RespectPS. I'm 83 this month and I go to an AQUA fitness/Aerobics class three times a week so I am not arm weak. I traded my 2014 and drove my GTR home and noticed it seems to require a bit more steering effort. Not uncomfortable but, I was surprised. The GTR does have a "Sport" setting which changes the AT shift points and the throttle sensitivity but, not sure about steering effort.
The side wall pressure designation is MAX pressure. If you increase the pressure to that amount, the steering will be much easier but your tires will wear out the center treads MUCH faster. DO NOT DO THIS!That is not likely true. Both tires are 225mm section width. Any difference would be one or 2 tenths of an inch.
Since the suspension has very few adjustments, and the car is designed to have high steering feedback, you have 2 options; check and raise your tire pressure to the max pressure allowed on the sidewall, or trade cars.
My doctor once told me that he estimates longevity by unmedicated blood pressure. An excellent book by Dr. Steven Gundry is "The Longevity Paradox". One nugget of info from the book:I quit drinking alcohol 19 years ago. I quit smoking 10 years ago. I continue to go to the gym, even when I don't want to. Eat right, sleep good and stay active both mentally and physically. Good genes help too. All is not rosey because, I've had both hips and one shoulder replaced. Ed
10-12 hours without stopping? That is a long stretch of road! When I was driving cross-country, I would stop after every 4-5 hours to eat or later at night, to sleep for the night. I can't imagine trying to drive that long on the highway without stopping.Newbie CX-5 owner here...I've been driving my 2021 Sport since May.
I've got 12K on it now.
I noticed the heavier steering effort after @ 10 -12 hours on the road on trips between north Texas and northern New Mexico.
My hand just gets fatigued after driving that long in the CX-5.
I've previously driven Honda, Subaru, and Nissan pick-up on that same drive over the years. Never had my hands get that tired
It's not really noticeable around town...but when switching from my Nissan work truck to the Mazda there is a difference in the amount of grip it requires to move the wheel at highway speeds. Over 10 - 12 hours it adds up.
It may just be the difference in electric steering vs rack and pinion.
IME
Yeah we stop for gas, food, and the necessities, but we tend to keep moving.10-12 hours without stopping? That is a long stretch of road! When I was driving cross-country, I would stop after every 4-5 hours to eat or later at night, to sleep for the night. I can't imagine trying to drive that long on the highway without stopping.
Perhaps the electric steering on the Mazda takes more grip effort to make small adjustments on the road and over a 10 hour period and this effort increases the likelihood of fatigue.Perhaps a set of dumbbells and 2-3 times weekly arm exercises will help. As we age it becomes increasingly important to do weight-bearing exercise to maintain/slow the loss of muscle mass and encourage our bones to absorb calcium to maintain density.
Perhaps the electric steering on the Mazda takes more grip effort to make small adjustments on the road and over a 10 hour period and this effort increases the likelihood of fatigue.
It's funny that the same trip in a Nissan Frontier fails to produce the same fatigue.
SMH
The side wall pressure designation is MAX pressure. If you increase the pressure to that amount, the steering will be much easier but your tires will wear out the center treads MUCH faster. DO NOT DO THIS!
Make sure that the pressure in each tire matches what is listed on the label in your driver's door jam. But yes, it the alignment is off, steering feel may be different.