Causes of Different Car Steering Wheel Sizes
The steering wheel is one of the features in a car that plays an important role, as it is used to control the direction of the vehicle's movement. In general, the size of car steering wheels comes in various styles and types.
There are several reasons why the size of car steering wheels varies. Here is the review:
Causes of Different Car Steering Wheel Sizes
Not only do the tires on cars come in different sizes, but car steering wheels do as well. For daily use car steering wheels, the diameter is usually around 14-15 inches.
Meanwhile, for competition racing car steering wheels, the diameter size is about 12.6 – 13.8 inches. So what causes this difference? Here are some factors that contribute to it:
Cabin Size
The cabin is closely related to ergonomic factors. Ergonomics itself is the science of all considerations in designing an object, facility, or artificial environment, such as a car cabin, with humans as the reference to make it comfortable for them.
By considering the cabin size to determine the steering wheel size, the car will have more stable performance. If the car cabin is spacious like the Xenia, then the steering wheel size will also be larger, and conversely, if the car size is small, the steering wheel will also be small.
Type of Car
The size of the car steering wheel is also determined by the type of car. Cars used for daily transportation or daily use usually have larger steering wheels, while racing cars have smaller steering wheels.
This is because the space in racing cars tends to be smaller than that of daily use cars. Not only that, but the ratio of gear shifts when turning is also a consideration.
Shoulder Size
A person's shoulder size also determines the size of the car steering wheel. If the steering wheel is too large and does not fit the average shoulder size, driving the car will not be comfortable.
Therefore, if you want to modify your car's steering wheel, it is advisable to choose a steering wheel that is not too far from the factory standard size.
Steering Wheel Turning Radius
The turning radius is the size of the circle made by the steering wheel when the car is turned. Each type of car has a different turning radius.
If your car is large, the steering wheel's turning radius will also be large. Conversely, if the car is small, the steering wheel's turning radius will also be small. Generally, the turning radius is calculated from the position of the steering wheel turning until it stops.
The calculation starts from the center point of the circle to the position of the tire that is on the outer side. For example, when turning right, the left front tire is on the outer side.
The turning radius in racing cars is not as large as in regular cars, and for driving comfort, the steering wheel size also adjusts accordingly.
Types of Car Steering Wheels
Previously, you have learned some of the reasons why car steering wheel sizes vary. Here are some types of car steering wheels commonly used in cars today:
- Telescope steering wheels
- Tilt steering wheels
- Adjustable steering wheels
- Swing-away steering wheels
- Recirculating ball steering wheels
- Rack and pinion steering wheels
These are some common types of car steering wheels. You can use one of the steering wheels above for your car, provided it matches the car size so that you can drive more comfortably.
Based on the explanation above, car steering wheel sizes certainly vary. This is something you need to pay attention to in order to make driving more comfortable.
