Nasty Spin, NO TCS -- Options?

D

drjgame

New Member
Apr 26, 2007
5
0
0
#1
Hi guys -- first time poster here. Great site Got my 05 V6 Stang in December...and it is freaking awesome. However, when I bought it --used -- I cleverly didn't notice that it didnt have the traction control option.

So, a few weeks ago, in a light rain, I spun the hell out of my car on a highway onramp. Did a 360 INTO oncoming traffic. With my wife in the car. Yow. Luckily kept it off the divider and other cars.

Freaked out, I asked my dealer about installing the TCS option in my car. To my surprise, the dealer said this was 'impossible'. Called another one and got the same response.

My question to the good posters of this message board is --

1. Can I improve the stability of my car with other mods? Better tires (have the firellii options)? Stiffer rear differential?
2. Can non-Ford people install a TCS system?

Any help here would be greatly appreaciated
 
#2
Just get some better meat. If you don't drive in snow, BF Goodrich KDW2's are amazing in rain. Otherwise Aquatred are good for rain, too. Better tires will most definitely help. Stock Pirelli's are TERRIBLE.
 
#5
In 4th? Wow. You definitely need some better tires. I have the BFG KDW2's on the '05, and even with the mods I have, the only time she'll cut them loose is when I ask her to. I don't even have the TC on in that car. But I know what you mean. I was shocked when I stomped it in the '07 today in the middle of 1st and it peeled out, then peeled through 2nd. The only mod I have is axlebacks. Yeah, stock pirelli's suck.
 
#6
what do you expect from a 235 tire? :shrug: overall, the stock pirellis are a good tire. they have good tire wear, are mostly quiet, and are all season.

if you are spinning in 4th, you must have bald tires or you are traveling too fast for conditions. the driver needs to be smarter than the road. tires may help a little, but it is ultimately up to you to control the car and make good choices while driving.

there is no way to add TCS, at least not cost effectively.
 
#7
Actually i was probably going about 35-45 on the highway onramp, getting UP TO highway speed which is even freakier.

That being said, it seems like the general consensus is that the stock pirellis are junk. I live in Hawaii, so snow driving is not a major concern. I will check out teh BFGs.
 
#8
Glad you and your wife were ok.
bigcat said:
the driver needs to be smarter than the road. tires may help a little, but it is ultimately up to you to control the car and make good choices while driving.
Click to expand...

+1
That is my take on it as well. To me, stability control/traction control is just there to make it slightly more safe for those who goof off beyond their ability or just plain don't know how to drive to start with! I feel EVERY driver in this country needs to take AND pass some sort of performance driving school BEFORE they get licensed. There are just way to many stupid accidents!
 
#9
Sorry this is slightly off-topic but for those who have SCT Tuners, I know you can turn off the TCS on the GT's but if you use the tuner to turn off the TCS can you still turn it on manually? Basically, can you reverse the default setup where when the car is first turned on the TCS is off...then allowing oyu to only turn it on when you want it on? Just curious, as I get kinda annoyed when everytime I go for a drive I have to turn off the TCS.

thanks
 
#10
bigcat said:
what do you expect from a 235 tire? :shrug: overall, the stock pirellis are a good tire. they have good tire wear, are mostly quiet, and are all season.

if you are spinning in 4th, you must have bald tires or you are traveling too fast for conditions. the driver needs to be smarter than the road. tires may help a little, but it is ultimately up to you to control the car and make good choices while driving.

there is no way to add TCS, at least not cost effectively.
Click to expand...

Louisiana roads suck more than you could imagine. Going 60 in a 60 during a decent downpour (I'm going the slowest on the road) my back end starts wiggling in certain areas of the road. They don't know how to drain the roads here at all so you get about 1/4 inch of water that will run across the road that you can't see. Makes it interesting to drive in when it's raining :(
 
#11
seanthenerd said:
Sorry this is slightly off-topic but for those who have SCT Tuners, I know you can turn off the TCS on the GT's but if you use the tuner to turn off the TCS can you still turn it on manually? Basically, can you reverse the default setup where when the car is first turned on the TCS is off...then allowing oyu to only turn it on when you want it on? Just curious, as I get kinda annoyed when everytime I go for a drive I have to turn off the TCS.

thanks
Click to expand...

In my experience, no you can't. Once the TCS is turned off internally by the tuner, the button in the dash looses its function. Brenspeed turned mine off once while tuning on the dyno and forgot to turn it back on when they were done- the switch wouldn't do anything so I had to have them get back into the computer and turn it back on.

You're idea would be nice though..... having it set to be off at startup and then using the switch to turn it on would be great.
 
#12
drjgame said:
Actually i was probably going about 35-45 on the highway onramp, getting UP TO highway speed which is even freakier.

That being said, it seems like the general consensus is that the stock pirellis are junk. I live in Hawaii, so snow driving is not a major concern. I will check out teh BFGs.
Click to expand...

Even new/fresh stock Pirelli's are easy to break loose in the rain. If you have some mileage on them I wouldn't be suprised that you spun.

Depending on price you're willing to pay, Eagle F1 GS-D3's are amazing in the wet, and there are several other summer tires that perform great in the rain as well. Kumho Ecsta SPT is what I'll be running for my summer tires.

Tom
 
#13
Thanks for all the responses. I will most def. look into better tires.

Doubt anyone here is from HI, but if they are...do you guys have preferred mustang service person. Most of the after market peeps here seem to be import tuner guys, so even finding someone knowledgable about the stang has been hard.
 
#14
Eagle F1 GSD3s, best damn wet traction I've ridden on. They also stick like glue in the dry. They are noisy though, like most dry/wet performance tires.

The KDW2s are great in the rain but dry traction is down right scary when heavy braking (rear end gets loose) or going in to a turn a tad hot. And when you see how giant the spacing is on the already large tread blocks, no wonder.
 
#15
Suspension, suspension,...

suspension and time behind the wheel, you'll get the hang of it.

I'd suggest aginst drag radials with stock suspension... there's a LOT
of squishy rollin' going on back there... get sum transfer and push up on the body, and not side-side and your traction will improve GREATLY!

IMO
 
#18
Goodyear's TA Traction tires...

I think I am going to go with these. Any exp. with em??

Another not great part about living in the aloha state is sometimes you have to go with what they have.
 
#19
Why not buy from tirerack.com? They ship to Hawaii. Compared to the KDW2's, and similar tires, the ratings are not near as good. Those don't seem to be any better than the PZero's.
 
#20
drjgame said:
Hi guys --
My question to the good posters of this message board is --

1. Can I improve the stability of my car with other mods? Better tires (have the firellii options)? Stiffer rear differential?
2. Can non-Ford people install a TCS system?

Any help here would be greatly appreaciated
Click to expand...

get a Ford T-Lok differential ...

f07bca56.jpg


(go to the V6 board for mor data)

frankly I'm suprised that the Dealer didn't offer that option,
 
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