How does the height of the center of gravity affect braking stability and cornering grip?

• A. A higher CG improves braking stability.
• B. A lower CG worsens cornering grip.
• C. CG height doesn't affect vehicle handling.
• D. A higher CG increases pitch and roll, reducing braking stability and cornering grip; a lower CG improves stability and grip.

Answer: (D)

Height of the center of gravity affects how a car behaves under braking and during cornering because it changes how weight shifts in dynamic situations. When you brake, weight moves toward the front of the car. If the center of gravity is high, this forward load transfer is more pronounced, causing more nose dive and unloading of the rear tires. That can reduce the rear tire grip and make the car harder to stop smoothly, increasing the risk of instability or yaw/lockup. In a turn, the car experiences lateral load transfer toward the outside wheels. A high CG height makes this roll motion larger, which can lift the inner wheel and reduce overall tire contact with the road, degrading grip and increasing the chance of understeer or oversteer and even rollover under extreme conditions.

A lower CG keeps more of the tires in contact with the road during both braking and cornering, limits the amount of pitch and roll, and helps maintain predictable handling. This improves braking stability (more controlled deceleration, shorter and more stable stops) and cornering grip (more consistent tire loading and traction through a turn).

So the statement that a higher CG increases pitch and roll, reducing braking stability and cornering grip; a lower CG improves stability and grip, is the best description of how CG height influences vehicle handling.