CarX Technologies built this drift physics model with the CarX Motorsport racing team and put it on Steam on 17 November 2017. Over 120 cars, 19 built-in tracks and five categories of modification with more than 50 adjustable settings sit behind a tandem scoring system called XDS that grades runs out of 100 points. Nine years on it still holds a 95 percent positive rating across more than 40,000 English reviews.
These tips go beyond the basics. They're the strategies experienced players use to play more efficiently, the hidden mechanics most people miss, and the optimizations that compound over a full playthrough. If you're just starting, check our beginner's guide first.
Essential Tips
1. Start every tune with steering angle at the car's maximum, usually 56 to 60 degrees, and Ackermann at 0 percent
Start every tune with steering angle at the car's maximum, usually 56 to 60 degrees, and Ackermann at 0 percent. That combination is stable, and you can add Ackermann later once you know how the car behaves without it.
2. Keep front camber between 0 and 1 and match caster to it
Keep front camber between 0 and 1 and match caster to it. Values from 1 to 4 make the car feel bouncy and actively push back toward a lower angle when you reach full lock.
3. Add Ackermann only for tracks with long corners such as East Touge
Add Ackermann only for tracks with long corners such as East Touge. It helps the car hold speed at big angles and widens the drift, but too much of it spins the car on entry.
4. Use the anti-roll bar to fix body roll, not to add grip
Use the anti-roll bar to fix body roll, not to add grip. If the car wallows and takes too long to settle after a transition, stiffen it before touching springs or dampers.
5. Low caster makes a car smoother, high caster makes it twitchy but faster to catch
Low caster makes a car smoother, high caster makes it twitchy but faster to catch. Pick based on the track: smooth for tight technical layouts, twitchy for fast sweepers where quick self-steer helps.
6. Farm money and XP on Springstone rather than the track you enjoy most
Farm money and XP on Springstone rather than the track you enjoy most. It is the community default for a reason, and Navaro Base A is the alternative when you want runs that finish in under two minutes.
7. Set the rear camber so the rear wheels sit flat on the road or very slightly negative
Set the rear camber so the rear wheels sit flat on the road or very slightly negative. Excessive rear camber cuts the contact patch and makes the car unpredictable at the exit of a slide.
8. Test one setting at a time and drive the same corner after each change
Test one setting at a time and drive the same corner after each change. Changing camber, differential and springs together tells you nothing about which one fixed or broke the car.
9. Practise the chase run, not just the lead run
Practise the chase run, not just the lead run. XDS scores proximity when you follow, so a car set up only for maximum angle will lose battles it should have won.
10. Subscribe to Workshop maps before joining lobbies rather than during
Subscribe to Workshop maps before joining lobbies rather than during. Hundreds of community tracks exist and most competitive rooms run one, so arriving without it wastes your session.
Advanced Strategies
Build Optimization
The difference between an average build and an optimized one is massive. See our builds guide for full breakdowns.
For Solo drift scoring (A-Tier):
- Focus on XDS tandem scoring out of 100 combinations for maximum output.
- Core gear: Spector RS
- Stat priority: Offensive stats first
For Tandem lead (A-Tier):
- Versatile approach that handles any situation.
- Core gear: Falcon RZ
- Stat priority: Balanced stats
Mechanic Interactions
Understanding how CarX Drift Racing Online's systems interact is where the real optimization lives. Our combat guide covers this in detail.
XDS tandem scoring out of 100 + Five modification categories: Tandem runs are judged on a 100 point scale, once with you leading and once chasing. Combined with Five modification categories, parts are split into five modification types covering engine, drivetrain, suspension, wheels and body, feeding into more than 50 individual settings.
Suspension and steering geometry + TOP-32 elimination brackets: Camber, caster, Ackermann, steering angle, anti-roll bars, spring rates and differential lock are all exposed. When paired with TOP-32 elimination brackets, top-32 runs a knockout bracket of tandem battles across dozens of track configurations, with a judge's decision screen at the end of each round.
