I've encountered an interesting phenomenon with regard to the grip of my tires during these cold winter months.
On quite a few occasions, while leaving work in the evenings, I have slightly spun out—with VERY LITTLE acceleration—trying to enter the flow of traffic.
This is understandable, and even somewhat expected, with ice or even rain on the roads, but these particular spinouts occurred on dry pavement at night.

So here's my question: Do cold tires in general have less grip on cold pavement, or is this just particular to the stock '06 GT tires?

 

In short: Yes

Stone cold tires mean the rubber compound is harder, and hence less grippy on the pavement. Burnouts at a drag race aren't just for show. It's to get that rubber heated up so it'll stick when the light turns green....

 

Thank ye kindly!

 

Lack of grip doesn't just apply when you're entering traffic either. Also watch out on corners that you may take fairly fast in the summer lest you get surprised by the back end coming around to meet you in the front.

 

If you have also had a recent snow the remaining salt onthe road will cut your traction down.

 

That is never a good thing

 

Yea.. Freakin sucks when that happens.. Take my word on it!

 

Geez Travis, if I priced all my mods in my sig, I'd never get anything done

 

Welcome to my life atomicvibe

you should see what it's like with snow tires on. I can fish tail at will just by slamming the gas with TCS off. This is on 40 degree dry pavement.

 

Cold air is also more dense so the tire pressure will be greater than it is in the summer. You might want to take out a pound or two.

 

Cold air is more dense true, however, Pv = nRT says that for a given volume, (inside a tire) a lower temp will mean a lower pressure. And higher pressure will be the result of higher temperature.

 

yes you are correct, guess I had it backwards in my head being that since hot air is less dense and it expands.

LOL, I haven't seen that equation since my Thermodynamics class in college. Here's an illustration http://www.7stones.com/Homepage/Publisher/Thermo1.html


however, taking air out of his tire may still help.

 

OMG, How'd we get from traction issues to thermo? Now I'm having nightmares again about not having my lab report done.

 

Theres your answer. They will get worse the colder it is.
The compound on snow tires is softer and arent effected as much as all season tires.

What your getting is normal. A car with alot of power, cold weather, and avg traction tires.



<!--QuoteBegin-dustindu4@December 28, 2005, 9:47 AM
Welcome to my life atomicvibe

you should see what it's like with snow tires on. I can fish tail at will just by slamming the gas with TCS off. This is on 40 degree dry pavement.

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Now you know why snow tires traction rating is poor on dry pavement!