GR86 Losing Traction

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Phantom

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As the title suggests, I have a problem with traction. Over the past few days, I've been losing traction either from a standstill or randomly while driving along. Tonight I was accelerating and at 3k RPM both rear wheels lost traction violently, luckily I regained control. This has all been on winter tyres at varying temperatures, so I think it's a mechanical issue. Could it be the LSD?
 
I run Michelin PS Alpin 5’s - full winter tyres - no issue with traction despite freezing temperatures.

Could it be a tracking/alignment thing?
 
RumbleandSway said:
I run Michelin PS Alpin 5’s - full winter tyres - no issue with traction despite freezing temperatures.

Could it be a tracking/alignment thing?
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Perhaps, there are some nasty potholes around me that you can't avoid. I wouldn't expect it to be an issue from a standstill though.
 
A good alignment will help as it will be out from factory. Mines more stable now but I've had a few moments since. Going through a bendy section I know well, bit too enthusiastic with the throttle and had a dab of oppo exiting the left hander and the next right hander as it opened out, all below 60mph. I didn't realise until I'd done it as I was too into it. Lot of low speed stuff where I think is the grip really that low here? Leaving petrol stations is bad for this. My local Tesco had a right hander and if you're too heavy footed it will try and rotate.
 
I would get your alignment checked. It seems that even from factory, it's not the best.

I always had a feeling that my car was generally okay, but when I accelerated in damp or greasy conditions, it felt a little squirrelly. Took it for an alignment, and it turns out my nearside rear wheel was toed out a fair way. Since having that corrected the car is much less nervous on the back end now and it's generally much nicer to drive (although I also had front camber bolts installed which helped a lot).
 
If I were to take the car to a place that has 'Hunter' four wheel alignment equipment, are the settings the same as GT86 (unlikely to have GR86 on their system) ?
 
It sounds just like too much power for the grip. Possibly down to road surface, water, tyres, temp etc rather than a small geometry issue. I have had a couple of scares recently and am being careful! I suppose the LSD causes these events to be more interesting than in most RWD cars - ie you lose grip on both tyres together and slide rather than just spin up a single wheel. My one experience of winter/snow tyres was in a BMW and in anything but snow or sub-zero temps, they were awful.
 
Phantom said:
As the title suggests, I have a problem with traction. Over the past few days, I've been losing traction either from a standstill or randomly while driving along. Tonight I was accelerating and at 3k RPM both rear wheels lost traction violently, luckily I regained control. This has all been on winter tyres at varying temperatures, so I think it's a mechanical issue. Could it be the LSD?
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In a straight line, or turning?
If straight, I can't see it being the diff.
 
Yeah I agree it has nothing to do with the diff. Some good advice on here I'd have the alignment checked, along with tyre pressures.
 
Could it be "glazed" tires? It's unlikely, but could happen
The front tires are the same brand? Also, does the front feel slippery as well when turning a little bit faster, or just the rear?
 
Greasy road conditions would be my first thought too - I find the car is incredibly stable in downpour conditions, but winter driving has shown it's not impossible to get slip, either when pulling out or on some corners where it actually feels like the lack of roll generates less mechanical grip. What are the tyres?

On alignment, how much adjustment is possible? Most places (even those with hunter 4-wheel) just say they can only measure four wheels, but will only adjust front toe on most cars.
 
Dorset is damp and cold, running the standard tyres has given more moments of slip, slid and glide recently.

When you do a visual are they shiny or proper matt tyre colour? If the tyre have been stored maybe the rubber has go a bit hard and needs a layer removal*

* can be done via a few high speed stops, or more boringly with a bit of scratchy / sand paper.
 
In my experience winter tyres only have more
FRAJ said:
My one experience of winter/snow tyres was in a BMW and in anything but snow or sub-zero temps, they were awful.
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I've driven a number of cars on winter tyres and in general I found that they have far less grip than summer tyres except on ice and snow when of course, they are massively impressive.

I haven't yet tried All Season tyres like Michelin CC2 but my feeling is that they might be the best compromise for changeable conditions we get in the UK in winter.
 
The tyres are Continental WinterContact TS 870 P's, and up until this week, they've been great. They're fully broken in, so that's not the issue. The last time I checked them they looked clean too. As for breaking traction, it's rather random. I've had it happen on bends and to a lesser extent on straights (mostly high RPM). I made a long trip yesterday and only had an issue once, but nowhere near as severe. Perhaps the roads I commute on are a lot worse than normal.

I'll see how it goes over the next week and if things don't improve I'll look at getting an alignment. Thanks for the suggestions.
 
Black ice on our ungritted country roads this AM. That was interesting, even on CC2s. Sideway deliberately at times, but just shows that it's about reading a road and conditions. Regardless of the car and tyres. Thinking back to some of the poor winters I drove the length of Scotland as a kid, in crap cars on near bald tyres - maybe the making of me 🤦😁👍
 
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