Balanced car?

[Shadow277]

I feel dumb for asking.

What is a balanced car? I go to Google and it only tells me about wheel alignment.

My question is in regard to racing. What are the characteristics of a balanced car? Are any of the muscle cars considered balanced? How do I know if I have a well balanced car?

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[Cobra Jet]

A balanced car wouid be one with a 50/50 weight distribution (front vs. rear).

My prior 1995 BMW M3 coupe was something like 48.2 front and 51.8 rear.

The closer the vehicle is to 50/50 weight ratio, the better it is for performance handling at speed and when braking.

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Regarding the S550, here's an older thread discussing its weight ratio which may help with your direct question about your S550.
https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/s550-front-rear-weight-distribution.15024/

 

[kz]

I feel dumb for asking.

What is a balanced car? I go to Google and it only tells me about wheel alignment.

My question is in regard to racing. What are the characteristics of a balanced car? Are any of the muscle cars considered balanced? How do J know if I have a well balanced car?

Likely means handling balance - somewhere neutral in terms on under/oversteer (so how it behaves at the limit of grip) but it's really up to the driver to have it where he/she wants it. Stock these cars (and most production cars) are setup to understeer - for obvious reasons.

Also, throttle oversteer in RWD car when someone mashes it brainlessly doesn't mean car is prone to oversteer in terms of handling balance.

To know if your car is balanced you have to drive at the limit of grip. There are several other people here way more knowledgeable in terms of handling setup here so hopefully they chime in.

 

[Shadow277]

A balanced car wouid be one with a 50/50 weight distribution (front vs. rear).

My prior 1995 BMW M3 coupe was something like 48.2 front and 51.8 rear.

The closer the vehicle is to 50/50 weight ratio, the better it is for performance handling at speed and when braking.

--

Regarding the S550, here's an older thread discussing its weight ratio which may help with your direct question about your S550.
https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/s550-front-rear-weight-distribution.15024/

So it has nothing to do with how well it can accelerate out of corners?

 

[Shadow277]

Likely means handling balance - somewhere neutral in terms on under/oversteer (so how it behaves at the limit of grip) but it's really up to the driver to have it where he/she wants it. Stock these cars (and most production cars) are setup to understeer - for obvious reasons.

Also, throttle oversteer in RWD car when someone mashes it brainlessly doesn't mean car is prone to oversteer in terms of handling balance.

To know if your car is balanced you have to drive at the limit of grip. There are several other people here way more knowledgeable in terms of handling setup here so hopefully they chime in.

This is what I kind of thought but I do know that neutral handling is not desired. Leaning towards oversteer is more effective at cornering.

Racecars are set up that way and Randy Pobst has his 2 cents on that school of thought. Notice France set their Nissan Le Mans racer as FWD and it sucked. Like, it was trash.

 

[Caballus]

This is what I kind of thought but I do know that neutral handling is not desired. Leaning towards oversteer is more effective at cornering.

Racecars are set up that way and Randy Pobst has his 2 cents on that school of thought. Notice France set their Nissan Le Mans racer as FWD and it sucked. Like, it was trash.

It actually does have to do with acceleration out of corners. Slight understeer is generally more desirable than oversteer, as it is easier to handle than oversteer.

https://driver61.com/uni/corner-exit/

Edit: Sorry, I should qualify that. Understeer is more desirable by an inexperienced driver (i.e., me). An experienced driver will likely prefer slight oversteer.

 

[Shadow277]

It actually does have to do with acceleration out of corners. Slight understeer is generally more desirable than oversteer, as it is easier to handle than oversteer.

https://driver61.com/uni/corner-exit/

Edit: Sorry, I should qualify that. Understeer is more desirable by an inexperienced driver (i.e., me). An experienced driver will likely prefer slight oversteer.

I totally agree and I wish I could keep up with Driver61. His videos are incredibly helpful. This is why I run 255/275 for my Mustsng.

 

[Caballus]

I totally agree and I wish I could keep up with Driver61. His videos are incredibly helpful. This is why I run 255/275 for my Mustsng.

Yeah, good guy with good tips. I was talking to him about taking one of his classes, but they are in his cars (Miyatas), which are right hand drive, so I waved off.

 

[Shadow277]

Yeah, good guy with good tips. I was talking to him about taking one of his classes, but they are in his cars (Miyatas), which are right hand drive, so I waved off.

Where are his classes? I'd do one but I do not fit in a Miata.

 

[Caballus]

Where are his classes? I'd do one but I do not fit in a Miata.

UK

 

[Shadow277]

UK

That's expensive for me.

 

[kz]

That's expensive for me.

If you want to work on the car handling balance, simple skidpad is your friend.

If you want to go beyond that, plenty of schools in US.

 

[Shadow277]

If you want to work on the car handling balance, simple skidpad is your friend.

If you want to go beyond that, plenty of schools in US.

What schools would you recommend?

 

[kz]

What schools would you recommend?

Ford Performance Racing School in Charlotte for once.

 

[Caballus]

What schools would you recommend?

A lot of HPDE's have great reputations. The format tends to be different in Europe, but my sense is that HPDEs back home are much more tailored to your specific needs than schools are (I've been to schools but not Stateside HPDEs). From what others have shared, HPDEs tend to get to know you as a driver and help you concentrate on strengths and weaknesses. It also helps that you are in your own car. So, you progress more deliberately than you would in a school.

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