understeer-oversteer
Steven Addy
steveaddy at mindspring.com
Sat Nov 18 22:14:51 EST 2000
Do I have this correct? - I'll try to get the overs and unders straight
as I appear to be getting dyslexia in my old age.
When entering a curve too rapidly, a typical driver hits the brakes and
this action causes the vehicle load to be directed toward the front
outside wheel. A car with understeer also tends to shift its load toward
the front outside wheel when entering a curve. For safety reasons,
therefore, front wheel driven cars are specifically designed to
understeer as the load shift caused by emergency braking also increases
traction on a driven wheel.
When entering the same curve, a vehicle with oversteer tends to shift its
load toward the rear. Braking, however, causes the vehicle load to shift
toward the front and this decreases traction at the rear wheels where
it's needed most. In a car with oversteer, therefore, braking in a curve
will increase the liklihood of a spin and it must be driven as if on ice
or gravel.
Steve A.
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