Balance, handling-- handling balance refers to the behavior of the car as the tires lose traction during cornering. This is typically described by when the front and rear tires lose their grip in relation to each other.
The balance is said to be neutral if the front and rear tires lose traction at the same time. The entire car will slide in what is often called a 4-wheel drift.
Tight balance (a.k.a. push or understeer) occurs when the front tires lose traction before the rear tires. When this occurs the driver can turn the steering wheel, but the car actually changes direction less than it normally would.
Loose balance (a.k.a. oversteer) occurs when the car's rear tires lose traction before the front tires. When this happens, the car begins to rotate about its center of gravity, and the back of the car swings out from the driving line.
Below is a list of automotive and road racing terms. Click on any of the letters to go to the start of that section, click on the term to open a window with the definition.
aerodynamic
anti-roll bar
apex
aspect ratio
backmarker
balaclava
balance, handling
bedding pads
blip, throttle
blocking
blow-off valve
brake bias
braking point
brake-turning
breathing the throttle
bump steer
camber
camber, negative
camber, positive
castor
chicane
chief steward
contact patch, tire
corner apex
corner entry
corner exit
corner station
corner turn-in
corner worker
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tactile feedback
tight (handling)
trail braking
toe
turn-in point
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