I just recently got back into FM4 after a big hiatus. All of my friends have left me to dry, meaning no one plays it anymore. I am looking for a person (or club) that will help teach me how to tune for lobby play, and make it something I could start doing on my own. My gamertag is Kn1ght Steve0 (zero i think not the letter). Message me on there if you want to help as I won’t check here that often. Thanks.
Hey,
Having a ‘teacher’ depends really on what it is you like. What cars you like, what classes you like or even if you prefer circuit or something else like drift or drag, etc. Everyone has their strengths and fortes so say what you like doing and maybe we can help more 
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I have to agree.
Tuning E class car is completely different than tuning R2 class car. well some similaritys of course but few things that are completely different.
Building classic muscle (which is my strong point) is completely different than building modern Japanese, or European car.
And of course every drivetrain has their own little quirks, not to mention that some cars have their own little quirks.
Therefore, if you want to get fast with LMP’s, or touring cars, you can spend hours with me, and most likely don’t get anything out of it.
Hello, Knight.
If you’re interested in a one-on-one, I would be more than happy to take the time to share with you what I can to help you tune better. I’ve done one-on-one’s with over hundreds of people by now, so I’m used to it, and I can give you a good jumping point from which you’ll be able to tune quite a bit of different vehicles for different classes and tracks (I only tune for circuit racing, however, not drifting or drag). If you’re interested, shoot me a friend request–my gamertag is HackFragMent–and I’ll see what we can accomplish. Hit me up!
Cheers,
-HackFragMent
Would you mind giving me some pointers as well please?
Of course I wouldn’t mind! Honestly, it’s part of the process.
I’ll give you a quick run-down of what to expect if you do end up taking the time to work with me. I’ve always tuned using real-life information, so I’ve always taught people based on the same principles. The fact of the matter is that any racing game is based on real-life physics, and Forza Motorsport is by far the best game out there in regards to accurate physics.
If you understand the applicable physics (in the simplest sense), then you understand what your car has to overcome to have “ideal” performance. The next step is to understand what effect those aspects of physics will have on your car(s). Then comes the understanding of how to limit/control those aspects with your car’s physical components (springs, shocks, tires, etc.). In order to tap into the most potential of understanding those components, it’s best to understand what those components do, how they work, and how your settings for your tune affect said components.
For example, it’s hard to anticipate what kind for change to expect in your tune (and therefore your car’s handling) when adjusting your shocks if you don’t know what you’re doing to your shocks when you change the settings. More directly, how do you know when you’ve adjusted too much or too little without understanding what you’re PHYSICALLY doing to the car?
It’s easy to say that you must set this part this way or that way for understeer or oversteer, but very few explain why or how this works. This makes it hard for tuners to adapt their technique from one car to the next because it DOESN’T teach a tuner what to expect in the first place when making those changes, or any changes for that matter.
All this being said, I’ve always taught people the same way:
First as an introduction to racing theory; racing theory involves the application of physics to the car as an object travelling around any given track. Theoretically speaking, there is a fastest possible line around any given track for any given car, and racing theory explains how and why this is. This also helps you as a driver/tuner to understand the forces that your car must overcome to maintain proper handling and performance. It also helps in understanding the limits of your vehicle (and there’s ALWAYS limits, no matter what the vehicle).
Second is performance theory; performance theory basically covers physics as applied directly to your car BEFORE it is driven (or in Forza’s case, your build), and introduces the concepts of the “balance” of performance. Keep in mind that “balance” does not refer to a balance between power and grip, but rather an overall balance applied to whatever purpose the vehicle suits (in effect, there are good and bad balances for cars whether they’re built for grip or power, drag or circuit, and so on). This has helped tuners to better understand how to make the most of the in-game PI system while simultaneously gaining a better understanding of how, when, and why you can use seemingly and unanimously useless parts (such as, according to a common consensus, flywheels, clutches, and race transmissions); the truth is that these seemingly purposeless parts actually DO serve a purpose and can do great things for your builds/tunes when used at the right time in the right places.
Last is tuning theory; tuning theory introduces physics in regards to physical components used on any given car, and covers a LOT of topics. In a basic sense, you’ll learn what each part/component is, it’s various arrangements (if applicable), how it works, and what it does in any situation (such as deceleration, acceleration, embankments, bumps, etc.). Then you’ll learn about the relationships that exist among all these parts and how they affect one another. The benefit of all of this is that it will help you better understand what is going on in your car when you’re driving it, and what to expect in changes when you adjust the settings. It may even help you make better use of the in-game telemetry system (though that really depends on what kind of tuner you become). If it helps to give you an idea, some examples would be about suspension layout, such as what’s the difference between a solid rear axle and an independent rear axle on a rear wheel drive car? Or what’s the difference between independently mounted springs and shocks and a coilover strut? Another would be about the differential and how it affects lift throttle understeer or oversteer.
The method for teaching all of this has also always been the same:
We start with a car of your choosing. I usually have the person I’m working with choose one of their favorite cars, preferably one in a lower class. They, or you, would build it, and then we’d both run together at the same time, on the same track of your choosing, while adjusting the settings together in live time. Once we’ve tuned that car to your liking (while I’m teaching the whole time, mind you) we jump to another one and do the same. Then we do a third car, this time preferably one that’s been avoided for fear of it being too challenging, and we’d tune that. And I pretty much make sure that we’re not done with all three cars until there are little to no unanswered questions left.
And in case you’re wondering, all of the above will apply to all of the classes too, each to their own respect, so you’ll be able to tune for whatever class you want, however you want.
I know it probably seems like a lot reading it here but with a headset you’d be surprised how quick and easy it is to pick up and run with. I like to keep everything straightforward and simple with examples that are very easy to visualize and understand. In most cases, it usually takes a weekend or two and that’s it. I’m always available for answering questions afterwards too.
Like I said to begin with, throw me a friend request and we’ll hop in a party and get you tuning in ways you never thought possible!
Cheers,
-HackFragMent
I’ve been trying to understand circuit tuning and not doing to well, so I will be giving you a FR soon.
Thanks in advance for your time and efforts.
Hello, Cipher.
If that was directed at me, then I look forward to your FR. And no need for the thanks–the ability to help somebody enjoy tuning as much as the rest of us who already do is rewarding enough.
Looking forward to working with you.
Cheers,
-HackFragMent