Credit: Thank you for your assistant / Getty ImagesNowadays, most cars have a sport mode feature. You may have even noticed this option on your own dashboard. But do you know what sport mode is, and when it might be a good time to use it? Or maybe when you probably shouldn’t? Well, if you’ve always wondered what it does (and if you should possibly try it out), we have the answers for you.What Does Sport Mode Do To Your Car?To put it plainly, sport mode makes your car more sensitive to your inputs. Sport mode adjusts some of your car’s settings, such as throttle sensitivity, steering response, and shift points. In turn, this prioritizes your car’s performance, allowing it to maximize its power and do things like accelerate faster even with less pressure on the gas pedal. Benefits of Sport ModeDriving in sport mode has several benefits, including: AdvertisementAdvertisementA more fine-tuned throttle response: Sport mode triggers your car’s throttle to open more quickly, making your gas pedal feel more responsive. This allows your car to accelerate at a faster rate. An adjusted shift point: In sport mode, your car will shift gears at a higher RPM, which helps your car accelerate faster when you press the gas pedal.Sharper steering: Sport mode creates more resistance in your steering wheel. The suspension will feel stiffer, so steering will also be firmer, giving you greater control over your turns while driving faster. Sport mode makes your steering wheel feel more responsive. Cons of Sport ModeOf course, as with anything, there are certain drawbacks to driving in sport mode as well, including: Increased fuel consumption: As you might assume, sport mode uses more gas than your normal mode. Strain on car health: In addition to eating up gas, constant, hard acceleration will also severely strain your drivetrain components. Your brake pads and rotors will also feel the negative effects of this exertion, as you will be forced to do more full-force stops.A bumpier ride: On rough roads, such as back roads, sports mode is not advised, as it may make driving on the uneven terrain more difficult. When to Drive in Sport ModeThe best time to use sport mode is when you’re ready to maximize your vehicle’s full power and enhance the driving experience. Sport mode gives you the chance to test out your car’s full performance capabilities because of the sharpened throttle response, heavier steering, and reduced suspension. Sport mode would be great to use on a track or on long stretches. However, sport mode is definitely not the best to use on your daily commute to work or trip to the grocery store.AdvertisementAdvertisementIf you’re ready to drive your car to the fullest, you can activate sport mode on most cars by pushing the sport mode button or by toggling to “Sport” in your car’s dashboard menu. Just make sure to drive responsibly while in sport mode; just because you can go faster and drive more intensely doesn’t always mean you necessarily should!Read the original article on Southern Living
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