The Chevrolet Camaro Z/28's wheel slip is actually a problem engineers encountered directly as a result of the performance car's power. The Chevy team selected only the best suppliers when designing the Z/28, including Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires and Brembo carbon-ceramic brake rotors. But the tire's intense traction and the brake's 1.5 g deceleration force were actually causing the wheels to rotate inside the tires!
To sort out the rotation problem, the team marked a chalk like on one of the tires relative to the valve system on the wheel before the car hit the track, then after taking a lap they realized the tire had rotated at least a full 360 degrees! So first they tested a racing technique to reduce the slippage: applying an abrasive paint around the bead of the wheel where the tire meets the rim. But found out that the paint wasn't strong enough! Needing much more texture, engineers tested and found success in media blasting: shooting a gritty material through an air gun at the wheel's surface to create texture in the paint for the wheel to grip.
The Camaro Z/28's wheel slip solution is just one example of the creative thinking used in developing the most track-capable Camaro ever. The best part is that the Z/28 will hit dealerships this spring, so you will have the chance to take one home soon! Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706. For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our websites: www.GraffBayCity.com.
