new tyres - TCS problems??

Crowds

Guest
Any ideas, had some new tyres fitted today and seemingly since then the traction control keeps flashing and backing off the gas etc like the wheels are spinning but there are not, if you hit the TCS button all is fine again. Could it be been I fitted 195/40/16 Conti's instead of 195/45/16 michelin p zeros? , although I'd of thought a well worn 45 would be near the same rolling radius as a new 40 and manufacturer would be immaterial?

Crowds
 

Feel

Veedubya 'velle
Jun 12, 2003
4,918
2
Midlands
Is it with any provocation - i.e. normal driving?

Are you sure they've fitted the same size on both sides?

They might have damaged one of the sensors? Do know if this throws a code or shows a warning light.
 

Crowds

Guest
Yep, both the same size, and driving like a granny is ok, but I wouldn't call it agressive drive just say 3/4 throttle acceleration. Any idea where the sensor is and what it looks like???

Crowds... :confused:
 

andycupra

status subject to change
Wear them in and see if you get problems after then.
as said before they will be greasy ad do take time to wear in.
also they are contis so not as gripppy?
lower profile means also may be more sensitive to bumps...

The rolling radius will have changed, (by about 30mm?) whether this would cause problems would depend on how the traction control is designed and activated...

for example, i believe some systems compare the drive wheels with the non driven wheels and compare the respective speeds.
so in a front drive car it compares the front wheel speed to the rear one and if the difference is over a set amount then it cuts in.

im NOT convinced it will be this system though as this wont work on 4wd and so id imagine another system is used. probably using ABS signal somehow.

however if you have changed the front and not backs then the radius of the fronts will be different to the back ones... - however its not cutting in unless its full on throttle so im not sure this is whats causing it.

lol so this wont be any help but ill post anyway :)
 

CupraR-Rog

Just Cruising...
Jul 19, 2003
2,291
0
West Somerset
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What Andy says...

TCS will work from the ABS sensors, so it's reading that the front wheels are turning significantly faster than the rears (due to smaller size tyres).

To stop the problem, you'll need 2 new tyres the size of the tyres you want to keep.
 

Big_daddy

Going going gone.....
Oct 20, 2006
3,930
0
Brummy
To add my tcs keeps flashing and kills trottle till i let go of the trottle and few seconds it stops flashing.

My front tyres are 195/45 zr16 and my rear are 195/55/r16, (previous owner done this). would this be a problem?
 

lemonslap

In The Know
Mar 14, 2009
320
1
Kent
Yep, both the same size, and driving like a granny is ok, but I wouldn't call it agressive drive just say 3/4 throttle acceleration. Any idea where the sensor is and what it looks like???

Crowds... :confused:

What conti's have you got mate? I have conti sport contacts on my saab 9-3 and the grips great
 

Big_daddy

Going going gone.....
Oct 20, 2006
3,930
0
Brummy
any more feed back? dont want to spend money on something that is not needed, tyres are not cheap.
 

Mr.H

Guest
Same thing happend to me, tyres will be oily/dirty when first fitted and TCS will be easily triggerd. 50+ miles should see the tyres scrubbed in.
 

T1200Y

Guest
Same problem I'm getting , had a puncture on n/s front tyre , got standard cupra 16" alloys on , changed it for a skinny safety tyre, and when I drive it between 40-60 mph the traction light flickers and cuts all throttle , turn traction control off and it works fine .. The post about different size different speeds does make sence in my eyes , will investigate further tomorrow :(
 

Tucker157

Active Member
Nov 20, 2010
1,066
2
Falkirk/Central Scotland
Two options, either make all the tyres the same rolling radius. Or unplug an abs sensor, which will disable the abs and tcs.

It's known that having different radius wheels, affects the tcs, I've even seen a fabia vrs that accelerated its self after 60 mph, as the car was trying to speed up the front wheels to match the back, though that was an asc system unlike our primative tcs, if you use Vagcom to view the wheel speed sensors and take it a drive you will notice a difference in values.

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