What are the downsides of full time Sport Mode?

[bmedfo1]

Gen 1 quad- I used to live in sport until I realized all AP has much more power at over 50mph. Now I have to constantly change putting it in AP ever time I get on the highway to have the highest power at all times.

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[mkg3]

I spoke to a Rivian tech about 2 weeks ago. I asked if they could do the alignment in low, he said they couldn't. So my next logical question was, how much does the toe and camber change (if at all) compared to standard ride height?

He said it is very minimal, less than 0.2 degrees, and should be almost no change in toe. Based on that, I can't see it having a huge effect IF the toe and camber are set properly when in Standard height.

If it was a really big difference like 0.75 - 1 degree, I'd have a lot more concern about it. He didn't state what the final numbers are but I am going in for an alignment as soon as they can get me in and I'll see what they set it up as.

When most vehicles used to have camber front suspension setting available, I used to always set my camber to (-0.5)~(-0.75) degrees depending on how nose heavy the vehicle was. I even used to buy the camber kit to put on bottom of the McPherson Strut to add the adjustment.

In all the years and hundreds of thousands of miles, I never had an issue with inside tire tread wearing excessively. (I suppose one can read this to mean that I drove through corners faster and scrub the outside tread more so it balanced out )

On Rivian, now 25K miles and 99% of the time it's been on Low ride height setting. Although I had to replace the OE 22" at 17K miles due to sidewall blister, the wear was even across the tread. Now 8K miles into Defender LTX M/S2, and just having had the tires rotated, there is no issue.

I actually don't notice the camber change at all. Because it is said that there is a change, I'm sure there is. Its just that its so subtle on a 7K lbs vehicle that it is unnoticeable.

 

[DayTripping]

When most vehicles used to have camber front suspension setting available, I used to always set my camber to (-0.5)~(-0.75) degrees depending on how nose heavy the vehicle was. I even used to buy the camber kit to put on bottom of the McPherson Strut to add the adjustment.

In all the years and hundreds of thousands of miles, I never had an issue with inside tire tread wearing excessively. (I suppose one can read this to mean that I drove through corners faster and scrub the outside tread more so it balanced out )

On Rivian, now 25K miles and 99% of the time it's been on Low ride height setting. Although I had to replace the OE 22" at 17K miles due to sidewall blister, the wear was even across the tread. Now 8K miles into Defender LTX M/S2, and just having had the tires rotated, there is no issue.

I actually don't notice the camber change at all. Because it is said that there is a change, I'm sure there is. Its just that its so subtle on a 7K lbs vehicle that it is unnoticeable.

I have the poster child for excess negative camber (for the street) in my garage; Model S Plaid. The rear tires were gone, on the inside edge, in 5k miles. I had over 2 degrees negative and the toe was off a bit as well. Ok for a road course, terrible on the street and at the drag strip.

 

[DayTripping]

This. For gen1 R1s, the ride is rough even with the recent update. Now it’s much better than before, but it comes no where close even a conventional non air suspension in terms of everyday driving ride comfort. For potholed Los Angeles roads, sport mode is difficult to tolerate even on Low Soft. The car just rocks back and forth and pitches up and down with the bad roads even at low speeds.

You hit on why I ended up buying an R1T over the R1S. I grew up in LA, return frequently, and can say Dallas roads are much worse. When I drove an R1S, I was very disappointed in it. When I drove the R1T, I was shocked how much better it was. The difference between driving the T & S back to back immediately caused me to eliminate the S from consideration.

Back then (~7 months ago) the R1T was at least in the realm of my Ram 1500 that had coil springs all around and was quite comfy as a daily driver. With the pervious update, 2025.10, it is definitely better than the Ram was with ride comfort and it had always handled more nimbly.

 

[TexasBob]

I prefer Sport Mode because of the stiffer steering. I find AP Mode steering to be too loosey-goosey (for lack of a more mature phrase). What are the down sides (besides range) that can effect my tires and the vehicle in general?

FWIW, my wife drives 100% Sport mode in her Tri-Motor R1S as well. She likes the tighter feel and responsiveness. It seems to have a negligible impact on efficiency. I think it is totally fine. I drive my Dual R1T in AP. Personal preference.

 

[sub]

The downside to driving in sport mode all the time is that you get used to it and the vehicle feels really slow and ungrounded when you have to switch to something else.

99% sport mode here. I do go through tires unreasonablely quickly, but the wear is perfectly even side to side so it has more to do with how I'm driving than what mode I'm in.

Actually, even though I do not believe drive mode impacts tire life directly, if I had to drive around in highest all the time, I'm pretty sure my tires would last a lot longer because of how slowly I would accelerate and turn because of how poorly it handles up there.

 

[Eeyore]

if I use sport mode, it also enables 'Angry Wife Mode'.

I'd say your wife was my wife's sister, if she had one.

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