Gauging safe turn speeds

So I'm new to the sporty driving life, and not like I actually do too much thrill-seeking out there anyway... but as I hear this car is a great performer on turns (given the LSD and seat bolsters) and I have summer tires on this thing, I was wondering how I'm supposed to be able to gauge what is considered safe on certain turns?

I don't know turns by angle or name or anything like that, but assuming safe road conditions, when there is a bank that posts a speed limit, is there a certain MPH that you say you can add on and be safe, or a certain percentage above it? Like if it says 35 MPH, are you telling yourself that 55 MPH is still feasible?

I mean I literally don't know, I haven't tried anything and don't want to be reckless out there. I would like to test the car for what it's able to do that others can't, though. I have small roundabouts in my area that I like to kind of swerve around, and any time my mom rides with me she's like: "Be careful before we flip or skid out!" I don't think she's aware of the car's handling capabilities because she drives a boat of a 2002 Lexus ES 300... but I digress.

What is the limit of this thing? How do the numbers work? Is there a graph I can look at that compares things properly? Should I enable the g-force display on the infotainment and make sure I don't exceed a certain amount left/right on that?

Any advice is welcomed.

MuffinMcFluffin said:

So I'm new to the sporty driving life, and not like I actually do too much thrill-seeking out there anyway... but as I hear this car is a great performer on turns (given the LSD and seat bolsters) and I have summer tires on this thing, I was wondering how I'm supposed to be able to gauge what is considered safe on certain turns?

I don't know turns by angle or name or anything like that, but assuming safe road conditions, when there is a bank that posts a speed limit, is there a certain MPH that you say you can add on and be safe, or a certain percentage above it? Like if it says 35 MPH, are you telling yourself that 55 MPH is still feasible?

I mean I literally don't know, I haven't tried anything and don't want to be reckless out there. I would like to test the car for what it's able to do that others can't, though. I have small roundabouts in my area that I like to kind of swerve around, and any time my mom rides with me she's like: "Be careful before we flip or skid out!" I don't think she's aware of the car's handling capabilities because she drives a boat of a 2002 Lexus EX 300... but I digress.

What is the limit of this thing? How do the numbers work? Is there a graph I can look at that compares things properly? Should I enable the g-force display on the infotainment and make sure I don't exceed a certain amount left/right on that?

Any advice is welcomed.

Click to expand...

Disclaimer: I would never condone driving like this on public roads, as you are putting yourself and others at risk.

Now that the disclaimer is out of the way, there is no "set" speed that you take a turn.

There are different methods, such as coming in slow and accelerating at exit.

There's entering a turn fast and late breaking on entry.

It's hard to explain, but you will "feel" your cars traction and grip as you go through the turn. It can only be achieved through experience, so it is a very difficult question you are asking.

There's also no way to find out the limit safely unless you drive on a track at 10\10ths. Which brings me to my suggestion. If you have a performance driving class in your area, it would be a great investment. Some of the classes even let you drive your own vehicle so long as you pass inspection. Then and only then can you get the feel of your car and find out the limit and your cars general handling dynamics.

Hopefully this helps.

If you can’t ascertain the limits of your car then don’t push it. Take a course as mentioned above so that you are not taking your safety or the safety of bystanders into jeopardy. I’ve had several high speed training courses for Police high pursuit. Taking a vehicle to the limits on a track is priceless experience for street driving.

If you're just talking about curvy roads or off ramps in your daily drive, it's a little trial and error. Take it at the marked speed at first. Next time try it a few mph faster. And so on. I mean you shouldn't be driving at 10/10th's on public roads but taking them at 8/10th's is plenty fun, too. It just takes experience and practice.

Like the others said, if you want to really know the limits, track time is invaluable.

I agree with what is written above. Safer to start by entering slow, progressively exiting faster. When tires start to squeal and slide you will know when you are reaching the limit of its grip entering and exiting. I did this in a HPDE class at summit point and it was very educational learning my/car limits of the car. Took me about 15-20 laps (ten various turns) to feel comfortable throwing the car hard into turns and flooring it out knowing I wouldn’t lose control.

Thanks, I really appreciate the input.

I guess I should really re-emphasize the fact that I used to have a '99 Civic EX and I did nothing but casual driving with it. For me, all turns were legal always, and I assumed that it wasn't right for cars to really ever do more than that. I know general turning procedures (no matter the speeds), and have been driving for fifteen years so that was never really in question.

However, all I've ever heard about this car since watching reviews when the '17 version came out was how well it handles, like it can pretty much take on anything. I don't mean to test its limits, but I didn't know what its limits were to know how aggressively I can attempt turns as well. And I don't mean barreling down a road at 50 MPH necessarily either, I mean even turning a street corner. I've just never tugged on the wheel before to try it, so I was curious if there was a measure/graph that indicates those sorts of things. I also want to find a way to put my mom at ease when I'm driving lol (and again, I wouldn't ever do anything that would freak her out if she understands what it can do).

Maybe I will take it on a track someday, and maybe that's the way for me to figure it out.

Yeah, take it to the track to test its limits. Just stay sane on the streets and on canyons if you don't have sticky summer tires.

