Weight Transfer

What is weight transfer?

Weight transfer is the dynamic shift of vehicle load under braking, acceleration and steering. Braking moves load forwards, accelerating moves it rearwards, turning in moves it onto the outside of the corner. That shift determines how much grip each tyre has.

The physics behind it

Under braking, inertia acts forwards. The front axle is loaded and the rear axle unloaded. The result: more grip at the front, where the brakes work better, and less at the rear, where the car can go light. Under power it is the other way round: the rear is loaded, the front goes light. That is why rear-wheel-drive cars spin their wheels so readily in the wet – the rear axle carries more load, but the torque going through it is greater still.

Why it matters on a track day

Professionals use weight transfer deliberately. Trail braking is exactly that: carrying the brakes into the corner to use front axle grip on turn-in. Once you understand how weight is distributed in your car, you can create grip where you need it.

Train weight transfer with ESC

On ESC track days you feel weight transfer directly in a 911. Our coaches show you how to use it rather than ignore it. Learn grip management.