understeer-oversteer

[Rex Pedersen]

As NASCAR annoucer/former driver describes it:
If you hit the wall with the front of the car, you have understeer.
If you hit the wall with the back of the car, you have oversteer....

Rex Pedersen
Ludington, MI
86 5ks wagon
87 5ksQ
90 V8q
http://fega.com/rex/rexsaudi.htm
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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.