Active Steering = Excessive Tire Wear?

[jotarver]

I am new to this forum and would like to thank everyone in advance for any tips/info/advice that you may have. My wife and I are close to ordering an X5 4.8i. The only option that I am uncertain about is the active steering. I have searched the forum and am familiar with the concept.

I have not yet driven an X5 with the active steering because my dealer does not have one with the option. They have offerred for me to drive a 5-series with and without the AS, but in my opinion that is not comparing apples to apples. Would a test drive in the 5-series be representative of the X5 with AS?

My salesman does not prefer the AS on the X5 and tells me that tire wear is significantly greater than for a non-AS equipped vehicle. Is this correct?

I don't want to beat a dead horse but if you have any experiences that you would like to share with AS and/or AS causing excessive tire wear, I would appreciate the information.
Thank you!

[pb48]

Originally Posted by jotarver

My salesman does not prefer the AS on the X5 and tells me that tire wear is significantly greater than for a non-AS equipped vehicle. Is this correct?

There is absolutely no reason for an AS equipped vehicle to generate more tire wear than an equivalent non-AS vehicle. AS is just a variable ratio steering rack. From the way you've stated it, it seems to me your sales is giving you this BS is to push his personal preference of AS on to you. I don't like it either, my X5 doesn't have it, but I won't say such crap to convince someone not to get it...AS is a very subjective option.

[vinuneuro]

Originally Posted by pb48

There is absolutely no reason for an AS equipped vehicle to generate more tire wear than an equivalent non-AS vehicle. AS is just a variable ratio steering rack. From the way you've stated it, it seems to me your sales is giving you this BS is to push his personal preference of AS on to you. I don't like it either, my X5 doesn't have it, but I won't say such crap to convince someone not to get it...AS is a very subjective option.

His salesman is telling him not to get it.

jotarver, are there no other dealers in your area? At least one should have one with AS you can drive. And I can't think of any logical reason why AS would increase tire wear.

[rh71]

I think one drive in the 5-series with AS and you'll say no to the option. It freaked me out while test driving a 4.8i taking a corner pretty quick (wanted to test the vehicle's agility). It's not very natural at all and takes getting used to because the variable is the speed and rate of turn, both of which are... well, variable. Try it regardless and see for yourself.

[pb48]

Originally Posted by vinuneuro

His salesman is telling him not to get it.

I acknowledged that. Telling him not to get it is one thing, but telling him not to get it by feeding the customer bullsh*t (such as that it generates more tire wear) IMO, is poor practice. Again, as you said, there is no reason for AS to cause excessive tire wear.

Many people like AS, and just as many don't, so decide carefully based on what you feel behind the wheel. Just don't consider the tire wear "problem".

[vinuneuro]

Originally Posted by pb48

I acknowledged that. Telling him not to get it is one thing, but telling him not to get it by feeding the customer bullsh*t (such as that it generates more tire wear) IMO, is poor practice. Again, as you said, there is no reason for AS to cause excessive tire wear.

Many people like AS, and just as many don't, so decide carefully based on what you feel behind the wheel. Just don't consider the tire wear "problem".

I misread your post. Agree that the salesman should let the customer make an objective decision based on his/her impressions.

[Fastbuck]

A tyre will wear more if you turn whilst stopped compared to rolling albeit slowly. perhaps with AS you are more inclined to turn the wheel whilst at a complete stop???

[chriss_s]

Fastbuck is right, but I think jotarver may have gotten AS and DD (Dynamic Drive) mixed up. DD does typically lead to an increased tire weare if the car ist driven trough a corner at sufficient speed. I believe this effect can be attributed mostly to the DD's anti-roll system. BMW states somewere how much force (downwards on the weels) can be excetrted by the system.

[jimsaq]

I love active steering, I hop straight out of my clunky truck-like nissan patrol into the X5 and the steering feels great