GTI owners, do you have traction in 1st gear?

[McDub]

Quick question for you gti owners that have had their car chipped/flashed/tuned

From a rolling start, if you floor it in first, do you loose traction completly? i.e. do your wheels spin? (without using the clutch obviously)

When answering, please also mention you other mods, including what wheels and what rubber you have.

copy and past this for your reply if you could

Do my wheels spin in first gear?:
Mods:
Wheels:
Tyres:


My answer is...

Do my wheels spin in first gear?:
No, my wheels don't spin if the road is dry. They may move just a tad quicker than the road speed on occasion, but pretty much it keeps traction.

Mods:
- Flash
- 2.5" full turbo back exhaust
- silicon t.i.p
- R1 D.V, N75J
- H&R sport springs, KYB shocks

Wheels: 18x8" rep aristos


Tyres: Kumho KU31 225/40 R18


Reason i ask is because i think there's somethign up with my car, surely it should be able to spin the wheels up in first? Not that this is my intention, but it's just some sort of indication of power.

I've had the car looked at thoroughly and logged to death and everything apparently appears to be fine. Though i'm not sure if it has been logged in 1st and 2nd gears. This is where i find the car doesn't feel as good. In higher gears, the car feels much much nicer. It's like the faster acceleration or higher revs in 1st and 2nd gears is too much for the transmission/ecu/igntion or something....

thanks for your help

[Lito]

Hey there,
Do my wheels spin in first gear?:
Yes, quite easily. I don't have to be near wot to spin the tires in 1st (in the dry), I am yet to brake traction going into 2nd but I think that's because I'm subconciously over-caring for my clutch and gearbox. Also, I could still brake traction on my stock clutch.
Mods:
- APR Flash
- 3" full turbo back exhaust
- Afe stage 1 intake
- ECS stage 1 clutch, G60 SMF
- ECS stage 2 re-fresh kit (don't know if that counts as a mod)
- R1 D.V
- Eibach Pro Kit springs and bilstein B8 shocks
Wheels: 18x8" rep aristos


Tyres: Kumho KU31 225/40 R18

[McDub]

thanks for the response. i've got pretty much the exact setup as you minus the intake kit (and i've also got the stage 1 ecs clutch, and stage 2 refresh kit...)

I just don't get it, my car must be cursed. No-one seems to have a clue.

anyone else?

[JustCruisn]

Mine will spin up if I try hard enough, eg 3k clutch dumping. But generally no spin even on hard launches.
I found the aftermarket wheels make it a lot harder to get spin on take off.
And the Kumhos have a lot more grip than I ever expected from a cheap tyre.

- APR Flash
- 2.5" full turbo back exhaust
- BMC intake
- Forge 007 DV
- New stock clutch and flywheel
- Eibach Pro Kit springs and stock shocks
- 90 durometer dogbone inserts

Wheels: 18x8" rep A8s
Tyres: Kumho KU31 225/40 R18

[graeme86]

No problem with R32

[McDub]

Mine will spin up if I try hard enough, eg 3k clutch dumping. But generally no spin even on hard launches.
I found the aftermarket wheels make it a lot harder to get spin on take off.
And the Kumhos have a lot more grip than I ever expected from a cheap tyre.

lol, any car can spin the wheels if you clutch dump
Interesting you've got almost identical mods to lito, including 18x8 reps (possibly the a8's are a touch heavier, not sure) and ku31's, but it seems you've got considerably less power (or more traction), than him...
i don't think he would be getting that much more power from a larger downpipe... so what's goin on there i wonder


need more responses!

[Lito]

Yeah I don't know what's going on guys, just to clarify I can get the wheels spinning from a rolling start anywhere above 2500 rpm. If I drop the clutch and plant the accelerator my car doesn't go anywhere just sit there spinning the wheels. U don't think it has anything to do with grip because I'm running the same Tyres as you guys. I actually thought my car was down on power after getting beaten (barely) by a ek9 civic. But I've also kept up with a stock mkv r32 and almost kept up with modded ones (btw I do not endorse or condone street racing...). If I were you id get some logging done In 1st and 2nd gear, maybe your wastegate is opening early?

[McDub]

yep just got a $20 ebay cable, arrived today. gotta try and get some software that will work with this cable... hopefully won't be too hard.

[McDub]

I couldn't get the ebay cable to work but i've been lent a genuine HEX+CAN ross-tech cable.

Car seems ok, nothing out of the ordinary that i can see.

The MAF reads a pretty consistant 150g/s @6000rpm.

What sort of readings is everyone else getting?

[mikinoz]

I don't think in gear wheel spin is a great performance indicator.

Have you ever put it on a dyno, you might find something out if you did - ie. AFR?