In regards to understeer.......

[scape]

near fort lauderdale, but not for long-- planning on moving to south carolina for a temp position

[Tamago]

Originally Posted by scape

near fort lauderdale, but not for long-- planning on moving to south carolina for a temp position

ah! i'm downtown ft laud!

interested in hub spacers with free installation?

[cleong]

A grippier tire allows the car to enter the corner at a higher speed, maintain a higher cornering speed, and allows you to get onto the throttle sooner on the exit.

If your crap tires have never lost grip, then perhaps you aren't on the tire's limit yet.

[regal]

Its not a tire issue, when I toss into a turn the whole car's momemtum flies foward pushing me into the steering wheel, Its like the entire body of the car is pushed foward like being rearended. With my other cars Civic, Jetta, BMW, etc you enter a turn pushed back firmly in your seat.

[SailDesign]

Originally Posted by regal

Its not a tire issue, when I toss into a turn the whole car's momemtum flies foward pushing me into the steering wheel, Its like the entire body of the car is pushed foward like being rearended. With my other cars Civic, Jetta, BMW, etc you enter a turn pushed back firmly in your seat.

That sounds simply as though you are hitting the brake instead of the throttle pedal. Is there another way you can describe this that might help us understand.
Also, you ask about what else a tire does other than grip. The sidewalls are very important, and tire pressures play into the eway they behave in cornering - hence all the beating of dead horses about tire pressures. A flimsy sidwall (like most OEM tires) will be lovely and comfy, but distort under cornering, allowing the tire to "scrub" and produce understeer. Higher pressures help with those, but stiffer sidewalls on better tires do more.

[cleong]

How are you entering corners, on power or off power? It is usually recommended to finish all your braking in a straightline, and feather your throttle through the turn until you reach the apex where you nail it to the floor.

On the other hand, the Yaris's seat is particularly high, which may amplify the G-forces beyond what you are familiar with. Physics remain the same regardless of which car you're in.

[regal]

Originally Posted by cleong

On the other hand, the Yaris's seat is particularly high, which may amplify the G-forces beyond what you are familiar with. Physics remain the same regardless of which car you're in.

Agree on the seat, Need to find a way to lean it back.

[Tamago]

trail braking in a smaller FWD car seems to help VERY much with rotation

[scape]

@ tamago,
downtown ftl is nice ;D although riverfront has changed a bit over the years, bit more run down now haha

[TheRealEnth]

the flooring at the apex is the most important part...

[scape]

is engine braking recommended at all before the apex while going into a sharp turn?

[Tamago]

Originally Posted by scape

is engine braking recommended at all before the apex while going into a sharp turn?

depends on many factors.

alignment setup
tires being used
tire pressures
what gear you're in/how fast you're going


sometime swing by the shop i'll take you for a spin, show you what i'm talking about :D

[jkuchta]

Originally Posted by scape

is engine braking recommended at all before the apex while going into a sharp turn?

Never enter a corner with the clutch pedal depressed.

[regal]

how much toe out is recomended in the rear?

[Tamago]

Originally Posted by regal

how much toe out is recomended in the rear?

if you can get 0 toe, that's ideal. i'm running 1/8" toe out each side

[regal]

What about these ULTRA RACING rear under braces seems these would firm up the rear and help with the understeer?

[largeorangefont]

Originally Posted by regal

What about these ULTRA RACING rear under braces seems these would firm up the rear and help with the understeer?

If you want to waste your money, sure.


If you want to spend it on something that will help, get their 23mm rear sway bar, a performance alignment and shim the rear hubs.