Is Adaptive Ride Control ARC worth it?

[MrLeadFoot]

The ARC Sport mode absolutely makes a significant difference. Suspension is more progressive and doesn't sink down as much, so it doesn't float so much, especially over dips and rises, making for a much more sportier handling. In my Denali, shift points change, too, as does steering geometry. Don't know if trucks without ARC still get the different shift points and steering changes. 

 

One negative (in my opinion) about ARC is that when you go over a bump like a manhole cover that is typically slightly recessed, you feel a slight vibration right after the shock does its job, presumably because the shock is adjusting every 2 miiliseconds. I distinctly remember that reverberation in every Denali with ARC that I test drove, whilst I did not feel that in any other models, including Silverado Trail Boss. Thus, I highly recommended that you do a thorough test drive over road imperfections before deciding, because you may not like that feel. 

 

Before someone blames it on the 22" wheels, I have both setups, stock 22" wheels with the Alenza performance street tires, and stock 20" wheels with the stock AT tires, and can feel that reverberation anomaly with either set installed. I also felt it when test driving other Denalis with 20" and 22" wheels. 

 

Mine came stock with the 22" setup, and when I acquired and put the 20" stock wheels on, while it is slightly softer over sharp road imperfections, it almost feels like the 20" wheels and tires are a bit too heavy for the suspension. Don't know how to explain it, but It almost feels like the more rubber of the 20" tires weighs more than the extra metal of a 22" slighty larger rim, in that the suspension response is a bit slower, creating slightly more bounce/float, and makes the truck feel like a heavier ride overall. Makes me wonder if the programming of the shocks is different depending upon which wheels the truck is designed to have on it. 

 

That said, I should add that I drove from Sacramento to L. A. on two different trips on each set of the wheels. The 22" stock setup handles much better than the 20" setup, even in Normal mode, to the point where it almost seemed like I put the suspension in Sport mode. Of course compression and rebound of the shocks was more forgiving in Normal over Sport mode, but the 22" wheels makes it surprisingly much more nimble, like it's my Vette in truck form.

 

I shared my experience with the wheels and tires simply to give you an idea that those too, will also make a significant difference. 

 

I do also notice a significant difference when towing my bass boat using Tow mode. It feels like it's easier on the truck's chassis. I have the 6.2 liter, so I'm not talking about towing power, I'm talking about how it seems to struggle less handling the boat over bumps and dips and around corners and the like. Not like I think it will actually "struggle" without ARC, but it seems beneficial to have ARC here. 

 

I should mention that I had the electronic shocks in my 2000 Suburban, and currently also have them in my 2001 Corvette, neither of which are the "magnetic" version. But again, I think they are a matter of personal taste,so drive the crap out of a truck with them and without them before deciding. 

Edited Thursday at 07:37 PM by MrLeadFoot

[Polo08816]

On 11/28/2024 at 2:28 PM, MrLeadFoot said:

The ARC Sport mode absolutely makes a significant difference. Suspension is more progressive and doesn't sink down as much, so it doesn't float so much, especially over dips and rises, making for a much more sportier handling. In my Denali, shift points change, too, as does steering geometry. Don't know if trucks without ARC still get the different shift points and steering changes. 

 

One negative (in my opinion) about ARC is that when you go over a bump like a manhole cover that is typically slightly recessed, you feel a slight vibration right after the shock does its job, presumably because the shock is adjusting every 2 miiliseconds. I distinctly remember that reverberation in every Denali with ARC that I test drove, whilst I did not feel that in any other models, including Silverado Trail Boss. Thus, I highly recommended that you do a thorough test drive over road imperfections before deciding, because you may not like that feel. 

 

Before someone blames it on the 22" wheels, I have both setups, stock 22" wheels with the Alenza performance street tires, and stock 20" wheels with the stock AT tires, and can feel that reverberation anomaly with either set installed. I also felt it when test driving other Denalis with 20" and 22" wheels. 

 

Mine came stock with the 22" setup, and when I acquired and put the 20" stock wheels on, while it is slightly softer over sharp road imperfections, it almost feels like the 20" wheels and tires are a bit too heavy for the suspension. Don't know how to explain it, but It almost feels like the more rubber of the 20" tires weighs more than the extra metal of a 22" slighty larger rim, in that the suspension response is a bit slower, creating slightly more bounce/float, and makes the truck feel like a heavier ride overall. Makes me wonder if the programming of the shocks is different depending upon which wheels the truck is designed to have on it. 

 

That said, I should add that I drove from Sacramento to L. A. on two different trips on each set of the wheels. The 22" stock setup handles much better than the 20" setup, even in Normal mode, to the point where it almost seemed like I put the suspension in Sport mode. Of course compression and rebound of the shocks was more forgiving in Normal over Sport mode, but the 22" wheels makes it surprisingly much more nimble, like it's my Vette in truck form.

 

I shared my experience with the wheels and tires simply to give you an idea that those too, will also make a significant difference. 

 

I do also notice a significant difference when towing my bass boat using Tow mode. It feels like it's easier on the truck's chassis. I have the 6.2 liter, so I'm not talking about towing power, I'm talking about how it seems to struggle less handling the boat over bumps and dips and around corners and the like. Not like I think it will actually "struggle" without ARC, but it seems beneficial to have ARC here. 

 

I should mention that I had the electronic shocks in my 2000 Suburban, and currently also have them in my 2001 Corvette, neither of which are the "magnetic" version. But again, I think they are a matter of personal taste,so drive the crap out of a truck with them and without them before deciding. 

