Why does a car's steering wheel get lighter with increasing speed












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I've noticed it is difficult to turn the wheels of a car when the car is stationary, especially cars without power steering, which is why the power steering was invented. However, I've noticed it becomes feather light when traveling at speed (some models even stiffen the steering wheel electronically at speed). So, why does a car's steering wheel get lighter with increasing speed?






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    $begingroup$


    I've noticed it is difficult to turn the wheels of a car when the car is stationary, especially cars without power steering, which is why the power steering was invented. However, I've noticed it becomes feather light when traveling at speed (some models even stiffen the steering wheel electronically at speed). So, why does a car's steering wheel get lighter with increasing speed?






    newtonian-mechanics everyday-life speed







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      4












      4








      4





      $begingroup$


      I've noticed it is difficult to turn the wheels of a car when the car is stationary, especially cars without power steering, which is why the power steering was invented. However, I've noticed it becomes feather light when traveling at speed (some models even stiffen the steering wheel electronically at speed). So, why does a car's steering wheel get lighter with increasing speed?






      newtonian-mechanics everyday-life speed







      share|cite|improve this question











      $endgroup$




      I've noticed it is difficult to turn the wheels of a car when the car is stationary, especially cars without power steering, which is why the power steering was invented. However, I've noticed it becomes feather light when traveling at speed (some models even stiffen the steering wheel electronically at speed). So, why does a car's steering wheel get lighter with increasing speed?






      newtonian-mechanics everyday-life speed




      newtonian-mechanics everyday-life speed






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      edited 3 mins ago









      jezzo

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      asked 5 hours ago









      securitydude5securitydude5

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          $begingroup$

          Imagine the car stationary. The tire sits on the ground with the contact patch touching.



          As you start to turn the wheel, this is trying to rotate the contact patch on the ground. (There are also more complex motions because of the non-zero caster angle of the front wheel).



          This rotation is opposed by the static friction of the tire. As you continue turning, portions of the tread on the contact patch are pulled over and stressed.



          Now imagine holding the steering wheel at that angle and allowing the car to roll forward a bit. The tread at the rear of the contact patch lifts away from the road and the stress in that portion of the tire is released. Meanwhile new tread rolls onto the contact patch in front, but at the correct angle. Once the contact patch is covered by new tread, the stress from the turn is gone and steering wheel is back to a near-neutral force (again, modulo several affects from the suspension angles).



          The faster the car is moving forward, the faster it can put tread into the contact patch with no side stress. So the steering becomes easier.






          share|cite|improve this answer









          $endgroup$





















            2












            $begingroup$

            The work to turn the wheel is roughly proportional to how much you turn the wheel, and the distance the car traveled. You feel less resistance at higher speed because the car moved farther for the same amount of steering wheel turn. This is because when the wheels on the ground are rolling, the distortion of the rubber, and the friction, that occurs when you turn the steering wheel is less than it is when those wheels are stationary to the ground.






            share|cite|improve this answer









            $endgroup$





















              1












              $begingroup$

              Even though a car is not a wing, most cars generate some lift as they travel through the air as well as a force moment which tends to torque the car down at the rear wheels and up at the front. In addition, the torque that the engine is applying to the driven wheels results in a countertorque on the body of the car that also tends to lift the front end of the car. All these effects tend to unload the front wheels, which lightens the steering forces.






              share|cite|improve this answer









              $endgroup$









              • 1




                $begingroup$
                This is probably less significant than the thing BowlOfRed suggested, but I don't doubt it has a measurable effect.
                $endgroup$
                – wizzwizz4
                27 mins ago











              Your Answer





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              3 Answers
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              $begingroup$

              Imagine the car stationary. The tire sits on the ground with the contact patch touching.



              As you start to turn the wheel, this is trying to rotate the contact patch on the ground. (There are also more complex motions because of the non-zero caster angle of the front wheel).



              This rotation is opposed by the static friction of the tire. As you continue turning, portions of the tread on the contact patch are pulled over and stressed.



