Tag: modifications

May 16

The Science Behind Slick Tires on Performance Vehicles

Introduction to Slick Tires

Advancements in tire technology have broadened the range of options available, from specialized rain tires that effectively disperse water to versatile all-season tires. Yet, you might have observed that high-performance vehicles, particularly muscle cars, often sport wide, slick tires or drag radials under their rear fenders. This choice is deeply rooted in racing history and is not due to cost-cutting or maintenance oversight.

Performance Advantages of Slick Tires

Slick tires, including brands like Hoosiers or Mickey Thompson drag radials, are commonly found on powerful cars such as vintage Dodge Chargers or contemporary Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s. These tires are designed to maximize contact with the racetrack surface, thereby enhancing grip. This is crucial for achieving quick launches and maintaining traction in high-horsepower, rear-wheel-drive vehicles, helping drivers shave critical seconds off their drag racing times. Notably, models like the Dodge SRT Demon come factory-equipped with these specialty tires to optimize performance right from the start.

Limitations and Safety Concerns

While slick tires are exceptional for dry, track conditions, offering superior grip and efficient heat dissipation, they are impractical and often unsafe for regular street use. The absence of tread patterns, which are vital for channeling away water, makes slick tires highly unsafe in wet conditions. This can dramatically increase the risk of hydroplaning and accidents during rain. Therefore, despite their performance benefits, slick tires are not suitable for everyday driving due to significant safety concerns and potential legal restrictions.

Nov 20

Unexpected Twist: Camaro Returned with Illegal Tint After Turo Rental

Surprising Outcomes of Car Rentals

Renting out your car can come with a range of risks, from potential accidents to extensive clean-ups. However, some situations can be even more unexpected, as one Camaro owner discovered when his vehicle was returned with a surprising alteration. The car-sharing service Turo facilitated this rental, resulting in a Chevy Camaro being returned with a full, and likely illegal, window tint.

Unexpected Modifications and Reactions

A recent post on X (formerly Twitter) highlighted an unusual case where a Camaro, rented out through Turo, was returned with heavily tinted windows. The tint was described as extremely dark, possibly illegal, with even the front windshield affected. The car’s owner was also reportedly left with a marijuana odor inside, prompting a mix of humorous and suspicious comments from social media users about the renter’s activities.

Understanding Turo’s Rental Policies

Turo operates as a major car-sharing platform, allowing individuals to rent out their personal vehicles. However, it’s important to note that Turo’s rules prohibit unauthorized modifications and smoking in vehicles. While the specifics of this case remain unclear, it’s evident that adhering to these guidelines is crucial for both car owners and renters to avoid unexpected issues.

Jul 21

Is Tuning Your Modern Muscle Car Worth It?

Your new muscle car might not be living up to its power potential. So, is a tuner, flash tune, or standalone ECU a solid fix for your horsepower headache?

OK, you got yourself a Dodge Challenger R/T, and you’re not pleased with the factory 375 crank horsepower rating. Don’t fret; a tune can help wake your engine to produce more power and torque. So is a tune or standalone engine control unit (ECU) upgrade worth it for your modern muscle car? Or should you go straight for forced induction on your S550 Ford Mustang or Chevrolet Camaro?

Can you tune a muscle car?

Like other sports cars and performance vehicles, owners can tune a modern muscle car for optimal performance. In fact, drivers can flash a tune to their car’s hardware, opt for a tuner, or install a standalone ECU.

The easiest way to tune a modern muscle car is an ECU tune flashed to your existing hardware. For instance, some tuning houses can plug into your vehicle’s OBD II port and tune a modern muscle car like a Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE to run optimally on pump gas or 100+ octane fuel.

What are the benefits of tuning a modern muscle car?

According to CJ Pony Parts, Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations routinely limit stock cars’ capacities to produce significant power. As a result, your late-model Dodge Challenger R/T or Ford Mustang GT has more potential than stock power figures suggest. A tune can access some of that potential.

More importantly, a tune is essential if you have bolt-ons on your muscle car, like a cold air intake (CAI). For instance, while running rich (too much fuel in the air-fuel mixture) is wasteful, it’s safer than running lean. A programmable ECU, like a standalone unit, can help with real-time adjustments.

What does an ECU tune do?

An ECU tune or standalone unit can take your make, model, engine size, and target inputs to adjust your vehicle’s air-fuel ratio. Many standalone units are plug-and-play, with simple connections and a port for vacuum line readings. When programmed correctly, an ECU tune will allow a stock or bolt-on motor like a 5.0L Coyote V8 or 5.7L HEMI engine to increase its overall power output.

What else can you do to make your muscle car faster?

In addition to flashing your ECU with a tune or investing in a standalone ECU, you can add forced induction to a naturally aspirated muscle car to make it more powerful and, traction-allowing, faster.

For instance, adding a turbocharger, centrifugal supercharger, or roots-style supercharger to an engine can allow it to perform at higher volumetric efficiency. That means forced induction sends air into the combustion process more efficiently than a naturally aspirated application or intake modification. As a result, an engine can gulp through more air, account for it in the air-fuel mixture, and make more power.

Of course, determined tuners and builders can make a performance car like a Ford Mustang faster without a tune or pricey forced induction. Lightening, stiffening, and investing in high-quality, grippy performance tires can do wonders for making a muscle car quicker on more than just the drag strip.