The traction control system (TCS) recognises when one or more of the car’s wheels lose traction. The technology automatically applies the brakes to each affected wheel or reduces the vehicle’s engine power to each wheel that is losing traction on the road. The sensors of the traction control system measure the rotational speed of the driven wheels and compare it to that of the other driven wheels and even the undriven wheels.

The technology of the differential and traction control allows us to make corners more smoothly. Without their combined efforts, we couldn’t do this and our back wheels would take us off-road.

One of the most important active safety features that manufacturers have added to our cars to make them safer is the traction control system. It is symbolized by the TC/TCS-written button on our car dashboards (or occasionally a car icon followed by wavy lines).

Here, we provide an overview of how to use traction control’s functions and its stability control comparison.

What is the purpose of traction control?

The internal system known as traction control prevents a car’s tyres from skidding when it speeds. Typically, it is a secondary function of the vehicle’s electronic stability control (ESC). When attempting to speed on a road with little available traction, a car’s driver is most likely to activate traction control. This is most likely a result of the weather, particularly if there is rain, ice, or snow.

How is traction control applied?

The wheel-speed sensors used by the traction control and antilock braking systems are frequently the same. The feature analyses the rotational speed of each wheel to see whether any of the wheels receiving power are performing in a way that signals they don’t have enough grip to match the power being delivered without slipping.

In the absence of traction control, drivers can prevent this by gently padding the accelerator to increase speed without losing traction. During acceleration, traction control that identifies an excessively gripped wheel rapidly applies the brakes to that wheel, slowing the car down but also altering how it handles.

When and How to use traction control

Every time you drive a car with traction control, which is a typical safety function, it normally activates automatically. When a scenario arises that it can help with, it will intervene and offer support.

Any car, regardless of its engine capacity, can benefit from traction control, but vehicles that concentrate a lot of power on their back wheels are more likely to experience wheel spinning without it.

Stability control vs. traction control

Some drivers mistakenly think that either traction control and electronic stability control are the same thing or that you can only have one or the other. Despite being independent systems, traction control and stability control are brake-based and frequently found in the same car.

While electronic stability control is essentially an upgraded version of traction control, traction control concentrates on the task of stopping your wheels from spinning. The primary goal of stability control is to maintain the vehicle’s intended direction of travel. In order to maintain the desired direction of travel, the ESC can adjust the power to the engine, as well as the power to numerous wheels. The fact that ESC performs additional tasks—all of which are essential—explains why traction control is now frequently viewed as a supporting role to the vehicle’s stability control.

 General Setting: 

• Minimum Driven Wheel Speed

Description:

Establishes the speed at which traction control must be used. If it is set too low, the engine would stall, lose forward thrust, and bog down.

• Rate of Ramp Out

Description

Used only when PID Control From Vehicle Speeds is selected as the Traction Control Type. When Percentage Cut is used, it has no effect if it is not used.

• Cut Approach

Description

Allows you to choose whether to cut the fuel or the ignition. While ignition can move a little more quickly, it can also result in extra fuel being burned in the engine and released into the exhaust. Although fuel cut is very slightly slower, less gasoline is washed into the engine or pools in the exhaust as a result.

How do we find out if it’s working?

Like many other safety systems, the traction control system has a dashboard warning light that briefly glows when the system is turned on to show that it is functioning. When the engine is started, the light should turn off, but if it does not, there is a systemic issue that needs to be investigated by a professional. An ongoing traction control warning light is also a sign of a MoT failure.

What happens if the traction control is not engaged?

An illustration of traction control:  You will need to raise your foot off the accelerator to control tyre slippage if traction control is disconnected. When road dust or trash covers the wheel-speed sensors, the warning light may suddenly blink.

Does traction control have an impact on speed?

Acceleration is actually impacted by traction control, but you go slower rather than quicker. Some individuals mistakenly believe that the additional traction allows you to floor it. They presume that your traction control system can keep your wheels on the ground.

What time should I turn off my traction control?

As a smart driver, the ONLY TIME you would want to disable traction control is when you’re climbing a gentle slope when the road feels slick from mud and stones OR when you’re attempting to free your car from mud.

Does traction control decrease engine power?

The traction control system prevents the car from sliding by slowing the engine and selecting which wheel to apply braking pressure to. Together, the traction control system and the anti-lock braking system maintain the vehicle’s stability.

Does traction control cause your car to shake?

The traction control system may be sending incorrect signals, which in turn are causing the car to shake when it attempts to fix a problem based on those indications.

Does using traction control speed you up or slow you down?

The purpose of traction control is to enable slower, more controlled vehicle acceleration. In order to keep the wheels from spinning up, the system restricts the power output to them. You slow down on the racetrack because there isn’t enough power going to the wheels.