Understanding Handling Characteristics in Relation to Race Suspension Tuning

Two general terms are used to describe theslightly oversteering car can also yield fast laps.
handling of a car: understeer and oversteer.However, this is difficult to achieve because the
Understeer (also known as tight or push) occursdriver must react instantly to the car sliding by
when the front wheels of the car lose tractioncounter-steering. If the reaction is not quick
before the rear wheels in a corner. The car isenough, the car will slide sideways achieving a
difficult to turn and "pushes" toward the outsidelarge yaw/slip angle (the angle between the
of a turn. Oversteer (also known as loose) is thedirection the car is pointing and the direction it is
opposite condition. The rear tires lose tractionactually moving). This will scrub off speed and
before the front tires. Hence, the rear of the carmay even cause you to spin out. Therefore, an
is "loose." It slides toward the outside of the turn,oversteering car can be fast but only with a
and the car feels like it is going to spin out when itskilled driver.
is on the edge of control.On the other hand, an understeering car is limited
The goal of suspension tuning is to make the carby the grip of its front tires on the racetrack.
"neutral," not oversteering or understeering. WhenEven a skilled driver will not be able to clock fast
the car is neutral, you should be able to controllaps with a severely understeering car.
what it does in a turn by using the throttle. GivingNonetheless, you may want to set up your car
a burst of throttle should make the back of thefor slight understeer to make it more stable and
car slide toward the outside of the turn and allowforgiving. With an understeering car, overdriving
the car to turn better (in effect making it looser).(getting on the throttle too early in a corner, for
Getting off the throttle should make the back ofinstance) will simply make the car slide straight.
the car step back in line ("tightening" up the car).The condition is easily corrected by getting off
When the car is neutral, it is easier to control,the throttle. Overdriving with an oversteering car
creates less wear on the tires, and usually allowsis much more likely to lead to slower speeds or
for faster lap times. I say usually because aloss of control.