Dumb Question from a Not-so-experienced driver

"Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula" (snacktasticc)
03/12/2015 at 19:41 • Filed to: car questions

Why would someone turn off their traction control system? I noticed there was an option to shut it off and I was curious why someone would do that?

DISCUSSION (28)

CB > Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula
03/12/2015 at 19:45

For sweet sweet dorifto action.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula
03/12/2015 at 19:45

For pros, it helps them get to the limits of the car without it intervening. Sometimes it helps people get unstuck in some cases, when the TCS would otherwise keep it stuck.

Montalvo > Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula
03/12/2015 at 19:45

There are a lot of reasons, for track use it can be annoying because if invasive it will cut power when you still want it. Essentially you are telling the computer to screw off because you know better than it which is probably not the case for a lot of drivers except for those who understand the road they are on and the car they are in.

Kinja'd!!!

bob and john > Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula
03/12/2015 at 19:46

Sometimes it better to let the wheels spin to get you would of a stuck place: See: snow banks.

AthomSfere > Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula
03/12/2015 at 19:46

Easy way out, and only one of the reasons:

Kinja'd!!!

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula
03/12/2015 at 19:47

I live in Alaska and in the winter I prefer to have my traction control off. When it's turned on, it can lurch a little here and there. For some reason, with TC turned off, my car feels smoother.

Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula > Montalvo
03/12/2015 at 19:47

I want to look cool like that. I'd probably end up in a ditch though.

Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula > bob and john
03/12/2015 at 19:47

Hm.

This is good to know!

McMike > Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula
03/12/2015 at 19:47

There are times when you may need wheel spin to get out of some slippery conditions.

Or as CB said, for dorifto, and general hoonage.

Other than the first one, there is really no need to turn it off. Ever.

Tapas > Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula
03/12/2015 at 19:48

Well if you're an experienced driver with a rear wheel drive car, you can make your car lose/ break traction intentionally and make the rear slide (drift), do donuts, burn outs and hoon the car.

People also drive it with the system off as a test of their skill - to manage the car at high speed without losing control. Or to test the natural balance of the car, its power delivery and/or chassis.

When the traction control system is on, it distributes power to the wheels or applies brakes in a way that the car doesn't lose traction. So its less fun.

Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
03/12/2015 at 19:48

I should think about the whole snowbank issue—i haven't had major issues but it's been an ugly winter and I'm guessing not the last. Thanks!

RallyWrench > Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula
03/12/2015 at 19:48

Usually because hooning. Almost never a good idea on public roads though, and should only be done with great discretion. It can hinder cornering ability in dry weather in some performance cars. Others, it renders immobile in snow, forever cutting throttle or activating brakes.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula
03/12/2015 at 19:48

If your not experienced don't turn it off. It gives you all the control of the throttle and brakes(on most cars) when you turn it off, which can be a bad thing if you aren't expecting it. Though there are some situations where it needs to be turned off, being stuck for example. If you want to experience it, turn it off in an empty parking lot and hammer it. That is if you are used to a car/truck with it.

Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula > RallyWrench
03/12/2015 at 19:49

I need to go google hooning!

lonestranger > bob and john
03/12/2015 at 19:49

Yep, I was going to say the same thing. My sister once had me drive her Kia Soul for her, and I couldn't get it up the damn snow-covered street. The more power I gave it, the more it would bog out. Once I realized that it had TC and I could turn it off, we sailed up the hill.

bob and john > Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula
03/12/2015 at 19:49

yea. I use my moms IS250 AWD to help get ppl unstuck.

lock treans in 1st, TCS off, pedal down. VRRRRRRRRROOOOOMMMMMMMM + HUGE rooster tails = 1 less stuck car :P

Lets Just Drive > Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula
03/12/2015 at 19:50

Traction Control, or Another Driver Interference:

There are many reasons why a driver would chose to deactivate their vehicles traction control system from utter stupidity to insurmountable skill and everything in between.

