A wheelspin occurs when the driver of a motor vehicle accidentally or deliberately spins the wheels of the vehicle on the road before moving off. When done deliberately this is a lesser form of a burnout, because the intention is not to cause excessive tire wear, but merely to spin the wheels. It is performed by revving the engine high with the clutch depressed while in gear, and then rapidly releasing the clutch pedal (without stalling). This causes the wheels to spin against the road, as they briefly struggle to gain grip, before the car moves as normal. It is a technique that can usually be performed with little practice in most cars. It is easier to wheelspin while steering either to the left or right at the same time as accelerating than if going straight on, as the tyres have less grip when turning.
External links
Driving Fast - Guide to Car Control
