Abysmal grip on the CTR

eidolon

eidolon

eidolon

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Joined
31 Oct 2002
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Newcastle upon Tyne
I haven't drove the CTR for a couple of weeks but I've been using it for the last few days and noticed that it has absolutely zero grip to the point of being damn dangerous. It seems to follow every single bump on the road and you're constantly having to hold the steering wheel really tightly otherwise the slightest camber will pull you into the kerb.

I can't go round a corner in 2nd without the wheels spinning. Yesterday I was driving along at 40 in 4th, just touched the accelerator and the tyres lit up. I could understand if I had 800BHP and shed loads of torque but this is a Type-R we're talking about here.

The geo was done maybe 6 months ago and the car is never driven up kerbs or anything so I don't think that's it. I've checked the tyres and there's still plenty of tread left on them. I know that RE040's aren't the best but this is like having plastic tyres. Any ideas what to check next?
 
It's the tyres, trust me.

Get rid of them. I put a set of 040's on the Integra and span the car twice last winter. I took them off and gave them to jonnycoupe with a health warning.

Bin em, they're actually dangerous and it's going to get worse.
 
Wheelspin in 4th - :eek:

Sorry - But unless there was ice on the road - I cannot see that happening.
 
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Virdi said:
well you said there was 'plenty of tread' ;)
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What's that got to do with it?

We're talking about the compound of the tyre - it's got more plastic in it than rubber because it's a hot tyre - it needs heat in it to soften up. You can't get heat into it in the winter, hence the grip is non-existent. The tread depth has nothing to do with it.

Inferring eidolon is lying is offensive. I've had the same tyres and I back up that you can EASILY light the fronts up in 4th.
 
merlin said:
It's the tyres, trust me.

Get rid of them. I put a set of 040's on the Integra and span the car twice last winter. I took them off and gave them to jonnycoupe with a health warning.

Bin em, they're actually dangerous and it's going to get worse.
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I am having the same problem on my Peugeot 2.0L 307.

In the cold weather up here they are scary.

I only put these on 3K miles ago and i am already wanting rid of them.


The tyres are fine when warm but in the cold weather they are very dangerous.

I can spin the wheels easily in 3rd gear and very easily in second , which isnt normal for a car with only 140bhp.
 
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Amps - lower the pressures to 25/26psi all round - should help you get through the cold months but still be carefull.
 
Those tyres must be awful.

Only car Ive driven which span the wheels in 4th was an Astra GTE turbo with 280bhp @ 1bar of boost :D
 
What are RE040's?

Despite having lots of tread a poor (usually rock hard rubber) tyre can drastically reduce the grip, especially in the wet.
 
merlin said:
What's that got to do with it?

We're talking about the compound of the tyre - it's got more plastic in it than rubber because it's a hot tyre - it needs heat in it to soften up. You can't get heat into it in the winter, hence the grip is non-existent. The tread depth has nothing to do with it.

Inferring eidolon is lying is offensive. I've had the same tyres and I back up that you can EASILY light the fronts up in 4th.
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I never said he was lying :p

....i just found that very hard to believe

.... Thanks for your explanation though - It's pretty obvious then these tyres are no good....
 
Bridgestone Potenza's.

They're sold as summer tyres. Honda should never have spec'd them for the UK.

Imagine how much of a handfull the Integra was with 249bhp and a LSD with torque steer and plastic tyres. Twice I span the car - understeer, so I lifted off to get the car straight, then lift off oversteer and around we went. And I consider myself a half competent driver.
 
merlin said:
Amps - lower the pressures to 25/26psi all round - should help you get through the cold months but still be carefull.
Click to expand...

I will lower the pressures tonight.

I really feel for people who have these on more powerful cars or heavier cars.
 
Mine are perfect in this weather. Your tyres must be awful!

Have you had the tracking checked too, just to make sure it's making perfect contact on the road?
 
HI there

Is the problem with these tyres that they only work after a certain temperature has been reached?

Spinning in 4th on a gutless no torque CTR is just a joke and actually dangerous.

I've got a fire breathing Mustang with close to 350BHP actually getting to the rear tyres and that don't even break loose in 2nd, not even in this colder weather. Now the Pirreli's aint the best tyres but they do seem a good all rounder.

I remember having Bridgestone S02's on the S2000 and those were too very poor on colder days and should the road be both cold and wet they were pretty lethal. :D
 
What you need to bear in mind with the CTR/DC5/S2000 etc is the gearing is short. Certainly on the DC5 4th was closer to 3rd in a "normal" car.

So to spin in 4th isn't quite so surprising as you'd think once you've taken into account short ratios.
 
D4VE said:
Those tyres must be awful.

Only car Ive driven which span the wheels in 4th was an Astra GTE turbo with 280bhp @ 1bar of boost :D
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You just ain't trying then :D Even my old allegro would spin its wheels in 4th :D

Ok, so maybe the ditchfinder specials had something to do with it...
 
I have RE040jz on my STI, not had any problems as of yet, but as I have the kids in the car 80% of the time, I dont drive like a loony.
They give us a smoother ride than the RE070 that were on there, with better wear characteristics. I am quite aware that the level of grip is reduced, so I drive accordingly.
 
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