Trailing throttle oversteer is a phenomenon common in rear-wheel-drive vehicles. When you lift off the throttle or “trail” the throttle in a corner, the weight transfers forward due to deceleration, reducing the load on the rear tires. This change in weight distribution can cause the rear tires to lose traction and induce oversteer, where the rear of the car starts to slide outward relative to the direction of the turn.
Additionally, as you mentioned, when the throttle is closed, the engine applies compression braking, which further shifts weight to the front and can exacerbate the oversteer effect by altering the suspension geometry and reducing traction on the rear tires.
Managing trailing throttle oversteer often requires delicate control of the throttle and steering inputs to maintain balance and control through the corner. Advanced driving techniques like trail braking and throttle modulation can help mitigate this effect and maintain stability during aggressive cornering maneuvers.
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