Turning Circle
The turning circle is the diameter of the smallest circle a car can turn in.
What is Turning Circle?
It is given either between kerbs or between walls, which includes the body overhang. Small cars and cars with rear-wheel steering have smaller turning circles. It is important for parking and city driving. Rear-wheel steering turns the rear wheels opposite to the fronts at low speed, which can reduce the turning circle by around a metre on some large cars. Long vans and pickups have large turning circles, so planning parking manoeuvres matters more.
How it works
The maximum steering angle and wheelbase determine the turning circle.
Why it matters for your car
Wide tyres or certain wheels may reduce the steering angle. Compare figures measured the same way.
Other terms
- A/C Condenser
- Alternator Diode (Rectifier)
- Cabin Air Filter
- Carburettor
- Cylinder Block (Engine Block)
- Dielectric Grease
- Driveline Clunk
- Engine Sludge
- Glow Plug
- Hail Damage
- Kilowatt-hour (kWh)
- Lithium Grease
- Low SAPS Oil (Low-Ash Oil)
- Passenger Safety Cell
- Rear Quarter Panel (Rear Wing)
- Steering Column
- Torque Wrench
- Transfer Case
- Tread Depth
- Voltage Regulator