What is the tendency for a vehicle travelling forward to straighten from a turn when the driver releases the steering wheel?

• A. Caster effect
• B. Centrifugal force
• C. Understeer
• D. Oversteer

Answer: (A)

Self-centering of the steering comes from the caster angle in the steering geometry. When the steering axis is tilted so the axis intersects the ground forward of the wheel’s contact patch, positive caster creates caster trail. As you straighten the wheel after turning, that trail generates a restoring moment that naturally turns the wheel back toward straight. In other words, the steering system itself tends to pull the wheels back to the straight-ahead position, helping the vehicle return to a straight path. Centrifugal force is just a perceived effect in a turn, not the mechanism that re-centers the steering. Understeer and oversteer describe how the car responds during cornering due to tire grip, not the immediate self-centering tendency when the wheel is released.