tumble vs fall

[caesar1983]

Hello. This is my question.
- The car tumbled over the steep drop.

In this sentence can "tumble over" be replaced with "tumble down" or "tumble off" or "fall off" without modifying the meaning of the sentence? If it can't, why? What is the difference?

Can you suggest any synonyms for "drop" in this context?

Thanks a lot

 

[SoothingDave]

"Tumble" implies a rotational motion, or moving end over end, that a simple "fall" doesn't.

"Tumble down" would be best if it in fact rolled down the side of a hill, for example. "Tumbled over" seems better if it fell off a sharp edge, like the edge of a cliff.

"Tumble off" doesn't sound right to me at all.