What does it all mean?

[morphling]

Hi im new to this part of the forums and tuning in general.
I wish to become an adept tuner.
Ive played every single GT series and have "golded" almost everything in past games.
So id like to think that im either skillful or maybe i have too much time on my hands.

Anyways, i was hoping to get a simplified guide on what everything does. For example:

I could never figure out what an LSD would do.
I dont know how compression rates on springs might affect handling.
How low ride height can be positive and negative.

I hope you guys get the idea. If anyone could tell me how to even just properly tune one part of my car, i would deeply appreciate it.

 

[nejakdivne]

Why not at least read the ingame help which has the answers for your questions? Also, there is an *excellent* sticky thread just here: https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=135268

 

[Mynock005]

1) I could never figure out what an LSD would do.
2) I dont know how compression rates on springs might affect handling.
3) How low ride height can be positive and negative.

I am no expert on the subject but I can give you a general run-down (I collect cars more than I like to race them so my advice is rather simple).

1) Limited Slip Differential; this causes the drive wheels to turn at the exact same rate when engaged. It helps avoid wheelspin from one drivewheel while exiting corners, it can also help the launch from the grid a tiny bit. I have this on my Porsche 944 in real life, and it makes a world of difference. It's also a must have if you plan on doing any drifting.

2) This depends on the drivetrain of the vehicle. Experimenting with it is really the only way to find what you like.

3) The lower the car, the more downforce it will have which helps increase cornering, braking, and acceleration. However, if your ride-height is too low you can bottom out, causing you to have what airplane pilots call "dead-stick" for a slip second. Basically you might not be able to steer momentarily because the front wheels aren't on the ground and the chasis has bottomed out on the track surface. So for bumpy tracks, raise the ride height slightly and compensate with the suspension rates. For smoother tracks, you can get the car a little lower and possibly compensate for any areas you might bottom out with the suspension settings.

 

[nomis3613]

IMHO the most important thing is to turn off all the aids (except ABS). To tune properly, you need to feel what the car is doing without having the car's computer intervene when you are on the limit.

Also, maybe I'm elitist but I reckon throwing on the softest tyres you can find is not tuning. Tuning is about making the most out of the parts you have through careful use of settings. Soft tyres is a lazy way to higher cornering speeds and you won't learn to unlock the car's full potential.

Unfortunately there's not much GT5 specific tuning advice here yet, but it should be mostly similar to the GT4 stuff, so that's a good starting point.

Hope this helps.

Simon

 

[Stiggles]

IMHO the most important thing is to turn off all the aids (except ABS). To tune properly, you need to feel what the car is doing without having the car's computer intervene when you are on the limit.

I actually think, during tuning, turning off the ABS helps to get a good balance on the brakes. I still use ABS during races, but during my initial tune of the brake balance, I turn off the ABS and do a few turns while adjusting the brakes. After that I put ABS back on and drive like normal. I think it gives me a little bit more room on the pedal throw before ABS kicks in (which means I can be a little less precise, but remain very accurate).

 

[morphling]

Wow, i feel like an idiot. thanks nejakdivne, just read both of scaffs tuning guides.
id take advantage of the search bar more except that the 5 second limit is a drag.
anyways, thanks for the help, all of you. Im guessing "scaff" is regarded as a tuning god on these forums?

 

[turbogeit]

Also, maybe I'm elitist but I reckon throwing on the softest tyres you can find is not tuning.
Simon

I agree with this. Was playing the season events yesterday. No need for tuning or putting more power to win them. With soft race tyres, even my 96 year old grandmother who never drove a car could win them. So, I call those tyres "Arcade tyres".

If you really want to tune, do the following:

1) Leave the car on the tyres on which it was when you bought it.
2) Buy all adjustable parts (suspension, gearbox, downforce)
3) take the car to a challenging not too long track
4) Run consistent regular laps, change settings one at a time and observe which difference in behaviour and speed (straight and cornering) effect from these changes.