All recent models of Tesla cars include a steering mode adjustment, providing three choices ranging from easy to comfortable to sporty. This is one of the nice perks that come with owning a Tesla, with the ability to make small adjustments that affect the overall experience, adding extra value and making driving more enjoyable. An exploration of what these settings mean, how to change them, and which is best for different situations will help anyone who owns or is interested in buying a Tesla vehicle.
Most Tesla vehicles have the ability to adjust various settings to better suit the current driver, and one of the most important controls allows the force required to turn the steering to be changed. There are three choices: Comfort, Standard, and Sport. The default is, of course, the Standard steering mode, and Tesla notes that this option usually provides the best balance between handling and responsiveness, and works well in most conditions. When the steering is changed to the Sport mode, more effort is required to turn the wheel. The Comfort option makes it easier to steer when making sharp turns, such as when parking.
Which Tesla Steering Mode To Use
The Tesla Steering Mode adjustment is made by using the touchscreen. Tapping 'Controls,' then 'Pedals & Steering' will reveal the three options that are available. When spending the most time driving around town at lower speeds and making sharper turns, setting the Steering Mode to Comfort will make it easier to maneuver a Tesla, feeling a bit more like a luxury car. When driving mostly on the highway or when wanting to experience the feel of the road more, choosing the Sport Steering Mode will require more force to turn the wheel and give more feedback on any bumps or deviations in the road surface, which is important when driving conditions might be more challenging, allowing for best handling and responsiveness.
If unsure which Steering Mode to use, the easiest way to understand what it feels like and which will be best for each person is to try driving for a few minutes, then switching modes and cycling through all three. It might be best to drive in a familiar, low-traffic area for testing purposes. The Steering Mode is part of the driver profile settings, so changes made here will be saved for the current driver, but will not affect this option for any other driver.
Other Tesla Steering Wheel Controls
Tesla also offers other steering wheel controls that can be customized to a driver's preference. For example, users can adjust the steering wheel position to make it higher, lower, closer, or further away. The tilt can also be adjusted. To do this, tap 'Controls' on the touchscreen and select 'Steering.' Then, roll the left scroll button on the steering wheel (or yoke) up or down to adjust the height or tilt angle. Pressing the left scroll button to the left or right will bring the steering wheel closer or further away from the driver.
Users can also turn on the heated steering wheel function, which will maintain a comfortable temperature while driving. To do this, tap the temperature icon on the Tesla's touchscreen which will display the climate controls. Tap the steering wheel or steering yoke icon to turn on the heating. It's worth noting that some older Tesla Model 3 and Model Y units may not have the heated steering wheel feature. Additionally, Tesla warns users that steering wheel adjustments should not be made while driving.
Source: Tesla