Downforce Question

[smellysocks12]

Hello,


I have been looking at this forum for a while, the stickied topics for example, but I can't see this one question answered. Most tuning options are explained clearly and every way with upsides and downsides, but with downforce I can't find any downsides. The game says that downforce makes your car more stable at high speed, but other than that it doesn't mention anything. This makes me wonder why you can even change the settings of the downforce on your car to different levels? Why shouldn't you just max it out to get maximum grip and speed?


Are there any downsides to increasing the downforce besides the sight of an ugly (subjective opinion) spoiler on your car? If anyone can explain this I appreciate it.

 

[jrudd]

High downforce will make your car less aerodynamic and will lower your top speed.

 

[Jmac279]

Increasing the downforce has 1 main downside ... Increased resistance at high speeds (lower acceleration at high speeds and lower top speed) ...

The reason is because 1) The downforce created increases rolling resistance and 2) Greater downforce is typically created with a steeper angle on the spoiler. This increases the coefficient of drag, thereby increasing aerodynamic resistance ...

On fast courses, you want to balance high speed straight-away performance with high speed cornering performance ...

 

[thx1138-R]

Now we all know when to apply downforce, but how the hell can I get in on my car ?

The option to change the downforce is disabled. And I haven't been able to buy an upgrade that enables it. Or can you only change it on a number of cars ?

 

[Super Jamie]

buy a wing in the wing shop at gt auto

 

[shorti]

buy a wing in the wing shop at gt auto

👍

 

[smellysocks12]

Thanks for answering my question, I haven't really noticed any slowdowns though. I think the only tracks on which these downsides are really relevant are the test course and Motegi speedway, because so far high downforce has only made my lap times faster.

 

[GT Freak!]

I generaly have my d/f to the max, as the AI cars dont go faster then mine with max d/f settings. in the case of Le Sarthe the AI cars wont go over 211mph and i can do 232mph all the way down the main straight. The only time i have not maxed out my D/F was with my Elise with the rear wing. Both max D/F numbers were 30 and i found it heavily oversteered in fast corners so i knocked the fornt down to 20. Generaly if you make the rear d/f maximum possible e.g. 60 make the front 10-15 below that so 50 or 45. If all is well with others settings of the car i found this to be the best! Hope this helps!

 

[Super Jamie]

Thanks for answering my question, I haven't really noticed any slowdowns though. I think the only tracks on which these downsides are really relevant are the test course and Motegi speedway, because so far high downforce has only made my lap times faster.

and the straight on salt circuit unchicaned (in that instance, i think a fair bit of downforce may be helpful as the road is bumpy as all hell)

it does make a difference, but only at the top end. do a high speed run in a fairly powerful car with downforce at minimum. then do the same with downforce at maximum, you'll see the difference, even if it's only a few km/h

 

[thx1138-R]

buy a wing in the wing shop at gt auto

hmm.....I believe I tried that. But no harm in trying it again.

 

[fastcatsi]

Some cars don't allow it.

The Ginetta G4 I know is one of them. Too bad too, that little car could sure use it!