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Doing donuts in a car is something of a party trick. It’s a maneuver that shows off a driver’s skill by going in tight circles while the car’s rear wheels are doing a burnout. It can also be a celebratory maneuver. Donuts are cool but doing them can be quite dangerous for inexperienced drivers, as they can easily lose control and spin out.

red and orange cars doing donut
Donuts in a car means a going in tight circles while the car’s rear wheels are doing a burnout. Image source: PR Newswire

How Donuts Are Done

Donuts are essentially burnouts but with the steering wheel turned in one direction. A skilled driver will typically mash the throttle just like in a burnout. The rear wheels will propel the car forward, but it will also slide outwards once the car starts moving.

Most modern vehicles are equipped with traction control, a system that prevents the wheels from losing traction by either applying the brakes or reducing the engine power. Drivers need to turn this off because the traction control system will prevent them from creating burnout.

The drivers need to have a good sense of familiarity and feel of the car because they will need to do two things as the vehicle starts to spin: modulate the throttle and counter-steer.

Throttle modulation involves easing off the gas as the vehicle’s rear steps out and putting in more gas as it straightens out.

Counter-steering involves turning the steering wheel in the opposite direction of the turn when the rear is stepping out too much.

tire burnout skid marks
Take note that doing donuts will create smoke and a loud screeching sound, and the tires will also leave skid marks on the road that might take months to disappear or can even be permanent.

Take note that doing donuts will create smoke and a loud screeching sound that can be heard throughout the entire neighborhood. The tires will also leave skid marks on the road that might take months to disappear or can even be permanent. Additionally, note that a vehicle’s rear wheels are going to wear out extremely fast when doing donuts. However, tire wear can be mitigated by putting water across the pavement, as this cools the tires and lowers friction.

Keep in mind that donuts are typically only done with rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive vehicles. Front-wheel drive vehicles can still do burnouts, albeit in reverse.

About The Authors
Written By Automotive and Tech Writers

The CarParts.com Research Team is composed of experienced automotive and tech writers working with (ASE)-certified automobile technicians and automotive journalists to bring up-to-date, helpful information to car owners in the US. Guided by CarParts.com's thorough editorial process, our team strives to produce guides and resources DIYers and casual car owners can trust.

Reviewed By Automotive Features Reviewer at CarParts.com

Lisa Conant grew up in Canada around a solid contingency of gear heads and DIY motor enthusiasts. She is an eclectic writer with a varied repertoire in the automotive industry, including research pieces with a focus on daily drivers and recreational vehicles. Lisa has written for Car Bibles and The Drive.

Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.

File Under : Driving
Simple Tire
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