still losing traction with good tyres...maybe lowering will help??

[RhysQ]

Hey all,

I really struggle with traction from the standstill, all the way through 1st and half of 2nd gear (obviously without traction control on....I HATE IT). I don't think its the tyres cos i have Toyo Proxes T1-R's on (205/40 R17) and they are the best in their range.
Will lowering the car improve traction due to a lower centre of gravity, if so, how low should i go and what is the cost?

any help will be greatly appreciated!

Cheers all

[DaveMack]

Hey all,

I really struggle with traction from the standstill, all the way through 1st and half of 2nd gear (obviously without traction control on....I HATE IT). I don't think its the tyres cos i have Toyo Proxes T1-R's on (205/40 R17) and they are the best in their range.
Will lowering the car improve traction due to a lower centre of gravity, if so, how low should i go and what is the cost?

any help will be greatly appreciated!

Cheers all

Just ... lighten the use of the right foot slightly.

Dave

[RhysQ]

Just ... lighten the use of the right foot slightly.

Dave

THAT'S IT! ....... why didn't i think of that.... thanks dave. haha

forgot to mention it obviously doesn't happen every time i take off...only when punching it.

[Adam]

I don't think lowering the car will improve your traction in straight line standstill acceleration, because your weight on each tyre will still be the same. but like dave said, maybe some conservative on your right foot is the way to go.

try different tyre pressure as that will have some effect in the tyre's contact area to the ground. or better yet, get a wide bodykit and fit some 17x8" fat wheels on for more fubber!

[ralphk]

I have 215/40/17 and LSD......and yep still traction problem. Like Dave said back off = no problem

[VW GTI]

Yeah, how much better is it to drive with traction control off? I've only had my car 4 days and I've realised that.

I had the same problem (but my car isn't chipped). I spent an entire night driving around trying to stop at every red light to practice. Got it down now, will have to do it again when it's chipped haha.

[REDMKVGTI]

Stiffer springs might help a bit because the weight will shift less, but yeh, the only way your really going to stop it is by going easy (boring).

[Ben_GTI]

Why would you complain about loosing traction? It's only annoying when traction control is on and it cuts the power. If you know you're going to give it some stick, just turn off the traction control and let her rip!!

I've been in NZ all week not driving and this topic has given me the urge to take the GTI for a drive........

[mitch_gti]

Still loosing traction

I dont like driving the the traction control OFF.

I think the system is calibrated really well.

Most of it has to do with your style of driving, if you drop the clutch at 2,500 rpm yes it will spin and tcs will pretty much completely kill power.
But if your smooth with the clutch on launch then ive found tcs only kicks in very very softly and briefly.

My brother and I have tried traffic light GP with and without tcs. We both agree the car is alot faster with the system on, provided your smooth.

IMO you dont need to try too hard with the GTI Polo, especially once it has been given the APR treatment. Dont have to dump the clutch, dont have to 'snap' gears like you do in other cars. Massive amount of torque will take car of it for you. Just have to concentrate on being smooth.

[DaveMack]

Well said, Mitch.

Dave

[Glide_GTI]

I've found the best way to take off is to ride the clutch a bit, takes much practice, you dont want to kill it

this method also got me the best qtr mile time.
my car is lowered and it didnt make any difference to traction, just the extreme amount of care you need to take to avoid dips in the road :S

[VWindahouse]

I found the Forge front strut brace did help a little with traction, however I havn't gone the APR way just yet.

Stay tuned as project all the way starts soon

[Sharkie]

I think the ESP is slightly confused by the a chip. It detects wheelspin and backs off the power. In a std car this would probably kill all the power off completely. In a chipped car, I've found the 1st cut by the ESP is not enough and you still have plenty of power left to play with.

The ESP then detects that you are still doing what it doesn't approve of and further cuts the power. If you are used to that, you would have lifted slightly after the 1st small cut and pre-empted a 2nd cut. This is the quickest way to drive with the ESP on.

BTW, if I'm really in a hurry from a standing start I switch the ESP off. It is easy enough to control the way you start and not too lose traction by using the clutch.

Dumping the clutch at 2500rpm is pointless. It destroys tyres and the clutch very quickly.....

[SoVeReIgN]

The only way 'lowering' the car would help is if your rear springs were stiffer & your front shocks damper ratio much higher
Help stop weight transfer to the rear of your car = more traction for front.

[hgonops]

When your vehicle was brand new from the factory it would have come with Continental Sport Contact Tyres. They are manufactured for European vehicles only. Replace the Toyo's with Continental and you will minimise wheel spin.
They cost more but absolutely worth it. Never skimp on the most important and only and only thing that keeps you in contact with the road.
You won't regret it.