How to steer when the rear of the car drifts to the right while moving forward?
3 Answers
If the rear of the car drifts to the right, you should steer to the left. When the rear of the car drifts to the right, it indicates oversteering to the right, and the steering wheel should be adjusted promptly. At this point, observe the car body from the left side mirror. If the car body is not parallel to the roadside line and the gap on the left side of the rear is larger than the right side, steer to the left to correct the car body.
I've also experienced the rear of the car drifting to the right recently, especially when the road is slippery just after rain. In this situation, you need to steer slightly to the right to pull the front of the car towards that side, which naturally brings the rear back in line. Remember to steer very gently and make adjustments slowly - if you overcorrect, you'll end up veering to the left instead. The key is to reduce your speed, particularly on sharp turns or wet surfaces, as abrupt steering can easily cause fishtailing. I've tried this myself on mountain roads - reducing speed below 30 km/h makes the car much easier to control. If this happens frequently, it's best to check your tire pressure and rear wheel alignment, as uneven tire wear on either side can also affect directional stability.
A rightward tail drift indicates oversteer, suggesting abnormal rear wheel grip. From an operational perspective, you need to steer right to stabilize the vehicle's posture. Based on my driving experience, the correction required is approximately 5-10 degrees of steering wheel rotation, followed by prompt straightening. Pay special attention to avoiding sudden braking or aggressive acceleration, as this can worsen rear wheel slippage. I once learned this the hard way on a gravel road—the more abruptly I steered, the more the tail swung. It's advisable to regularly check the wear on your rear tires. If the inner side shows significant wear, it indicates abnormal suspension parameters, making the vehicle difficult to control regardless of steering input.
