What causes the rear wheels to lose traction, resulting in the tail end of the vehicle becoming loose?

Oversteer occurs when the rear wheels of a vehicle lose traction while cornering, causing the tail end to slide outwards. This loss of traction often results from excessive speed during a turn or sudden steering input, which causes the rear tires to lose grip before the front tires do. When this happens, the vehicle can rotate more than intended, and the driver may find it challenging to maintain control. This situation contrasts with understeer, which involves the front tires losing grip and the vehicle continuing in a straight line, unable to respond effectively to steering input.

The dynamics of oversteer are critical for emergency vehicle operations, as maintaining proper control in high-stress situations is essential for safety. Recognizing the signs of oversteer and knowing how to recover from it can help drivers manage their vehicle better in emergency response scenarios.