Pick a manual transmission car to make drifting easier.
Manual transmission cars have a clutch pedal and a gear shift you use to control the engine. Automatic cars take care of this for you. When you're drifting, the extra control enables you to achieve the correct speed and angle required to get around a bend.
Choose a car with rear-wheel drive for more effective drifting.
When a car has rear-wheel drive, the engine controls the rear wheels only. Other cars have engines responsible for the front wheels or all 4 wheels. The rear wheels are what you need during a drift, so a car with a rear-wheel drive system is much easier to control. When choosing a car, figure out what kind of system it has by checking the owner's manual or researching it online.
- Another option is to use a 4-wheel drive car where the engine controls all 4 wheels. The best 4-wheel drive cars are ones that have stronger back wheels. You will have to test drive the car to determine which wheels adhere to the road more.
- Cars with front-wheel drive are very difficult to drift without a lot of practice. The front wheels control the car in order to prevent it from sliding. You end up understeering, which means the car doesn't turn as much as you desire.
Drive on worn-out tires for an easier time starting a drift.
Worn-out tires have less traction, so your car slides more easily when you round a bend. The front tires don't matter as much, but using old rear tires makes a difference if your car doesn't drift well. Try saving a spare set of tires to put on your car before you practice. Inexpensive tires, even if they are new, often can help with drifting.
- Many cars come equipped with automatic stability or steering control systems. Turning these systems off makes drifting much easier if a change of tires aren't enough to make a difference. However, driving without these systems is dangerous unless you're good at controlling the car.
Select a safe spot away from traffic to practice drifting.
Drifting is dangerous and should never be done on busy roads, near buildings, or anywhere else you might hit something. Ideally, find a racetrack you can practice on. Otherwise, look for a deserted parking lot and place a barrel on it to drift around.
- Search online for racetracks in your area and contact the owners. You may be able to book time where you have the track all to yourself.
- Driving when the road or track is damp can also make drifting easier. Try going out after a light rain or a little snow. Keep in mind that the slippery surface can make drifting even more dangerous than usual.