Advanced Braking

Traction Control

Traction control has become increasingly important for various reasons, not least because cars have become more powerful.

In front-wheel-drive vehicles the weight transfer during start-off and sudden acceleration can promote a severe loss of grip (traction) between the front tyres and the road. In rear wheel-Drive cars the risk of yaw leading to a spin as the vehicle accelerates is very real, Particularly if the vehicle is being steered at the same time, at junctions for example. In the latter example limited-slip-differentials can be a great help but these devices can cause sudden unwanted steering responses in some front-wheel-drive vehicles and tyre wear can be an issue.

For safety reasons, traction control systems, whilst criticised by some “expert” drivers, have become a very necessary addition to a vehicle’s specification for most of us.