Just picked up my SRT6 with 12K miles. It is beautiful and fun to drive, but I am not as comfortable as I thought I would be taking turns with it. I don't know if it is just my perception or if the back end starts to come loose when take a turn like a fun turn on a freeway etc. I am just not feeling the stickiness, so am reluctant to take too fast.

Could it be the tires? The ones on it look to have good tread in the middle but just what looks like sipe lines in the outer 3.5 inches. Are these worn out? All I can read on the side wall is "Michelin Pilot Sport". I don't see other designation such as "PS2" when I look at new ones.

Are these the original tires that came with the car, and are now 10 years old and don't provide the traction?

I am not a professional driver by any means. But I remember being able to take my MR2 Turbo up the twisty on ramps for example and it would stick like glue. I have more confidence in my Celica right now than the SRT6.

Is it just my perception because these big tires are so close behind and there is so much power and they are in fact fine, just my perception problem?

 

There is a date code on the sidewall, usually on the inside sidewall. It is a four digit number. The first two numbers are the week of the year of the last 2 digits.


James

 

Not sure if it's just the photo... But any chance they're wearing more on the outside edge of the tire than the inside edge? My Michelins were frightening too, with only about 30% tread remaining. Any signs of cracking/dry rot? Usually most visible on the far edge of the tread near the sidewall. Nice looking car by the way, and perhaps part of the problem is the extra 200 ponies I drove a couple of MR2s when I was looking at the crossfire, they inspire a lot of confidence in the turns, even if you get hamfisted with it. The XF took a bit longer for me to get comfortable.

 

Sounds to me like a couple of issues given the descriptions you noted. Sounds like tires and alignment. I have had Michelin on mine and they have been great. My car is not an SRT6 and it still handles wonderfully even without any suspension up grades. Given your wear and the likely age of the tires I suspect ties a d alignment are in order..

 

sounds like alignment to me. you should be a "rocket on rails" on the turns.

 

Well, you may not like my response but here's what I see and hear. First, it is an SRT6 not the cars you mentioned. Supercharged power is instant, therefore the torque curve is instant. The wheelbase is short, and it has an open diff. So, to control the instant power, you need good tires, which you don't have, you should upgrade to the posi trac rear end in order to get rid of the open diff responding differently each time you get on it. With the open diff, the traction control will try to kick in which can produce an unsure traction response, making the car a handful. Once I went to the wavetrac, both my cars handle predictable now...and more fun to drive...

 

I recently purchased a SRT6 with 8,400 miles on it and it handles like it's on rails. I also have a 2005 Vette and I felt the Crossfire handled better.

 

being an old vette owner, I can agree. But the short wheel base of the XF can surprise you when making a quick U-turn unlike the vette's longer wheelbase.

 

I agree with XME, they look worn on the outside, so an alignment is in the future, as for tires, there is any number of good to excellent choices, depending on the depth of your pockets. Be smooth with the throttle and steering wheel and with good rubber you will be pleasantly surprised.

 

Going by the photos, and your mileage, my guess is that you're riding on the original tires that are nine years old now, and have been dismounted from their original factory position and installed on the opposite side. That would explain the wear being on the outer edge.
Rubber hardens as it ages, and traction disappears.
I don't think there is anyway to realign the rear wheels with the factory set up. Is there?

 

The rear toe has adjustment. If you have toe out or even 0 toe the rear end will want to swap sides on you if your aggressive with the gas in the corners.

Les

 

Totally off topic but......12k miles? 8,400 miles?! Good grief, and I thought I was doing good buying my SRT-6 earlier this year with 42k on it. I've already put almost 6k miles on it since March and that's with me working from home full time AND having a 2nd car as a daily driver......lol. It's always mind boggling to me how people can own a car and just let it sit around collecting dust.

 

depends on the purpose of the car. I have two...can't drive two at the same time and mine are for fun. Which means they get driven 4K a year. And that is 8K of fun for me. I drive for a living...so driving a car as a daily driver isn't a concern. My daily driver has 18 wheels...and does 90K a year...so I need the toys to relax....lol

 

Everyone's situation is different, I have seven corvettes (2 57's, a 59, a 62, a 63, a 67 and an O5) plus a 36 five window coupe, a 29 Roosevelt, a 72 Blazer, a 57 Belair, a 56 Belair, 79 450Sl (with 19k miles), a 71 CJ5, a 57 Porsche, a 27 Model T, a 32 Roadster, a 83 Mustang (30k miles), a 54 Chevy truck, plus about 30 vintage motorcycles and all my daily drivers (Yukon, two Hondas, two trucks, a van and a BMW) besides the SRT6, so even though I just purchased it with only 8,450 miles, and although I drive a lot, I doubt if it will get much more. Hope that doesn't make me bad, heck, I just like cars and bikes.

 

I envy your collection!

 

It doesn't make you bad, it just means that you have a few more semoleans than many of us. I would love a '63 and '58 'Vette, ( I like the chrome strips on the trunk), also a Gullwing Merc but since I have just enough left, after divorce, to take care of myself and my little dog, they are out of the question. It's a damn good thing that you don't LOVE cars, I can only imagine.

 

Thanks guys, actually it's a lifetime of buying and never or hardly ever selling. I did sell my '58 Vette right after I got back from Nam, should have kept it too, even with the railroad tracks up the trunk. It was a nice car though, 283, duel quads, 270 hp, four speed, 098 cam, I can still remember adjusting those lifters 12 and 18 I picked it up with 32,000 actual miles for $1,000 sold it for $1,750 and thought I cut a fat hog!

 

I just want to say thanks for the thoughts on the tires, etc. , and I will be looking into these things when I have time and have the tires checked out, and will be back I am sure with more questions or observations.