| Have you heard the expressions, a particular car | | | | seems to be sliding away and seems like you will |
| oversteers or another one understeers? Do you | | | | be going sideways or backwards in a second, |
| know exactly what is meant by each term? If | | | | then your car oversteers. |
| you had a choice, which one would be safer to | | | | Oversteering cars lose the tire grip at the front |
| drive? | | | | of the car and understeering cars lose the tire |
| Let's look at what is really meant by both | | | | grip at the rear of the car first. |
| expressions. Imagine you are in your car on a | | | | So which one is safer? Almost all car |
| large empty parking lot, with nothing around the | | | | manufactures design cars so that they |
| lot to hit, no poles or other cars. | | | | understeer. This means when you drive too fast |
| Now you start driving and turn the wheel either | | | | on a curve, and the front end is harder to turn |
| right or left so that you will be driving in a circle. | | | | you almost instinctively back off of the |
| No problems, you are slowly driving in this big | | | | accelerator pedal. The car slows down and regains |
| circle and everything is under control. | | | | its grip and you go around the curve a little |
| Now imagine that you are going a little faster, and | | | | slower and safely. |
| faster around the circle. Soon you will start to | | | | This is fine for a typical car and average driver. |
| hear some tire noise. As you increase your speed | | | | But if you are in a race car, or a car designed to |
| the sound becomes louder and the tires start to | | | | run on a race track, you want a car that |
| squeal. Soon they are squalling and you know that | | | | oversteers, because you let the rear end slide out |
| something is about to happen. | | | | a little. This points you more into the turn and you |
| If it is becoming harder and harder to keep the | | | | can go faster. However, you must have the |
| front end turned in on your circle. That is, if the | | | | driving skills to overcome the slide while you go |
| circle is becoming larger as you speed up, then | | | | around the curve. Or you will slide out of control, |
| your car understeers. | | | | something that's not too bad on a race track, but |
| If on the other hand, the rear end of your car | | | | can get you killed on a city street. |