understeer

Understeer is a vehicle handling condition in which the front tires reach their grip limit before the rear tires, causing the car to continue toward the outside of a turn rather than following the driver’s intended steering input. The result is a push wide of the desired cornering line, often requiring more steering angle to maintain the turn. It is commonly described as the front end “pushing” or “plowing” straight.

Causes of understeer include excessive speed into a corner, steering inputs that exceed the tires’ grip, and weight transfer that reduces front-tire adhesion. Vehicles with front-heavy weight distribution, front-wheel drive layouts, or soft front tires are particularly prone. Road conditions such as wet, icy, or uneven surfaces, as well as tire wear or incorrect tire pressures, can also contribute.

In normal driving, understeer manifests as reduced steering responsiveness and a tendency to run wide. It is the opposite of oversteer, where the rear tires lose grip first and the tail slides outward. Correcting understeer generally involves reducing speed and avoiding sharp steering inputs; straightening the wheel and re-entering the corner with a gentler, more gradual steering action helps recover grip. Vehicle setup changes—such as maintaining equal or appropriate tire pressures, improving front grip, or tuning suspension and alignment—can mitigate understeer, especially during cornering at higher speeds.

See also: oversteer, tire grip, weight transfer, yaw dynamics.