Runs wide on power

Understeer family

The diff is locking the rear axle as you feed in throttle, dragging the car straight. A differential symptom far more often than a suspension one.

The default order

The sequence for this symptom on no car in particular, at no corner in particular. Pick both and the order changes.

1. 01
   Less drive (acceleration) diff lock5–10%diff

   A tight drive ramp forces both rear wheels to one speed under power, pulling the nose wide.

   Less traction out of slow corners; more wheelspin.

2. 02
   Less diff preload1–2 stepsdiff

   Preload keeps the diff partly locked even at low torque — exactly the state you're in on entry.

   Vaguer feel at low steering angle.

3. 03
   Later, smoother throttle½ secondtechnique

   Getting on power before the car is pointed is the most common cause of this and costs nothing to fix.

   None — try this before any setup change.

4. 04
   Wait for the wheel to come back½ secondtechnique

   Power applied with lock still on pushes the car straight on, because the front cannot both turn and resist the shove.

   None — try this before deciding the car will not rotate.

5. 05
   Give up the entry for the exit5 km/htechnique

   A slower, tidier entry lets the car point earlier, and pointing earlier is what lets you use the throttle sooner. The straight pays it back.

   Feels wrong in isolation. Time it over a full lap, not into the corner.

6. 06
   Softer front anti-roll bar1 clickbar

   Lets the front axle roll and build slip angle, adding front grip as the car takes its set.

   Slower initial response; more roll to wait through.

7. 07
   Lower traction control level1 leveldriver

   If TC is cutting early the car feels like it's pushing when it's actually being throttled back.

   Requires cleaner throttle work.

8. 08
   Shorter gearing1 toothdriver · adv

   If you're bogging out of a hairpin the car pushes because it isn't accelerating, not because it's mis-balanced.

   Costs top speed.

Step sizes are a first move, not a setting. Cars differ by a factor of several in how much they respond to the same change.