Tuning muscle cars in Gran Turismo 6 can be challenging. This guide provides a detailed approach to building a tune from scratch, focusing on maximizing performance within specific PP limits. We’ll cover key areas like oil changes, part selection, transmission tuning, and the crucial role of the Limited Slip Differential (LSD).
Building a Competitive Tune: Step-by-Step
Oil Change Considerations:
For short-term races, skip the oil change. Testing reveals a slight horsepower decrease (around 1%) after an oil change at the same PP level. For long-term use, the horsepower increase might be beneficial.
Strategic Part Selection:
Weight Reduction: Prioritize weight reduction. Aim for these targets:
- Heavy Cars: 1400-1450kg
- Average Cars: 1200-1250kg
- Light Cars: Around 1000kg
Power Upgrades: Unlike GT5, there’s no universal best order for power upgrades in GT6. Analyze the PP/HP efficiency of each part for your specific car. Calculate the horsepower gained per PP point spent (Gain/PP) to determine the most efficient upgrades. The “Sports Catalytic Converter” often provides significant gains.
Example: BMW M3 Coupe ’07 @ 525PP:
- Essential: Window weight reduction and carbon hood (minimal PP cost).
- Weight: Stage 3 weight reduction, then add ballast to fine-tune weight distribution.
- Power: Prioritize Sports Catalytic Converter, Engine Tuning Stage 3, and Semi-Racing Exhaust based on their Gain/PP.
Example: Ford GT ’06 @ 600PP:
- Essential: Window weight reduction and carbon hood.
- Weight: Stage 3 weight reduction, then use ballast for precise weight and balance.
- Power: Prioritize Sports Catalytic Converter, Racing Exhaust, and Isometric Exhaust Manifold based on Gain/PP.
Other Performance Enhancements:
- Always Include: Triple-Plate Clutch, Carbon Drive Shaft, and Racing Brakes (if available and budget allows).
- Chassis Stiffness: Use sparingly, as it can increase understeer.
- Wings:
- Street Cars: Generally avoid, unless needed for specific handling characteristics. In GT6, downforce doesn’t add to the PP cost.
- Tuner Cars: Add if it unlocks full front downforce adjustment.
- Race Cars: Maximize downforce, adjust rear downforce to fine-tune cornering, and reduce downforce on long straights for higher top speed. Consider track-specific downforce adjustments for NASCAR.
- Flat Floors: Avoid due to PP cost and limited performance benefit.
Mastering the Transmission and LSD
Transmission Tuning: Tune the transmission after installing power parts. Use the “flip trick”:
- Maximize Final Gear and minimize Max Speed.
- Maximize Highest Gear.
- Set 2nd Gear to around 80% of its range.
- Evenly space remaining gears, with slightly closer spacing in higher gears.
- Adjust Final Gear to achieve near-redline at the end of the longest straight.
- Fine-tune 1st gear for optimal launch (further right for rolling starts, adjust for standing starts).
- Optimize gear ratios for specific tracks to avoid mid-corner shifts or unwanted shifts before braking zones.
Limited Slip Differential (LSD): The Super Tune
- LSD Accel: Controls wheelspin. Increase if the inside tire spins first, decrease if the outside tire spins first. Aim for simultaneous spin.
- LSD Decel: Impacts stability when off-throttle. Increase for oversteer, decrease for understeer.
- LSD Initial Torque: Affects the LSD’s activation threshold. Higher values increase understeer, lower values increase oversteer. This setting manages power distribution, not overall power delivery.
4WD LSD Tuning: Experimentation is key. Consider:
- Rally (Dirt/Snow): Front: 15/15/10, Rear: 14/12/12 (for rotation and stability)
- Street (Tarmac): Front: 10-12/12-15/5-9, Rear: 8-10/10-12/5-12 (for balanced handling)
Torque-Distributing Center Differential (4WD):
- Rally: 50/50 for maximum power down.
- Tarmac: Start at 50/50, gradually decrease the front bias if needed for better corner entry and rotation (but avoid going below 35/65).
By understanding these tuning principles and applying them to your muscle car builds in Gran Turismo 6, you can significantly improve performance and achieve faster lap times. Remember to always test and fine-tune your settings for each specific car and track combination.
