Which statement about friction and cornering is true?

• A. More friction makes turning impossible
• B. The less friction, the less likely you are to turn a corner successfully
• C. Friction has no effect on cornering
• D. Friction only affects braking

Answer: (B)

Friction provides the grip that tires need to generate the lateral force required to change direction. In a turn, the tire-road contact patch must resist sideways sliding, and the available friction determines how much centripetal force the tires can produce. When friction is reduced—such as on wet, icy, or worn roads—the tires can’t push against the road as effectively, so you’re less able to steer through the corner and more likely to run wider or slip. So, the statement that the less friction you have, the less likely you are to complete a corner successfully is true. The other options misstate the role of friction: more friction does not make turning impossible (it actually helps up to a limit), friction does affect cornering, and friction is not limited to braking alone.