What Is Understeering?

It is always important to pay close attention to your vehicle; to prevent an unpleasant surprise, anything out of the ordinary should be addressed in a timely manner, and this includes understeering. So, what is understeering and why should you be concerned? BMW of Northwest Arkansas has the answer.

Understeering Explained

When your car is in top condition and performing just as it should, its handling is excellent. Surely you’ve easily zipped through sharp curves or effortlessly navigated tight corners. With understeering, however, your vehicle doesn’t feel composed when making these maneuvers. This occurs when tires lose grip with the road. As a result, the car moves to the outside of the curve no matter how much steering is applied.

Causes of Understeering

Just going too fast can lead to understeering, but often there are mechanical issues at play as well, including:

Worn-Out Tires

If your tires aren’t sticking to the road as they should, the first thing to do is examine their tread levels. If you notice shallow treads — or perhaps even some balding spots — this is probably the culprit. Even if the tires look fine, you should check their pressure. Underinflated tires can also cause understeering.

Bad Alignment

Your car’s alignment is crucial for stability, and especially for handling. If it isn’t perfect, your vehicle may veer to one side or another. Or, tires on each side may move in opposite directions, which will impact its cornering ability.

Correct Understeering with a Thorough Checkup

Understeering isn’t just annoying, as it can also be dangerous. Fortunately, fixing this issue can be pretty quick and easy. Get in touch with the service center at BMW of Northwest Arkansas to make an appointment to have your car looked at.