[Hey-Sup]

So I signed up for a drifting 'clinic' at my local racetrack. Instead of burning off my Sumitomos on my aftermarket wheels I'm looking for some stock wheel and tire take-offs on Craigslist. I found 4 17in factory five spokes with 4 new-ish factory pirellis on them. Will running a 17 inch wheel with 235/55s on the rear and my 255/45/18s on the front mess with my car? One mustang friend tells me even with traction control off the ABS system will be freaking out and trying to stop the car, my other car friend says just turn off traction control and I'll be fine. Any thoughts or anyone experience this? Thanks!

- Joe

 

[JBert]

if you check the overall diameter on those tires, I think you will find that they are nearly the same, so there should be no issue

Turn traction control completely off, also stability control if your car has it (not sure of the different years, my car has several different settings). Stability control would definitely freak out in a drifting situation when it senses the back wheels going faster than the front wheels.

ABS should not do anything, unless you lock up the brakes. ABS never "tries to stop the car", it only reduces the braking force when it senses the wheel locking up, to prevent the wheel from locking up.

more importantly: where is this local racetrack with drift clinic, sounds like fun!

 

[Hey-Sup]

Its an 06 and besides pulling fuses the only thing I can shut off is traction control. I'm gonna run it and see what happens.

The drift clinic is at New Hampshire MotorSpeedway and its put on by DriftSpot which is a local drift organization. $120 for the day and you get an instructor to teach you the basics. I cant wait!

- Joe

 

[JBert]

. . . The drift clinic is at New Hampshire MotorSpeedway and its put on by DriftSpot which is a local drift organization. $120 for the day and you get an instructor to teach you the basics. I cant wait!

- Joe

thanks Joe -- that was my guess, seeing you are in Townsend which is not too far from there . . . you have to book it through DriftSpot, right? It sounds like fun, I think I might do it . . . though like you I might look for some other tires to burn up, instead of my good Nittos!

I think the 06 does not have stability control, so once you turn off traction control, you should be good to go

 

[Muckerpuck]

You won't have any problems the other than the speedometer will be incorrect, and not by much with those tire sizes. And not like you'll care when you're spinning the tires off. :smilie

 

[Hey-Sup]

thanks Joe -- that was my guess, seeing you are in Townsend which is not too far from there . . . you have to book it through DriftSpot, right? It sounds like fun, I think I might do it . . . though like you I might look for some other tires to burn up, instead of my good Nittos!

I think the 06 does not have stability control, so once you turn off traction control, you should be good to go

Yeah if you go to their website you can sign up via paypal right there. I think they still have some spots open for the clinic too. I found a set of 4 stock mustang gt wheels from a 2001 with tires for cheap. I'm just gonna burn those two sets up on Saturday. Should be fun!

 

[JBert]

. . . . I found a set of 4 stock mustang gt wheels from a 2001 with tires for cheap. I'm just gonna burn those two sets up on Saturday. Should be fun!

Oh, it's THIS Saturday? I guess I won't be able to make it, but I think there are more later in the year. Make us jealous by posting some pics or videos and telling us how much fun it was!

About the wheels -- I think pre-2005 wheels have the wrong offset for our cars? I think the wheels will be sticking way out of the wheel well ; might be OK for a track day but not the best set-up.

 

[cman]

You might want to keep an eye on your differential temps. Putting a lot of side load for an extended period of time on a stock rear end is not real good for it. Most drift cars are purpose built to take the added stress of going down the road sideways. Ask around at the clinic, I'm sure the people that do this on a regular basis will be a wealth of info on the subject of what mods to make to increase reliability.

Have fun.