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PontGuy · 06-03-2012, 01:29 PM

My Lemans really hooks up good since I got the posi rear installed a few months ago- actually shockingly good. My butt-meter tells me I can launch much harder than I can with my 06 GTO even with the high-torque 455 engine. At least on the street, can't say how it would be at the strip. Anyway, yesterday I found myself at a country crossroad with nobody in sight, and decided to try nailing the throttle just to see what would happen. No the car didn't hook and I had to let off. But the amount of noise that the tires made was pretty incredible. Never got that with my 06, or any of the old musclecars I've owned. Scared the pee out of my wife who was in the passengers seat. Very satisfying- though I'm glad I didn't try doing this in town.

So, tire squeal. Why does it happen with some combos more than others? Does it indicate more "bite" even though the tires are spinning? How much depends on the brand/size tires, rear-end ratio, suspension setup?

72LuxuryLeMansLa. · 06-03-2012, 02:45 PM

Different road surfaces would have some effect....

Karl

nkowi · 06-03-2012, 02:51 PM

OK, I know tires are expensive and I know your wife was in the passenger's seat, but I still gotta ask; why on Earth did you let off?

boater bill · 06-03-2012, 04:47 PM

When I was Autocrossing my first 68 Firebird I was told "A squeeling tire is a happy tire!"

Obviously your tires were in a very happy mood, keep them happy I say.

I recently had a friend ask if I would like to get together with him and smoke a cigar or 2.
I told him I only smoke BFG's.

He actually got it and laughed.

The Boss · 06-03-2012, 05:06 PM

Good one Bill!

Remember, it's not the tire that's squealing - it's the road.

PontGuy · 06-03-2012, 06:46 PM

Some very scientific responses as expected

On a related topic, I thought Firestone was discontinuing the 15" RWL Indy tires, but still see them for sale all over the place. Did the company decide to keep on producing them?

As for laying down rubber, the wife isn't a real factor (she always gets over it) and neither is cost of the rubber. But I have always liked the Firestone tires and thought this would be the last set that I would be able to buy.

psw · 06-03-2012, 08:25 PM

I recall years ago, whatever tire came on my GTO when I first got it (back in 1983, cant recall what tire that was) would produce a high-pitched squeal upon wheel spin. After changing to BFG Comp T/As, the squeal diminished, and you heard more of a scrubbing sound. At that time, I also noticed, the older tires would leave more permanent black marks on the pavement, whereas with the BFGs you could partially brush away the wheel spin tracks. Since that time, I have pretty much never heard the pronounce high-pitched squeal again, and have always used softer, more performance-oriented tires, compared to those that originally came to me on the car. So, perhaps it has to do with the particular rubber compound or tire design, as I went from squeal to much less squeal, with only a change of tire.

Too bad we did not have smart phones back then, I would love to have a video of a burn out from those days...

PSW

chipster · 06-03-2012, 08:38 PM

I've noticed that tires squeal louder and easier on hot pavement...harder to get that second gear chuurp in the winter.

PontGuy · 06-04-2012, 09:21 AM

OK, so I agree that road surface, temperature and the rubber compound are factors.. as well as whether the tires are "happy" or not. And I'd rather smoke Firestones than BFGs but then all are good.

Got to be more to it though. Before I replaced the 2.78 pegleg the car would spin the heck out of a tire, but never much of a squeal no matter what the road surface or temperature. Now I always get a satisfying chirp on a sporty launch, and when I dumped the throttle last weekend it sounded like the world was ending. Same tires, same car.

pggto · 06-04-2012, 11:05 AM

Road surface, tire compound, temp, tire (spin) speed, load on the tire ( open vs posi), age of the tire, I've got some old Eagle ST's that a hard like a rock. I've had cars squeal, and some just whistle while I was abusing the tire.

boater bill · 06-04-2012, 11:57 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEEQ0...hannel&list=UL

This is from a month or so ago when my friends gave me back my Bird after the 461 build and install. This is only running on the primaries of the Q-jet btw. I have since fixed that and replaced the front springs and adjusted the clutch and shifter.

Where's your video Boss?

chiphead · 06-04-2012, 11:59 AM

It's been my experience that hot blacktop will produce a louder squeal. concrete or other road surfaces usually give that growling sound. It's also louder at lower tire speeds. So the loudest would be a moderate spin on hot backtop.

I have also noticed that my FS Indy 500s don't mark the pavement very well. The rubber doesn't seem to melt onto the roadway like other tires do. That's gotta be due to the compound of the tire.

Stuckinda60s · 06-04-2012, 12:05 PM

I think what you hear is the frequency of vibration of the individual sipes on the tire, much like a baseball card in the spokes on a bicycle. The tread design, compound and speed are probably the key factors. Temperature of the tire would seem to be critical but the sound doesn't seem to change as a spinning tire gets hotter.

HWYSTR455 · 06-04-2012, 12:18 PM

Nitto 555s leave marks, but don't squeal, or at least on my driver they don't!

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Steve C. · 06-04-2012, 01:24 PM

"Nitto 555s leave marks, but don't squeal, or at least on my driver they don't!

Agree, and they don't produce much 'smoke'. Been running the 275/60-15 555R Nitto for years as my street tire.

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PontGuy · 06-04-2012, 01:39 PM

Very nice launch squeal B-Bill, beautiful 'bird and some fun videos! I don't have any video of my car except with the wife driving- not much excitement there. Guess I need to fix that. I don't have your rumpity-rump cam and my exhaust is very quiet (going for the sleeper effect) but I bet I can still beat your tire squeal! Though it will require a ride back out into the country- I am not going to try it in my neighborhood.

Chiphead, I agree that tire speed has something to do with it. Seems like its loudest when the tires are trying to grip.

And Rich finally provided a sort-of scientific explanation, though who knows just how much of it is correct.

The high-tech Firestones on my 06 don't squeal much either, maybe that's a property of the newer rubber compounds.

jonmachota78 · 06-04-2012, 03:39 PM

Did it soundlike Mad Max? Or the general lee squeeling on a dirt road! Lol

HWYSTR455 · 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve C.

"Nitto 555s leave marks, but don't squeal, or at least on my driver they don't!

Agree, and they don't produce much 'smoke'. Been running the 275/60-15 555R Nitto for years as my street tire.

.

Guess they squeal a little, realized it after I watched the video again! As for smoke, if you make them beg they will smoke!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2Od_...mment_received

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Steve C. · 06-04-2012, 06:51 PM

Ummmmmmm embarising.... I guess I need to learn how to do a burn out, or try harder ! My Trans Am with the heavy duty Landrum leaf springs used in conjunction with the Cal-Tracs Bars and the 60 series sidewall of the Nittos hook good. About the only way I can get the car to even come close is from a dead stop at idel and punch it hard ... doesn't move out far before in hooks up. Just a squeel and a hint of smoke. That's with over 600 ft. lbs torque !

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HWYSTR455 · 06-05-2012, 07:29 AM

That's great Steve, wish I could get mine to hook like that! Since it's more setup for handling, I'm not that concerned with off the line performance. Plus, you have a single plane and bigger cam, so it probably comes in a little later too. I've been considering going to a victor to soften the launch a little.

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