What do the tie rods actually do for a cars handling characteristics?

Lookee here-
 

<ul><li><a href="http://www.howstuffworks.com/category.htm?cat=Racing">http://www.howstuffworks.com/category.htm?cat=Racing</a</li></ul>

without them, it would be hard to steer (badum ting)

without tie rods would be like walking with no ankles