No Traction...Almost Dead

[blk_frmnt]

I recently bought an AU1 Fairmont. It's been lowered slightly, and has 16in non-stock wheels. The tyres are near-new. However, driving yesterday in the wet I nearly killed myself on the corners. The back-end just slides out with out warning, even at speeds I would consider more than safe for certain corners. I've driven plently of RWD cars before, but this was the most unsettling thing ever. Is there some way to increase the traction? (Other than loading the boot full of rocks...) Maybe someone f-cked up the suspension when lowering it, causing this.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Fairlane]

Lowered Suspension should have nothing to do with this, perhaps your car has LSD which takes some adjustment to drive, but IMHO LSD makes a car safer to drive in the wet.

Im going to wager that the tyres on the rear of your car are just crap- What brand are they? The difference a set of tyres can make is incredible on the rear axle of a falcon is incredible.

[walker]

Bigger Mags or good quality rubber on the back would do the trick

[anakha]

Back when I had an AU1 ESP I was horrified how easily the back end would step out going around corners in the wet. If you're tyres are as nasty as the Eagle GAs that came stock on mine I would get them switched pronto.

[c4ple7on]

When driving my parents AU in the wet it always slips like that in the wet exactly as you described. Easy turns would just slip out!

Infact i did a u turn one day without very much accel. and the whole car spun around and up onto the centre strip!

[Hibbz]

Either your tyres are crap/buggered or ya not taking into consideration that its wet.

Jake

[JefXR8]

tyres are just crap.

[TwistedEL]

So the AUI fairmonts didn't come with traction control standard?

Put some 235's on the rear... mine doesn't step out unless I want it to (and turn TC off)

[Eu-GenixX]

lowering shouldn't effect it unless you got some stupid amount of camber.. which would be visible looking at it...

my bet is on tyres as well.. my old EA was so taily in the wet it wasn't funny... it's amazing the difference when i put a different set of rubber on the car..

and of course there is also the driving style to be considered as well as roads... there is an intersection near my house.. that is so slippery in the wet it's not funny.. an old car of mine couldn't even spin the wheels in the wet as much as i tried.. but this one intersection was scary.. there is just no traction there...

and i thought fairmonts have traction control? or is that only the ghia?...

[JC]

Get some good tyres fitted - something like G3s, or Nexen NS2s! The dunlop monzas are no good at all in the wet.

[FRDGAL]

Originally Posted by JC

Get some good tyres fitted - something like G3s, or Nexen NS2s! The dunlop monzas are no good at all in the wet.

What's a good tyre though JC? Mine are Avon Race tyres @ $595 per tyre and I have the exact same problem as blk_frmnt. But when we put those Avon's on the XR8, it had awesome traction. I've been told that the differences between live axle and IRS play a role in how rear tyres behave..

Tested a set of brand new sp3000's (off the XR8) and same thing. Although I will admit, it took roundabouts a little better, there was some grip, but then turning left onto Heaths Rd, it slid right out with a touch of the pedal. So what's a good tyre and why do more live axle AU's have an issue with this compared to the IRS models? Anyone know?

Krissy.

[HLC]

i've used Fulda Exelero's 225/55r16's on my car, and currently Bob Jane Xenon Z1's of the same dimensions.

both seemed to be pretty good in the wet on my live axle fairmont. of course if i prodded it, it would slip and slide and do all sorts of naughty things. but taking it easy they were fine.

as the fuldas wore down, they got a lot less grippy- i'm talking a mm or less of tread left lol. will tell you about the Xenon's and how they go in a years time lol

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by FRDGAL_AU6

What's a good tyre though JC? Mine are Avon Race tyres @ $595 per tyre and I have the exact same problem as blk_frmnt. But when we put those Avon's on the XR8, it had awesome traction. I've been told that the differences between live axle and IRS play a role in how rear tyres behave..

"Race tyres" eh. Wets or Dry.

[FRDGAL]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

"Race tyres" eh. Wets or Dry.

http://www.tyre-shopper.co.uk/articl...title=Avon-ZZR

Edit: I think those are the newer ZZR's. I bought my ZZR's about 2 years ago. Much the same but a slightly different tread pattern. But same rating, compound etc..

