‘Dry Steering’ defined: Turning the steering wheel while stationary, which in turn causes the tires to scrub against the road surface, leading to accelerated and uneven tire wear as well as increased stress on steering components.
Why am I talking about this topic? Because Tesla has recently introduced a nifty feature called “Auto Shift (Beta)” that allows for shifting between Drive and Reverse, or out of Park, using a combination of steering wheel movement and brake pedal pressure. On the surface, this looks like a really cool capability. However, I have left it ‘disabled’, which is the default. To enable Auto Shift, touch Controls > Dynamics > Auto Shift (Beta), where you can select between On or from Park.
By design, Auto Shift requires you to turn the steering wheel in the direction you plan to travel, usually while the car is not moving. To be completely transparent, yes, there are times when Auto Shift will be used when leaving a parking space (no turning required) or while the vehicle is still moving, albeit slowly. But when testing Auto Shift, I found I was using it most of the time when the car was stationary and I was turning the steering wheel toward my future direction of travel. While doing this I always felt this couldn’t be good for the car, so that’s when I turned the feature off and did a bit of research.
Here are some benefits and drawbacks with respect to Tesla’s Auto Shift feature:
Benefits
- Increased convenience: Eliminates the need to interact with the touchscreen or a physical stalk for gear selection, potentially streamlining maneuvers like multi-point turns and backing out of parking spaces.
- Intuitive interaction: The combination of steering and braking might feel more natural to some drivers compared to using the touchscreen.
- Potential for future improvement: As a beta feature, Auto Shift is likely to evolve and improve with future software updates, becoming more refined and responsive over time.
Drawbacks
- Potential for initial learning curve: Drivers accustomed to traditional gear selectors might require some time to adjust to the new interface and learn the specific actions required to activate Auto Shift.
- Less precise control in some situations: In scenarios requiring rapid gear changes or quick adjustments, relying solely on Auto Shift might feel slower or less precise than manual selection, according to one source.
- Potential for accidental activation or confusion: The system relies on interpreting driver input and environmental cues, which could potentially lead to unexpected gear selections if the conditions aren’t clearly interpreted or the driver makes unintended movements.
- Safety concerns: While intended to enhance safety, any automated driving feature introduces potential risks if not fully understood or if it malfunctions. Drivers should always remain attentive and be prepared to override the system if needed, according to Tesla.
- Dependence on technology: Overreliance on the system could lead to a decrease in driver vigilance, which is crucial given the feature’s beta status and the need for driver oversight, according to Tesla.
And some reasons why you might want to not use Auto Shift to avoid ‘dry steering’ issues:
- Tire Wear: Turning the steering wheel while stationary causes the tires to scrub against the road surface, leading to accelerated and uneven tire wear.
- Steering System Strain: The power steering pump and other steering components experience increased stress during dry steering, potentially leading to premature wear or damage.
- Power Steering Issues: In vehicles with hydraulic power steering, dry steering can cause the fluid to overheat or the pump to fail. Electric power steering systems can also experience overheating and motor damage.
- Difficulty in Confined Spaces: While dry steering may be unavoidable in some situations, like maneuvering in tight spaces, it’s best to minimize it whenever possible.
Recommendation: When steering, try to have the car in motion, even if just rolling very slowly, to reduce the stress on the tires and steering components.