Race car behavior changes as a race progresses, which often results in “tight” or “loose” cars.
The difference: A car is hard to turn when it’s tight because front tires lose traction more quickly than the rear. Drivers often have to stop accelerating while turning to steer more easily. A loose car, when the rear tires lose traction first, tends to fishtail because it turns too easily.
Track temperature and tire wear are both important factors in how the car handles late in a race.