Getting your first car to actually move can feel like a massive win, but dialling in your roblox studio vehicle seat torque is where the real magic happens. If you've ever built a chassis that looks like a supercar but moves like a lawnmower—or worse, a chassis that flies into the stratosphere the moment you touch the throttle—you're likely dealing with a torque issue. It's the invisible force that determines how much "oomph" your wheels have, and finding that sweet spot is the difference between a game that feels professional and one that feels like a glitchy mess.
In this guide, we're going to break down how to handle torque settings within the VehicleSeat, how it interacts with the rest of your build, and why more isn't always better.
What Exactly is Torque in Roblox?
In the simplest terms possible, torque is rotational force. Think of it as the muscle of your car. If you're riding a bike and trying to go up a steep hill, you need to push harder on the pedals to keep moving. That extra push is torque.
When you're looking at the properties of a VehicleSeat in Roblox Studio, you'll see a field for Torque. This value tells the physics engine how much power it's allowed to apply to the wheels to reach the MaxSpeed. If your torque is too low, your car will struggle to move its own weight. If it's too high, the wheels might spin out of control, or the physics engine might just give up and launch your car into orbit.
The Relationship Between Torque and MaxSpeed
One of the biggest mistakes I see new builders make is confusing Torque with MaxSpeed. They aren't the same thing at all.
- MaxSpeed is your top velocity. It's the "speed limit" you're setting for the vehicle.
- Torque is how fast you get to that speed and how well you can maintain it against resistance (like hills or grass).
Imagine you have a car with a MaxSpeed of 100 but a Torque of only 5. That car will eventually hit 100 mph, but it's going to take three business days to get there. On the flip side, if you have a Torque of 500,000 and a MaxSpeed of 20, you'll hit that speed instantly, likely popping a wheelie in the process.
Why Your Car Isn't Moving (and How Torque Fixes It)
If you've wired up your wheels and your roblox studio vehicle seat torque is set to something like the default value, but the car just sits there vibrating, you're probably dealing with a mass issue.
Roblox parts have weight. If you've built a massive tank out of heavy parts and kept the default torque settings, the motor simply doesn't have enough force to overcome the friction and gravity holding the vehicle down.
To fix this, you have two choices: 1. Lower the Density: Go into the properties of your parts, turn on CustomPhysicalProperties, and lower the density. 2. Crank the Torque: Gradually increase the torque value until the car moves smoothly. Don't just add zeros until it works; move in increments.
Finding the "Goldilocks" Zone
So, what's the perfect number? Honestly, there isn't one. It depends entirely on the scale of your game and the weight of your parts.
For a basic car made of a few scaled parts, a torque value between 5,000 and 20,000 is usually plenty. However, if you're using the newer HingeConstraint method for your wheels (which most modern Roblox developers do), the torque setting on the hinges themselves becomes the focus, while the VehicleSeat acts as the brain sending the signals.
If you're using the old-school "surface motor" or simple VehicleSeat properties, you have to be careful. Too much torque on a light car will cause it to flip backward because the wheels are turning with more force than the body can hold down.
Working with HingeConstraints
Most people moving beyond the basic "spawnable" cars will use HingeConstraints for their wheels. In this setup, the roblox studio vehicle seat torque essentially passes its power through to the hinges.
When you select your HingeConstraints, you'll see a property called MotorMaxTorque. This is where the real heavy lifting happens. I usually set this to a very high number—sometimes even inf (infinity) for heavy vehicles—and then use the MotorMaxAcceleration to control how "punchy" the car feels.
Wait, why use inf? Because if the torque is infinite, the motor will always try its hardest to reach the target speed. You then use the MaxAcceleration to make sure it doesn't just teleport to that speed. It's a much smoother way to handle vehicle physics than the old-fashioned way.
Handling Hill Climbs
Nothing ruins a driving game like a car that dies the second it hits a 10-degree incline. If your car stalls on hills, your torque is too low. The motor is trying to turn the wheel, but the force of gravity pulling the car down the hill is stronger than the torque pushing it up.
When testing your roblox studio vehicle seat torque, always build a test track with a variety of ramps. If the car slows down significantly on a ramp, bump the torque up by 20% and try again.
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
1. The "Popcorn" Effect
Have you ever seen a car in Roblox just start bouncing for no reason? This often happens when the physics engine is fighting itself. High torque combined with high friction can cause the wheels to "bite" the ground so hard that the constraints freak out. If your car is jittery, try lowering the torque or the friction of the tires.
2. The Spinning Wheel of Death
If you hit the W key and your wheels spin in place like you're on ice, your torque is likely fine, but your friction is too low. Or, your torque is so incredibly high that it's overcoming the friction immediately. Balance is key.
3. Asymmetric Torque
If you're manually scripting your wheels or setting up constraints, make sure the torque is the same on both sides of the car. If the left wheels have more torque than the right wheels, your car will constantly veer to one side every time you accelerate. It sounds obvious, but it's a super easy mistake to make when you're copy-pasting wheels.
Tuning for Different Vehicle Types
Not every vehicle should feel the same. Here's a quick cheat sheet for how I usually approach torque for different types of builds:
- Sports Cars: High
MaxSpeed, moderateTorque. You want it to feel fast, but you also want a bit of a "build-up" so it doesn't feel like a toy. - Off-Roaders/Trucks: Moderate
MaxSpeed, very highTorque. These need to be able to climb over rocks and push through obstacles without slowing down. - Racing Karts: Low
MaxSpeed, highTorque. Karts are all about that "snappy" feeling out of the corners.
Using Scripts to Modify Torque Dynamically
If you want to get really fancy, you don't have to keep your torque at a static number. You can use a local script to change the torque based on the car's current gear or speed.
For example, real cars have more torque in lower gears. You could script your vehicle so that when it's starting from a standstill, the torque is boosted to get it moving, and then it tapers off as the car reaches higher speeds to prevent physics glitches. It adds a layer of realism that players really appreciate, even if they can't quite put their finger on why the car feels so "right."
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, getting your roblox studio vehicle seat torque right is more of an art than a science. You can do all the math you want, but the "feel" of the car is what matters most. Don't be afraid to experiment. Open up the properties window, change some numbers, and take the car for a spin.
If it flips, dial it back. If it's sluggish, crank it up. Before you know it, you'll have a chassis that handles exactly the way you envisioned. Just remember: keep your masses balanced, your constraints aligned, and your torque values within the realm of sanity—unless, of course, you're making a meme game, in which case, set everything to infinity and enjoy the chaos!