Steering Wheel Cracking/Wearing Out

[Jeepster04]

Re: Steering Wheel Cracking/Wearing Out

Call me crazy but I try to keep my hands off of the top of the steering wheel for just this reason. I often drive with my hand at the top but Im really easy on it and dont grip it really hard. If im just cruising down the hw all relaxed I usually have one hand on the bottom of the wheel. Other times Ill keep them at 9 and 3 since my wheel has handles there.

haha, wow, OT..

I need to take a pic of our 94 jeep. The steering wheel looks like its rotting.

[roushstage2]

Re: Steering Wheel Cracking/Wearing Out

LOL. Replacing a $14 cover is cheaper than a several hundred dollar steering wheel. Regardless of if you keep it cleaned and conditioned, it still wears down (much quicker in DD vehicles of course). May just not crack. To each their own. I suppose if you have that kind of money to toss around, then why not?

Besides, the OP doesn't even have a leather steering wheel! He was going to buy a leather cover.

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Steering Wheel Cracking/Wearing Out

Keep it friendly guys...

...we're all friends here!

[HammerDown]

Re: Steering Wheel Cracking/Wearing Out

Can you order the car without one though? You may not have a choice of steering wheel material when you are buying a car...at least not that I have ever seen.

There again, unless we're talking about a hard core work truck like a Ford XL why would one not want a nice leather wraped wheel? If keep clean and conditioned it will last for years and years before it needs a cheap a** Wal*Mart cover

[roushstage2]

Re: Steering Wheel Cracking/Wearing Out

Can you order the car without one though? You may not have a choice of steering wheel material when you are buying a car...at least not that I have ever seen.

[HammerDown]

Re: Steering Wheel Cracking/Wearing Out

Why have a nice leather steering wheel in the first place...if you're going to cover it up?
The wheel in my Vette got real bad...I swappet it out for a new one. In another 20 years (if I'm/it's still around) I'll do it again.
Use cleaner/conditioner and when it wears out in years to come...get it re covered.

[nomad]

Re: Steering Wheel Cracking/Wearing Out

You guys would be surprised how MUCH dirt I pulled off when I used a MF cloth and QID on the steering wheel. The MF cloth was dirty after I was done!

I love QID!

QID works well for cleaning steering wheels...


Quik Detailer Interior



Quik Interior Detailer Wipes

[Sandstone]

Re: Steering Wheel Cracking/Wearing Out

Honda and wheelskins who makes the Honda wheel cover make some nice leather covers. I just put one in my 02 Ody. handaaccessories.com has the Honda one on sale for $29.40 + Shipping.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Steering Wheel Cracking/Wearing Out

QID works well for cleaning steering wheels...


Quik Detailer Interior





Quik Interior Detailer Wipes

[VonLego]

Re: Steering Wheel Cracking/Wearing Out

Yeah I'd use APC or Quik Interior. My car is also experiencing some damage on the wheel, but I think its the sun.

[Mr Mustang]

Re: Steering Wheel Cracking/Wearing Out

definately, i make sure I wash my hands throughly before leaving my job at a pharmaceutical company. I can't wait to be done with college, and start being the accountant

[nomad]

Re: Steering Wheel Cracking/Wearing Out

I use Natural Shine on mine and I apply it at night when I know I won't be driving it and I also wipe the excess off a few times. The end result is still a little bit slippery wheel, but after a day or two it wears off and it gets back to normal. I do this maybe once every other month or so or if I notice that the leather on my wheel is unusually dry.

Another note we should take from this thread is prevention of a dirty/oily wheel. While leaving my current job (accountant in an office all day, doing nothing significant to make my hands dirty), I don't worry about it. But, I used to work construction and would always keep a tube (or something similiar) or a waterless hand cleaner/degreaser to prevent dirty hands in the car.

I also keep a big terry cloth towel over my center console to help keep my hands clean (from my construction days). Now, I'm so used to driving with an extra inch from the towel that I can't really not drive with it, so I can understand the whole cover on the wheel thing as well. Just some thoughts.

Good point on keeping some sort of a hand cleaner in the car.

[Deaner5]

Re: Steering Wheel Cracking/Wearing Out

I use Natural Shine on mine and I apply it at night when I know I won't be driving it and I also wipe the excess off a few times. The end result is still a little bit slippery wheel, but after a day or two it wears off and it gets back to normal. I do this maybe once every other month or so or if I notice that the leather on my wheel is unusually dry.

Another note we should take from this thread is prevention of a dirty/oily wheel. While leaving my current job (accountant in an office all day, doing nothing significant to make my hands dirty), I don't worry about it. But, I used to work construction and would always keep a tube (or something similiar) or a waterless hand cleaner/degreaser to prevent dirty hands in the car.

I also keep a big terry cloth towel over my center console to help keep my hands clean (from my construction days). Now, I'm so used to driving with an extra inch from the towel that I can't really not drive with it, so I can understand the whole cover on the wheel thing as well. Just some thoughts.

[nomad]

Re: Steering Wheel Cracking/Wearing Out

I use the synthetic leather one from Wal Mart in my Roush and a rubber/vinyl Ford one I got at Kragen in my truck. The feel of either of them doesn't bother me though. Plus, they make the steering wheel feel much thicker, which is heaven to me because it gives my gorilla hands something to grab onto.

hmm...I'll check out the overs next time I'm there.

[roushstage2]

Re: Steering Wheel Cracking/Wearing Out

Which steering wheel cover do you use?

I just hate the feel of the cheap fake leather ones you get at Target or Walmart. Even the cloth ones are so big...just hate it.

I was thinking of spending some money on the good quality leather ones which are pretty thin.

I use the synthetic leather one from Wal Mart in my Roush and a rubber/vinyl Ford one I got at Kragen in my truck. The feel of either of them doesn't bother me though. Plus, they make the steering wheel feel much thicker, which is heaven to me because it gives my gorilla hands something to grab onto.