360's, etc. 'getting loose'.............how easy?

That's a humbling question coming from a Four Time F1 World Champ.

I think it all depends on several factors, first of all the alignment. It will dictate how the car handles.
Then tires: how old? Pressure?
Then road conditions: dirty? cold?

I found the Modena to get very wiggly under heavy acceleration in first gear.

 

Proper wheel alignment is key and can make or destroy a car's handling.
For example, the new Toyota Supra is transformed after proper alignment. Between transportation and factory "mishaps" a new car is delivered with alignment that is absolute crap.

 

I am an alignment fanboy.

It puzzles me how much money car owners spend on "accessories" and some of them have never performed an alignment in years (!!) of ownership.
Potholes, Normal driving and track driving can change the specifications of a car's alignment - it is something that I check once a year.

Beside handling, uneven tire wear is also a sign of bad alignment.

Attached are the OEM specs, I know that CS have a more aggressive (e.g. more camber) set up.



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Going into a turn too fast, lifting or giving gas at the incorrect time will send just about any car out of line. While one can not repeal the laws of physics there is some intervention from the cars various safe guards, but not much. Mid engine cars like the 360 have snap steer tendencies as well. My advice would be to have good and new tires and explore the capabilities at your own pace. I would not neutralize the cars handling until u have some miles behind the wheel in various weather conditions.

best

 

Do not watch YouTube videos to learn to drift. It is a art and a skill that takes time to master.

 

Physics...the interaction of body in motion, changing acceleration, and grip. Many issues, not just the C&C guys, are simply a lack of grip management...AKA running out of talent. There are only 4 contact patches and the whole goal is to stay well under the limit of adhesion on the street and right at the limit of adhesion with 3-6% slip angle on the track.

 

Drivers skill is the major factor until you get to higher levels of driving capability…

 

Cheap tires

Cold tires

Bald tires

 

As prior, alignment, tires and road conditions. Keep it slow at first. Most of the accidents happen in the first 6 months when new drivers think the car can do more than it is capable. I will warn you though that with a stock setup, they get "nervous" at the limit, full throttle and above 80 MPH around a curve. And that's coming from a pro driver (not me).

Only time I almost dented her beautiful sheet metal was around a curve in cooler weather with perhaps a moisture on the asphalt. Took a turn too fast and when rear wheels lost grip, watch the rebound when they suddenly get grip again... road was too cold and moist for my tires.

 

Buy a set of Michelin P4S and you won’t ever have that issue.

Blows me away others are mentioning Firestone tires on these cars in another thread. Tires should be the LAST thing you cheap out on.

 

Your uninformed.

The Firestone Firehawk Indy 500's are rebranded Bridgestone Potenza re003's. They aren't cheap and they aren't crap.

Since they come in a size that actually fits the 360 they are a reasonable tire choice.

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Tires out of date are a real concern.
Even with top quality tires, rubber gets hard and the traction disappears. When they are cold--- even worse. Ask me how I found this out...

I had my 360 for over 3 months of driving before I ever thought of pushing it to the limit or "flooring it". I always try to get a feel for what a new car (to me) will do and what the results will be. And I have had some track time (not with my 360 but with my 911) so not a newbie to driving a car with "conviction"

And the 360 will surely get away from you as any car will. Learning the car and not being surprised is the key.

 

That is good to know since the Bridgestones are no longer made in that size and would probably have cost at least $40 per tire more due to the OEM name. This observation is based on very similar OEM tires supplied on early S2000s which TireRack has available for that car in both brands. Otherwise, the Michelins and Pirellis appear to be the only other main line brand available for a 360 and run about $275 to $675 a set more, respectively, than the Firestones.

 

OEM size 215/45-18 is very difficult to find in a performance tire. So unless you go with Firehawks, you need to go with 225/40-18 up front and 285/35-18 rear to use MP4S.
On any tire, put at least 500 miles on them before drawing any conclusions. It can take that long for them to develop maximum grip. They need a few heat cycles and miles to wear off the slippery mold release compound they’re manufactured with.


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Then, a deer pops out in front of this non aggressive driver and suddenly, the tires are of paramount importance.

What tire would you want? Bargain basement or the best?

I put the best tires on ALL my cars. Myself and my family are worth it.

 

Well said. Tires are the only thing between the car and the road


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Closer to topic, you can dial out some of the terminal, snap oversteer with wheel alignment. This was posted by 360 Trev.
I’d recommend the CS spec. Just carefully watch inner tire edge wear. If you drive a lot in a straight line, use the 430 spec. Both are less prone to oversteer. Image Unavailable, Please Login


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Fish tailing in straight line is very different from Oversteering in a turn.
There're countless videos of experienced drag racer losing control even with properly warmed up sticky rubbers. Most of them ended up crashing!
I went to a 3 day camp to learn drifting from the Japanese, we were taught to induce the drift at a fairly low speed, well below the recovery limits. I can drift (power steer) the 360 a little out of a tight turn slowly on a rainy day with full confidence. I **** my pants every time the car fish tail on a straight road.

 

Agreed. And to add, I have found not a big price difference in this size and league of tires for our 360. Cheap and top of the line yes. But middle of the road? Not a significant savings IMHO.