Turning radius

The turning radius of a vehicle is the radius of the smallest circular turn (i.e. U-turn) that the vehicle is capable of making. The term turning radius is a technical term that has become popular automotive jargon. In the jargon sense, it is commonly used to mean the full diameter of the smallest circle, but in technical usage the turning radius still is used to denote the radius. The less ambiguous term turning circle avoids the mistaken jargon use of the word 'radius' . As an example, Motor Trend refers to a curb-to-curb turning circle of a 2008 Cadillac CTS as 35.5 feet (10.82 m). But the terminology is not yet settled. The AutoChannel.com refers to turning radius of the same car as 35.5 feet (10.82 m). It is often used as a generalized term rather than a numerical figure. For example, a vehicle with a very small turning circle may be described as having a "tight turning radius".