1/4 mile CLK 55 vs. LS 1 Camaro
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From: Germany
CLK 55 AMG March 2000
1/4 mile CLK 55 vs. LS 1 Camaro
Last time I lost the race by 1 meter / 3 feet
Reason was the bad traction at launch.
Dumb question : Did anybody ever try to add some ballast into the spare-tire opening ?
I have some weights on hand, they would fit perfectly.
2 pcs. of 20 kg (appr.44 lbs each)
1 pc. of 10 kg (appr.22 lbs)
Is it worth a try ?
Stefan
Reason was the bad traction at launch.
Dumb question : Did anybody ever try to add some ballast into the spare-tire opening ?
I have some weights on hand, they would fit perfectly.
2 pcs. of 20 kg (appr.44 lbs each)
1 pc. of 10 kg (appr.22 lbs)
Is it worth a try ?
Stefan
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CLS55 AMG
Better solution is to go to larger tires in the rear.
You can probably get a 255/40-17 on the stock rims, which will help. Or, you can upsize to 18" rims and throw a 265/35-18 on there. I recently did the latter, adding a set of 18x9" E55 rims on the rear and 265/35-18 on them. There is a marked improvement in traction, I have had no rubbing issues.
I got the idea of sticking with the front 17's and adding 18's in the rear from Corvettes, which are set up this way from the factory. With the rear wheelwells on the CLK55 being slightly larger than the fronts, it actually balances out quite nicely, and you are also spared the higher impact jolts you'd have with 18's all the way around.
It works great. I haven't gone to the strip yet, but based upon GTECH runs, I've been able to pick up 0.1 to 0.2 in my 60' times, which translates to 0.2 to 0.4 in the 1/4 mile, roughly ten to twenty meters in a race, more than enough for you to close the 3m gap! I am actually able to brake-torque the car now with the traction control off, which I could never do with the stock setup. I have actually gotten launches as high as 1,500 rpm without severe wheelspin. With stock setup, even at 800 rpm tires would often meltdown.
I got the idea of sticking with the front 17's and adding 18's in the rear from Corvettes, which are set up this way from the factory. With the rear wheelwells on the CLK55 being slightly larger than the fronts, it actually balances out quite nicely, and you are also spared the higher impact jolts you'd have with 18's all the way around.
It works great. I haven't gone to the strip yet, but based upon GTECH runs, I've been able to pick up 0.1 to 0.2 in my 60' times, which translates to 0.2 to 0.4 in the 1/4 mile, roughly ten to twenty meters in a race, more than enough for you to close the 3m gap! I am actually able to brake-torque the car now with the traction control off, which I could never do with the stock setup. I have actually gotten launches as high as 1,500 rpm without severe wheelspin. With stock setup, even at 800 rpm tires would often meltdown.
Thread Starter
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From: Germany
CLK 55 AMG March 2000
Improviz,
thank You for sharing Your knowledge.
Meanwhile I have tried the ballast method by putting 50 kg/110 lbs into the spare tire opening.
Went to the track and got 13.8 and 13.9 instead of 14.1 and 14.2 times without the weight in last September.
It was the same track, no changes at the car, may be less tire inflation, air temperature also not much different.
I ,and some other guys too, were surprised about the outcome.
I`ll think over what to do with wheels and tires.
Your combination of wheels and tires never would be O.K. here (illegal), but let me know Your track times, please.
Regards
Stefan
thank You for sharing Your knowledge.
Meanwhile I have tried the ballast method by putting 50 kg/110 lbs into the spare tire opening.
Went to the track and got 13.8 and 13.9 instead of 14.1 and 14.2 times without the weight in last September.
It was the same track, no changes at the car, may be less tire inflation, air temperature also not much different.
I ,and some other guys too, were surprised about the outcome.
I`ll think over what to do with wheels and tires.
Your combination of wheels and tires never would be O.K. here (illegal), but let me know Your track times, please.
Regards
Stefan
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Joined: Sep 2002
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CLS55 AMG
Answers, and a few questions:
Hello -
My best track time with the stock rubber was a 13.4@106, which was obtained simply by flooring the throttle from a dead stop with the traction control off. I could not apply throttle w/brake on before starting (brake-torquing), as this would result in severe wheelspin, even with 800 rpms.
I have not taken the car to the track (yet) since getting the new setup, but I have perfomed some GTECH runs. I did five 0-60 runs, all of which were remarkably consistent, around 4.9x seconds in 80 degree (F) weather. This was with extremely careful mounting, centering, and leveling of the GTECH before each run. These times are about 0.2 seconds faster than the best I ever got with the stock rubber, so I anticipate a 13.2, possibly a 13.1, on my next track outing, entirely due to the lower 60' times made possible by the larger tires.
It is illegal to have 17's front/18's rear where you are? Interesting...here in the US, Corvettes come stock with this setup, which is where I got the idea. Given that the stock 17" fronts/rears are different widths/offsets anyway, which makes rotation impossible, I'm at a loss to see why they would outlaw such a setup. Anyway, I stuck with the 17's up front to minimize degredation in ride quality, which worked very well.
