What is the wheelbase of a car? We understand passenger cars and trucks

1. What is this?
2. Long wheelbase
3. Short wheelbase
4. Which is better: long or short base?
5. Is it possible to increase the center distance on your own?
6. How to obtain information about the technical characteristics of the machine

The technical characteristics of cars indicate such a parameter as the wheelbase. It affects the vehicle's maneuverability and the comfort of passengers. This is an important characteristic to consider when choosing a vehicle.

What is this?

Wheelbase is the distance between the front and rear axle of a car. Otherwise it is called the inter-axle length of the machine. This parameter should not be confused with ground clearance - the ground clearance between the lowest point of the body and the road.

Depending on the wheelbase, the vehicle class is determined:

• A – up to 2400 mm;
• B – from 2400 to 2500 mm;
• C – from 2500 to 2750 mm;
• D – 2850 mm;
• E – from 2850 to 2950 mm.

For trucks, the distance between the axles is greater, about 8000 mm.

There are long and short wheelbases of a car, which affect handling, maneuverability and comfort. Each type has advantages and disadvantages.

Conclusion

As mentioned earlier, the wheelbase in a modern car is an extremely important indicator, taking into account which you can evaluate the dynamic performance of the car, its comfort, as well as maneuverability and ability to hold the road regardless of speed. Of course, the term should be understood correctly by every driver and in no case should it be confused with ground clearance, for the simple reason that such knowledge will subsequently allow you to avoid a whole series of troubles.

Author: Oleg Mokrov

Long wheelbase

The base of the car affects many characteristics of the car. And it is generally accepted that the greater the distance between the axles, the better the maneuverability and controllability. In fact, long wheelbases are found predominantly in premium cars.

The main advantage of the large distance between the axles is comfortable conditions for passengers. The distance between the seats is quite large, so you don’t have to rest your knees on the chairs. Such machines are especially convenient for tall people.

The long wheelbase of the car ensures a smooth ride; on uneven sections of the road the car does not jump and passes obstacles quite easily. We can safely say that not only passengers, but also drivers are comfortable in such cars.

Another advantage is ease of acceleration, less chance of skidding during a sharp turn. This feature is explained by the fact that such cars require less weight redistribution, ensuring a stable position on the road.

Most long wheelbase vehicles are front wheel drive. And this determines another important advantage - ease of maintenance. Repairing such cars is cheaper than rear-wheel drive ones.

Formula with slash

For trucks, after the second indicator (the number of driving wheels), there may be another one, separated from the main formula by a slash. For example, the Ural-5323 all-terrain truck has an 8x8/4 wheel arrangement. This means all 8 wheels are driven, and the number 4 means that half of them are steerable.

It is important to remember that even if there are 2 wheels on the axle shaft, they are indicated in the formula as one. Therefore, by the first indicator it is easy to find out the number of axles of the vehicle:

• 8 – four-axle;
• 6 – triaxial;
• 4 – biaxial.

Short wheelbase

Despite the many advantages of a long wheelbase, vehicles with short axle spacing are in great demand. This is explained by the numerous advantages of such machines:

• Excellent maneuverability and controllability even at high speed. Drivers note that such cars listen better and the steering wheel is soft. These parameters are especially important in urban conditions, when it is important to change lanes correctly and on time, overtake and take turns.
• High cross-country ability, allowing the vehicle to be used off-road. Such vehicles have a higher ramp angle, which allows them to overcome difficult obstacles in the form of uneven road surfaces. True, the ride cannot be called ideal, except for premium SUVs that can easily drive through holes, potholes and other obstacles.
• Good stability when driving at high speed. Cars with a short wheelbase are designed to drive fast, although they make turns more difficult and the rear end can skid. Although it is easier to get such a car out of a skid than with a long wheelbase.

Most modern urban crossovers and SUVs have an optimal ratio of short wheelbase and overall body length. This determines most of the advantages: convenience for passengers, good handling and maneuverability.

Tables

In the tables you will find formulas for the most common vehicles. Two or more indicators separated by commas indicate that the manufacturer has various modifications.

Cars

Trucks

Other equipment

Which is better: long or short base?

It used to be that the wheelbase determined the majority of a car's performance characteristics. And when determining the distance between the axles for the future car, the characteristics of competitors' cars were taken into account. To get ahead of other manufacturers, engineers increased the center distance by several millimeters. And only after a detailed study of the car’s behavior on the road was it possible to find out that controllability and maneuverability are influenced by a combination of parameters: ground clearance, body length and wheelbase.

