The TRUTH About SLIP ANGLE...

If you want to go fast in racing games & sim racing, understanding what slip angle is and how it works is critical. Let me explain...

As your tyres reach the limit, they gradually relax their grip on the road and stretch. Due the elasticity of the rubber, the tyre has to deform to achieve maximum traction.

As your cornering speed increases, the tire contact patch ends up pointing in a slightly different direction than the wheel is actually facing. The angle between the direction the tire is pointing and patch the car is following is the slip angle.
The tires traction limit, and it’s cornering limit is achieved within an optimum slip angle range. Up until that range is reached, the tire is not generating its maximum traction. *show graph* These particular tyres are at peak traction when there is 6-10 degrees of slip angle.
Let's look at 4 different drivers and see how they utilise slip angle.

Our first driver has probably just started sim racing, and is a little inexperienced and conservative with his driving. He consistently drives with the tyres in the 2-5 dergee of slip angle range. As you can see from the graph, the tyres are not at their traction limit here. Driver 1 is not driving at the limit, and therefore, he will be slow.
Driver 2 has a bit more experience, and is known to be a little on the wild side. He consistently overdrives the car. But what does that mean? Well he always drives through the corners with a slip angle above 10 degrees. In other words, he’s sliding the car too much. Of course, it looks great on video, but the graph shows that in this traction range, the limit of the tyres has begun to decrease.
Our final two drivers are consistently cornering in the 6-10 degrees of slip range. Both are extremely fast. Both are cornering at about the same speed. Both are driving the car with the tires at the limit. SO, whats the difference? Driver 3 is cornering in the upper end of the 6-10 degree range, whereas driver 4 is around 6 or 7 degrees. Again, cornering speed is the same, but driver 3 is sliding a little more, causing ,more heat build up in the tires. Both drivers will run at the front of the pack early in a race, but driver 3’s tyres will eventually overheat and his speed will fade away.

Driver 3 is cornering with around 9 degrees of slip, whereas driver 4 is using around 6 degrees. Their cornering speed is almost identical. This tiny difference means driver 3’s tyres will gain more wear and tear throughout the race, and eventually overheat – making his speed fade away.

The goal is to drive the lowest possible slip angle that maintains maximum traction. However, the difference in speed between cornering with a slip angle of 2 degrees and 12 degrees may be just 1 or 2 miles per hour. It’s very subtle.
Fast drivers have developed a feel for how much slip they’re using, and using their tyre temperatures, they can adapt their driving style accordingly. There’s no secret to “using” slip angle, you just have to get experience under your belt and develop a 6th sense for it.

Hit the like, and maybe even subscribe button if you enjoyed the video!

MY SIM RIG:
▶Fanatec Shifter
▶Fanatec CSL Elite Loadcell Pedals

[Emmy_Redux]

I absolutely adore how informative your videos are

[desktop]

I studied this when i was in college, the book i read had a section on slip angle but this is a way better explanation. I think i actually understand it now.

[ky_]

Fun fact, the plateau in maximum slip angle to grip ratio becomes a lot smaller the gripper the tire becomes. For example the graph bloke shows is what a slip angle of a street tire would look like, a long plateau with a smooth drop off in grip. If you were showing the graph for grip to slip angle on a racing slick, there would be a very narrow margin for peak grip before a very sudden drop off.

[newfie_miata]

I love these instructional videos for aim racing, but I use them for irl driving and it really has helped me learn to control my car better from lift off in corners to initiate slides to the art of passing

[Rollingzoku]

This made me realize I was taking advantage of the 80s f1 tyres in AMS2 yesterday when I sent the worlds 4th fastest time on Brands Hatch GP. There was a certain point I was sideways but using all the traction of the rubber cause I outpaced the ghost in that specific corner. Cool video

[ArtixZs]

Man bless you for being such a knowledgeable driver

[theodebordeaux]

Those short videos you make are a good to the longer ones, it's still informative and easy to watch

[jimmyvasquez]

Back when i used to drive a camry this is exactly what would happen, at first i didnt control the slip, it would happen randomly as i did the turn but then i realized that if i just turned the wheel a little bit faster imbetween the start and the midle of the corner the car would slip towards the center of the turn and i could take the corner sideays, id do this going 70-80 in corner that were meant to go 40 in the mountains

[renz]

Thanks a lot for the follow up video. This is a lot of help mostly because of the community I'm in. They think slip angle could just be *tuned* into the car

[weok-doing-things]

Wow. I remember studying such topics with books from Ross Bantley. And here we are 5-10 years later people make very fun and easy to understand videos on youtube for all of us. Great. Thank you!

[lahtine]

Explain it once and for all❌
Do 2 videos of correcting✅

[akioasakura]

How do you know when you’re in the right range? Also, with cars that aren’t balanced, so a front limited car for example, it will slide the front sooner than the rear. If you drive at the optimum range of the front tyres, the rears still have potential left. What handling do you use in this situation, or when it’s the opposite and the car is rear limited?

[mikhailstatsenko]

That is insanely right and intuitively explained, sss tier simracing content. Something i have been dreaming of making, but on a larger scale with way more detail, for more experienced guys.

[Rafael-gyph]

it would be fun (not sure if helpful at all) an app to see on screen your tyre slip angle

[idontlikewasabi]

mate, the amount of editing going into these videos is incredible!

[zwenkwiel]

me sitting in my sim rig with a protractor: *confused noises*

[DreamcastSoup]

Goddamn; amazes me how well you transition your content.

[MedievalRally]

I really enjoy the information to duration ratio of this video. No faffing about whatsoever.

[evandoyle]

I know this sounds weird but try it on your local track with an old car you know your doing it right when your wheel is going from turned to strait throughout the corner. Its much easyer to feel in real life and you can bring that to the sim.

Buuut wear a helmet and dont use an suv more like the slightly sportyer family car.

I said nothing. You didnt hear this from me

[TheLPNFan]

What about FWD Handbrake turns. When to use it, how to do them and such. Both Hairpins and Chicanes and 90° turns.