Would there be any issues keeping Ride Height at "Low" full time, while in AP

[Las_Vegas_R1S_Tri]

My wife is short and has difficulty exiting our R1S. I'm aware of "Kneeling", but we always forget to not open the doors after parking. before kneeling has completed.

If I take it off "Auto" Ride Height, when I start driving, and set for "Low", we find that it's low enough for her to exit.

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[GreenJohn42]

Increased tire wear is your only issue with keeping it on low all the time. Ride comfort will suffer a little bit too.

To expand on the tire issue, when at standard hight the tires are straight, but on low the tilt in a little and on high they tilt out a little (the term is camber angle if you want to google it). So on low the inside edges of your tires will wear faster.

 

[SANZC02]

My wife is short and has difficulty exiting our R1S. I'm aware of "Kneeling", but we always forget to not open the doors after parking. before kneeling has completed.

If I take it off "Auto" Ride Height, when I start driving, and set for "Low", we find that it's low enough for her to exit.

I have mine on low in conserve for most of my longer highway stretches, it seems to be fine for that. All purpose though I use standard height.

My suggestion to entry/exit is to install running boards, was a game changer for us for egress/ingress.

 

[RJK75]

Thank you for explaining this I could not understand why ride high would affect tires.

 

[electruck]

Increased tire wear is your only issue with keeping it on low all the time. Ride comfort will suffer a little bit too.

To expand on the tire issue, when at standard hight the tires are straight, but on low the tilt in a little and on high they tilt out a little (the term is camber angle if you want to google it). So on low the inside edges of your tires will wear faster.

Tire wear difference between standard and low really isn't much of an issue (assuming the vehicle is properly aligned). This is because the camber increase is relatively mild between those 2 heights and the reduction in toe angle actually reduces tire wear due to scrub . There is more toe-in at the standard height, which is good for stability at the expense of a little tire wear, and a little less toe at the lower heights (ie, closer to zero toe) which makes for sportier driving.

There is, however, a noticeable difference in ride quality. I would simply learn to wait for the vehicle to kneel if I were the OP, or install running boards.

 

[ksumnole]

I'm also in the camp of "learn to wait for kneel to complete".

My wife is also short and it took us a few weeks to learn to be patient for a few seconds it takes the vehicle to lower. Kneel mode also resumes if the doors are re-closed within 90 seconds. So if you open the door by accident you can close again to resume kneel.

 

[CarGuyCarl]

I'd be less worried about the miniscule extra tire wear, and more concerned with the hit in ride quality you get while in low. If you're driving around in low and that doesn't bother you, then just send it.

 

[windblowlc]

It's a no brainer to add running boards for the benefits of your wife. The first thing I would do.

 

[dleepnw]

that camber position will put strain on the suspension system if youre in it full time as well wear out your tires faster on the inner edge. id be surprised if the tire wear is negligible if you dont adjust your alignment for that ride height.
id install running boards if the main issue youre trying to solve is help youre wife get in and out of the vehicle. had the same issue resolved by installing those.

 

[usulio]

Auto mode is designed to go in Low for all highway trips so I am skeptical of claims that it’s bad for tires or the suspension. Anyway I second running boards as well as leaving it in low

 

[BrianB]

If your wife is like mine, 5’2”, and never cleans out her car, she could learn to use the kneeling time to gather her junk and take it into the house. PS, if your wife is like mine, she won’t appreciate you pointing this out.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

My wife is short and has difficulty exiting our R1S. I'm aware of "Kneeling", but we always forget to not open the doors after parking. before kneeling has completed.

If I take it off "Auto" Ride Height, when I start driving, and set for "Low", we find that it's low enough for her to exit.

Do you own a tire shop?

 

[Mathme]

I concur with @SANZC02 ... try installing a set of running boards and they are a life changing addition for people with short legs. And for those of us with medium length legs, the running boards also make a great step when washing the roof of the truck -- no step ladder needed.

 

[electruck]

that camber position will put strain on the suspension system if youre in it full time as well wear out your tires faster on the inner edge. id be surprised if the tire wear is negligible if you dont adjust your alignment for that ride height.
id install running boards if the main issue youre trying to solve is help youre wife get in and out of the vehicle. had the same issue resolved by installing those.

the tire wear is really all about the toe angle in this case. While there is more negative camber at the Low ride height than Standard ride height, there is also less toe-in. And the "strain on the suspension" is absolutely a non-issue.

 

[Zoidz]

Auto mode is designed to go in Low for all highway trips so I am skeptical of claims that it’s bad for tires or the suspension. Anyway I second running boards as well as leaving it in low

There are threads here from the past where people have reported uneven tire wear using low suspension all the time. I do agree that it would not stress the suspension itself.

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