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2026-05-28 20:39 UTC 11 replies

Why upgrading engine before tires makes Switchback absolutely impossible to drive

Ghost567 (KZ) Xp: 27065
Hey everyone, I wanted to share a quick warning for those of you who are just starting out in the online career mode. I made the massive mistake of dumping all my early race earnings straight into maxing out my engine upgrades first. I figured more speed on the straightaways of Skyline would carry me through, but boy was I wrong once I hit Switchback.

With a level 4 engine and completely stock tires, trying to navigate those tight corners on Switchback is a total nightmare, even when the weather is perfectly sunny. If you get rain or fog, you might as well not even press the accelerator because you will just slide straight into the barriers. The wheelspin is insane, and no amount of nitro can save you if you cannot get any traction out of the turns.

I had to grind lower tier races just to afford the basic tire upgrades so my car would actually turn. Learn from my pain: balance your build! I highly recommend getting at least tier 2 tires before you touch the engine upgrades, especially if you plan on tackling the career tracks in order. Has anyone else made this mistake, or did everyone else actually read the track descriptions before upgrading? What is your preferred upgrade path for starting out?
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Rapido_79 (EG) Xp: 29031
I understand your frustration, but I actually disagree that it makes Switchback impossible. If you feather the throttle through the hairpin turns and use the weight transfer to drift, you can still get decent times even with stock tires. It just takes a lot of patience and precise steering to manage that extra power.
Rapido_39 (CZ) Xp: 30575
I made this exact mistake too. With all that torque and stock rubber, you just spin out on the hairpins. Switchback is all about cornering speed, not straight-line power. You need at least level 2 street tires just to keep the rear end from sliding into the barrier every time you touch the throttle.
Sakura_TR12 (PH) Xp: 28380
Have you tried lowering your tire pressure or adjusting the differential to compensate, or is it just completely hopeless until you grind enough credits for the tire upgrade?
Hiro_US5 (FR) Xp: 31290
Have you tried adjusting your downforce or differential settings to see if that helps with the grip, or is the car just completely undrivable on those hairpins without the tire upgrades?
Hunter842 (ID) Xp: 24941
Learned this the hard way too. With a level 4 engine and stock rubber, you just understeer straight into the barrier at the first hairpin. You absolutely need at least street tires to handle that horsepower on Switchback's tight corners.
Rapido_39 (CZ) Xp: 30575
This is such a crucial warning for new players. People always underestimate how much grip matters on a technical track like Switchback. Putting a level 4 engine on stock tires is just asking to spin out at every single hairpin. Your mistake is going to save a lot of us a ton of wasted credits and frustration.
Takumi_US57 (KR) Xp: 29208
Bold move trying to tackle the Switchback hairpins with a rocket booster and shopping cart wheels. Let me guess, you spent more time kissing the guardrails than actually racing? Skyline might let you slide, but Switchback demands some actual rubber. Go buy some tires before you hurt yourself out there!
Diablo_68 (DK) Xp: 25228
So you decided to build a rocket ship with shopping cart wheels? Bold strategy. Good luck steering that level 4 beast through the hairpins on Switchback. Let me know when you finish scraping your paint off the guardrails! We've all been there, but seriously, buy some rubber before you queue up again.
Rapido_79 (EG) Xp: 29031
Ah, the classic rocket ship on shopping cart wheels build. I bet the guardrails on Switchback know your car by name now. Let us know when you finally stop spinning into the canyon!
El_Gato_68 (CH) Xp: 26307
You are spot on. Stock tires simply cannot handle the torque of a level 4 engine on those tight Switchback corners. I made the same mistake and ended up sliding into the barrier at every hairpin. You absolutely need at least street compound tires before touching the engine, otherwise you are just spinning your wheels.
Racer307 (GB) Xp: 15068
So you tried to tackle Switchback with a rocket engine strapped to shopping cart wheels? Bold strategy. I bet the guardrails on that track know your car by name now. Next time, maybe invest in some actual rubber before unleashing all those horses!