Sometimes it takes a few grands out of pocket to learn the lesson real quick but it's also very effective (not recommended):

Yeah, I guess I'm not intending to take it as hard as anyone else here either seems to or assume that I'm going to.

I don't know what cars' general limits are with these things though, and more specifically I didn't know exactly how much better the Si was than others. People say it is and of course there's no reason not to believe it, but I don't know where the metrics lie.

Well, if it’s banked, you can go much faster. If it’s off camber or a decreasing radius, much slower. You will get to know the car with time. Just drive the same roads (I have several favorites around me I’ve driven for years) and gradually increase your speed. At some point, you will feel the car start to slide. Then, practice where you come in and out of the curve and that will further increase your carry speed.

Love round abouts!! Have several by me and I can get through, going straight across, at 55 mph. You have to be VERY smooth though as a quick flick will send the back out a little. Point the wheels and hit the gas and it will pull you like your on rails. Oh, also be mindful of full throttle coming out curves as the front can get very light and push pretty good. Anyway, practice and gradually increase your speed. If you get into a curve and realize your carrying too much speed, it’s over. Learned this the hard way as a younger man...a few times.

MattyNice said:

Well, if it’s banked, you can go much faster. If it’s off camber or a decreasing radius, much slower. You will get to know the car with time. Just drive the same roads (I have several favorites around me I’ve driven for years) and gradually increase your speed. At some point, you will feel the car start to slide. Then, practice where you come in and out of the curve and that will further increase your carry speed.

Love round abouts!! Have several by me and I can get through, going straight across, at 55 mph. You have to be VERY smooth though as a quick flick will send the back out a little. Point the wheels and hit the gas and it will pull you like your on rails. Oh, also be mindful of full throttle coming out curves as the front can get very light and push pretty good. Anyway, practice and gradually increase your speed. If you get into a curve and realize your carrying too much speed, it’s over. Learned this the hard way as a younger man...a few times.

Click to expand...

Depending on the size of the ones around you, that actually gives me a pretty good reference point for this vehicle. Thanks.

And again, I don't want people to think I just got the car or something. I mean I got it in December, but I have 14k miles on it. So we've had some time together.

Also another question: Sport mode will make the car more sensitive on turns for sure given how much you work the wheel, but is it actually working the suspension down below in a way that it would literally improve the turn itself as well?

I can safely take posted turn-speed limits at double

I used to do 90 degree turns in my RSX and could get up to about 35 MPH on 18s and some crap summer tires until I would start to understeer and not be able to stay in my lane. I had stock 16s on all seasons and those tires would absolutely howl if i tried to do the same... but they were within a few MPH of being able to do the same.

This was, mind you, sort of in the middle of nowhere where I could see a few hundred yards down the road I was doing it on, across a field, so I knew I wouldn't understeer into the other lane and into a car.

This car adds wider tires that are better, a tighter ride and a LSD. I have no doubt it'd be able to match the old RSX. I have taken 90 degree corners at around 25 MPH which is pretty quick but the car was unfazed. I just don't drive as fast as I used to but, as @Dan9908 said... double the posting should be easily reachable on dry pavement. The only thing that ever makes me nervous is some snap oversteer when carrying a lot of speed into wider corners when I lift off the gas... and I attribute that mostly to me not being brave enough to hold speed or stay off the brakes if i an cornering. As I don't really drive very fast anymore, its not really a concern. When I was on the Dragon that was actually my main concern... and caused me to give up trying to stay with the car immediately in front as i was uncomfortable with holding high speeds through sweeping turns... and knowing that if I ended up lifting or braking hard, that was what would caused the problem primarily rather than the speed itself.

Just be careful if you're experimenting in a safe place. If you get going fast in a turn and lose your nerve, you can get oversteer and need to get back on the throttle to correct. If you fail to do so or, worse, jump on the brakes, you can spin your car around and end up off the road. With RWD cars, a bump of the throttle gives you oversteer and if it's getting to be too much, you just adjust the throttle. These Civics have such high grip... I'd not want to overly push them. They seem like they'd hold forever and I'm not sure if they'd be very communicative when they do let go. That .97 skidpad the Sis tested at on summer tires is pretty outstanding. You can turn on the g-force meter and do some on/off ramps and note your peak G. Realize banking will help or hurt what the car is capable of... but it'll let you gauge Gs. Most modern passenger cars with meh tires should get a 0.8 or so on a skidpad.

@MuffinMcFluffin are you still running the stock Goodyear tires? I test drove a model with the optional summer tires but ended up purchasing one with the OEMs. The handling is literally night and day. The summers transform this thing into a handling beast.

I can't wait until my OEM tires wear out so I can justify a set of Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+s (yes, I know they're all-seasons, but I hear they're almost as sticky as summers) to my wife.

The stock Goodyear All-seasons actually break from traction relatively gently. They also start to howl which lets you know you are at the limits. With the Si, as mentioned above, if you get into a push, you actually have to give it some gas or hold neutral throttle. If you completely let off the throttle and hit the brakes mid corner at the limit, the back end will swing around.

To OP, the Si has enough grip for anything you might attempt (within reason). Other than the Type R, it is the best front drive vehicle in regards to handling available.

Enter SCCA and race between cones in wide open areas. You will learn as safely as possible and have a great time while educating through the experience without breaking the law.