The amount of grip a tire can give you is limited to how it's pressed into the surface. A stiffer car with no flex will transfer all the load (via the suspension obviously) to the tires more efficiently so it will feel more direct and like it generates more initial grip.
This explains why going to a softer spring can help in controlling grip roll (so long as you don't run out of travel and the suspension goes solid of course).
It depends on the layup of the carbon, if it is unidirectional, like those used at the worlds, it will EITHER give more side-side but less longditudinal stiffness OR vice versa. I believe that the ones used at the worlds were stiffer longditudinally to improve traction.
A stiffer car is more responsive but to the track surface as well as driver inputs, that is why some people prefer the "easier" feel of a plastic chassis to a graphite one.
I will certainly be having a set of carbon top decks to go on my FS2-SP when I get that, sadly I think it'll be next year before I run 4wd in anger again though so it's going to be a while before I can feedback.
|