TheVazha

I semi ran a Dodge Charger R/T the other day. He seemed stock but sounded like a locomotive. I was beaten twice. Both times were off a red light and both times he had a car length on me by the time I caught grip. Even when I did catch in second gear, I can hear my engine rev but FEEL the TC pulling back. The little orange triangle is blinking all through first and the first couple thousand RPM's of second. I even got owned by a BMW 550i last week. Again, same thing. By the time I caught grip and my TC stopped interfering, it was too late.

My car has a 180mm, VRP hems, and eisenmann exhaust. I'm sitting on stock 63 wheels and some stock Conties. My car is babied, maintained and treated like royalty (plugs/oil/flushes/filters/etc). I KNOW MY CAR IS A BEAST. From a roll, I've taken down some really expensive and fast rides but from a dig, I don't stand a chance. Even from a roll when I punch it I sway a tad bit from the TQ but it grips and hauls like the Starship Enterprise going into warp speed.

I need advice and help. I thoroughly enjoy every penny I throw down this money pit that is my E55 but I have no confidence off the line. Mechanically, my car is tip top. Shifts like a bat out of hell, responsive and purrs like a tiger. I've heard a couple recommendations such as a differential but I cant see spending $1500+ for a diff when most of you hard core drag guys dont have em and are still breaking records. I've also been told if racing off the line, start in C (2nd) mode. I'll still get some interference from the TC but not as much as starting it in 1st. My fear then is that the guy next to me who's burred his foot to the floor will gain an early lead due to the lack of "thrust" in starting in C.

What do you guys recommend? Some sticky tires?

IF SOMEONE HERE LIVES LOCAL TO LA AND CAN TEACH ME HOW TO LAUNCH THIS BEAST, I WILL TREAT YOU TO BEERS UNTIL YOU PUKE YOURSELF. Let me know please!

SterlingE55

Ditch those conti's for better tires. There's a whole lot out there depending on your driving routine and preference.

Jakpro1

What tires are you running with right now?

I went from stock Contis which were like running on ice for wheelspin, to PS2's which were much better but still rough on hard launches.

I went all the way to running BFGoodrich Drag Radials on the street but it can be dangerous in wet and also they are just not designed for hard corners. The guy from Goodrich himself (rep) told me just DON'T corner hard...sooner or later that sidewall WILL FAIL. Lots of guys do it everyday and are safe so as long as you know about the corners.

NOW the Goodrich's hooked like crazy though. You'd really have gotten a killer lauch on this guy for sure.

Leaves you with a couple options which all depend on how hardcore you wanna go.

You can run R compound tires. That's what I do and I am very happy. Ran Toyo 888s which I miss. Noisy as hell but hook like a mother once warmed up. Now running Nitto NT05.....not exactly hardcore R compound but hook pretty well.

The new one that I will try next is the Pilot Cup Sports. Full out R compound that should keep me alive should I hit rain.

Thats the last bit of advice. The R compounds blow in rain. Puddles will become ice skating rinks. Be warned.

Jakpro1

OH my gosh, I just noticed you said stock Contis. There ya go!!! They are truly the worst tire in the world. Wait until you put some stickies on this thing.

You are gonna ROAST Mr Dodge!!

TheVazha

Thanks Jak, what size would you recommend for the rear? I'm low but not slammed..

danlnyc

only solution is to bug Sun aka Grandmaster Sun for launching lessons LOL

TheVazha

Sun doesn't leave the 818 otherwise we'd be out right now!

But seriously, one of you pro's should make a you tube clip of a proper launch (including detailed instructions, not just the tail of the car!)

AWOL

Always run with TC on. Anybody who tells you otherwise is a dope - especially on the street.

Put the tranny in s1, to make sure it doesnt short shift into second when you feather the gas.

http://youtu.be/uOSmkghoi94?t=1m26s

Thats me against a 700+whp turbo cobra on drag radials from a dig. I was on some old BFG street tires. Not long, but shows a decent launch (one handed)

Trick is to not gas it all the way at first, more of a finesse.

Heres another against another E55 (video is from my car).

http://youtu.be/fFVpbgxP_NM?t=1m55s

ssonss1

All in the tires, my bald falkens gripped better than contis

TheVazha

NICE!

Also, thanks for the S1 advice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's where I always thought I lost the most "UMPF". When in S mode, punch it and the wheels are spinning but the car shifts into second and I lose even more "go"! I never thought of that, thank you sir.

So just S and downshift into 1st. Will the car auto upshift even if I manual shift into 1st from a stop??

AWOL

In my 03, it auto shifts at "redline" in every mode. I know certain year e55s it will bounce off the limiter, but I assume in S mode it shouldnt - even when clicked down into 1 to start.

Like this:

TheVazha

Your car hauls.

jcjmw

That's a great tip......my problem is that it is so HARD to not just want to mash it all the way down.

AWOL

Its tough for sure, just takes practice and will power. You guys with pullies make more torque down low so its even harder, but good street launches are possible.

Forrest Gump 9

BFG will cure your problem. As far as driving in the rain, the only time I had problem was when it rained like monsoon. Normal rain, no problem.

Another point you guys need to remember is our cars are throttle by wire. In thw car the throttle is a signal for torque demand. So in our car, a quick jab at the skinny pedal with result in WOT even thought that's not you intend. So stab away.

E55Bullet

I am a big fan of the nitto invos. They look great, hook well, and are a good rain tire too. Down side is that you do have to get hem pretty warm to hook.

Jimshorts

Thats me in the second video just stomping it couldnt hook at all... like Awol said you have to be finesse with the gas. At this point I was bone stock and still couldnt hook from hammering down.

TheVazha

^ Nice that was you making all that noise!

Cool thanks for the suggestions. It's BRICK cold out here in LA, 50' something. Ideal conditions but roads are still a bit damp otherwise I'd be out testing all your suggestions. That and I'm drunk.

SvtAmg

haha Vlad, drinking and posting is a great thing. Beats drinking then driving

Toadster

sounds HOT - what mods?

AWOL

As far as exhaust mods, VRP shorty headers, removed resonator and removed mufflers.

tbal

Old contis were junk. I have the Conti extreme contact DW... and they grip SOLID... have tried many brands, falken, pirelli, nitto... toyo has been grippy

What engine mods do you have?

TheVazha

^ Trinkets, odds and ends, that sort of thing...

DAGREEKNYC

nitto invo's hook great ! if they are cold its another story but once they heat up from some normal driving or powerbreaking they are great .

chawkins2001

If you daily drive your car, put some MT 265-40-18 out back and you will be raping people left right and center off the line.

If you have been cruising on them for a while, and some prey pulls up to you and wants to run, no need for a slight burnout as they will already be warm and sticky. However , it never hurts to dust them off by turning traction control off real quick and give them a dust for 2-3 seconds.

That will be your best investment, and if you are interested, I will look for a set as the mustang guys are always selling that sizing. A even better drag is the BFG Drag 275-35-18, but will only last around 7000 miles on the street. They are SUPER sticky and will blow your mind at how little spin you will get off the line.

You just need drags brotha, and you will be very happy. I had the the MT drags on my CCW drag setup, on the street I barely spun at all after a quick little 5 second dust. My power level is at 543/635 as a reference point.