Flat bottom steering advantages?

[First Stang]

This was a no factor in my decision to go s550 vs 24’. Can someone with more experience describe how the flat bottom would be better than a round wheel? It seems like Legroom would be self defeating once you start turning the wheel.

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[K4fxd]

Unless you go with a F1 wheel I think it is mostly for looks. I have heard some complaints from C8 drivers on track that the flat bottom wheel gets in the way on sharp turns.

 

[NightmareMoon]

On the S550 the regular wheels are almost identical in size and shape to the flat bottom ones. One is slightly flatter on the bottom, yes.

driving aggressively you’re not going to often notice the difference between the two, so no real advantage.

flat bottom is less common so its ‘cooler’, but its more in the styling category vs functional.

heck, I drove a tesla plaid with the yoke around an autox course and I don’t think I even thought about the wheel shape once after we got going. The rest of the car was too overwhelming. Crazy.

 

[m3incorp]

Having a flat bottom and top, I'd say it is cosmetic.....for those that like the look.

 

[Cobra Jet]

I think the flat bottom wheel is like any other mod - someone sees it, buys it, posts about it - and next thing you know, other people now want it too… ‘gotta have it syndrome’ without even knowing if there’s any benefits to it to not….

I’ve never heard of anyone having leg clearance issues with a normal steering wheel that is also mounted on a moveable tilt column…. Now unless the driver has balls the size of bowling balls, then maybe a flat bottom steering wheel has some sort of benefits… other than that, it’s just a ‘gotta have it because race car and everyone else is doing it’ mod…

 

[3pdl]

solutions to nonexistent problems are suspicious.

 

[Vlad Soare]

Can someone with more experience describe how the flat bottom would be better than a round wheel?

It's not. It's just for looks. Some think it looks cool.

 

[jamus34]

So my WRX had a flat bottom. One advantage having nothing to do with driving, it does make easier to enter and exit the vehicle.

 

[Bikeman315]

So my WRX had a flat bottom. One advantage having nothing to do with driving, it does make easier to enter and exit the vehicle.

Exactly. They started to be used in race cars where the additional room was welcomed especially in emergency situations. For street use it’s cosmetic, the ”boy/girl racer” look.

 

[ghstrydr]

Race Inspired Cosmetic Enhancement, aka RICE

 

[m3incorp]

It is for looks mostly but like everything, the only person that knows why a person has one is is that person. We tend to be quick to put people in a group when they do something we don't agree with. OP asked if functional, most say no. What's the purpose of adding why strangers do things to their vehicles, especially in a negative manner. Some people don't like stock this or that, nothing wrong with that.

 

[AZlb5.0]

They put them on high end sports cars to make you feel that you’re getting something special. Zero functionality. Been using round steering wheels since the 70s not one complaint yet.

 

[Michael_vroomvroom]

I read up on this a bit before I ordered my custom made steering wheel from
Guardian Design here (thanks, one year on it still feels really nice in my hands), as I wanted to hold something in my hands that felt more premium than the OEM leather.

Like the others here have said, my conclusion was also that, except for what I assume are very cramped race cars where a flat bottom wheel can make it a bit less hard to get in and out, there's no benefit. I also read several posts from others who were not happy with the flat bottom wheel and complained it felt less natural in their hands, no longer being round all around, and less comfortable to rotate with the "edges" the flat bottom wheel has. The latter was the nail in the coffin as far as I was concerned, even though I too thought the flat bottom does look a bit cooler, as that's what I see on the high-end cars at the trackdays and thought there may be some benefits.

You can get them with both a flat bottom and a flat top at the same time btw.

 

[moby4dick]

This was a no factor in my decision to go s550 vs 24’. Can someone with more experience describe how the flat bottom would be better than a round wheel? It seems like Legroom would be self defeating once you start turning the wheel.

I don’t know about a stock car. I previously installed high bolster fixed back racing seats in my WRX. I added a Prova flat bottom wheel and it made getting out of the seat way easier. But for stock, probably more for looks.

 

[16Fastback]

My carbon fiber wheel came that way

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