YouTubers and chunky M steering wheels
Discussion
Oh boy, am I getting bored with them all on the same schtick about chunky M steering wheels.
Metcalfe and Achilles are repeat offenders.
Personally I love the small diameter, chunky rim of a typical M car from the last 15 years or so.
Far more ergonomic and comfortable for extended periods at the wheel, and having a thicker rim means I can spread the contact patch between my fingers and the surface of the wheel over a larger area, and at the same time reduce finger grip pressure and achieve a more sensitive "feel" for actual tyre grip changes.
Why they have to go on about it so much is beyond me.
Give me a chunky M-car steering wheel over a spindly Porsche wheel any day.
I would be far more annoyed by the truly awful graphics of the main digital display on all M cars now.
Whoever signed off these displays should be booted out.
Metcalfe and Achilles are repeat offenders.
Personally I love the small diameter, chunky rim of a typical M car from the last 15 years or so.
Far more ergonomic and comfortable for extended periods at the wheel, and having a thicker rim means I can spread the contact patch between my fingers and the surface of the wheel over a larger area, and at the same time reduce finger grip pressure and achieve a more sensitive "feel" for actual tyre grip changes.
Why they have to go on about it so much is beyond me.
Give me a chunky M-car steering wheel over a spindly Porsche wheel any day.
I would be far more annoyed by the truly awful graphics of the main digital display on all M cars now.
Whoever signed off these displays should be booted out.
Tony B2 said:
Oh boy, am I getting bored with them all on the same schtick about chunky M steering wheels.
Metcalfe and Achilles are repeat offenders.
Personally I love the small diameter, chunky rim of a typical M car from the last 15 years or so.
Far more ergonomic and comfortable for extended periods at the wheel, and having a thicker rim means I can spread the contact patch between my fingers and the surface of the wheel over a larger area, and at the same time reduce finger grip pressure and achieve a more sensitive "feel" for actual tyre grip changes.
Why they have to go on about it so much is beyond me.
Give me a chunky M-car steering wheel over a spindly Porsche wheel any day.
I would be far more annoyed by the truly awful graphics of the main digital display on all M cars now.
Whoever signed off these displays should be booted out.
You’ll find all race and competition wheels are thin rimmed, done for feel and feedback. The thicker the rim the less finesse you have over the control. That’s likely why they’re criticising the chunky rims. Good for road use, rubbish for pure driver feedback. Metcalfe and Achilles are repeat offenders.
Personally I love the small diameter, chunky rim of a typical M car from the last 15 years or so.
Far more ergonomic and comfortable for extended periods at the wheel, and having a thicker rim means I can spread the contact patch between my fingers and the surface of the wheel over a larger area, and at the same time reduce finger grip pressure and achieve a more sensitive "feel" for actual tyre grip changes.
Why they have to go on about it so much is beyond me.
Give me a chunky M-car steering wheel over a spindly Porsche wheel any day.
I would be far more annoyed by the truly awful graphics of the main digital display on all M cars now.
Whoever signed off these displays should be booted out.
They go on and on as it generates clicks and views, that’s all YT vids are created for now.
Evolved said:
You ll find all race and competition wheels are thin rimmed, done for feel and feedback. The thicker the rim the less finesse you have over the control. That s likely why they re criticising the chunky rims. Good for road use, rubbish for pure driver feedback.
They go on and on as it generates clicks and views, that s all YT vids are created for now.
Technically speaking, more surface area should give you increased feedback.They go on and on as it generates clicks and views, that s all YT vids are created for now.
Night Owl said:
Evolved said:
You ll find all race and competition wheels are thin rimmed, done for feel and feedback. The thicker the rim the less finesse you have over the control. That s likely why they re criticising the chunky rims. Good for road use, rubbish for pure driver feedback.
They go on and on as it generates clicks and views, that s all YT vids are created for now.
Technically speaking, more surface area should give you increased feedback.They go on and on as it generates clicks and views, that s all YT vids are created for now.
Try writing with a pen or pencil that s as thick as a broom handle and feedback on the results.
We are straying into "argumentum ad absurbum" territory, which misses the point - there is an optimum.
If writing for extended periods of time I would much prefer a chunky, ergonomically shaped pen, to a skinny pencil. Or a broom handle.
If I were to take your thin steering wheel argument to a logical conclusion, competition steering wheels should be as thin as a wire coat-hanger, should they not?
And almost all competition style driving involves the use of gloves, which totally compromises finger-tip feel anyway.
