Does anyone notice that our steering wheels are not perfectly round? Not talking about D-shaped aftermarket wheels, but the stock steering wheel.

Is there a reason for this? Just curious because it is someone annoying that something that is supposed to be round isn't....

 

I am glad you asked this. I have thought about the same thing.

 

That doesn't mean the steering wheel isn't round, but just not centered exactly perfectly. By design. There's probably a foundation for this in automotive design/engineering/ergonomics. Maybe for feel/perception or comfort when you get in. Who knows. I think most cars do this. I'm usually looking at the road when I'm turning the wheel so hasn't really bothered me =)

 

Ease of access and egress...giving more room for your legs and lap.

 

It's by design taken from other sports cars with flat bottom, it's for a compact cockpit that needs the extra leg room, it's a nice node to the sportiness of the car.

 

Not round?? In my 2016 IS 350 (not F-Sport) it is perfectly round, I even verified with a measuring tape. There is so much stuff in the center of the wheel that it may play trick on your eyes, I suggest you measure it and then judge whether it is round or not.

 

 

I think he means when it spins, it sort of wobbles off axis. or at least that's the reality that's causing his perception. I think most if not all cars do this.

He wants it to spin perfectly like an actual wheel/tire

 

I also have thicker grip points on the inside but in positions 10 and 2, not 9 and 3.
Mine is everywhere the diameter exactly 14.5".(measured outside)
If they did something to the steering wheel after 2016 - then it is possible.
Mounting the steering wheel slightly off center - sorry I don't buy it, it would have zero ergonomics justification.
Again, I suspect the whole claim to be bogus, if they decided on some real sporty wheel (like in a Ferrari) it wouldn't be a mere 0.5" difference.

 

 

I actually do believe this is true. 18' and I think I noticed that one day. The steering wheel is not perfectly aligned to center-to-center to the rounded dash portion directly above it that covers the cluster. Not by much but enough to be noticed by the eye. I will try and get a picture today and upload it. If you're OCD and you own an 18' you might want to look away. Lol

 

I'm not sure why but I remembered talking about this on my way to work this morning. Here's a pretty good picture of how noticeable it is. I held the phone right in front of my face.
https://imgur.com/gallery/oZVEIRt

Noticeable that the center of the wheel is not aligned with the center of the dash.

 

The non-roundness (is that a word?) is most noticeable when you are parking and turning the wheel back and forth.

 

I figured it was a teaching device, as everyone should be driving with both hands on the wheel, 9/3 position, which is more of a D shape on the wheel for ergonomics. Anything else is incorrect. I'm glad the heat is in the correct position as well.