Re: handling?

[Luis Marques <marques@ti.com>]

Zsolt Kovacs <zsolt@telusplanet.net> wrote:
> 
> Here's something I hope some of you with some racing experience with
> quattros can answer me.
> During hard cornering (eg. an intersection) on dry asphalt my front
> end feels like it's bouncing on the road. It feels like there isn't
> enough friction, and the rear wheels are pushing the car forward,
> resulting the front wheels to bounce. Is this normal, or could be
> allignemnent, or perhaps even tires? I have Blizzaks on.
> Thanks,
>   Zsolt

Hard cornering? Racing? In an intersection? With winter ice tires?!?!  

Anyway, you are experiencing mayor understeering and are completely
overdriving the tires (pushing them way beyond their limits).  You're
trying to turn too fast while giving it too much gas which results in
the car going straight and the front tires scrubbing off speed and going
slower with a lot of tire noise and wear.  I can almost guarantee you
that you will go faster if you turn in slower, then get on the gas only
as hard as the tires will allow you. You want them making a little
noise, but not howling all over the place in such a way that can be
heard from blocks away.  Certainly not bouncing over the pavement
sideways with the steering wheel turned a full turn and the car going
straight.

Not that it will do you much good anyway, since you are driving on ice
tires.  Better leave the hard cornering on asphalt to summer tires or
those blizzaks will loose the special ice rubber layer very quickly and
you will be left with mediocre winter tires.

Luis Marques
'87 4kcsq