Pass an intersection, merge onto the road, park. There are many driving maneuvers that involve turning the steering wheel. These are actions that we carry out ordinarily for which, however, you may have encountered difficulties. The turning angle is not the same for all vehicles and the number of maneuvers you have to do to park will largely depend on it.
The turning radius is the radius of the circumference that the outer wheel of a vehicle describes when completing a turn with the steering wheel in its maximum turning position. In other words, the smaller the turning radius of a vehicle, the less space its driver will need to maneuver or change direction of travel. A priori, small cars are those that have a smaller turning radius, which is an advantage especially when driving around the city. But, apart from size, what other factors does it depend on?
Each steering wheel can generally make 1.5 turns to each side from the center and the maximum angle is usually between 40 and 45 degrees, although this data may vary depending on the characteristics of each vehicle. Size also influences the turning radius, which ranges from 7 meters for a small car to 12 for a large car. But experts have specifically identified 3 decisive pieces for this aspect.
It is a large, wide piece, made of iron, that is located next to the wheels and supports the car’s shock absorbers. Depending on the shape of the suspension arm, the turning radius of the wheels will vary inwards and outwards, as this will cause them to reach a stop sooner or later and, consequently, will limit the driver’s movements.
Another determining element for the number of maneuvers is the steering linkage. If it is positioned towards the outside and, therefore, closer to the rim, it allows a smaller turning angle than if it points inward.
The steering rack allows the wheels to open more or less depending on their length. That is why, the longer it is, it offers a greater turning angle.
Currently, there are some cars whose rear wheels also rotate to optimize maneuvers. That is, when the driver turns the steering wheel to the right, the rear wheels turn, albeit slightly, to the left and vice versa, to increase the steering angle. This is a system that has recently been implemented for large vehicles such as trucks, although the rear wheels of some passenger cars can already turn a couple of degrees as well.
