Jay Somerset schrieb:

>If you are able to brake in a completely straight line, on a smooth surface,
>with absolutely constant coefficient of friction, then the rear tires will
>probably stay in line behind the front. Deviations from this ideal condition
>will require some quick reaction on the steering to keep the car straight.
>
>However, if you hit a patch on the road with appreciably different traction,
>or if the right wheels encounter a different situation thasn the left, even
>fast steering reaction may not be enough to prevent the rear from coming
>around. Or if you are turning and still have to slow down (bad planning;
>unexpected obstacle, etc.)

This is entirely true for a non ABS car. But wrong for an Audi (or any
other car wit ABS). BTDT myself more then once. We trained that on a 3
day handling/track training class and with the ABS on a full power
brake with the left side on perfect race tarmac and the right side on
deliberately slippery surface (a special surface which gets slippery
like ice when wettened) it only required the slightest bit of
countersteer, and I mean just a bit, to keep a straight line. All cars
without ABS went off the track unless the would open the brakes,
re-align and hit the brakes hard again.

>A slight bit of understeer is not bad -- you just have to approach your
>corners a bit differently than if you had oversteer. A lot of understeer is
>not good -- neither is a lot of oversteer.

Yep. Agreed.

>While a "expert driver" might get away with an oversteering car, the
>presciption to put the better tires on the rear is proper for "the average
>driver" and certainly safest for those with no clue at all. :-)

Hmmm.

Regards

Wolfgang
--
* Audi A6 Avant TDI *
* reply to wolfgang dot pawlinetz at chello dot at *