What is the difference between understeer and oversteer?

Understeer occurs when the front tires lose grip before the rear, causing the vehicle to turn less than the driver intends (the car pushes wide). Oversteer occurs when the rear tires lose grip first, causing the rear to swing out and the vehicle to turn more than intended. Understeer is considered safer as it is easier to correct, which is why most production vehicles are tuned to understeer at the limit.