On the track, traction control systems can be a bother - applying brakes or pulling power away from the driver and removing a level of control. On the road and in adverse conditions, TCS in its various forms can be a life saver.

Traction Control controls traction thus, on some levels, interferes with driver control. In many cases this is a plus because people are dumb ass shit fucks. In other cases this is a negative because people are dumb ass shit fucks.

Turning off the TCS in your 200 HP 2+2 sports coupe is one thing, turning it off in your 707 HP Muscle car is quite another. This question is probably best answered by watching much Top Gear.

Also, modern TCS tends to have levels, or settings, and not just On or Off. Then there's stability control, which most people should never turn off. Hell, most modern cars have more systems involved with (or interfering with) the act of driving than I have fucks to give.

Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula > bob and john
03/12/2015 at 19:51

Sounds like fun! But probably doing that is far off in my future!

Hoover > Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula
03/12/2015 at 19:57

The basic idea I've gathered is traction control limits how much power you can put down, and will sometimes keep your wheels slower so that you don't end up stuck spinning tires and not getting traction. Turning it off lets you spin the wheels as much as you want. So if you're, say, going up a drive way, and you get the snow-less road as a running start, and you want to just power through that, you turn off traction control because if you don't, as soon as you hit snow/ice it's gonna slow down to make sure you connect to the ground. But if speed isn't an issue (like in a parking lot) you keep it on so you don't slip anywhere.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula
03/12/2015 at 19:59

I would always turn it off when I pulled out of my driveway into traffic when it was snowy. The traction control would cut the power so when I really wanted to get moving sometimes it would deny me. The speed limit is 45 so I dont really want to be sitting there.

the rest of the time when its snowing out its so that when I have the pedal to the floor and the engine hits 3k rpm and the boost builds, I can break the tires loose and rip down the street with all 4 shredding snow and sending it up like a rooster tail.

Buick Mackane > Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula
03/12/2015 at 20:05

Because I live near Los Angeles where it never snows and rarely rains and it is not needed. Also the little orange TC light bothers me. The first thing I do when I fire up my Saturn is turn off the traction control before I start driving. Also, when I lived in Michigan, I never used it there. The traction control just uses anti-lock system on the front disc brakes to slow the wheels down to prevent slipping. However, I do recommend anti-lock brakes for wet and icy roads.

ranwhenparked > Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula
03/12/2015 at 20:17

When I had summer tires on my Grand Marquis, it often wouldn't get going again when stopped at a snowy intersection, unless the traction control was switched off.

Tinfoil Hat in a thunderstorm, now with added diecast > Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula
03/12/2015 at 20:17

To get from my house to the first paved road is at least 6km of twisty gravel roads. I turn off the TC for fun reasons.

jariten1781 > Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula
03/12/2015 at 20:58

If your car is less than a decade old there's no reason to turn it off on the street. None. Some early systems were awful, but that's been fixed over the generations.

On the track, sure. Getting unstuck sure (but turn it back on once you get moving).

fhrblig > Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula
03/12/2015 at 21:06

The traction control in my Fiat 500 makes it infuriating to drive in the snow. All it does is fight with the engine and the clutch and makes me aggravated. I turn it off.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula
03/12/2015 at 21:56

Some cars use the brakes at each individual spinning wheel to prevent traction loss.

Some cars cut fuel to the cylinders to limit power output. These tend to be early traction control systems and are often hyper-sensitive. My own car does this and occasionally I will turn it off to improve acceleration for the purpose of merging, etc.

Otherwise, for funsies. Or slippery situations.

Gizmo - The Only Good Gremlin, but don't feed me after Midnight > AthomSfere
03/12/2015 at 23:55

Yeah, BURNOUTS!

BloodlessWeevil > Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula
03/13/2015 at 09:44

I don't know if they have improved in recent years, but most of the ones I have used were not very good. For people who are so oblivious that they cannot tell when they break traction it is better than nothing. However, I've found that I can compensate and regain traction faster myself. FYI, my car is front wheel drive and I live where it snows.