When a vehicle turns, which wheels follow a shorter path?

• A. False
• B. It depends on speed
• C. The front wheels follow a shorter path
• D. The rear wheels follow a shorter path

Answer: (D)

When a vehicle turns, all four wheels trace circular arcs around an inside turning point. The distance a wheel travels depends on how far it is from that center of rotation—the smaller the radius, the shorter the path.

The front wheels are steered toward the turn and sit farther from the turn’s center than the rear axle does. That means the front wheels describe larger circles and cover more distance than the rear wheels. The rear wheels stay closer to the center of rotation, so they follow smaller-radius paths and travel a shorter distance overall.

This geometric effect isn’t about speed; it’s about where each wheel sits relative to the center of the turning circle. So the rear wheels follow the shorter path.