How to Do a Burnout in an Automatic Car or Truck
They say men get old, but they don’t grow up. Whether you consider yourself a man, a woman, or a Group B rally car, we can all agree that smoking a tire down to the rim is fun. Is it possible to do a burnout in an automatic car? Absolutely. Keep reading to find out how. Safety precautions first
Burnouts can be very dangerous to you, your friends, or your car if not done correctly. Keep objects and people away from the vehicle, as it can cause the car to spin forward or damage defective parts in the drivetrain.
A burnout creates less airflow at higher speeds, increasing the risk of overheating. Make sure your vehicle is in good mechanical condition before attempting a burnout.
Tires are expensive and evaporate quickly when burned out. If you have a manual transmission and your clutch burns out, you’ve lost your clutch, which is even more painful than buying two tires (not to mention the damage to your pride). Be careful, anything you attempt based on this article is at your own risk.
Is it illegal to do a burnout?
If you have to ask, the answer is probably yes. Without the property owner’s permission, burnouts probably won’t be allowed.
Burnouts can cause property damage, both to the parking lot surface and to nearby objects if you hit something. If you get caught, you’ll be liable for damages, at the very least.
Burnouts are also loud, and over-revving the limiter, even with a stock muffler, could violate local noise laws.
You might be able to find a sanctioned event to hold a burnout competition on private property, with the property owner’s permission. If this is the case, you’re set. Your burnout is accelerated!
Why burn out? Now that the boring stuff is out of the way, let’s talk about why you might want to burn out in the first place.
Wait, who are you kidding? If you’re reading this article, you probably already know the answer to this question…because it’s a lot of fun.
Burnout with manual or automatic switching
Manual burnout is definitely easier. Because you can rev to the moon and declutch. When you release the clutch, power is transferred to the wheels immediately, maximizing the chances of losing traction instead of moving forward.
How to do a burnout in an automatic car
Front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive work differently. The type of powertrain changes the burnout strategy you can use.
Front-wheel drive (FWD)
From a stop, pull the handbrake. The handbrake only acts on the rear wheels and helps keep the vehicle in place while the front wheels are spinning. With the car in Drive mode (D) or in first gear (1), press the brake pedal with your left foot and the accelerator pedal with your right foot. This will increase your speed without putting too much strain on the transmission. Do not shift the car completely from Neutral to Drive mode as this will cause extreme shock to the transmission.
Then press the brake pedal to the side. If conditions are right, you should perform a burnout on the spot. When the car tries to shift into drive mode, use 1st gear instead.
Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD)
With gear D or 1 engaged, accelerate while keeping your foot on the brake to increase engine speed. To initiate rear-wheel spin, take your foot off the brake completely.
Then quickly place your left foot back on the brake pedal, but apply the brake lightly. The front brakes are stronger than the rear brakes, so they should hold the car in place while the rear wheels spin.
All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
Automated AWD burnouts are by far the most difficult and may not be very successful on dry pavement. AWD burnouts and starts can put a lot of stress on the drivetrain if there is too much grip.
With your vehicle in D or 1, keep your foot on the brake and accelerator pedals to increase engine revs. Release the brake completely and enjoy!
If the car starts without a burnout, there is too much grip. You can use harder tires with less grip, wait for rain or snow, or use a combination of both.
Automatic Transmission Burnout Tips
1) Be prepared financially and mentally for when your car breaks down
Burnouts are serious for your car and can’t be avoided. If you have a burnout, prepare yourself that critical drivetrain components will break down at some point. You should also have a plan for arranging for a tow truck to get you home.
If you’re driving a rare car or a garage queen, it might be wise to avoid this party trick altogether. It’s cheaper to immerse yourself in the story through Hoonigan Burnyard’s videos.
2) Listen to your car
Make sure you have plenty of tread left on your tires by the time you get home. This is especially important if it’s raining or snowing outside.
If you notice a new and interesting noise, stop your burnout and talk to a mechanic about the sound you’re hearing. When your car is under a lot of stress, small issues can turn into big problems.
3) Disable traction control
No matter what car you want to perform a burnout on, you must disable traction control if your vehicle is equipped with it.
Traction control limits engine torque and also applies the brakes to prevent wheelspin. This is counterproductive if spinning is the biggest point of the burnout.
4) Experiment with how you brake
Different brakes work differently. Some cars have larger front brakes and some handbrakes work better than others. If you’re having trouble with burnouts, try changing when and how you brake.
5) Practice in a Racing Simulator
It’s surprising how well a good racing simulator with a proper wheel and pedal setup translates to real life. If you have a racing simulator with realistic physics, you can practice your burnouts with no risk to your vehicle. Arcade games are not realistic, so avoid titles like the Cruisin’ series you might find at your local bowling alley.
Some good games to try this in are Assetto Corsa, the Forza Motorsport series, and even the Forza Horizon series. Forza games fall into the “simcade” category, but the physics are good enough to give you an idea of how things work in the real world.
6) Have Fun
Remember, the whole point of a burnout is to have fun. Relax and enjoy the ride. If you’re stressing out about it, you might try spectating at a burnout or drift event. There are lots of people who are willing to toast their tires on their own dime.