| Car Handling Characterictic |
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| Written by Turnmission Team |
| Sunday, 19 July 2009 23:14 |
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Understeer, Oversteer and Neutral Steering When a car is driven fast into a corner without proper control, you often see people involve in accident. One of the factors that cause this was the driver theirselves do not understand their own car's handling. For beginners who do not know how to control their car according to the characteristic might be in danger. There are basically three types of car characteristic depending on the car's engine layout and its driving wheel. The three type of characteristic are Understeer, Oversteer and Neutral Steering. What are these three terms mean when drivers especially racers or car tester always mention about it? Well, here is some simple description to describe them. Understeer Also known as understeering when it happens. When pushed hard into the corner, the car's angle will face outward even when the steering is turned facing the other side. In layman term, your car "does not follow what you have instructed". It will tend to slide out of track if you do not correct it immediately. Oversteer Also known as oversteering when it happens. This is almost opposite as the above one. When pushed hard into the corner, normally when the drivers let off the accelerator or push it, the car's angle will start to face inward. In layman term, your car "over do what you have instructed". The car's tail will slide out if you do not correct it immediately. Many drifting fans use this characteristic to introduce a drift. Oversteering was very dangerous to starter driver especially when the road was wet.This characteristic was normally applied to FR cars and some of the MR cars. Neutral Steering This characteristic is what people in racing are looking for. Even when pushed hard into the corner, the car will be very stable and in control. In layman term, your car "follows what you have instructed". The car will hardly lost its traction. It was the safest among the three but unfortunately this characteristic was normally applied to 4WD cars. There are few 4WD platforms yet on the market nowadays. Now have you get how it means? For all three type of characteristic was only apply when the car is entering a corner in high speed, when a car is at low speed, these characteristic cannot be felt and can be said it is on neutral. |