Difficulty launching (wheel spin)
 

I've noticed that I can't launch the car correctly without significant rear wheel spin when first revving to around 4500 - 5000 RPM. My tires are new (Kumho ECSTA SPT Ultra High Performance Summer), so worn tread is not an issue. This problem still occurs when I turn the DSC off, so it's not the traction control either.

Any advice? I read in the recent road and track that the Mazdaspeed3 had the same issue. Anything I can do to fix this, even if I have to replace some parts?

BTW, sorry if this is posted in the wrong place or if it is against forum rules.

tire pressure and road and tire temp might be causes

Ike blames physics!

thats called TORQUE baby!!! WOOOOO!!!!!

vvvv (high fives next poster!)

Does it ever happen to you guys? It's a little annoying.

My tires say "max pressure of 51 psi" and I have them at about 35 psi. Should I increase tire pressure to around 40 - 45? The tires handle extremely well where they are, but I'm willing to increase pressure to stop them from slipping.

Is there a problem...?

lol, I don't know....159 isn't really that great... :)

uhh, you would want LESS pressure to have them grip better

turn off traction control... lower air pressure.. i would give 26lbs a try... launch for ~4500 rpm... feather the clutch in... do not dump it..

beers :beer:

great, the answer I was looking for. Thanks man.

BlueRenesis: I'm new to performance, and I really don't know anything. I rely on you guys to help me out, so for doing that, I appreciate it (I'm a really fast learner, so it won't take long).

Oh, and btw, my tires were recently deflated to around 30 psi and the "low pressure" light came on. Should I just ignore that?

They shouldn't come on if they're around 30.... check all four again.

no,

keep you tire pressures in the 32 to 36 psi range.. lower the rears to gain traction...

beers :beer:

27 psi. is the trigger for the light.

beers :beer:

not if they were all at 30. i think the plate on the door is 32

30psi should not set them off even if you consider winter temps (its been kinda warm lately). Are you checking and filling the tires in the morning before the cars moves? 30 should be fine then.

btw: If you plan on driving the 8 for the next few months you'll need a set of all weather or better yet winter tires on that car very soon. We're going to have low temp mornings any day now and those summer tires are going to be like driving on steel drums.

Sarcasm is hard to convey on a forum :Freak_ani

lol

Time to re-learn your driving skills ?

Relearn driving skills? The 8 isn't exactly the most difficult car to drive fast. All you need to do is gun it after already moving, and it's unbelievable handling does the rest.

As for launching, it wasn't just me. My friend (who owns a 3000GT and races on a monthly basis) had the same problem.

And I checked all my tires when that yellow (!) tire inflation signal came on, and they were all at around 30 - 31. I didn't understand it myself, but when I filled them all up to 35 psi the light went off.

Maybe the sensor is off due to the higher max psi of the Kuhmo ESTA SPT tires? I'm still unsure about this one.

I'll deflate the rear tires to 26 psi and see if that helps.

I actually haven't checked the tire pressure first thing in the morning before driving the car, only after lunch after driving it for a little while. I'll check what it is first thing tomorrow morning to see if there's any difference.

And I'm going to be purchasing Dunlop M3's in a couple weeks, from Partyka Mazda in Hamden. They were gonig to rip me off, but once I told them Tire Racks price they matched it. They seem like a good service shop to deal with, if you live in the New Haven area.

My 8 is there now getting a little hole in the seat fixed. They are good. And yes, all pressure readings should be cold (before the car moves). Fill it to 30 then and you should have no tpms warning.

Looks like we both use the same service shop. Ask for Bill (service manager). Treat him with respect and be nice to him, and he will hook you up every time. So will Dawn.....get her a large coffee (light and sweet) from Dunkin Donuts whenever you go in and you will get discounts galore. I'm not even kidding.

And every time I go into that shop, there are always 600 cars in there. I am shocked at the amount of business they get, even from vehicle types they don't sell (Mercedes Benz, etc).

Most cheapo air pressure gauges can be off by about 5 psi, especially the ones on the end of a gas station air hose that has been dropped and run over by a few Buicks.

Getting good rear tire traction is all about weight transfer. You'll notice when you accelerate hard that the rear squats a bit. This puts more weight on the rear wheels and increases grip quite a bit. The trick to a good hard launch is to do it with minimal wheel slip and apply the power as the rear squats to get more grip.

This is the same principal with threshold braking in a non-abs car.

cause our car is not a AWD car!