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The G-force measured across the car's side-to-side axis during cornering. Higher lateral G means you are generating more cornering force. Consistent lateral G values suggest smooth, confident driving through turns.
Staniforth's Car Suspension explains the friction circle: "If a tyre is capable of generating 700kg of lateral force for 450kg of vertical loading, the maximum G-force generated will be 1.55G." He explains that at corner entry "you will be turning the car into the corner whilst gently releasing the brake — at this point the tyre is having to cope with both deceleration and cornering forces." Gillespie's Fundamentals of Vehicle Dynamics adds that "as the brake force is applied, the lateral force gradually diminishes due to the additional slip induced in the contact patch" — this is the friction circle in action, where "the general effect on lateral force when braking is applied" limits the total available force. The friction circle concept means you trade lateral G for longitudinal G but the combined total is bounded by tire grip.