              Now imagine holding the steering wheel at that angle and allowing the car to roll forward a bit. The tread at the rear of the contact patch lifts away from the road and the stress in that portion of the tire is released. Meanwhile new tread rolls onto the contact patch in front, but at the correct angle. Once the contact patch is covered by new tread, the stress from the turn is gone and steering wheel is back to a near-neutral force (again, modulo several affects from the suspension angles).



              The faster the car is moving forward, the faster it can put tread into the contact patch with no side stress. So the steering becomes easier.






              share|cite|improve this answer









              $endgroup$


















                6












                $begingroup$

                Imagine the car stationary. The tire sits on the ground with the contact patch touching.



                As you start to turn the wheel, this is trying to rotate the contact patch on the ground. (There are also more complex motions because of the non-zero caster angle of the front wheel).



                This rotation is opposed by the static friction of the tire. As you continue turning, portions of the tread on the contact patch are pulled over and stressed.



                Now imagine holding the steering wheel at that angle and allowing the car to roll forward a bit. The tread at the rear of the contact patch lifts away from the road and the stress in that portion of the tire is released. Meanwhile new tread rolls onto the contact patch in front, but at the correct angle. Once the contact patch is covered by new tread, the stress from the turn is gone and steering wheel is back to a near-neutral force (again, modulo several affects from the suspension angles).



                The faster the car is moving forward, the faster it can put tread into the contact patch with no side stress. So the steering becomes easier.






                share|cite|improve this answer









                $endgroup$
















                  6












                  6








                  6





                  $begingroup$

                  Imagine the car stationary. The tire sits on the ground with the contact patch touching.



                  As you start to turn the wheel, this is trying to rotate the contact patch on the ground. (There are also more complex motions because of the non-zero caster angle of the front wheel).



                  This rotation is opposed by the static friction of the tire. As you continue turning, portions of the tread on the contact patch are pulled over and stressed.



                  Now imagine holding the steering wheel at that angle and allowing the car to roll forward a bit. The tread at the rear of the contact patch lifts away from the road and the stress in that portion of the tire is released. Meanwhile new tread rolls onto the contact patch in front, but at the correct angle. Once the contact patch is covered by new tread, the stress from the turn is gone and steering wheel is back to a near-neutral force (again, modulo several affects from the suspension angles).



                  The faster the car is moving forward, the faster it can put tread into the contact patch with no side stress. So the steering becomes easier.






                  share|cite|improve this answer









                  $endgroup$



                  Imagine the car stationary. The tire sits on the ground with the contact patch touching.



                  As you start to turn the wheel, this is trying to rotate the contact patch on the ground. (There are also more complex motions because of the non-zero caster angle of the front wheel).



                  This rotation is opposed by the static friction of the tire. As you continue turning, portions of the tread on the contact patch are pulled over and stressed.



                  Now imagine holding the steering wheel at that angle and allowing the car to roll forward a bit. The tread at the rear of the contact patch lifts away from the road and the stress in that portion of the tire is released. Meanwhile new tread rolls onto the contact patch in front, but at the correct angle. Once the contact patch is covered by new tread, the stress from the turn is gone and steering wheel is back to a near-neutral force (again, modulo several affects from the suspension angles).



                  The faster the car is moving forward, the faster it can put tread into the contact patch with no side stress. So the steering becomes easier.







                  share|cite|improve this answer












                  share|cite|improve this answer



                  share|cite|improve this answer










                  answered 2 hours ago









                  BowlOfRedBowlOfRed

                  17.2k22642




                  17.2k22642























                      2












                      $begingroup$

                      The work to turn the wheel is roughly proportional to how much you turn the wheel, and the distance the car traveled. You feel less resistance at higher speed because the car moved farther for the same amount of steering wheel turn. This is because when the wheels on the ground are rolling, the distortion of the rubber, and the friction, that occurs when you turn the steering wheel is less than it is when those wheels are stationary to the ground.






                      share|cite|improve this answer









                      $endgroup$


















                        2












                        $begingroup$

                        The work to turn the wheel is roughly proportional to how much you turn the wheel, and the distance the car traveled. You feel less resistance at higher speed because the car moved farther for the same amount of steering wheel turn. This is because when the wheels on the ground are rolling, the distortion of the rubber, and the friction, that occurs when you turn the steering wheel is less than it is when those wheels are stationary to the ground.






