zibby43

Hey guys.

I've got about 1,800 miles on my new '13 C63.

Even with the traction control completely disabled, it feels like the rear of the car is about to explode/fall apart when I stab the throttle from a stop in S+.

Is what I'm experiencing just ultra-violent wheel spin?

Or is it wheel hop? I didn't think wheel hop was an issue on the C63.

Any feedback would be appreciated. I'd be happy to answer any follow-up questions.

Thanks in advance.

zibby43

Some additional information:

It's cold here right now (41 degrees Fahrenheit) and I'm still running my summer tires (OEM Continental tires).

I'm thinking it's time I put on my new Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32s.

mdgrwl

Wheel hop is common during traction issues at take off. I had it at the track (along with typical spin) until I figured out the launch.

zibby43

Thank you for the feedback. Appreciate it.

I wasn't feathering the throttle at all. I was just flat-out mashing it (on purpose) to see how the car would respond.

I've used Race Start feature twice and have experienced a bit wheel hop using that as well.

zibby43

Nobody else has experienced this, except for mdgrwl and I?

chrisridebike8

I don't seem to get any wheel hop...just two looooong black stripes and a ton of smoke accompanied by beautiful engine noise and a loud exhaust pop on the upshift. Didn't have wheel hop with stock conti 5Ps and stock alignment and don't with the S-04s and half the factory rear toe.

zibby43

That's good news for you.

mdgrwl

OP, LSD? I have one.

zibby43

I do not have one, unfortunately.

Everything about the car feels strong. The engine, the brakes, etc.

Suspension has felt wonderful as well. I'm wondering if the wheel hop I'm encountering is a product of user error. Alternatively, I'm trying to determine if other variables (tire pressure, temperature, etc.) are contributing to its occurrence.

I've been researching C63 wheel hop thoroughly and cannot find a lot of information. I don't see how this could be an issue at all on such a strong-running, well taken care of, new car.

zibby43

As a follow-up, where do you live? Do you live in a warm-weather climate?

I don't seem to remember any wheel hop issues at all during the scorching September we just had here.

Harold1898

One of the reasons I got rid of the 2012 back in June. Too many difficulties with launching.

Rsquad911

Depends on the tires you are using too.

I get zero wheel hop.

I've only experienced wheel hop in front wheel drive cars.

zibby43

Thanks for the reply. Can you elaborate?

So do you think the fact that I'm still running the summer tires in cold(er) weather is playing a significant role in this?

If that's the case, I'll put on the Blizzaks immediately. I was waiting because I still have a 750i xDrive that I use for the winter.

Thanks.

Rsquad911

It's minus 2*C here where I am. I'm stilling running summers and I don't get wheel hop... I get a lot of tire spin though.

I do have a factory LSD.

What tires are you running?

zibby43

I do not have the LSD.

I'm running the OEM Continental tires.

Would be happy to answer any other questions. Trying to diagnose this ASAP. Thanks.

chrisridebike8

I live in VA Beach and it gets pretty cold here. I don't recall any hop when it was cold either. Cold AND wet, I don't usually push the car and just leave the systems on.

Edit: cold and wet, I drive the beater to work. Lol

zibby43

lol, good choice.

Thanks for the extra info. I can see why you have likely never experienced it then. If you've got great grip, it shouldn't be an issue. If you have no grip, then it shouldn't be an issue.

When your grip somewhere in between, prepare for your spine to be punched. Hard.

rnorthen

No issues for me, but I have LSD ...

csexty3

in my Vette when the tires aren't warmed up yet it's wheel hop city all day, especially now that the temperature is cooler. Once the tires are warmed up I don't experience any wheel hop. YMMV.

zibby43

A very timely post. Thanks!

I noticed today that, despite the cooler temperatures (and despite the fact that I'm still running my summer tires), I did not experience any wheel hop.

The difference: I made sure the tires were warmed up.

Merc63

Never heard of wheel hop in a c63. I'd say you might have another issue causing it.

csexty3

zibby43

Yeah this is the only thread I could find on it:

https://mbworld.org/forums/c63-amg-w...ons-print.html

Was that you?

I've heard from several people now that they have indeed experienced it at one point or another. Consider yourself fortunate that you've always had phenomenal grip!

Wheel hop is also relatively common for the E9X M3s, I've come to learn.

I've checked out the car. Everything looks good, as suspected (it is a brand new car with less than 2,000 miles on it, after all).

In any event, it looks like cold temperatures and cold tires played a major role.

C230Ak

I’ve read that wheel hop is primarily caused by deflection in the drive train/suspension. Since these are still Mercedes the rubber they use in the bushes is probably pretty soft for a car with this kind of power. Maybe that makes it more susceptible to wheel hop from other factors, since the suspension is barely rigid enough to fully eliminate the hopping. That could also be why only slightly deteriorated bushes/shocks, which by all appearances still seem fine, are no longer rigid enough to keep wheel hop from happening. I have a ‘12 C63 coupé with 43,000mi and I also get wheel hop pretty frequently when I attempt to make an eleven from a stop sign. At the time of writing this it is quite cold also (15F) and I’m on oem Conti 5P’s. The low temps and old tires also seem to be a factor according to your guy’s accounts. I’ll have to revisit this when we come out of winter again. I’m just wondering how the heck I’m supposed to heat up the tires before a run at the track if all I get is that god awful, car destroying, shuddering. I can’t afford to blow up a diff damn it!

roadkillrob

Generally wheel hop is going to be the rear diff moving around or possibly the entire subframe or both, hence the reason for lockdown kits or stiffer bushings - subaru and bmw guys all run lockdown kits to fix the issue.

You are also playing with the devil if you are really running summer tires at 15f (if you mean celsius then you are ok but in the low end of use) your 5P's should not be used under 45F/7C, Continental will deny warranty due to cracking as the rubber gets so hard below freezing it will damage the tires and probably end up killing someone as they are almost useless at low temps.