You tune Assetto Corsa setups from the setup menu that appears in the pits (the wrench icon in the right sidebar), and they’re saved as .ini files in Documents\Assetto Corsa\setups\<car>\<track>\. To install a downloaded setup, just copy that file into the matching car and track folder and reopen the session. When you start tuning, change tire pressures, anti-roll bars and wing first, one at a time.
How to open the setup screen
Join a session (practice, race or online server) and, while in the pits, open the setup menu with the wrench icon in the right sidebar. The settings are split across tabs; fuel, for example, has its own. Keep in mind that not every car lets you change the same things: a road car barely lets you touch pressures and fuel, while a GT car or open-wheeler unlocks almost every option.
That same sidebar has the tire app, which shows temperatures and pressures while you drive. It’s the basic tool for knowing whether a setup change is working.
What you can adjust in a setup
| Section | What it changes | What it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Tires | Compound and pressure for each wheel | Grip, temperature and wear |
| Fuel | Liters in the tank | Less weight for qualifying, just what you need to finish the race |
| Alignment | Camber and toe, front and rear | Cornering grip, turn-in response and stability |
| Suspension | Springs, anti-roll bars and ride height | Balance between front and rear axle, and behavior over bumps and curbs |
| Dampers | Bump and rebound | How weight transfers under braking, cornering and acceleration |
| Aerodynamics | Wing and splitter angle | Downforce versus top speed |
| Drivetrain | Gear ratios, final drive and differential | Acceleration, top speed and traction on corner exit |
| Electronics and brakes | ABS, traction control and brake bias (if the car has them) | Stability under braking and traction |
For qualifying, the usual approach is to fit the fastest compound and add only enough fuel for two or three laps. For the race, calculate fuel for the full distance with some margin.
Where Assetto Corsa setups are saved
When you save a setup from the game, an .ini file is created at this path:
Documents\Assetto Corsa\setups\<car folder>\<track folder>\<setup name>.ini
The folder names aren’t the commercial names but the game’s internal ones. To find out which one each car uses, look in steamapps\common\assettocorsa\content\cars (and in content\tracks for tracks). Inside the file, the values are grouped into sections like [TYRES], [FUEL] or [ABS].
How to install downloaded setups
- Download the setup and, if it’s compressed, extract it.
- Check which car it’s for. A setup only shows up in the list for the car it was made for, even if there’s another one in the same class.
- Copy it to
Documents\Assetto Corsa\setups\, inside the car folder and then the track folder. If the folders don’t exist, create them with the exact internal name. - If the game was open, go back to the main menu and rejoin the session: the game doesn’t detect new files while you’re on track.
- Open the setup screen and load it from the list.
If it doesn’t show up, the most common causes are a misspelled folder name, a setup for a different car or a corrupted file. Some setup websites have their own app that installs them straight into the right folder.
Setups with Content Manager and online
Content Manager includes car setup sharing among its features, along with Quick Drive presets, control presets and replays. Inside an online session there’s also SetupShare, a free community app that lets you upload your saved setups and download other drivers’ setups for the same car and track; you can make them private, visible only to your Steam friends or public. This app doesn’t apply or upload anything automatically: you have to save the setup first.
Keep in mind that some servers use fixed setups: the admin locks some of the values (fuel, for example) and you won’t be able to change them during the session. If you’re going to race online, our guide to Assetto Corsa servers explains how they work.
Basic adjustments based on what the car is doing
Make one change at a time, run several laps and save versions with different names so you can go back. These are the most common fixes recommended by coaches and the community:
| Symptom | Try |
|---|---|
| Understeer (the car won’t turn, the nose pushes wide) | Soften the front anti-roll bar or stiffen the rear; more negative camber up front; lower front pressure slightly or raise rear pressure; more front downforce or less rear; less differential preload if it happens on throttle |
| Oversteer (the rear steps out) | Soften the rear bar or stiffen the front; more rear toe-in for stability; lower rear pressure; more rear wing; more differential preload if it happens on lift-off or corner entry |
| You lock the rear wheels under braking | Move brake bias forward |
| You lack top speed on long straights | Less wing or longer gear ratios |
Technique matters too: entry understeer is often fixed by braking earlier and trail-braking progressively as you turn in, not with the setup.
Frequently asked questions
Where are Assetto Corsa setups stored?
In Documents\Assetto Corsa\setups\, organized into one folder per car and, inside it, one per track. Each setup is an .ini file.
Why doesn’t a setup I downloaded show up?
Check that it’s in the right car folder with the exact internal name, that it’s for that car and not a similar one, and go back to the menu and rejoin the session so the game reads it.
Do Assetto Corsa Competizione or Assetto Corsa EVO setups work?
No. They’re different games, with their own folders, cars and physics. Look for setups made for the original Assetto Corsa and for the version of the car you have installed, especially if it’s a mod.
Can I use my setup online?
Yes, they load the same way as offline, unless the server enforces a fixed setup. In that case, the locked values can’t be changed.