What is the main cause of power sliding?

Power sliding primarily occurs when the driver over-accelerates, causing the driven wheels to lose traction while cornering. This can happen when too much throttle is applied, especially with powerful rear-wheel-drive vehicles; the rear tires can slip, leading to a sideways motion known as a slide. When the wheels spin faster than the car can travel forward, they lose grip on the road surface. This loss of traction allows the rear end of the vehicle to swing around, resulting in the characteristic skid or slide associated with power sliding.

In contrast, other factors like steering too sharply, hard braking in a turn, or under-inflated tires can contribute to losing control, but they do not directly result in power sliding in the way that over-accelerating does. Sharp steering can cause a vehicle to lose grip but it's typically more associated with understeering or oversteering rather than specifically power sliding. Similarly, braking too hard can lead to skidding but usually results in different handling issues rather than a power slide. Under-inflated tires can reduce grip overall, but they don't specifically cause the conditions that lead to a power slide linked to excessive acceleration.