What is handling.meta?
The handling.meta file controls all vehicle physics in GTA 5 — mass, speed, traction, suspension, braking, and aerodynamics. It's the single most important file for determining how a vehicle drives. Every addon vehicle needs a properly tuned handling.meta entry in 2026.
File location: common.rpf/data/ or addon dlc.rpf/common/data/
Core Physics Parameters
| Parameter | What It Controls | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|
fMass |
Vehicle weight (affects acceleration, collisions) | 800.0 - 5000.0 |
fInitialDragCoeff |
Air resistance (limits top speed) | 1.0 - 15.0 |
fDriveForce |
Engine power output | 0.15 - 0.50 |
fBrakeForce |
Braking effectiveness | 0.3 - 2.0 |
fTractionCurveMax |
Maximum grip on road surface | 1.5 - 3.5 |
fTractionCurveMin |
Grip at high slip angles (drifting) | 1.0 - 2.5 |
Suspension Settings
| Parameter | Effect | Low Value | High Value |
|---|---|---|---|
fSuspensionForce |
Spring stiffness | Soft/bouncy | Stiff/firm |
fSuspensionCompDamp |
Compression damping | Slow response | Quick response |
fSuspensionReboundDamp |
Rebound damping | Bouncy return | Controlled return |
fSuspensionUpperLimit |
Max extension height | Low ride | High clearance |
Drivetrain Configuration
-
nInitialDriveGears— Number of gears (1-8) -
fDriveBiasFront— Power distribution:0.0= RWD,0.5= AWD,1.0= FWD -
fInitialDriveMaxFlatVel— Top speed in km/h (divide by 0.9 for game units) -
fClutchChangeRateScaleUpShift— Upshift speed -
fClutchChangeRateScaleDownShift— Downshift speed
Quick Tuning Tips
- Start by copying handling from a similar vanilla vehicle
- Adjust
fMassfirst — it affects every other parameter - Tune
fDriveForcefor desired acceleration feel - Balance
fTractionCurveMax/Minfor grip vs drift - Fine-tune suspension last for ride comfort
- Test in-game after every change — small values make big differences
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