Understeer and oversteer are vehicle dynamics terms used to describe the sensitivity of a vehicle to steering. Oversteer is what occurs when a car turns by more than the amount commanded by the driver. Conversely, understeer is what occurs when a car steers less than the amount commanded by the driver.

What causes understeer and oversteer?

Understeering occurs in vehicles with front-wheel drive and usually happens when the driver is going too fast for conditions, which causes the front tires to lose their grip on the road. Oversteering is something that happens in vehicles that have rear-wheel drive, and it also is related to speed.

What is the meaning of understeer and oversteer?

Understeer occurs when the front wheels start to plow straight even if you turn the steering, and oversteer occurs when the back of the car is being fishtailed. Understeer is more common to front car drives while oversteer is common on rear-wheel vehicles.