It is impossible to say definitely at what base the car drives better and copes with road obstacles. The peculiarities of transport operation and personal preferences should be taken into account. So, if you like traveling long distances on highways and off-road, then choose a car with a long wheelbase. A similar choice should be made when choosing a luxury car for the purpose of transporting passengers.

For driving within the city, when maneuverability on narrow streets is important, cars with a short wheelbase are suitable. If you need comfort for passengers, then preference should be given to a model with a long body.

As for cost, there are representatives of both types in the budget and premium classes. At the same time, a long wheelbase is not an indicator of prestige. For example, Gazelles and vans also have a wide distance between the axles, but this does not classify them as an elite line of vehicles.

A little about trucks

Trucks are also divided into short and long axle distances. But here it is more pronounced.

So, for example, “tractors”, vehicles that pull trucks (road trains), always have a short wheelbase; it allows them to maneuver perfectly, as well as have better maneuverability and weight distribution. Often, two axles are installed at the rear in order to withstand the pressure of the truck!

But dump trucks or trucks, on the contrary, have an extended size. This is because they need to hold the body or van with a load on top. And the load is calculated taking into account the load condition - that’s why these cars jump so much without a load, and when loaded they go smoothly.

But in general, trucks also maintain a ratio of 1.6 - 1.8; it is universal, regardless of the dimensions, ground clearance, weight and class of the vehicle.

That's all, I tried to open all aspects, I think you liked it. Read our AUTOBLOG.

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Is it possible to increase the center distance on your own?

Theoretically, you can change the width between the axes. But in practice this is quite difficult and expensive. Making changes to the basic characteristics of a machine is fraught with negative consequences:

• rapid wear of the suspension;
• failure of bearings and struts;
• protrusion of the wheels beyond the arch, which will cause the body to be covered with dirt.

It is important to remember that making changes to the characteristics of a car is illegal without prior approval from the traffic police. This can result in administrative penalties and a requirement to return the original parameters. Therefore, it is not worth changing the wheelbase - this has more disadvantages than advantages.

Resizable

In the 70s of the last century, American manufacturers practiced a variable base parameter. The figure depended on the design of the chassis. Thus, the car suspension was built on trailing arms. They were often installed at the rear. The front wheels were stationary in terms of expansion. So, depending on the load, the wheelbase expanded or narrowed. Currently, this design is used only on commercial vehicles.

Some French-made cars had an uneven wheelbase. This meant that the front side was narrower than the back by several centimeters. On Renault 16 this parameter was 6.5 centimeters. Do not confuse an uneven base with unequally wide discs. The latter are installed for aesthetic purposes. In the standard, all parameters remain the same.

Let's sum it up

To summarize, let’s say that independently changing the ground clearance and wheel track is, in principle, acceptable, but it will directly affect the working life of the vehicle’s chassis. The wheelbase cannot be changed. Its size cannot be adjusted. For our part, we would not recommend making any modifications at all. Don’t think that your ideas can improve engineering schemes, which, by the way, entire design and testing bureaus are working on. The only thing you will achieve is increased wear and tear on the car. The improvement in the indicators themselves will be barely noticeable. It is better to initially choose a car model that will completely satisfy you.

Effect on driving performance

Advantages of a long base:

• A car with a longer wheelbase than its overall length allows for more efficient, comfortable and spacious accommodation of passengers in the space between the axles;[1]
• A car with a long wheelbase has (usually, but not always) smaller front and rear overhangs;[1]
• A car with a long wheelbase has a better ride and comfort: the tendency for longitudinal vibrations to occur is reduced, which makes it possible to use a soft suspension, which gives the car a high ride smoothness.[1]

• A car with a long wheelbase is more stable during acceleration (due to less weight redistribution).
• A car with a long wheelbase is more predictable in corners (for the same reason).

It is most rational to lengthen the wheelbase on front-wheel drive cars, since in the case of a classic layout this leads to excessive lengthening of the driveshaft and the need to use a more complex design (composite)[1]. Meanwhile, since the late seventies, there has been a tendency towards a significant increase in the wheelbase of passenger cars, regardless of the layout [1]. A rear-wheel drive car with an extended wheelbase easily slips and spins, especially on slippery roads and on turns; pickup trucks, for example, have this “disease,” so when driving in adverse weather conditions and on a slippery road, it is highly advisable to engage all-wheel drive.

Advantages of a short base:

• A car with a short wheelbase handles tight turns better.
• A car with a short wheelbase, all other things being equal, has better maneuverability.
• A car with a short wheelbase has higher geometric cross-country ability.
• A car with a short wheelbase is easier to get out of a skid.

A relatively short wheelbase is most rational for off-road vehicles (to ensure high off-road performance). Handling benefits are also important for sports and racing cars.