J. Altman writes:
>would someone please define understeer for me.
******************************
Understeer is a condition where the car doesn't turn as much as the
steering wheel position would seem to indicate it should, or in other words
the faster you go while trying to turn into a corner the more the (front of
the) car tries to go in a straight line (front end starts losing grip or
"pushing the front end"). Oversteer is just the opposite. That is really
a 'layman's' description of what's taking place. What is actually
happening is that the slip angles of the front to rear tires are changing,
one becoming greater than the other. If the front angle starts to become
greater than the rear, than the car is said to understeer, and the reverse
is true for oversteering. If both angles are the same, the car is said to
have neutral handling
Does that help any?
Barry Schwartz (San Diego)
bschwart@pacbell.net
72 V6 Spitfire (daily driver)
70 GT6+ (When I don't drive the Spit)
70 Spit (Currently undergoing a frame off)
73 Ford Courier (parts hauler)
|