understeer

[uhn-der-steer, uhn-der-steer]

noun

1. a handling characteristic of an automotive vehicle that causes it to turn less sharply than the driver intends because the front wheels slide to the outside of the turn before the rear wheels lose traction.

verb (used without object)

1. (of an automotive vehicle) to undergo understeer, especially excessively.

understeer

/ ˈʌndəˌstɪə /

verb

1. (of a vehicle) to turn less sharply, for a particular movement of the steering wheel, than anticipated

Word History and Origins

Origin of understeer¹

First recorded in 1935–40; under- + steer ¹

Example Sentences

At times it's also my worst nightmare, understeer.

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One minute he's complaining about oversteer, another about understeer.

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Partly that was to cure understeer - a lack of front grip - in his handling balance.

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Verstappen said: "We looked a bit slow on the other wing plus it was understeering to the moon, and I needed to get rid of that understeer. It was light on downforce but it seemed to work."

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The generations of cars introduced with new rules in 2022, which focus on underbody downforce produced by so-called Venturi tunnels, have proved prone to low-speed understeer - a lack of front grip - and high-speed oversteer - too much front grip.

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