What is the Principle of Car Turning?
2 Answers
The principle of car turning is actually not very difficult. Essentially, all four wheels of the vehicle rotate around the same center point, with the rear wheel axle as the reference. The front two wheels must also align with this same center point for the vehicle to achieve normal turning. Here is an extended explanation: Role of the Differential: To enable normal turning, vehicles are equipped with a differential on the rear axle. This allows the tire closer to the center point to rotate slower while the tire farther from the center rotates faster, facilitating smooth turning.
After driving a taxi for over a decade, I've found that car turning is actually quite fascinating. The steering wheel connects to the steering rod, and turning the wheel drives the tie rod system, pushing the front wheels to swing left and right. The key point is that all four wheels have different turning radii. I've observed that during sharp turns, the inner wheels make tighter turns while the outer wheels follow a gentler curve—all thanks to the differential coordinating the speed difference between the wheels. The center of gravity also shifts toward the outside of the turn, and if you steer too aggressively, you can really feel the car starting to lift. That's why I always slow down before turning—entering a curve at a controlled speed is much safer.