why don't some tires squeel?

siverson · siverson's Garage

I have a 3.6, 915, and 245 rear tires, and will admit I'm overly immature and occasional go for the "burn out" on acceleration.

There is tire smoke, and you can smell the tires, but they don't really make any sound ("squeeling").

Please restrain yourself from explaining how abusive/dangerous/immature I am, I'm just curious why some tires squeel and some don't. Any ideas?

-Steve

(And I'm drawing a blank on what model tire I have is right now. They are approx 4 year old Bridgestone perfomance tires. Basically worn out now.)

VaSteve · 03-23-2005, 06:37 PM

I always thought that in front engine RWD cars, the squealing was because there was less weight on the tires basically letting the edge of treads skip along the pavement. With the Porsche all the weight keeps them from even spinning. The combination you have allows you to spin, but is pressing down harder on the wheels than if the motor wasn't there.

If you took the same tires and put them on a FERWD car, I bet they would squeal.

kqw · 03-23-2005, 06:58 PM

Are you sure it's not the clutch you smell burning????

masraum · 03-23-2005, 07:24 PM

Nope, I believe the squealing is a combination of a few things, but mostly the first one.

When a tires spins and doesn't squeal it's usually because it is really being abused. Spun really fast. When a tire is just barely slipping on the pavement it will squeal.

I think tire compound will also affect the squeal

Also, the weight on the tire will affect it.

Generally when someone smokes a tire, many revolutions really fast, there's no squeal, just a zhzhzhzhzhzhzhzhzh noise. When I was 16 I had a '65 Impala with a 350, 4spd, and 4.10 gears. If I revved it up and let the clutch out it would spin the crap out of the tires, make lots and lots of smoke, and not squeal. If you hold your foot down until the car gets up to the speed of the tires and they stop squealing on their own you might hear a tiny bit of squealing right before they stop slipping.

I generally consider a burnout with tire squeal to be a really weak burnout, and one with smoke and the zzzzzzhhhhhhhhing noise a really good one (or bad if you have to pay for the tires and clutch).

Emission · Emission's Garage

Tire compound.

Some tires are very vocal at the limit, others are very, very quiet (maybe too quiet as they offer little audible feedback).

Personally, I hate loud tires. I'd think the higher the treadwear rating, the louder the tire. I know I can really get rental car tires screaming!

masraum · 03-24-2005, 04:30 AM

That's in corners. Put those same hard tires on the back of a high horse tire roaster and you won't hear a thing when they hit the gas.

Put those tires on the front of some 17 yo's honda civic and they'll sing like a banshee when he does burnouts.

juanbenae · juanbenae's Garage

why do some tennis shoes squeak only when they are wet, yet other squeak when scuffed against dry ground? its these questions that make me wonder.

Superman · 03-24-2005, 06:44 AM

Rubber compound. Race tires do not make a peep. Street tires do. Especially when they get older.

And BTW, I'm with "The Fox" on this one. Steve, I think you are smoking your clutch. My 911 won't break loose in the way you describe. Instead, the cabin fills with yummy clutch smell.

masraum · 03-24-2005, 06:56 AM

Yep, my '88 would slip/smoke the clutch, but not really the tires unless I was sliding sideways.

siverson · siverson's Garage

> Steve, I think you are smoking your clutch.

I'm very certain it's the tires, per the two long rubber marks on the street (yes limited slip). This is in a 914 and dyno'd RWHP is 235 HP.

You can even do it from a rolling start with the clutch fully engaged.

-Steve

masraum · 03-24-2005, 05:44 PM

Steve, sounds like a fun little car. Sounds like you also need more tire.

Or maybe not, wasn't it Donohue that said when you can leave black marks from one corner to the next you have enough power. Maybe you just have enough power.

jmarenas · jmarenas's Garage

Need to take off the bais ply 90 series red stripe tires and replace with real rubber, while de-tuning the awsome P-Car engine to a scant 240 hp or lower to stop the sqawkn'

NOH20 · 03-24-2005, 06:21 PM

Buy a Mustang. Sorry, couldn't resist. So you can sqwak your tires, why? I don't get it.

john70t · 03-24-2005, 08:34 PM

Um,....because the cars chassis and powertrain wasen't designed to "burn rubber": because the engineers have configured the chassis to have transfered accelerational forces to the road surface?

(just guessing here.)

Next...

bagpiper47 · 03-25-2005, 05:13 AM

I have not even tried my first 4 months of owning my 81 SC. I thought you were referring to that squeel going around a corner! I cant seem to get the tires to squeel even when cornering hard. Am I not going fast enough? Seems to never even think about not holding the line I give it. Must I try harder?

masraum · 03-25-2005, 05:17 AM

Bagpiper, you're not trying hard enough. But I'm not advocating you tearing around on public streets at or above the limit.

bagpiper47 · 03-25-2005, 05:21 AM

Thanks Masraum! Hope to see you in about 8 years as I am looking to retire down in the Lake Conroe area. Houses are very cheap compared to Colorado I can pay cash and spend more money on the car!