During emergency braking, how does weight transfer affect tire grip?

• A. Rear tires always gain grip first.
• B. Front tires can lose grip first, reducing steering control, while rear tires may skid if braking force is excessive.
• C. All tires gain grip equally.
• D. Grip is not affected by weight transfer.

Answer: (B)

When you brake hard, inertia makes the car’s weight shift forward onto the front tires. That extra load on the front axle increases the front tires’ potential grip, while the rear tires unload and lose grip. If the braking force is very high, the front tires can reach their friction limit and begin to slip, which reduces steering control because the tires can’t generate the needed lateral force to steer. At the same time, the rear tires, now lighter, can skid if the braking pressure is excessive, especially on slick or uneven surfaces or if ABS isn’t helping manage wheel lock. So, heavy braking can cause front tires to lose grip first (affecting steering) and, if pushed hard enough, rear tires can skid.