nd just to see how much the Goodyears would break loose on a 1-2 shift. Sport mode with TC and StabiliTrak on.

Almost immediately, however, the rear tires broke loose and the shift lights came on in the HUD! I wasn't expecting that at all. I had to back off before shifting into 2nd. The road was dry and the temperature about 50.

Was the wheelspin due to the cool temperature?

I remember reading a Motor Trend Mustang vs. 1LE comparison where they said that burnouts were actually somewhat difficult in the 1LE because of the grippy tires, at least compared to the Mustang. So like I said, I wasn't expecting the tires to break loose like that, especially from a rolling start.

It was also the first time I have seen the HUD shift lights on the public roads. I did see them when I took the car to Lime Rock in September, but that was in 3rd gear.

[Scraps0f]

I noticed a considerable change in my tires grip from the 90's when I bought it and into the 60's of this fall. Even more so once the temps were around 40-50. I was near impossible for me(A10) not to spin with more than ~10% throttle from a stop. Pretty sure the zl1 and ss 1le use the same rubber. I have not driven it here in days, I don't think I will make it through this first cold season of ownership, I already miss it.

[arpad_m]

Originally Posted by wjones14

I turned onto a 50 mph limit road and from a rolling start at about 20 mph I floored it in 1st gear. I was planning to shift hard into 2nd just to see how much the Goodyears would break loose on a 1-2 shift. Sport mode with TC and StabiliTrak on.

Almost immediately, however, the rear tires broke loose and the shift lights came on in the HUD! I wasn't expecting that at all. I had to back off before shifting into 2nd. The road was dry and the temperature about 50.

Was the wheelspin due to the cool temperature?

That is a major contributor, yes, the tires must have been cold, did you check the tire temp indicator before flooring it? If it's around 50 degrees, I don't think you have much of a chance in first, short of immediately after a burnout (never tried it myself, though, I'm pretty sure the blacktop cools the tires back down very quickly).

I have the A8, so gearing is different, but I never even tried to go WOT in first with cool tires before the Maggie and now the first two (three in this cold) gears are WOT-unfriendly...

Originally Posted by wjones14

It was also the first time I have seen the HUD shift lights on the public roads. I did see them when I took the car to Lime Rock in September, but that was in 3rd gear.

You don't drive her hard enough then The shift lights are one of the things I miss from the ZL1.

[DaveC113]

Yeah, you gotta be careful under 60 degrees and VERY careful under 40.

[biker2k]

not trying to be a jerk...
but based on the car you own this is something you should probably already know...
this car is more than capable of roasting the tires in 90 degree weather in 1st gear wot stab forget about it in 50 degrees...

[Boost Creep]

Originally Posted by wjones14

This may sound weird, so please don't judge.

I live in a populated beachfront community, and it's really not cool or safe to drive like a hooligan. In the seven months I've owned this car in fact, I've never gone WOT in 1st gear.

Until tonight. I turned onto a 50 mph limit road and from a rolling start at about 20 mph I floored it in 1st gear. I was planning to shift hard into 2nd just to see how much the Goodyears would break loose on a 1-2 shift. Sport mode with TC and StabiliTrak on.

Almost immediately, however, the rear tires broke loose and the shift lights came on in the HUD! I wasn't expecting that at all. I had to back off before shifting into 2nd. The road was dry and the temperature about 50.

Was the wheelspin due to the cool temperature?

I remember reading a Motor Trend Mustang vs. 1LE comparison where they said that burnouts were actually somewhat difficult in the 1LE because of the grippy tires, at least compared to the Mustang. So like I said, I wasn't expecting the tires to break loose like that, especially from a rolling start.

It was also the first time I have seen the HUD shift lights on the public roads. I did see them when I took the car to Lime Rock in September, but that was in 3rd gear.

Night time so there is no solar heat in the pavement, and 50° ambient temps, you don't stand a chance.

[VinnAY]

Originally Posted by biker2k

not trying to be a jerk...
but based on the car you own this is something you should probably already know...
this car is more than capable of roasting the tires in 90 degree weather in 1st gear wot stab forget about it in 50 degrees...

Ya it's like he's got no clue what he's driving.

[SSDan]

Originally Posted by biker2k

not trying to be a jerk...
but based on the car you own this is something you should probably already know...
this car is more than capable of roasting the tires in 90 degree weather in 1st gear wot stab forget about it in 50 degrees...

Originally Posted by VinnAY

Ya it's like he's got no clue what he's driving.

Guys - this is not helpful and this is how threads go off track and become an internet shouting match.

OP - many others have answered and I agree. As the temps go lower so does the grip with high performance summer tires. I kinda like it. Its fun to get a little wiggle when you romp on the pedal. Now that you know - you can be prepared and ready when you want to have some fun.

[Ryephile]

Cool temps on Supercar 3's?

Not surprised.

[Airfuel]

Yup, cool temps on a new car is forcing me to be somewhat gentle during the break in.....it’s hard but probably keeping me out of trouble!

[wjones14]

Originally Posted by SSDan

Guys - this is not helpful and this is how threads go off track and become an internet shouting match.

OP - many others have answered and I agree. As the temps go lower so does the grip with high performance summer tires. I kinda like it. Its fun to get a little wiggle when you romp on the pedal. Now that you know - you can be prepared and ready when you want to have some fun.

Thanks Dan. Now that I know that even in the 50s, the tires will lose grip, I'll keep that in mind. And yes, it is fun when you're expecting it...

And yes VinnAY, I do have a clue as to what I'm driving. I started off over 40 years ago with a 1974 Z28 4-speed, and have owned almost nothing but American V8 manuals since, including 400 horsepower cars like an Olds 4-4-2 W-30 and a '65 396 Corvette roadster. I figured the super-sticky 305 Goodyears would be able to handle easing into the throttle in 1st gear over 20 mph, so that's why I was surprised. But looking back, except for the BMW, all my other cars had all season tires, so the traction drop-off wasn't so much as it apparently is with the Goodyears. I did do WOT throttle pulls in 1st gear with the BMW, but it never broke loose like this, and I guess I never did it when it was in the low 50s.

[TrackClub]

Cold tires and ambient temp aside, one shouldnt be able to spin tires with TC on, right to the redline, as the latter should cut power immediately if there is too much spin. It would seem to me (from my distant armchair mind you) the car somehow managed to get into Comp Mode, which in Sport mode is just 2 clicks away...

[pbsinternet1le]

G3 is a warm temp tire. 50 is not warm.. you will see people commenting they drive them when it's freezing or snow..not smart. Anything below 40 is a big risk.

[RyanR3KC]

I read on the internet that if you drive on these tires in 40 to 50+ degree weather...just tell your family that you love them because it's absolute certain death.