The DNA of Driving

The handling.meta file controls physics. Mass, acceleration, traction, suspension—it's all here.

Editing this file is how you turn a car from a "boat" into a "drift missile" or a "track weapon".

Key Values to Edit

Open your handling.meta (found in the data folder of your converted resource). Look for these tags:

1. Mass (`fMass`)

What it does:: The weight of the car in kg.

Effect:: Heavier cars plow through traffic but accelerate slower. lighter cars are snappy but get bullied by collisions.

2. Drag (`fInitialDragCoeff`)

What it does:: Air resistance.

Effect:: Lower this value to increase **Top Speed**.

Warning:: Too low and the car will never stop accelerating.

3. Acceleration (`fDriveInertia` & `fInitialDriveForce`)

fInitialDriveForce:: Raw power. Increase for faster 0-60.

fDriveInertia:: How fast the engine revs up. Lower = faster revs.

4. Traction (`fTractionCurveMax`)

The most important setting.

Increase:: Car sticks to the road like glue (F1 car).

Decrease:: Car slides easily (Drift car).

Typical range:: 2.2 (City car) to 2.8 (Supercar).

5. Center of Gravity (`vecCentreOfMassOffset`)

The z value (3rd number) controls height.

Car flipping over in turns?

Fix:: Lower the Z value (e.g., from `0.0` to `-0.2`). This magically plants the car on the ground.

Realism vs. Fun

GTA V physics are arcade-y.

Roleplay Servers:: usually want "Realistic" handling (slower, heavier, more damage).

Drift Servers:: want slippery traction and high torque.

Freeroam:: want insane speed and grip.

Tools

You can edit these files with Notepad, but we recommend using a Handling Editor tool or website to visualize the changes.

Pro Tip

When using GTA5 Mods Convertor, we preserve the original mod author's handling. If a car drives poorly, it's usually because the original modder didn't tune it well. You have full power to open the data/handling.meta and tweak it yourself!

Ready to Convert Your First Mod?

Try GTA5 Mods Convertor free — 10 conversions included, no signup needed.

Mastering handling.meta: Make Your FiveM Cars Drive Realistically