Snow rally tune

[Sage Ages]

Can anyone give me an idea of how to tune suspension for snow/ice rally? Not looking for a full tune, just a reference to go by.

 

[CyKosis1973]

In all honesty, when I tuned this car for this event, I ended up tuning the car almost the same way I would have done for tarmac. There's nothing really unusual or spectacularly different to what you might with a tarmac car.

I will caveat that by saying the above was for dirt, not snow/ice. The above is a proper rally car, not a street car running on dirt tyres. I haven't really tuned a non-rally car for rally purposes.

I'm happy to be corrected or contradicted, just my tuppence...

{Cy}

 

[Rallywagon]

No argument with Cy. Snow isnt any different tuning wise then and other dirt or tarmac rally tune. The driving style on the other hand is a bit different. brake zones will be further out, same with turn in. Slower entry and gentler application of the accelerator for powering out of the corners. less grip caused by ice and snow can't be made up for in the suspension. In the end, your still on ice and snow.

 

[MSTER232]

As a general rule for tuning suspension, the more grip there is (regardless of track surface type) the more tight you want your suspension and dampers/shocks to be. In the case of using low traction tyres on tarmac, or driving on dirt/snow, decrease spring rate. I find it a bit helpful to increase ride height slightly too.

 

[CyKosis1973]

No argument with Cy. Snow isnt any different tuning wise then and other dirt or tarmac rally tune. The driving style on the other hand is a bit different. brake zones will be further out, same with turn in. Slower entry and gentler application of the accelerator for powering out of the corners. less grip caused by ice and snow can't be made up for in the suspension. In the end, your still on ice and snow.

Perhaps more important than any tuning advice you'll get. Obviously a car that handles well helps greatly, but you've gotta be comfortable letting your inner Scandinavian out. Takes me a little while to transition between dirt/ice and tarmac, but I'm old and slow, so...

As a general rule for tuning suspension, the more grip there is (regardless of track surface type) the more tight you want your suspension and dampers/shocks to be. In the case of using low traction tyres on tarmac, or driving on dirt/snow, decrease spring rate. I find it a bit helpful to increase ride height slightly too.

I think my car agrees with you, apart from the front ride height, which was a bit of a cheap trick. At the time of posting, it worked online like that. I can't remember the min/max spring rate of the Escort, but I seem to remember mine being fairly middle of the road. Dampers too, ARB, wheel alignment, diff, all pretty mild 👍

{Cy}

 

[MSTER232]

Perhaps more important than any tuning advice you'll get. Obviously a car that handles well helps greatly, but you've gotta be comfortable letting your inner Scandinavian out. Takes me a little while to transition between dirt/ice and tarmac, but I'm old and slow, so...

I think my car agrees with you, apart from the front ride height, which was a bit of a cheap trick. At the time of posting, it worked online like that. I can't remember the min/max spring rate of the Escort, but I seem to remember mine being fairly middle of the road. Dampers too, ARB, wheel alignment, diff, all pretty mild 👍

{Cy}

Glad to hear your car somewhat agrees 👍 . Ride height would probably be more of a personal thing, adapting it to your own driving style but you might find the car is better suited to you if you lower it for example .