Hat tip to TrollhattanSaab for this neat video which clearly demonstrates why you should put your better (newer) tires on the rear wheels of your car--to preserve understeer bias.
So what's so important about keeping the car understeering?
Most drivers aren't skilled enough to correct an oversteer condition (you typically need to apply more throttle and countersteer quickly). Getting sideways means you have a higher chance of rollover due to tripping, or side impact. Most drivers will do the wrong thing for oversteer, they will brake, lifting the rear end further and giving away even more traction, making their problem worse.
But in an understeer condition, the instinct to jam on the brakes is the right one, because it gives more grip to the front wheels, which gives them a chance to regain steering ability. And if you must crash, it is much better to crash head-on because that's where you have the most protection from your crumple zones and seatbelts.
2 comments:
Oversteer! From my first set of wheels in '87 up until 2000 I drove RWD. After a 8 year interregnum I am back into the RWD fold. It took a few months to get the feel back (at first the car was just whipping around faster than I was used to) I am back to using oversteer to get around faster.
But I understand the myth. Back when all cars where RWD you always put the new tires on the drive wheels. So it makes sense that people would do the same with FWD cars. This video shows that to be false.
However... I rotate like it touches a G-spot so I never do the "2 tire" thing.
Several problems with this video: Are thhe cars in the test rear or front wheel drive? Not answered in video. How much wear was on the rear tires as compared to the front? Not answered! Who produced the video and what was their stake in producing it? Do they have any connection to the tire industry? If you live where it rarely rains, your main concern would be tire longevity as opposed to some controled experiment by professional drivers paid to do certain things at certain times. This video doesn't prove anything. It's no even a scientific experiment.
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