Too Thick???
Thread Starter
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,564
Likes: 2
From: Chicago
Too Thick???
I've read a couple of articles recently that had me wondering. The writer (Chris Harris) was complaining that the steering wheel of the new M3 was too thick and took away road feel as a consequence. By chance I drove a 993 last week and was amazed at how much more road feel there was through the steering than my 997 with the thicker rim steering wheel.
So my question is this: by paying more did I actually gain less? Anybody else wonder about the effect of thicker rimmed steering wheels?
So my question is this: by paying more did I actually gain less? Anybody else wonder about the effect of thicker rimmed steering wheels?
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 181
Likes: 2
From: Oklahoma City
Perhaps you may feel more vibration through a thinner wheel and it makes sense to me that the larger wheel may provide some damping of road feedback through the wheel. But that said I think the larger wheel thickness makes the wheel easier to hold and more comfortable. I also think that any road feel you lose with the thicker wheel has got to be pretty inconsequential. I've got the thicker wheel too and I'm glad I do.
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From: Los Gatos, CA
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Connecticut
My dealer wanted me to drive a car with the thicker steering wheel before I finalized my order. I didn't like it -- too thick and it obscured the instruments more to boot. I'm very happy with the standard oem wheel.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 568
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From: NYC & CT
go to a bmw dealer and check out any M car (MCoupe, M3, M5, M6). although i prefer wheels to be slightly thicker, those things are grotesquely thick. kinda feels like i'm grabbing onto a baseball glove or something. that being said, i don't how how rim diameter can be detrimental to road feel unless related to the material absorbing the vibrations before getting to your hand-- in such case, it would seem to be more a function of the material and not the thickness per se. for what it's worth, i had an oem alacantara wheel (slightly thicker) on my last bimmer and loved it.
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Instructor
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 175
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From: Connecticut
Even the standard wheel on non-M cars is thick. I personally don't like it, but I imagine it's a matter of taste (and hand size). Porsche certainly doesn't want for plenty of options in the steering wheel department, so you should be able to find something you like.
