I've been looking at some aftermarket steering wheels and I often see the leather ones tagged as "Street" and suede ones as "Race".
Do suede wheels wear out too quickly for a street car?
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June 3, 2011 8:41 a.m. Woody SuperDork
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June 3, 2011 9:03 a.m. failboat Reader
I am only speculating...usually in a race car you are wearing gloves. In a street car you are not, allowing the oils/sweat from your skin to get all over the wheel.
I cant imagine suede will hold up in the long run to that.
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June 3, 2011 9:55 a.m. mad_machine SuperDork
can always clean suede.. but again, I too am speculating
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June 3, 2011 9:58 a.m. mndsm SuperDork
Get leather wheel, get cheap fake suede from fabric store, cover? Rip and replace as needed. Last time I check the stuff was like $7/yard if that.
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June 3, 2011 10:44 a.m. 1988RedT2 Dork
Clearly, this is the way to go!
http://www.amazon.com/Pink-Shag-Steering-Wheel-Cover/dp/B000SM14YQ
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June 3, 2011 12:04 p.m. ansonivan Dork
Unless you wear gloves constantly the suede will become loaded and matted with oil from your hands. Not really practical for a daily driver.
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June 3, 2011 12:41 p.m. chandlerGTi New Reader
I never had a problem with that. I had a suede mom in my 190e 2.3 16v and it wore just fine.
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June 3, 2011 3:02 p.m. racerdave600 HalfDork
My old Momo suede Monte Carlo (Type 72?) was starting to show wear from driving it to and from only a few events. The oils matt it down it seems. There's probably a way to clean it, but for the street, leather is the way to go.
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June 3, 2011 7:23 p.m. Travis_K SuperDork
I have also seen that they eventually start to look nasty. In contrast I have a momo wheel I just got from the junkyard dated 4/83 with smooth leather and it still looks nice. If you like the momo comptition wheel (not suede) I have one I want to sell also.
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June 3, 2011 8:19 p.m. novaderrik Dork
1988RedT2 wrote:
Clearly, this is the way to go!
http://www.amazon.com/Pink-Shag-Steering-Wheel-Cover/dp/B000SM14YQ
i prefer the fake leather covers that have the built in strap that you wrap around the wheel to tie them on.. do they make them any more?
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June 4, 2011 7:04 a.m. 1988RedT2 Dork
Start a thread about leather, and you get an erotic canoe!
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June 4, 2011 9:56 a.m. mad_machine SuperDork
wow.. it's a vertible fleet of canoes today
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June 4, 2011 10:03 a.m. 2.0dohc Reader
1988RedT2 wrote:
Start a thread about leather, and you get an erotic canoe!
Just think what we would get if we talked about leather shift knobs.....
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June 4, 2011 11:42 a.m. BigD New Reader
I've gone through several different Momo wheels over the years and my first was the suede Champion. After a year, year and a half of getting into the car with wet (rain) or sweaty hands, the suede looked like black cork.
For a street car, stick to leather. I've never had an Alcantara wheel, maybe those are more durable than suede.
