Oversteer and changing gear

  • Thread starter Thread starter ollyb
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ollyb

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olly_bsides
So you're in a powerful, tail happy car accelerating out of a corner and start to oversteer...

I shift up into a higher gear for a second and then down again to fix the oversteer rather than breaking (= spin out) or lifting of the accelerator (more tricky).

Seems to work for me, but is this a real-world way of dealing with oversteer?
 
If I'm thinking about it properly it could have roughly the same effect as lifting a little. If you short shift you'd probably be getting less power to the wheels, and it would probably sort itself out.

I don't think it's a real world technique though.
 
I can imagine you could pull it off in the real world, but it's hardly practical. The time you spend changing gears could be shaved off with proper throttle control.
 
scarslasher
I can imagine you could pull it off in the real world, but it's hardly practical. The time you spend changing gears could be shaved off with proper throttle control.
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That's what I was thinking. Throttle control is easier in a real car than it is in GT. Certainly much easier and faster than changing gears in this situation.
 
How is throttle control different in GT?

Unless you don't have a wheel. I could understand that, but you still have the right stick or, if you tweak the button config, the trigger buttons. Having something pressure-sensitive helps with throttle control.

Heck, even the X button is mildly pressure-sensitive, but it's harder to be gentle with it.
 
scarslasher
How is throttle control different in GT?

Unless you don't have a wheel. I could understand that, but you still have the right stick or, if you tweak the button config, the trigger buttons. Having something pressure-sensitive helps with throttle control.

Heck, even the X button is mildly pressure-sensitive, but it's harder to be gentle with it.
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I was speaking more about the feel than the physical control. I can tell what my tires are doing much easier on my car compared to my virtual "tires".
 
ollyb
Seems to work for me, but is this a real-world way of dealing with oversteer?
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Upshifting certainly is.

You could either stay in a higher gear through the corner in the first place or simply use TCS. I know TCS is not considered manly, but if it does the trick I'm all for it.
 
I've used that strategy in motorcycle racing... on a long, high-speed turn, short shifted into 5th instead of staying in 4th. Let me go full throttle all the way through, and by time I hit the power band, I'm on the straight and ready to go. Of course, rather than dealing with under or over steering, it was to prevent spinning out the back end and crashing on full throttle :)
 
I suppose it would only really work in cars with paddle shifts and ultra quick gear changes i.e. all the high HP cars in GT with transmission upgrades and using a paddle controller
 
You have to be careful shifting mid-corner in real life because it shifts your weight. If you're turning and the rear tires are at the limit of their grip, when you take your foot of the gas to change gears your weight will shift forward and reduce grip in the rear and you'll be more likely to spin out.

It's best to be in the proper gear prior to the turn so you can maximize tire grip and then accelerate out of the corner.
 
charliec
You have to be careful shifting mid-corner in real life because it shifts your weight. If you're turning and the rear tires are at the limit of their grip, when you take your foot of the gas to change gears your weight will shift forward and reduce grip in the rear and you'll be more likely to spin out.

It's best to be in the proper gear prior to the turn so you can maximize tire grip and then accelerate out of the corner.
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Or go into the turn in a higher gear to reduce wheel spin as you go out. I'd definitely avoid shifting mid-corner if you're riding the edge of your traction limits anyways.
 

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