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in slow, out fast. This adapts well to FWD in limited traction conditions.
The writer of the article is right in that people need to be taught how to handle FWD in low traction situations. He has good info but it is not assembled in a way that is as useful as it could be, IMHO. Too much of a rant.
A FWD car loses front grip because the grip (traction coefficient) of the tires is exceeded by forward momentum and the turning forces on the tires due to speed. This is classic FWD understeer. To avoid (or at least control) it, you have to either slow the entry speed into a corner so the tires don't lose traction or do something else, such as use brakes and throttle at the same time to manage the front wheel traction or kick out the rear into some oversteer.
I play with this all the time in winter. While it's fun to go into a curve with some extra speed, keep some power on and add braking and maybe steering input to hang the rear end out, it's not something most people are willing to do and it takes practice to do at all well. Going in a little slower keeps the front end from washing out and the car on the road. I often left foot brake with some power on to get around a corner if I feel the front end grip is not right and it typically works well, better than just lifting off the gas.
The difficulty in having people learn this is that it's a little complicated and it means one has to actually pay attention, something most folks don't seem inclined to do. So just going slower is the simpler approach. I have a daughter about to do driver's ed, all taught in FWD cars, so I'll see what they tell her. I'm just getting her to do the "in slow" approach for now, and will add left foot braking later.
But don't forget tires, probably the most important factor. With four good winter tires a FWD car is pretty well balanced.
, Sat, 27 Dec 2008 13:30:52
, Tue, 30 Dec 2008 09:08:19
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