The steering ratio of the BMW Mini is 8:1. The steering ratio refers to how many turns of the steering wheel result in how many degrees the wheels turn. Most household cars use a non-linear steering system, which makes handling easier. However, the downside of non-linear steering is that drivers cannot accurately judge the degree to which the wheels have turned while turning the steering wheel, so many times they rely on their instincts.
For the Mini's steering ratio of 8:1, calculating 8 x 45 = 360 degrees means one full rotation. This means that when the steering wheel is turned one full circle, the wheels turn approximately 45 degrees. Nowadays, most car steering wheels have a total of three turns from lock to lock, which means 540 degrees to the left and right, with the front wheels' maximum steering angle being around 65 degrees.
Cars do not have linear steering mainly for safety reasons. With a linear steering ratio, the steering becomes extremely sensitive, and even a slight movement of the steering wheel could result in a significant steering action. At high speeds, if the driver slightly loses focus and moves the steering wheel, they would be unable to handle such a sudden change, increasing the likelihood of accidents.
