How Many Turns of the Steering Wheel When Making a U-Turn?
2 Answers
When making a U-turn, the steering wheel should be turned two and a half times to the left and right. Its function is to convert the force applied by the driver on the edge of the steering wheel into torque, which is then transmitted to the steering shaft. The correct way to hold the steering wheel is to place both hands symmetrically on either side of the wheel, at approximately the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions, with the thumbs resting naturally on the inner rim of the steering wheel. The method to control the steering wheel is as follows: 1. Keep your body upright and leaning against the seat, adjusting the seat height to a comfortable position; 2. Look straight ahead, gently hold the left side of the steering wheel with your left hand and the right side with your right hand, with both arms relaxed and naturally hanging down; 3. The movements of your hands should be balanced to avoid unnecessary shaking.
I talked about this last time when teaching my neighbor how to park as a beginner. There's actually no fixed number of turns—how heavy the steering feels and how much the wheels can turn depends on what car you're driving. For regular family sedans, turning the steering wheel all the way left or right usually takes about one and a half turns to reach the limit, but some off-road vehicles might require over two full turns. When making a U-turn, don’t rigidly memorize turn counts—the key is to watch the rear wheel position in the mirrors. On straight or wide roads, first steer slightly right, check for safety, then turn left sharply until the car’s nose almost straightens before recentering the wheel. For narrow roads, use a two-step method for stability: first turn left all the way, stop and shift to reverse when the front nearly touches the line, then adjust by steering right. Always remember to straighten the wheel immediately after turning—this habit helps protect the steering system’s lifespan.
