Stability in wet/slippery conditions?

[M1TCH]

Now I'm sitting 60mm lower am I right in think that now my car will be more stable in slippery conditions, and as theres less body roll in corners = less weight transfer to the opposite side does it mean its less likely to slide than before? does that sound right?

 

[Subway]

If your car handles better in the dry due to lowering it, it might handle better in the wet. I wouldn't test that out though lol

 

[Carlos.Leeds]

Might not be as much body roll but thinking it will still slide.

 

[richy22]

^^^^^^^^ seconded u won't feel when its going to 'GO' in the wet!

 

[Toypop]

Personally in slippery conditions I'd rather have a softer less sensitive set up. By less sensitive i don't mean it gives you less feel, I mean less like to over react to control inputs.

 

[Ally]

Yeah, I always assumed a lowered car (with stiffer suspension with less travel) will be less easy to drive in slippy conditions.

Imaging hitting a mid-corner bump in a regular car - the suspension will just soak it up. But hit the same bump in a lowered car with less suspension travel - the car is more likely to skip across the road and break traction.

Well, that's how I see it. I might be totally bullshitting you for all I know

 

[White16valver]

Lowered = grippier in the dry due to lowered centre of gravity and stiffer suspension BUT less progressive in the wet - it will grip then just snap away a lot quicker than standard for the reasons mentioned above - there's less 'give' in the suspension so the limit of adhesion comes up quicker!

(or something... LoL)

 

[run115]

You wont break the laws of physics with 60mm! Suspension setups are a lot more complex than just putting on a set of springs and think your car wont slide. You are rught to think that though cos up to a certain point your car will handle better because of the centre of gravity/body roll. But wet/slippery conditions need more than that. The car will slide even if you put on the most expensive suspension in the market. This is due to lack of traction between tyres and tarmac. You will feel the car handles better in the dry, but not the wet. You can watch this in proper races like f1, or touring cars. These cars use state of the art suspension set ups, but in the wet you still get the odd spin/slide.

Vince

 

[M1TCH]

I didn't think that at all Vince, I know it skips a lot so I actually take corners with more caution now especially in slippery conditions. What I ment by this is that on my standard set up even in the dry my car used to slide due to body roll. So taking away most of that body roll with the new suspension it is a lot better in the dry but wasn't sure if I would get the same effect in the wet. So imagine we're not talking about slippy conditions now, is the weight transfer still there mid corner and just not noticeable because of the stiffer springs?

 

[White16valver]

The weight transfer will still be there as the laws of physics dictate that the energy of the car will want to go in a straight line - turning means the car rolls in direction the energy wants to go, i.e. it wants to carry going on in the same direction. This is why if you steer right, round a roundabout, the weight wants to keep going towards the kerb on the opposite side.

With lower and stiffer springs the weight transfer is still there it's just that it happens a lot quicker as there's less suspension 'give' due to less travel in the shocks from the stiffer springs. With less 'give' there's less suspension travel to gradually soak up the bump/change of direction. Hence the sudden transition from grip to sliding in the wet in a lowered car when compared to a standard car!

(I hope that makes some sense LoL)

 

[run115]

Mitch, the post above should expain it exactly how it is. It is still there, but happens much quicker, that it feels as if its not there. It is a bit scientific i'm afraid to expalin, and there is no way to explain in plain language other than if we meet in person again, i can draw a couple of diagrams for you, and you will understand what happens.

Vince

 

[Ian_182]

It will handle a bit better but you wont know when too late is when it does

ian

 

[M1TCH]

I'll take it steady over winter then Ian.
But I'm not a reckless teenage driver anyway and I'm trying to save my tyres till early next year.
Cheers Paul and Vince, makes sense to me. Will look forward to those doodles!

 

[run115]

More than welcome mate!

Vince