So it was raining the other night and I just had the urge to try some donuts with the X. I've thrown it in the mud, sand, wood trails, rocks yet I've never tried anything as simple as donuts. :rolleyes:

I was in a large parking and tried to give it enough gas to make the rear slip but VDC kept activating and ruining my fun.

Flip VDC off and I finally got some slippage but as the rear slipped, the X was in a seemingly dangerous side angle and didn't want to risk giving more gas. (I would have a hard time explaining to the cops and insurance why my X is on its side in an empty parking )

Is my fear unfounded? Will I rollover the X doing donuts?

The Xterra is not a sports car..

People don't take sports cars offroading for the same reason you should not do stupid things like that in your Xterra. It was not built to handle that kind of thing.

So go ahead.. do it anyway. Darwin is waiting.

Stupid Canadians.

Because in almost every parking lot in Canada you will find SUV'v spinning round and round doing donuts... i cant wait to get off work to meet my friends and do some donuts! woooo!

Ignorant american.

Thank god we now have the Internet to freely insult anyone's action or nationality without the fear of getting your ass kicked.

Now, if anyone has the guts to admit they've tried donuts with the X and can respond to my post with a useful experience, please feel free to share.

Done donuts in the snow, but not on wet asphault.

I would never do donuts in a 4500lb top heavy SUV.

why don't you try it and let us know....

No, Chia's right.

Some Canadians are stoopid.

Why in the hell are we even entertaining this stupid question?

...and all yanks are smart :rolleyes: but not arrogant...

Donuts on asphalt is not smart though dude, why bother. We get enough snow up here, just wait a couple months and things will start to get icy again

Technically, you should not rollover doing donuts...on a flat plane with no irregularities in traction coefficient or surface features.

The issue of concern is with surface imperfections, which will interupt the smooth transition of polar moment, and result in lateral acceleration in excess of the projected tire slippage required to execute a donut.

This condition will result in the tire(s) traction providing resistance to the lateral forces, and the truck's weight and center of gravity continuing in an outwards direction, albeit with the outer tire(s) remaining in the same arc.

The truck's body and frame with therefore follow a wider arc than the tire pathway.

This results in the truck's frame and body crossing through the plane of the tire pathway arc.

If the above crossing results in the truck's center of gravity crossing the chord of the arc, the trucks's body and frame will tend to continue in an arc outside of the tire path, with a secondary continuance downwards to the ground at the outside of the chord.

The above typically results in the side of the truck hitting the ground.

In a donut, the rear outer tire is typically the most critical interceptor of surface irregularities, and tends to upset the balance of the rear slippage angle, essentially tripping the truck such that it hits first on the outermost front fender area, rolling onto the roof and hood areas, and then, rotating due to the momentum involved.

This is sometimes referred to as doing a donut and flipping over.

Of course, the higher the center of gravity, and the less perfect the surface, the more likely this is to occur.

It is therefore possible to execute donuts in a parking lot w/o flipping over, albeit the above variables must be considered to avoid flipping.

So, I hope that helps!

Thanks TJ!
I've decided to wait until it snows to try again though. Safety took over fun in the game of risks.

Did you search before posting?

You dont have to wait for snow, just find some dirt. I've done doughnuts plenty of times. Why, because uts fun. Don't let all the nay sayers get ya down. There just grumpy.

Grumpy. Whos Grumpy. The Naysayers are Mature there is a difference.

-There's a diff. between showng your PROUD experience and acting like children, you should know the diff.-- --JIMBO

I've done donuts in the rain with my 4x2 many times with no problems. I think the fact that you have a 4x4 makes a huge difference. The 2006 rollover ratings are out, and the new xterra 4x4 is the most likely SUV to rollover (Someone corrrect me if I'm wrong) If I remember correctly, the xterra didnt tip in their test, but the rating comes from a number they calculate based on the center of gravity with respect to the height & width of the truck.

2006 Rollover Ratings

They did indead give the Xterra the worst score for an SUV...though it did not tip. I suspect that there is logic in the VDC system that can help prevent "some" tips/rollovers...and I imagine the score does not reflect this. I could be wrong though.
Either way, it's an SUV...don't drive like an asshole...buy a 350Z for that.

Mmmm...donuts.

I did some in an icy (and deserted) parking lot once. Wouldn't try it on anything less slippery than that.

and what a brilliant response that is....

so based on your comment, is it fair for me to say that all americans are illiterate? i don't think so. it seems that it's just you.

yes, common sense would dictate that donuts are not the best thing to do on pavement, but at least he has the balls to ask the question.

the only dumb question is the one not asked.

Would you rather I called him a Fuckin Noob. Just Like you.

I've done donuts on pavement in my X and it was fun. I wasn't afraid of rolling. I've been married for 18 years so I'm not afraid to die. Anyway, I have always thought donuts were very popular in Canada so the narative about all the Canadians getting off work and going out for donuts doesn't seem at all unbelievable. It could eventually become Canada's national passtime, surpassing whining and snivling.