What to do if your car is a fishtail

Fishtail is a frightening experience. This type of skid, also known as oversteer, usually occurs when the roadway is covered in snow, ice, and even during heavy rain. This kind of loss of control of the car occurs when the front wheels turn and the rear wheels, instead of traction, slip out of the corner. Fishtail doesn't just happen when cornering - all it takes is a little front wheel adjustment, for example, to keep your car in lane and you can pull out of a skid in no time.

Whether it's snow, ice or a flooded road, the corrective actions are the same. The first step is to turn the wheel in the direction that the tires are sliding (otherwise known as "steer turn"). This brings the rear back into line with the front wheels, allowing the car to continue moving in a straight line. In other words, if your rear is approaching the driver's side, turn the steering wheel to the left. Conversely, if the rear wheels are facing the passenger side, turn the steering wheel to the right.

The earlier in the drift you turn the steering wheel, the less hard you will need to turn. It's crucial to stay calm - if you panic and yank the steering wheel hard in the direction of the skid, you can just force the fishtail rear end to dodge the other way, resulting in a cycle of non-stop driving down the road, sometimes ending in an unintentional donut 360. Obviously you want prevent this potential danger to your life and the lives of other drivers.

Another important aspect of the fishtail fix is ​​that you should slow down and not apply the brakes. When you apply the brake, it sends out energy to push the car backwards, which throws the car further to the side or makes a full U-turn.

To sum up:

• Carefully move in the direction of the skid, starting the correction as early as possible in the slide.
• Keep your foot away from the brake pedal.
• Slow down.

If you're doing a fishtail, it's probably the result of going too fast for the conditions. Continue your journey at an adjusted speed to suit the weather. XNUMXxXNUMXs and XNUMXxXNUMXs can help keep fishtails to a minimum, so keep that in mind when buying a car. If you have additional questions about fishtail or driving in certain conditions, [Ask a Mechanic] and AvtoTachki will be happy to help you.