 

The 20" wheel/tire combo should weigh less than the 22" wheel/tire combo provided they have the same overall diameter.  AT tires will ride a bit rougher and weigh slightly more than a touring/highway all season tire, but it usually not too much more than a tour/highway all season tire unless you mount a Load Range E AT tire.

 

 

[TexasOutfits]

Whoa, this was really interesting! I didn't even realise how fast I was taking in the information, but I learnt a tonne. Huni Hoodie

[MTY55]

On 11/24/2024 at 8:13 AM, Polo08816 said:

 

We test drove an SLT 1500 with 20" wheels/tires and a Denali with ARC and 22 inch wheels/tires.  ARC can't make up for the extra harshness of the 22 inch wheels/tires not having enough sidewall to absorb potholes.

Agree 100% I have a 23 Denali with 22's and ARC. Nothing to brag about, and the Bridgestone Alenza tires are nothing to write home about. I dread the snow coming in a couple days. I can see a set of Michelins on the horizon.

Edited Sunday at 09:07 PM by MTY55
additional info

[redwngr]

I ordered my Denali with 20's, so it's better than 22's.

 

That said, I  have winter tires on 'take-off' 18" AT4 wheels and they ride better than the 20's.

 

Last 1500 SLT I had was also on 20's and also rode better on 18's (not the same set) that were used in winter. 

 

 

If I could have ordered the 1500 Denali's on 18's, I definitely would have done so. 

 

 

I'd like to have the DSSV suspension, but I don't want the 2" lift.

[gmissed]

16 hours ago, MTY55 said:

Agree 100% I have a 23 Denali with 22's and ARC. Nothing to brag about, and the Bridgestone Alenza tires are nothing to write home about. I dread the snow coming in a couple days. I can see a set of Michelins on the horizon.

I took the Alenza tires off before driving off the car lot and put on the Defenders. I didn't trust the Alenzas in the snow.

[MrLeadFoot]

I have found the Alenza to be excellent in the rain. So much so, that I put the 22s with Alenzas back on in the winter specifically for the better traction. We don't typically get snow where I am, but if I were to head up the mountains, I would surely put the 20s with stock AT tires back on.

[MrLeadFoot]

On 11/30/2024 at 6:35 AM, Polo08816 said:

 

The 20" wheel/tire combo should weigh less than the 22" wheel/tire combo provided they have the same overall diameter.  AT tires will ride a bit rougher and weigh slightly more than a touring/highway all season tire, but it usually not too much more than a tour/highway all season tire unless you mount a Load Range E AT tire.

 

 

Than, maybe the truck feels weird with the 20s on it because they're lighter. But I could swear they feel heavier when I am swapping the wheels, as well. I will try to remember to weigh them next time I swap. 

 

Either way, the ARC suspension on my truck feels much more planted with the 22s on. I am not talking about the better handling of the tires or sidewall heights. I am talking about the way the shocks seem to compress and rebound a little more with the 20s on. That's why I wonder if ARC is calibrated differently when he truck is fitted with 20s or 22s.  Too bad we don't know for sure, as no one seems to have a definitive answer on that. 

Edited yesterday at 04:14 PM by MrLeadFoot

[Kevin0311]

Can't order a factory chevy truck with ARC without 22" wheel/tire setup, and in the link/video i posted on here it is talked about calibrated to the 22" wheels if i recall correctly.

 

 

Edited 8 hours ago by Kevin0311

[redwngr]

4 hours ago, Kevin0311 said:

Can't order a factory truck with ARC without 22" wheel/tire setup, and in the link/video i posted on here it is talked about calibrated to the 22" wheels if i recall correctly.

 

 

 

 

Denali is always equipped with ARC and 20's are standard.

 

On High Country, Z45 is optional and requires 22's 

 

1500 Denali always has ARC (rpo Z45)

1500 Denali standard wheels are 20's (22's optional)

 

1500 Denali Ultimate also always has ARC

1500 Denali Ultimate has standard 22's (and 20's aren't available)

 

1500 HC has 20's standard.

1500 High Country has ARC as an option.

On 1500 HC, ARC option requires 22's 

 

Edited 15 hours ago by redwngr

[Z45]

Quote

1500 Denali standard wheels are 20's (22's optional)

22's are also standard w/Denali Reserve pkg.

[redwngr]

5 minutes ago, Z45 said:

22's are also standard w/Denali Reserve pkg.

Correct.

 

I added the Denali Ultimate info because it is a separate trim level.

(Denali Ultimate used to be an option package but it is now a trim level.)

Edited 14 hours ago by redwngr

[Z45]

6 hours ago, redwngr said:

Correct.

 

I added the Denali Ultimate info because it is a separate trim level.

(Denali Ultimate used to be an option package but it is now a trim level.)

Had a '17 and '21 with the Ultimate pkg. but did not want Super Cruise so I ordered Denali Reserve which is basically that old pkg.  Super Cruise I could not live with, stupid idea IMO. But I got to have to power running boards, ez access.

Edited 8 hours ago by Z45

[Kevin0311]

Redwngr i did edit, i did mean to say chevy couldn't order without 22” as the link i provided you discussed this last year.

Having a 19 hc without then a 23 with and now a 24 hc with i do notice a ride quality difference and was one of my requirements when looking for my24.  Found one with everything else i wanted with no arc (20” wheels) heavily discounted a few month past but passed because of this. Like anything else what one person likes another may not.