Question - why does my stove-hot FWD car lift its rear wheel when I hammer a turn, yet my mate's

old Alfa sits flat and goes 'round quicker?

Robert's Simple Weight Transfer calculator
Works for anything with 4 wheels!
Weight transfer = ( Lateral acceleration x Weight x Height of CG ) / Track width <-- the formula
For example, an '82 Alfa Romeo GTV Tipo 116 is cornering at 0.85 g. <-- the example
Assuming its track width is 1600 mm, height of CG is 500 mm and it weighs 1250 kg with a 70kg driver, then we can calculate the weight transfer is 332 kg.
Assuming the car has a perfect 50:50 weight distribution between front and rear, which it does (with gearbox and clutch at rear) then we can see that each in
Therefore you can see the outside wheel has far more influence on handling than the inside wheel. This explains why we'd prefer unequal length non-parallel
Variables
Lateral acceleration 0.85 <--insert Lateral G - try changing this to simulate slicks or other
Use G-meter grip-mods
or take (notfrom
a guess! Mostly too0.7
mu to
Track width 1600 <--insert Track width mm (a relatively wide track is Look
good,up less rollovers!)
your spec sheet!
CG height 500 <--insert C of G height in mm (low slung sports carsAnother
have guesstimate,
an advantage here)
but get a tape measure an
Weight 1250 <--insert weight in kg (extra mass equals extra work, soupwhy
Look yournot
specput yr Add
sheet! caryron a weight
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Therefore your WT is… 332.03 kilograms (total weight transfer from side to side given these variables)

Front
Weight distribution 0.5 Weight per side (static) 625
Rear 0.5 per wheel front 312.5
1 <-- Must = 1 rear 312.5

The RESULTS! Look here for the figures -->

Weight per side (dynamic)
This is why your nose-heavy FWD car understeers --> per wheel front (LOADED) 478.52 ie outside front wheel
If 50:50 front:rear balance, car will handle neutrally front (UNLOADED) 146.48 ie inside front wheel
If nose-heavy will ultimately understeer per wheel rear (LOADED) 478.52 ie outside rear wheel
This is why your nose-heavy FWD car lifts a rear wheel --> rear (UNLOADED) 146.48 ie inside rear wheel

OK, this is not every factor. Look at tyre compound, too. Chassis stiffness. Think about weight per kg spread over the increased
Enjoy!
es 'round quicker?

ate the weight transfer is 332 kg.

t rear) then we can see that each inside wheel shoulders 146.48 kg while the outside has to suffer 478.51 kg. Give or take.
d prefer unequal length non-parallel double wishbones, because it has the least camber change on the outside wheel. Camber change is bad.

or take a guess! Mostly from 0.7 to 0.85, sedans to sports cars on radials

sstimate, but get a tape measure and go to height of engine, then come down 2/3rds height of engine, give or take
r spec sheet! Add yr own weight to see the effect!
e variables)

test calculations!
kg 50:50 dist
332.03 wt
Dynamic 625 wt side
Total weight loaded
957.03 957.03 loaded side
Total weight unloaded 478.52 per wheel
292.97 292.97 unloaded side
146.48 per wheel
kg spread over the increased contact patch when you fit those big wide tyres - maybe that's why wet-weather driving is soooo exciting?
ving is soooo exciting?