Cornering without any risk is something that should be anticipated; always make sure you look straight ahead and in the direction in which you need to go and everything will be fine... and also use the following tips...
- Before the bend…
To turn a corner under the best road-holding, traction and safety conditions, it's highly recommended to anticipate and brake before the turn, as long as the front wheels are straight.
- Why slow down before a bend?
Well, we need to do some basic physics first: you need to slow down so as to reduce the centrifugal force which naturally takes the vehicle towards the outside of the corner. If you fail to slow down enough, the grip of the tyres may not be sufficient and the vehicle will skid
Watch this video, which shows in 1 minute the effects of this famous centrifugal force during a corner:
- In the bend...
Avoid braking as the transfer of weight towards the front of the vehicle leads to reduced grip at the rear of the car and this increases the risk of skidding.
- Coming out of a bend
Only accelerate once the front wheels of the car are straight. The power of acceleration should be in direct proportion to the steering angle, so you should accelerate gradually as you exit the turn.
- What happens when you go into a bend too fast?
If you go into a bend too fast, this forces you to brake sharply which leads to a massive transfer of mass towards the front. This transfer of mass lifts the rear wheels and reduces the grip of the rear tyres, with a risk known as over-steer.
When the rear of the car skids, don't panic! Here's what you do. Depress the clutch to regain balance of the car, look where you want to be, and not where you're scared of going. Look in the right direction and everything will then happen naturally.
- What happens if you accelerate too sharply into a corner?
If you accelerate too sharply into a corner, there's a transfer of mass towards the rear and this lifts the front wheels. This transfer of mass leads to under-steer, the grip of the front wheels is reduced, and steering power is diminished.
To remedy this, slowly decelerate and don't overcompensate with the clutch. Instead, release the clutch. Decelerating will add more weight to the front and allow the front wheels to gain increased steering power.
- Sensation isn't synonymous with speed...
Drivers should always favour safety over speed and comply with the highway code when driving. Speed isn't necessary for thrills at the wheel.
Just keep all of these hints and tips in mind and you'll master cornering.
Discover Drive, the customisable car insurance