In any case, you could also put 18's all the way around if that's what it takes!
My best track time with the stock rubber was a 13.4@106, which was obtained simply by flooring the throttle from a dead stop with the traction control off. I could not apply throttle w/brake on before starting (brake-torquing), as this would result in severe wheelspin, even with 800 rpms.
I have not taken the car to the track (yet) since getting the new setup, but I have perfomed some GTECH runs. I did five 0-60 runs, all of which were remarkably consistent, around 4.9x seconds in 80 degree (F) weather. This was with extremely careful mounting, centering, and leveling of the GTECH before each run. These times are about 0.2 seconds faster than the best I ever got with the stock rubber, so I anticipate a 13.2, possibly a 13.1, on my next track outing, entirely due to the lower 60' times made possible by the larger tires.
It is illegal to have 17's front/18's rear where you are? Interesting...here in the US, Corvettes come stock with this setup, which is where I got the idea. Given that the stock 17" fronts/rears are different widths/offsets anyway, which makes rotation impossible, I'm at a loss to see why they would outlaw such a setup. Anyway, I stuck with the 17's up front to minimize degredation in ride quality, which worked very well.
In any case, you could also put 18's all the way around if that's what it takes!
Originally posted by V8 forever
Improviz,
thank You for sharing Your knowledge.
Meanwhile I have tried the ballast method by putting 50 kg/110 lbs into the spare tire opening.
Went to the track and got 13.8 and 13.9 instead of 14.1 and 14.2 times without the weight in last September.
It was the same track, no changes at the car, may be less tire inflation, air temperature also not much different.
I ,and some other guys too, were surprised about the outcome.
I`ll think over what to do with wheels and tires.
Your combination of wheels and tires never would be O.K. here (illegal), but let me know Your track times, please.
Regards
Stefan
Improviz,
thank You for sharing Your knowledge.
Meanwhile I have tried the ballast method by putting 50 kg/110 lbs into the spare tire opening.
Went to the track and got 13.8 and 13.9 instead of 14.1 and 14.2 times without the weight in last September.
It was the same track, no changes at the car, may be less tire inflation, air temperature also not much different.
I ,and some other guys too, were surprised about the outcome.
I`ll think over what to do with wheels and tires.
Your combination of wheels and tires never would be O.K. here (illegal), but let me know Your track times, please.
Regards
Stefan
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From: Germany
CLK 55 AMG March 2000
13.4 - Impressive time
Here, wheel and tire dimensions are part of the registration.
If you make changes without the permission of our technical surveillance institution called "TÜV", You drive an illegal vehicle.
This can cause severe problems with the insurance in case of an accident, or even at an road control.
There are several ways to get the permission of the "TÜV", the normal way for the individual is, to show an approval from the manufacturer (here Daimler/Chrysler or AMG).
Daimler/Chrysler/AMG does not approve 17 s front/18 s rear.
I am not happy with the factory setup for the track, on the other side, I would like to keep the stock look...
Compromise would be to put 255 s in the rear, stock wheels.
I`ll try to get the approval for.
Stefan
It is illegal to have 17's front/18's rear where you are? Interesting...
If you make changes without the permission of our technical surveillance institution called "TÜV", You drive an illegal vehicle.
This can cause severe problems with the insurance in case of an accident, or even at an road control.
There are several ways to get the permission of the "TÜV", the normal way for the individual is, to show an approval from the manufacturer (here Daimler/Chrysler or AMG).
Daimler/Chrysler/AMG does not approve 17 s front/18 s rear.
I am not happy with the factory setup for the track, on the other side, I would like to keep the stock look...
Compromise would be to put 255 s in the rear, stock wheels.
I`ll try to get the approval for.
Stefan
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 61
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From: Germany
CLK 55 AMG March 2000
Where in Germany is there a 1/4 mile track ?
The event was organized by 1on1 Motorsports, next will be in June, look at
http://www.1on1-motorsports.de/events.htm
There are some others occasionally too, in Hockenheim and Luckau, but I never was there.
Stefan
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Out Of Control!!
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 20,081
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From: Chicago
Volvo V90 CC
I've done a lot of testing at the track about tracktion, everytime I power brake to bring rpm up I spin, even if I try 1000 rpm, here is my best advise, and look at my time, as stock car it ran 13.300 a couple of times, so it works:
power brake to ~800 rpm max, have your rear tires at around 27 lbs, no spare tire, 1/2 tank of gas or less.
If you still spin then do not power brake at all.
power brake to ~800 rpm max, have your rear tires at around 27 lbs, no spare tire, 1/2 tank of gas or less.
If you still spin then do not power brake at all.
Thread Starter
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From: Germany
CLK 55 AMG March 2000
Improviz wrote
I called AMG whether I could have an approval from them to put the 255/40-17 on the stock rims.
I was told that the resulting different outer diameter would bring the ESP out of calibration, so no approval.
I´ll try power braking next.
Thank You for Your input !
Stefan
You can probably get a 255/40-17 on the stock rims, which will help.
I was told that the resulting different outer diameter would bring the ESP out of calibration, so no approval.
I´ll try power braking next.
Thank You for Your input !
Stefan
