All I can tell you is how I learned. After my first time on the track I felt like you do. Fix the car, make it better, change things etc. I put a pulley, CAI, shocks, brake pads etc. and my times stayed the same. I put Eibachs on the car and went slower. I put camber bolts, adjustable camber arms in the back and wore out my stock tires by 2000 miles. Bought the stickiest street tires I could. Michelin Pilot Sport Cups (80 treadware) I was still within a second of when the car was bone stock. Went to a driving school and gained more time than all the "improvements". Now I'm on street tires again, I've learned how to drive the car when it's loose, when it's tight, with fading brakes, in the wet etc. I can have the car set up perfect for one track and at the next it isn't. Track surface, temperature and other factors change how the car behaves. Until I practiced different braking techniques, early and late turn in, using the throttle to turn the car and other techniques, I didn't understand how to take advantage of what the car did well. If you think your Crossfire has problems pushing try a FWD car. Having been through it, being stubborn, not believing it until learning first hand, being impatient. I understand. You have the new rubber for the front. Use them and see what is different. Your going to have to learn to get the most out of the grip the car has no matter what tires you have. Try different pressures to see what changes. In the end what will have to change is your driving style. You won't be successful adapting the car to your style. In the end, in any car, you have to adapt to the car strengths and weaknesses. Learning and trusting internet opinions isn't always easy, but often right on the money too. It's best to go to a driving school if you can and see first hand what is possible. The instructor will drive your car and usually give you several epiphanies. Good luck, don't blame the car, learn what it can do and can't and have fun.

Les