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Wider tire, less traction!?

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Old 11-27-2012, 05:28 PM
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Wider tire, less traction!?

So I recently went from stock iroc 16 inch 245 wheels and tires to 07 vette rims that are 18x245 up front and 19x285 in the rear. I've got spacers, lowering springs, hotchkis rear sway bar and LCA's with LCA relocation brackets. Both the old iroc tires and the corvette tires are worn, (the corvette tires were used before I bought them) and for some reason I get significantly less traction with the corvette rims. Tread is about 50% compared to the iroc tires that had about 10% tread left. Any reason you could think of why this would happen?
Old 11-27-2012, 05:47 PM
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Re: Wider tire, less traction!?

no, as pontiac would say, wider is better. could be the tread compound possibly making it not hook up and ground temperature.. other than that idk. i never have a issue going wider in my experience, except with a bad tire brand or something. as far as tires go, have u tried going wider than what u currently got? if not then, i may suggest it.
Old 11-27-2012, 05:51 PM
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Re: Wider tire, less traction!?

If the new tires are a harder compound, it can reduce traction. Width isn't everything. And the shorter sidewalls allow the sidewall to flex less, again reducing traction ability (ever watched a slo motion video of a wrinkle wall drag slick upon launch?).
Old 11-27-2012, 06:37 PM
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Re: Wider tire, less traction!?

i assume you dont base this on the fact it snowed here in NJ today....

tire compound and tread have a lot to do with this, the other tires could be all season and work better when its cold, if the vette wheels have hi performance summer tires on them, they will be about worthless right now int he cold.

what tires were on both wheels?
Old 11-27-2012, 06:57 PM
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Re: Wider tire, less traction!?

Originally Posted by //<86TA>\\
i assume you dont base this on the fact it snowed here in NJ today....

tire compound and tread have a lot to do with this, the other tires could be all season and work better when its cold, if the vette wheels have hi performance summer tires on them, they will be about worthless right now int he cold.

what tires were on both wheels?
Haha well I got rain all day but no this isint a one day observation. It's been about 2-3 weeks since the new wheels. The tires are good year eagle f1's. I still have my iroc rims, I might just take the rear set of those, color match them and through some Mickey thompsons on them. And then get an all season tire for the vette wheels.
Old 11-27-2012, 07:16 PM
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Re: Wider tire, less traction!?

yea, the f1's are summer tires, they are not going to be good in the cold, they will be too hard in the cold. Depending on which f1's they are, you could even crack them.
Old 11-27-2012, 10:35 PM
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Re: Wider tire, less traction!?

I see you have 285/?/19s what is you side wall it will make a difference in the way the car will launch say a 285/30 will spin more then a 285/50 maybe that could be your problem ????
Old 11-28-2012, 12:58 PM
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Re: Wider tire, less traction!?

Different composition tire.

Originally Posted by //<86TA>\\
yea, the f1's are summer tires, they are not going to be good in the cold, they will be too hard in the cold. Depending on which f1's they are, you could even crack them.
Old 11-28-2012, 07:42 PM
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Re: Wider tire, less traction!?

Originally Posted by thewhitestripes
The tires are good year eagle f1's.
Are those the runflats? Horrible, horrible tire.
Old 12-03-2012, 10:42 PM
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Re: Wider tire, less traction!?

There a couple different Goodyear Eagle F1's...
Old 12-04-2012, 12:16 AM
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Re: Wider tire, less traction!?

Originally Posted by DBLTKE
There a couple different Goodyear Eagle F1's...
Which is why I asked if he had the runflat versions.
Old 12-04-2012, 01:07 AM
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Re: Wider tire, less traction!?

Originally Posted by iansane
Which is why I asked if he had the runflat versions.
Oh I know that you knew that, I was directing that more towards the OP.
Old 12-12-2012, 09:24 PM
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Re: Wider tire, less traction!?

Originally Posted by DBLTKE
Oh I know that you knew that, I was directing that more towards the OP.
I looked at the tire an it said nothing about a run flat so I can't be sure. Is their a tell tale way of knowing?
Old 12-13-2012, 10:51 PM
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Re: Wider tire, less traction!?

Tell us the tire make and model...
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