Leather wrap or something else for OEM steering wheel?

[Shrugged]

Thanks for this great thread. Hope it stays archived. I am about the start the same project.

[mdsalemi]

Thanks for this great thread. Hope it stays archived. I am about the start the same project.

Take my advice… Look early in the thread. Remove your steering wheel and do it in the brightly lit area inside the house!

[thelews]

I used wheelskins to great satisfaction with the wheel in place.  I liked have the wheel held firmly in place while I did the lacing.

[merrill]

I have wheel skins on the 230 sl and 300d

very happy with the product

[zoegrlh]

Great job Michael, now that you are in the “south” the leather will feel so much better on those hot days, instead of the hot plastic wheel. I always put a sun shade in my windshield when parked in summer. Bob

[mdsalemi]

Great job Michael, now that you are in the “south” the leather will feel so much better on those hot days, instead of the hot plastic wheel. I always put a sun shade in my windshield when parked in summer. Bob

Thanks, Bob. As I mostly drive/drove the car in the summers anyway, just the feel of the plastic wheel wasn't that great under most conditions. Some would say, "wear driving gloves" but that to me would be not in my character and as pretentious as specialized driving shoes! I was never in a race and these things are a bit alien to me.

Anyway I don't intend THIS inexpensive wrap to last forever, but I wanted a less costly unit as a trial to feel comfortable with the process. I figured if I made a mistake no big deal to toss it all and start over with something else. The next incarnation will be one with a bit more padding.

[lreppond]

Wheelskins is probably the best way to go.  As noted, just take your time with the installation.

I was fortunate to have a talented interior guy wrap my steering wheel with leather when he was doing some other leather work on my interior.

Norm

That is unquestionably the nicest leather wrapping I’ve ever seen. Completely bespoke and it shows. 

[Cees Klumper]

I read this thread with some wonder since I never experienced the standard wheel as anything but a pleasure. On longer trips driving straight ahead, I just touch it with a finger or two, hand in my lap and when turning, the plastic/bakkelite or whatever just feels great to me. And I must say that each of these leather wraps look a bit off to me. Well, to each their own!

[mdsalemi]

I read this thread with some wonder since I never experienced the standard wheel as anything but a pleasure. On longer trips driving straight ahead, I just touch it with a finger or two, hand in my lap and when turning, the plastic/bakkelite or whatever just feels great to me. And I must say that each of these leather wraps look a bit off to me. Well, to each their own!

A good deal of the 20,000+ miles on my car since the restoration over 20 years ago has been very high-speed high mileage in the summer. Many trips from Michigan down to Joe’s at 4000 RPM for hours at a time, in the heat of summer. Going to Chicago in the heat of summer for an MBCA event. Going to Cincinnati in the heat of summer for a Concours. Even travel around Michigan in the heat of summer for various events. My hands tend to sweat and that does not bode well on a plastic steering wheel; starts to feel slippery. It just doesn’t feel right and never has. My guess is that’s why they invented drivers gloves!

To each their own for certain, but understand that most cars manufactured today and offered for sale in the USA do not have an uncovered plastic steering wheel; it’s covered with leather or some kind of padding and similar. It’s what the market is demanding I’d imagine.