Will a Front-Wheel Drive Car Lift Its Front Wheels When Starting?

[Pires]

Front-wheel drive cars generally do not lift their front wheels when starting. However, some high-performance, high-horsepower racing cars may experience front-wheel lift due to excessive torque on the front wheels during acceleration. Front-wheel drive systems have lower failure rates and provide better traction when starting on wet or slippery roads. However, front-wheel drive cars are prone to understeer during high-speed cornering, which in severe cases can lead to loss of vehicle control. When taking high-speed corners, it's crucial to reduce speed in advance, coast through the turn, and then accelerate after exiting the corner. Most modern vehicles are equipped with ESP (Electronic Stability Program) and ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), which are typically enabled by default. These systems help maintain vehicle stability at high speeds by intelligently distributing power to the wheels.

[McRuth]

I think under normal circumstances, front-wheel-drive cars don’t really lift their front ends during acceleration. I’ve been driving for over ten years, mostly regular family sedans, where the weight is concentrated in the engine bay, keeping the front wheels firmly planted and providing ample grip. Unless you’re driving a high-powered modified car, like a turbocharged Civic, where the front might lift slightly when you floor the throttle—but that’s not a true wheelie, just some body shake and tire squeal. In everyday driving, if you accelerate smoothly, I’ve never worried about the front end lifting; the forward weight shift helps keep things stable. If someone tells you front-wheel-drive cars often lift their fronts, they might be confusing it with rear-wheel-drive behavior. Bottom line: safety first—don’t make a habit of hard acceleration.