Tighten up steering on R1S?

[JJinLA]

Just took delivery on an R1S. Is there a way to stiffen the steering? There seems to be a lot of "play" in the wheel and the response time is a bit slow. We have it in "low" and "firm" mode on the highway and haven't noticed much of a difference. Any suggestions?

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[electruck]

Which tires do you have and is the pressure correctly set?

 

[Killer95Stang]

You aren't feeling play in the steering. What you are feeling is a steering system with high level of steering assist. Also, the steering shaft is mechanically connected to the steering gear, so no lag in response time. The response time is how fast your shoulders movebyour arms. A lot of cars and especially sports cars have a firmer feel, so if you are coming from one of those, the Rivian will feel like it has looser steering.

 

[mkg3]

Just took delivery on an R1S. Is there a way to stiffen the steering? There seems to be a lot of "play" in the wheel and the response time is a bit slow. We have it in "low" and "firm" mode on the highway and haven't noticed much of a difference. Any suggestions?

Keep in mind that you're driving a 7k lbs body-on-frame SUV.

The steering is over boosted and too light. Turn-ins are not crisp but relatively responsive, given its low cg.. In Low/Firm/Sports mode.

I have 22" and just replaced the OE Scorpion Zero AS with Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 which made the steering feel worse (has much deeper tread depth and makes it feel more mushy). Would have preferred Pilot Sport AS2 or CrossClimate but not offered in the size or required load index.

It just is. Its the characteristics of the vehicle.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Just took delivery on an R1S. Is there a way to stiffen the steering? There seems to be a lot of "play" in the wheel and the response time is a bit slow. We have it in "low" and "firm" mode on the highway and haven't noticed much of a difference. Any suggestions?

Submit service request ticket.

 

[TwelveVoltMan]

I do find the steering a bit overboosted for my tastes on the R1S. It would be nice if there was a setting to tighten it up like previous Audis and Teslas I have owned.

 

[Nearly Tarzan]

This was my first impression of the steering too. However I think Killer95Stang hit it on the head. I'm coming from a Volvo XC60 which had firm steering making it feel a bit sportier. Understandably, this is a huge SUV that is 3x the weight of the Volvo so I understand why the steering is the way it is. Would love it to be a bit firmer but Im not holding my breath for that to happen.

 

[Rivian Owner]

Keep in mind that a 8000 lb beast isn't going to go around a corner like a 4000 lb car. Steering will be more sluggish because of the weight and you will have more sidewall give. If you wanted McLaren handling you should have bought a McLaren, not a SUV.

 

[electruck]

OP, also keep in mind that if you just took delivery of a brand new R1, you're also likely feeling a little tread squirm from the new tires. The tires are at full tread depth and haven't had many heat cycles. See if things improve after 500-1000 miles.

With 22" tires, both the factory Pirelli and the Conti Terrain Contacts I'm currently running, I have never considered there to be excessive play or slow response from the tires (outside of the standard allowances for brand new tires). The steering is actually quite good, if subjectively a little on the light side.

 

[TwelveVoltMan]

Keep in mind that a 8000 lb beast isn't going to go around a corner like a 4000 lb car. Steering will be more sluggish because of the weight and you will have more sidewall give. If you wanted McLaren handling you should have bought a McLaren, not a SUV.

There’s a difference in how a vehicle handles in a corner and the effort to turn the steering wheel. They are two separate things. It is unreasonable to expect an R1S to handle like a P1. It is not unreasonable to expect user adjustable steering effort. The cheapest Tesla Model 3 has it.

 

[bfilippo]

Hmm I’m wondering if even the new S has different handling from the T. I find my Gen2 T to be as responsive as our Model Y with very little play in the wheel.

 

[Rivian Owner]

There’s a difference in how a vehicle handles in a corner and the effort to turn the steering wheel. They are two separate things. It is unreasonable to expect an R1S to handle like a P1. It is not unreasonable to expect user adjustable steering effort. The cheapest Tesla Model 3 has it.

Sure Telsa can make the steering take more or less effort to turn the wheel, but that doesn't change the fact that the 8000 lb brick won't want to respond whether going around a corner or swerving around a pot hole. You are right, they aren't the same thing, but the thing that matters is how the vehicle responds to input, not how hard you have to work to turn the wheel. Just changing the assist rate on the steering doesn't change the handling dynamics, it just makes you work harder for the same response. The OP complained about "slow steering" which has more to do with handling dynamics than the change in effort to turn the wheel, unless Tesla has some magic that changes the world of physics related to tires, contact patches, pavement adhesion, and lots of other factors.

 

[Electrified Outdoors]

This is one of those things that can be subjective.

generally speaking the Rivian has lighter feeling steering. It should firm up a little in sport mode which puts you in low ride height and firm suspension.

some things can cause the steering to feel a little off like a damper problem or alignment but these vehicles don’t have the steering feel like a Tesla or BMW would.

It would be nice if Rivian could allow the driver to fine tune steering feel like Tesla and GM. Some drivers prefer that lighter feeling steering while I myself prefer the more heavy/sporty steering feel.

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