What to do if the tail wants to come forward?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 618
Likes: 0
From: Toronto, Canada
Vehicle: 2009 Hyundai Sonata
Guys, a near accident that happened to me a couple years ago still haunts me to the day. And i was wondering if there was a way i could have controlled the car better should the situation come up again.
Long story short, the road was wet, i was cut-off, had to swerve and the car over steered across 4 lanes on the freeway. I managed to get control before hitting a post but the tires lost grip again and i went sideways the other way.
I was now sliding sideways to my right on the freeway. Steering wheel is turned to the right and i'm modulating throttle at this point to prevent the tail from getting ahead of me (and to avoid all the cars zooming by.)
Eventually, i hit the grassy median and straightened out.
If the tail did come out, how would you correct (or even avoid) it?
Thanks!
Long story short, the road was wet, i was cut-off, had to swerve and the car over steered across 4 lanes on the freeway. I managed to get control before hitting a post but the tires lost grip again and i went sideways the other way.
I was now sliding sideways to my right on the freeway. Steering wheel is turned to the right and i'm modulating throttle at this point to prevent the tail from getting ahead of me (and to avoid all the cars zooming by.)
Eventually, i hit the grassy median and straightened out.
If the tail did come out, how would you correct (or even avoid) it?
Thanks!
Administrator

Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 12,515
Likes: 2
From: Lacey, WA
Vehicle: Two Accents, Mini, Miata, Van, Outback, and a ZX-6
Steer into the skid. Apply power (if you're FWD). As skid begins to correct steering progressively less into the skid makes it easier to catch the car when it is going straight again instead of whipping it the other direction.
This is all fine to know, but nothing beats practice. Slide around on ice a bit, and/or go to a street survival driving school.
This is all fine to know, but nothing beats practice. Slide around on ice a bit, and/or go to a street survival driving school.
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,837
Likes: 0
From: Floating around the AUDM
Vehicle: X3 Sprint, S-Coupe Turbo
FWD is win. You can simply apply power and it will straighten out. Like what 187sks said, be mindful of applying too much oppy lock, because that will set you up for a nasty fishtail. sh*t really sux when you are in an inappropriate/too high a gear, so applying power does next to nothing.