Steam Workshop maps and liveries scaling: Beyond the 19 built-in tracks, the Workshop carries hundreds of community maps and a livery editor deep enough that most online lobbies run custom designs. Downloading a map takes effect without leaving the game.
Equipment Efficiency
| Equipment | Best Use Case | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Spector RS | First 20 hours of learning, and for tandem practice where predictability beats outright angle | Based on the Nissan Silvia S15 and the default recommendation for anyone learning. |
| Falcon RZ | High-angle solo runs and lead position in tandem, where holding a deep angle scores | The Mazda RX-7 FD equivalent, light on its feet and quick to change direction. |
| Hachi-Roku | Learning line and momentum on downhill runs such as Kami Road | The Toyota Corolla AE86 stand-in, underpowered by every modern standard and completely dependent on momentum. |
| Burner JDM | Mountain and touge tracks with long sweeping corners | The Toyota Chaser JZX100 equivalent, long and heavy with plenty of torque. |
| Atlas GT | Time Attack sessions and straight-line speed rather than tandem scoring | The Nissan GT-R R35 equivalent, with power far beyond what the tyres want to handle. |
Location Efficiency
Springstone (Suitable from the first hour): The community's default testing ground and the track almost everyone uses to farm experience and money. Wide, forgiving corners make it easy to compare two tunes back to back without the track itself getting in the way.
Kami Road (Recommended after basic transitions are reliable): A mountain downhill run that has been in the series long enough to be a fixture across CarX titles. Long corners, elevation changes and unforgiving edges make it a momentum track rather than a power track.
Saihem Forest (Suitable from the first hour): A tree-lined circuit used alongside Springstone for vehicle testing. The corner mix is varied enough that a tune which works here usually works anywhere, which is why it appears in so many setup guides.
East Touge (Intermediate and up): A mountain road defined by very long corners, which is exactly where added Ackermann earns its place. Setups that spin out here are usually carrying too much of it rather than too little angle.
Navaro Base A (Intermediate and up): An industrial layout that community guides single out for fast payouts, with runs that finish in under two minutes. Tight technical sections make it a better proximity test than Springstone for tandem work.
Mistakes Even Veterans Make
- Buying the Atlas GT or another high-power car early, then blaming the physics when it snaps on every entry.
- Cranking front camber to 3 or 4 degrees because it looks aggressive, which makes the car fight back at full lock.
- Adding heavy Ackermann on tight tracks and spinning out repeatedly without connecting it to the setting.
- Changing four suspension values at once and losing any idea of what actually helped.
- Practising only solo runs and then losing every tandem battle because the chase position was never rehearsed.
Pro Quick Tips
- Start every tune with steering angle at the car's maximum, usually 56 to 60 degrees, and Ackermann at 0 percent. That combination is stable, and you can add Ackermann later once you know how the car behaves without it.
- Keep front camber between 0 and 1 and match caster to it. Values from 1 to 4 make the car feel bouncy and actively push back toward a lower angle when you reach full lock.
- Add Ackermann only for tracks with long corners such as East Touge. It helps the car hold speed at big angles and widens the drift, but too much of it spins the car on entry.
- Start with Tandem lead, switch to Solo drift scoring when ready
- Invest in Spector RS above everything else
- Clear areas in order: Springstone → Kami Road → Saihem Forest → East Touge → Navaro Base A. See our maps guide
- XDS tandem scoring out of 100 + Five modification categories together are stronger than either alone
More CarX Drift Racing Online Guides
- CarX Drift Racing Online CarX Drift Racing Online Overview
- CarX Drift Racing Online Best Builds
- CarX Drift Racing Online Tier List
- CarX Drift Racing Online Walkthrough
- CarX Drift Racing Online Beginner's Guide
- CarX Drift Racing Online Weapons Guide
- CarX Drift Racing Online Combat Guide
- CarX Drift Racing Online Boss Guide
- CarX Drift Racing Online Maps & Locations
- CarX Drift Racing Online Crafting Guide
- CarX Drift Racing Online Classes & Characters
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