Quote:
Originally Posted by AeroMcAeroFace
If a few kg of downforce, (a few % of the cars weight) dramatically changes the handling, why does the same effect not occur when putting fuel in the car or something in the trunk/boot?
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Interesting, for my car it's the opposite.
I need to have a spare wheel in my trunk or my car doesn't drive properly, but my gas level doesn't change anything.
However my car is rather unconventional, the gas tank is almost perfectly in the center of gravity and the trunk is at the front axle.
Anyways, aerodynamic downforce =/= adding weight.
If you add weight, you have more force pushing down your tires but also more inertia to overcome, so it cancels out.
With aerodynamic downfoce you have more force pushing the tire down, but no additional inertia.
This allows the car to brake harder or to take corners faster.