                        share|cite|improve this answer









                        $endgroup$
















                          2












                          2








                          2





                          $begingroup$

                          The work to turn the wheel is roughly proportional to how much you turn the wheel, and the distance the car traveled. You feel less resistance at higher speed because the car moved farther for the same amount of steering wheel turn. This is because when the wheels on the ground are rolling, the distortion of the rubber, and the friction, that occurs when you turn the steering wheel is less than it is when those wheels are stationary to the ground.






                          share|cite|improve this answer









                          $endgroup$



                          The work to turn the wheel is roughly proportional to how much you turn the wheel, and the distance the car traveled. You feel less resistance at higher speed because the car moved farther for the same amount of steering wheel turn. This is because when the wheels on the ground are rolling, the distortion of the rubber, and the friction, that occurs when you turn the steering wheel is less than it is when those wheels are stationary to the ground.







                          share|cite|improve this answer












                          share|cite|improve this answer



                          share|cite|improve this answer










                          answered 5 hours ago









                          DigiprocDigiproc

                          1,43848




                          1,43848























                              1












                              $begingroup$

                              Even though a car is not a wing, most cars generate some lift as they travel through the air as well as a force moment which tends to torque the car down at the rear wheels and up at the front. In addition, the torque that the engine is applying to the driven wheels results in a countertorque on the body of the car that also tends to lift the front end of the car. All these effects tend to unload the front wheels, which lightens the steering forces.






                              share|cite|improve this answer









                              $endgroup$









                              • 1




                                $begingroup$
                                This is probably less significant than the thing BowlOfRed suggested, but I don't doubt it has a measurable effect.
                                $endgroup$
                                – wizzwizz4
                                27 mins ago
















                              1












                              $begingroup$

                              Even though a car is not a wing, most cars generate some lift as they travel through the air as well as a force moment which tends to torque the car down at the rear wheels and up at the front. In addition, the torque that the engine is applying to the driven wheels results in a countertorque on the body of the car that also tends to lift the front end of the car. All these effects tend to unload the front wheels, which lightens the steering forces.






                              share|cite|improve this answer









                              $endgroup$









                              • 1




                                $begingroup$
                                This is probably less significant than the thing BowlOfRed suggested, but I don't doubt it has a measurable effect.
                                $endgroup$
                                – wizzwizz4
                                27 mins ago














                              1












                              1








                              1





                              $begingroup$

                              Even though a car is not a wing, most cars generate some lift as they travel through the air as well as a force moment which tends to torque the car down at the rear wheels and up at the front. In addition, the torque that the engine is applying to the driven wheels results in a countertorque on the body of the car that also tends to lift the front end of the car. All these effects tend to unload the front wheels, which lightens the steering forces.






                              share|cite|improve this answer









                              $endgroup$



                              Even though a car is not a wing, most cars generate some lift as they travel through the air as well as a force moment which tends to torque the car down at the rear wheels and up at the front. In addition, the torque that the engine is applying to the driven wheels results in a countertorque on the body of the car that also tends to lift the front end of the car. All these effects tend to unload the front wheels, which lightens the steering forces.







                              share|cite|improve this answer












                              share|cite|improve this answer



                              share|cite|improve this answer










                              answered 45 mins ago









                              niels nielsenniels nielsen

                              20.3k53061




                              20.3k53061








                              • 1




                                $begingroup$
                                This is probably less significant than the thing BowlOfRed suggested, but I don't doubt it has a measurable effect.
                                $endgroup$
                                – wizzwizz4
                                27 mins ago














                              • 1




                                $begingroup$
                                This is probably less significant than the thing BowlOfRed suggested, but I don't doubt it has a measurable effect.
                                $endgroup$
                                – wizzwizz4
                                27 mins ago








                              1




                              1




                              $begingroup$
                              This is probably less significant than the thing BowlOfRed suggested, but I don't doubt it has a measurable effect.
                              $endgroup$
                              – wizzwizz4
                              27 mins ago




                              $begingroup$
                              This is probably less significant than the thing BowlOfRed suggested, but I don't doubt it has a measurable effect.
                              $endgroup$
                              – wizzwizz4
                              27 mins ago


















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