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Originally Posted by raptor5244
The reality is that while tire tech has improved a lot we have reached and exceeded the limit of what a front engine RWD performance tire can handle. I had those giant 335/25/20s on my C7 grand Sport and I could still light them up like crazy. This is one of the main reasons GM had to move to a mid engine architecture for the C8 Corvette. In order to improve performance they needed more weight over the rear wheels.
I agree with you regarding the all the computer controlled nannies that get in the way and tend to ruin the experience. That said, look at all the tech used to try and overcome the fact that the tires are the limiting factor. Launch control, traction control, etc.
Now you may not want to hear this but when it comes to acceleration EVs are on a whole other level and make it all seem too easy. At first you might think, well they have AWD dual motor front and rear so they get power and traction to all 4 wheels. This is true but more importantly the traction control system on an EV is very different than ICE based TC systems. In an EV you have direct control over the drive unit connected to the wheels so when the system senses tire slip it can back off and then back on and back off much much quicker than ICE based system.
Compare this to an ICE based traction control when you sense tire slip, the ECU then sends a signal to reduce timing, pull power, close throttle body, then when slip stops it signals to add power, add spark, timing, throttle body, wait for air to flow, and back and forth. There is a combination of computer and mechanical systems working together which is much slower to react. It is basically comparing a digital system to an analog system and as a result the EV traction control system is able to extract much more grip out of a tire.
I experience this all the time when I drive my Tesla Model 3 vs. my CT4V-BW and the ZL1.
I don't want to take this thread down an EV rat hole but thought it was important to put the technology into perspective as it relates to this tire grip discussion and how we will see things improve moving forward.
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Good points. There is an inherent limit to rear wheel drive car's traction despite the improvements in tire technology, vehicle electronics and suspensions over the years. Any time you have 50% or more a a vehicle's weight in the front of a rear wheel drive car you are going to have less traction than a mid engine or rear engine car. Of course there are things you can do to increase the traction, but there are tradeoffs in doing so.
One of the main reasons GM wanted to build a mid engine Corvette was not for the base model, but for the higher horsepower models. With the exception of all wheel drive vehicles, some of the fastest accelerating cars available are either mid engine or rear engine. The difference being the rear weight bias. Look at the high performance 911s for example.
Manufacturers also have to consider costs associated with larger wider wheels and tires, NVH issues and how a car drives when deciding how much tire a street car needs. Its a balancing act for sure. Even in my 1LE I have experienced some tramlining with the wider tires on certain roads. Most mid engine and rear engine cars have significantly smaller front tires than rear tires. That really isn't an option on a rear drive street car with so much weight on the front end, without compromising performance.