understeer-oversteer

[Patrick Washburn]

Very simply:

Understeer - A tendency for your car to "push" or "plow" when turning.  
Imagine driving on ice, and when you turn the wheel the car wants to 
continue going straight.  It isn't turning enough, or "understeering".

Oversteer - The opposite tendency for the car to turn too much, usually 
causing the rear end to feel like it will come around in a spin.  (Which it 
will often do!)

Nuetral - The moving target we all try to acheive.  Usually a nuetral car 
is reffered to as being one that you are able to readily control the 
over/under steer.  Not that is always steers nuetrally.

There are too many variables affecting these handling traits to go into, 
but one important aspect is the front/rear weight transfer at any given 
time.  Cars do not *always* under or over steer...it depends on the 
attitude of the car at the moment in terms of front and rear weight 
transfer caused by either accelerating or decelerating.  A normally 
understeering car can be induced to oversteer by braking heavily past the 
point where you started your turn (trailbraking).  The additional weight on 
the front tires will create better grip, making it turn better.  Get ready 
though...immediatly following this will usually be an abrupt and difficult 
to control transition to heavy oversteer. WooHoo!  Can you say spin?  
Another note: Tire pressures can have a surprisingly strong influence on 
your car's characteristics.  Check those tire pressures folks!

The absolute best way to learn these things is to go autocrossing, IMO.

Pat Washburn
88 5KCSTQW
95 Neon DS #26 - SCCA Solo2 "The Cow Car"


> 	Would someone please explain understeer and oversteer to me. I have 
an 
> idea but would like to know more.
> 
> Rotax
> 
> 

Patrick Washburn
C-Tech Trailor Cabinets
Wausau, WI
www.racecabinet.com
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