[HLC]

Originally Posted by FRDGAL_AU6

What's a good tyre though JC? Mine are Avon Race tyres @ $595 per tyre and I have the exact same problem as blk_frmnt. But when we put those Avon's on the XR8, it had awesome traction. I've been told that the differences between live axle and IRS play a role in how rear tyres behave..

Tested a set of brand new sp3000's (off the XR8) and same thing. Although I will admit, it took roundabouts a little better, there was some grip, but then turning left onto Heaths Rd, it slid right out with a touch of the pedal. So what's a good tyre and why do more live axle AU's have an issue with this compared to the IRS models? Anyone know?

Krissy.

Manufacturer's Description:
The ZZR is a genuine road-legal race tyre - its tread compound isn't merely based on a racing compound, it is the very same compound Avon uses for its Group N saloon car racing tyre. Which, of course, means its levels of grip are simply extraordinary. Similarly, its carcass is race spec; it is super-stiff to give very direct responses, a fact you'll particularly appreciate through the steering. On the limit it is extremely predictable and friendly, so you'll enjoy pushing it. The ZZR is the ideal, and easy, trackday upgrade. This product offers very limited grip in wet conditions. Although the ZZR is fully road-legal, Avon advises against using ZZR for everyday road use.

[FRDGAL]

Originally Posted by HLC

This product offers very limited grip in wet conditions.

You have quoted info on the wrong ZZR's. If you read my initial post, you would have seen that I said that they give awesome traction in the wet, on the XR8. Believe me they grip in the wet! but only on the XR8, not on my Fairmont. And that was why I asked if the live axle vs IRS came into play.

And when I bought those tyres 2 years ago, they were highly rated as a wet tyre. Mine are not the current ones. They're different. And were made for daily use.

These are mine:
http://www.avontyres.com.au/car_tyres/index.htm but when we went into Bob Jane to find out how long the wait list is for them (3 months arrgghhh) he said they were now Avon "Race".

[JC]

I posted up 2 tyres I know are good in the wet. Bridgestone G3s, and believe it or not (for my AU I6 wagon), the Nexen NS2s are great in the wet - very sure footed, and plenty of warning when they do eventually lose grip in monsoon conditions, as experienced around 10 days ago traveling through Coffs on the way to Qld.

[HLC]

Originally Posted by FRDGAL_AU6

You have quoted info on the wrong ZZR's. If you read my initial post, you would have seen that I said that they give awesome traction in the wet, on the XR8. Believe me they grip in the wet! but only on the XR8, not on my Fairmont. And that was why I asked if the live axle vs IRS came into play.

And when I bought those tyres 2 years ago, they were highly rated as a wet tyre. Mine are not the current ones. They're different. And were made for daily use.

These are mine:
http://www.avontyres.com.au/car_tyres/index.htm but when we went into Bob Jane to find out how long the wait list is for them (3 months arrgghhh) he said they were now Avon "Race".

ahhh sorry. my mistake. :(

[sbutler]

Its most likley a tyre issue. There is interesting reading in this thread that mabe of help>>http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=86272ead>>

[XR Lita]

You're lucky. I can't get the bum on the XR to step out at all... Even in the rain :(

[stiddy]

My car stepped out all the time without provoking it, that was on some shitty tyre that came with the car when I got it, I went and got GT radials on the standard 16's and they were great, no slip in the wet unless you really got up it.
Went to 18's with nan kings and it was a little sketchy in the wet but liveable, then I lowered the car and it was pointless trying to drive in the rain, you would clock up 1000k's going to the shops and back lol.
Went and got shocks put in and it tamed it alot, had plenty of traction, and now ive got GT radials on again at nearly 300 a tyre they stick like velcro unless you really provoke it.
Mine is live beam aswell and a manual.

[blk_frmnt]

Originally Posted by XR Lita

You're lucky. I can't get the bum on the XR to step out at all... Even in the rain :(

ha...And what tyres are you using??

[whiskers]

man oh man I have had my AU since new its a 99 and with stock tyres the eagle GA's and I have never had any probs with them or slipping out in the wet either you guys are going to fast for the conditions or the tyres are bald. or maybe I just drive like miss Daisey

[XR Lita]

I'm not sure what brand they are....I'll have to have a look when I am next in the garage