A chunky steering wheel, of the right profile (i.e. rim cross section, and thickness), such as BMW put in M-cars is absolutely ideal, for feel, because it allows the fingers to spread even pressure over a larger surface area, which allows a lighter/less aggressive grip.
I love them.
I don't love my Porsche steering wheel at all....
If writing for extended periods of time I would much prefer a chunky, ergonomically shaped pen, to a skinny pencil. Or a broom handle.
If I were to take your thin steering wheel argument to a logical conclusion, competition steering wheels should be as thin as a wire coat-hanger, should they not?
And almost all competition style driving involves the use of gloves, which totally compromises finger-tip feel anyway.
A chunky steering wheel, of the right profile (i.e. rim cross section, and thickness), such as BMW put in M-cars is absolutely ideal, for feel, because it allows the fingers to spread even pressure over a larger surface area, which allows a lighter/less aggressive grip.
I love them.
I don't love my Porsche steering wheel at all....
benny.c said:
The first BMW I drove, back in 1994, was an E30 325i Sport, the later version with the M-Tech II kit. It had that steering wheel. I'll never forget it - it was wonderfully smooth and flattering to drive. My boss, who owned it, chopped it in for a brand new E36 M3.Ultimately it's personal preference as most probably wouldn't really notice.
I do feel YouTubers are getting more consistent in their narrative. Perhaps they all have he same personal preference or perhaps they are all running low on individual ideas and so stick to the same thing chasing the algorithm
My guess is it's the latter as you see similar in the watch YouTube space with opinions all aligning and content just being variations of each others work
I do feel YouTubers are getting more consistent in their narrative. Perhaps they all have he same personal preference or perhaps they are all running low on individual ideas and so stick to the same thing chasing the algorithm
My guess is it's the latter as you see similar in the watch YouTube space with opinions all aligning and content just being variations of each others work
To be fair, if you jump in and out of lots of other cars the current M steering wheels do feel comically over sized. After a few days though you get used to it. But that is the thing, if you are in and out of other cars you are constantly reminded just how chunky they are.
Thing is, with the modern steering so lacking in feedback, I'm not sure a thinner rim would actually add anything?
Also, the thinner wheels from BMW over the last 15 years or so, have been with really, really horrible leather, in fact not even sure if it is leather? It feels more like plastic and not even a soft plastic that is mocking leather. It really is horrible and in comparison the leather M wheels feels great.
The other thing is the overall diameter of the wheels, as they have got thicker they have got larger again, which is not good.
The e9x M wheels were 335mm and the F8x wheels are 360mm.
I would rather a smaller diameter wheel that is a bit thinner. I bet most would if they lived with both for a week.
Thing is, with the modern steering so lacking in feedback, I'm not sure a thinner rim would actually add anything?
Also, the thinner wheels from BMW over the last 15 years or so, have been with really, really horrible leather, in fact not even sure if it is leather? It feels more like plastic and not even a soft plastic that is mocking leather. It really is horrible and in comparison the leather M wheels feels great.
The other thing is the overall diameter of the wheels, as they have got thicker they have got larger again, which is not good.
The e9x M wheels were 335mm and the F8x wheels are 360mm.
I would rather a smaller diameter wheel that is a bit thinner. I bet most would if they lived with both for a week.
For those commending the fat wheel, I'm guessing you don't meet the limits of the car very often?
That is when you need precise feel for what is occurring under those front wheels. The super fat and cushioned M wheel dulls that and makes it not a very nice experience at all when pushing on.
I love my Porsche GT wheels and the first modification I do to all M cars I've owned is to get Jack from RSW to strip it pack and remove as much of it as possible. It makes it marginally better but still nowhere near a Porsche, McLaren, Lotus, etc.....
That is when you need precise feel for what is occurring under those front wheels. The super fat and cushioned M wheel dulls that and makes it not a very nice experience at all when pushing on.
I love my Porsche GT wheels and the first modification I do to all M cars I've owned is to get Jack from RSW to strip it pack and remove as much of it as possible. It makes it marginally better but still nowhere near a Porsche, McLaren, Lotus, etc.....
Pizzaeatingking said:
My E90 has probably the chunkiest wheel I've had in a car. I like it, might not be the absolute optimum for driver feel & feedback but feels nice in my hands.
Chunkiest for me was the Z4M, but I think my F82 M4 is quite a nice happy medium though(not too big and not too small). Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff