Eh?

I have Riken Raptor 275/35-18 tires on my car (rear). Squealing first to second, even with traction control on, is easy. However, even with it off, I'm barely able to get a squeak in second to third or third to fourth. From what I read, these aren't really expensive, high brand tires - I've read they may be ones that aren't good enough to be Michelin or BFGs, so they have an off brand and name them Riken. Whatever the story behind them may be, is the "problem" in my tires or is it me? I shift relatively fast (nothing to write home about), and like I said can easily get a nice squeal from first to second. Hell, my 3.8l Mustang could squeal going into third. The are relatively new as well, put on maybe in August I think the previous owner said.
I suppose having nice tires is good...but I like to squeal them since I don't race or anything.

 

Sounds like your clutch is giving up. One of the first signs is losing that crisp, sharp jerk when shifting. It could still last awhile as long as you do not power shift.

 

how many miles on the car???

 

I've kind of though this, as it also grinds when I throw it into second hard, also sometimes when I'm trying to downshift into first.

Just broke 64k.

 

hmmmm 64k isnt quite clutch time (clutches usually last about 100K if driven... well properly) but if you shift hard and dump your clutch it could deff be the problem

 

A clutch should last the lifetime of the car if driven properly.

The grinding in second or going into first is deffenatly something to do with the clutch system. Whether it's the clutch itself or the slave, master cylinder or even the pressure plate.

 

The guy is complaining he can not break the tires lose in 4th gear with 275s on the back. 65K he is doing pretty good. I would not concider that driven properly. I have seen way to many cars with less then 10K needing clutchs.

We had one kid that did not even make it to 5K. Dad was pissed it was not covered under warrant. His son swears he did not abuse it. He told my Service manager there was NO way that should have worn out. We told him next time he should have his son clean the white number off the window and the rubber of the quarter and NOT leave his run ticket on the passangers seat if he want to claim no abuse. Also the fact the back tires where more then 50% gone was kind of a give away. I guess they where defective also

 

Is 275 a wide tire or something? I'm not versed in the ways of tires and such. But Massey was saying in another thread he could hit the throttle at anything under 30 in his Z28 and burn rubber, and I can't get that or get it to break from second to third.

The guy who had the car before abused the clutch, and pretty much didn't treat the whole car like it should be. I've dropped the clutch a total of 3 or 4 times since I've owned it, usually not about 3k RPMs or so.