Anyone try the lace-up steering wheel covers?

[TheGoodShepherd]

We have a couple Subarus. The 2014 has HUGE posts (Is that what they're called?). I've read the lace-up types don't fit anything with large posts, that they're intended for the more sporty steering wheel styles.

 

I've not found a slip-on model that doesn't require gorilla hands.

 

So, if any of you lovely people know of something that works especially well, I would love to hear from you!

 

Take care!

[Bushwick]

Are you saying you want to add a steering wheel cover? One that's laced on and NOT terribly thick? 

 

You need to measure the steering wheel's OD. Then take say a seamstress' measuring tape and measure the actual diameter of the grip. With that info, you can look online for leather replacements.

 

If your steering wheel is solid plastic, then you need to take into consideration whatever material you choose will ALWAYS make the wheel THICKER as the 1/16" leather will increase the diameter of the grip.

 

Using a lace-up style leather grip cover with a thin material, can at least allow you to get the cover as tight against the wheel as possible.

 

IF the steering already has a leather cover from the factory (you'll have a plastic horn area and rubber covering the airbag, but actual grip will be a leather and will already have laces) you can sometimes carefully cut the laces (a "seam ripper" works great for this vs. say scissors or a razor) and remove the factory leather wrap. Most newer cars will have plastic underneath along with the factory molded grain. This is an option to "refresh" the wheel when the factory leather has worn through the finish as the plastic grip will be as fresh as a brand new car. You can then either leave wheel plastic OR apply a fresh leather wrap on top of that. The benefit here will be a slightly thinner grip. I've seen some cars however (think it was mid 80's Dodge turbo cars) where the leather wrap was actually hiding bare metal (cutting corners at every corner) but most newer cars should just be the basic steering wheel under the factory leather grip.

 

If you can't find a decent online alternative, consider contracting a leather specialist. Most make gun harnesses custom-made to fit, but should be able to make a custom wrap out of premium leather or even pigskin with excellent stitching to connect the ends and create pre-made holes to lase it up yourself. I suggest getting a large needle to do the actual lacing. Takes about an hour to lace.

 

Also, if you want to forgo leather, you can go to a local fabric shop, and typically find a black vinyl in simulated leather. It'll be extremely thin and VERY durable. Buy several feet of it and take that to a local seamstress. They should be talented enough to make one for you. If they are completely clueless, buy a generic cover and take that with the material, and ask them to recreate the generic one with your chosen material. They should be able to join the ends and punch out the holes, copying the generic one's layout. Use a premium synthetic for the laces or find a quality leather strap.

Edited July 26, 2015 by Bushwick

[keith3267]

Back in the day (60's 70's) when steering wheels were thin plastic rings with a large diameter, I used lace up leather steering wheel covers.  They made the steering wheel much more comfortable and they didn't slip through sweaty hands (no AC).

 

Todays steering wheels are often a soft foam with a thicker but smaller diameter ring and are comfortable when new, but the foam will deteriorate after a couple of years and start coming off in chunks.  I use a slip on synthetic leather cover slip on cover.  I tried a leather slip on cover but it kept slipping against the steering wheel.  You generally can't lace up a cover to these modern steering wheels as the spokes are too wide.  But on modern steering wheels, the covers are actually too thick for my tastes, but I put up with them as it is better than a steering wheel that is coming apart.

 

My Subaru has a leather covered steering wheel.  In my experience, leather will last a long time and gets better with age and use.  I hope that is the case here.  I'll report back in 16 or 17 (or more) years when I finally dump this car for a new self driving car.

[Bushwick]

Sometimes leather covers will have the finish wear off. Seems to get exacerbated by always holding the wheel in the same spot, having gorilla grip hands, and sweating. Shouldn't be an issue with synthetics.

 

As far as the wide spokes go, if you run a lace horizontally to the spoke while having it weave in/out of the material and pulling really tight at spoke ends, it should at least stay put. Could always apply some adhesive or spray tack (very carefully). If the leather has a folded over lip seam that covers the spoke area, can fish a strap through that, or possibly find a thin diameter wire through as it'll help keep the leather against the spoke. A little DIY involved but doable.