Buying a car steering wheel cover is a somewhat underrated idea, but one that can be fully appreciated when it’s done. A decent upgrade. When you think about it there is nothing you touch more in your car than the steering wheel, so it makes sense to get this part of the vehicle right for you.
Frequent drivers out there will be aware of just how uncomfortable it can get holding on to a steering wheel continuously on a long journey.
People get affected in a variety of ways, but fatigue is common. Those with hands that can get sweaty might suffer from slippery steering wheel issues.
Not only does getting a steering wheel cover help comfort, but it can also resurrect a worn-out old steering wheel into a fresh and good looking accessory that can transform the interior of your car.
Reasons like this make it extremely important to know how to find the best steering wheel cover for you.
You may already suspect that finding the right steering wheel cover requires wading through huge swathes of information out there.
Unfortunately, this isn’t always straightforward.
In this buying guide, we will guide you through what to consider and give you our opinion on the best steering wheel covers to choose from.
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Established in 1977, Wheelskins pride themselves on heritage, knowhow, and being made in the USA. They have a fantastic reputation for making leather steering wheel covers.
Product Details
- Brand – Wheelskins
- Model – AXX
- Weight – 8lbs
- Material – Genuine California cowhide leather
- Outside steering wheel diameter – 14.5 to 15.5 inches
- Grip Circumference – 3-5/8 to 3-7/8 inches
Features
- Made from California cowhide genuine leather
- Patented lacing hole system for extra reinforcement
- Fits multiple steering wheel sizes
Pros
- Available in different colors
- Made of genuine leather
- High quality finish
Cons
- Some have reported slightly more difficulty in fitting on certain vehicles, although this is rare.
Summary
A universal size genuine leather steering wheel cover made from California cowhide.
This product is easy to install and comes in a variety of colors, which is perfect for those who want to breathe new life into their car interior. This offers a difference to the norm of uninspiring designs.
This is a good looking piece of kit that can fit the steering wheel of many vehicles.
The way this steering wheel cover can be a universal fit is due to the patented lacing holes.
They are reinforced to allow for easy fitting on any steering wheel size.
The patented lacing system ensures that the fit is tight and sturdy.
This makes a real difference in comfort and handling.
Even though this steering wheel cover is a universal size, always be sure to have your car’s make/model and steering wheel dimensions to hand as it is always good to confirm that it will fit your vehicle.
Some have reported that this can be a little more tricky to install on certain vehicle steering wheels. Although this could also be due to the unused leather not being broken in yet.
Overall, the Wheelskins genuine leather steering wheel cover offers decent for money without compromising on quality and offers areal classy touch to your car’s interior.
This is one of the best on the list.
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Established in 2006, SEG Direct has been manufacturing a wide range of automotive accessories.
They focus on high quality and making their products from as many eco-friendly materials as possible.
Product Details
- Brand – SEG Direct
- Model – FBA_AU38WILSWC0020
- Outside steering wheel diameter – 14.5 to 15 inches
Features
- Hot and cold resistant
- High quality microfiber leather design
Pros
- Price
- Excellent handling and good grip
- Durable
- Heat resistant
- Eco-friendly properties
- Smart design
- Skid proof
Cons
- Doesn't fir a wide range of sizes
- Reports of it being difficult to install so you should confirm the steering wheel size before ordering
Summary
The best thing about the SEG Direct Microfiber Leather Steering Wheel Cover is the comfort it brings with the soft padding and cleverly designed, high-quality material.
This feature allows it to be breathable which ensures a good grip.
The material also boasts eco-friendly properties.
It is smartly designed with a non-slip material inside the car steering wheel cover to ensure a secure grip. Many reviews have highlighted this quality, so it seems like this no gimmick.
It has great anti-heat and cold properties making it feel not so cold in the winter and not scorching hot in the summer.
Flexible enough to fit cars, vans, SUVs, and trucks and is affordably priced.
A drawback is the reports of this not being very easy to install for a lot of people.
This could be genuine issues, or down to people not checking steering wheel sizes or the instruction is a little vague.
Whatever the reason we advise checking that the dimensions fit your steering wheel before ordering.
In our opinion, this is the best steering wheel cover on the list. A high-quality product at a good price.
Also, kudos to the designers for creating such a comfortable steering wheel cover whilst making it eco-friendly.
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Valleycomfy products love to offer a choice of style, but also comfort.
Product Details
- Brand – Valleycomfy
- Model – FXCF01
- 3 lbs
- Outside steering wheel diameter – 14.5 to 15.5 inches
Features
- Medium-sized
- Stretchable and foldable
Pros
- Genuine heavy-duty microfiber leather
- Heat resistant
- Luxurious
- Breathable
- Skid proof
- Offered in sizes according to your car
Cons
- Price
- Might be noticeably thick for those with smaller hands
- Difficulty with installation
Summary
The Valleycomfy Car Steering Wheel cover is heavy-duty with masculine design features. It looks like it is ready to be used to the limit.
Despite this, the steering wheel cover is soft to the touch and is sturdy due to the non-slip lining, which is made from natural rubber.
It seems its main focus is to provide comfort for those long journeys that we all have to make, and it delivers on that front.
One issue is that this steering wheel cover comes folded, and although it is meant to be foldable the fear is that the creases will persist over time.
This product is offered in a variety of sizes – small, medium. A great upgrade if you want to spruce up the interior.
Product Details
- Brand – Rueesh
- Dimensions – 15 x 3 x 5 inches
- Outside steering wheel diameter – 14 to 15 inches
- Weight – 1.15lbs
Features
- Medium-sized
- Stretchable and foldable
Pros
- Excellent premium microfiber leather
- Padding provides a comfortable finish
- Sporty look
- Price
- Seems durable
- Two-year warranty
Cons
- Some have reported issues with new leather-like odor
- A tight fight on most steering wheels making it tricky to install for some
- Available in one embossed style
- Shipped folded
Summary
The Rueesh Microfiber Leather Steering Wheel cover has a high-quality luxury finish that looks the part.
Its embossed finish offering a sporty look and also allows for excellent grip and reassurance while driving. The material is breathable which helps on longer journeys. However, it seems to only be available in one embossed style.
They also seem to be backing their product here as they have a two-year warranty, which is great.
This steering wheel cover can reportedly fit about 90% of the steering wheels of its size range, which is great.
However, we always like to confirm sizes before ordering – short-term pain, long-term gain.
Some have reported that it can be a bit of a challenge to install, due to tight-fitting. But once it is on, it is a rewarding experience.
Be aware that they ship this item folded, but this shouldn’t be obvious once it is installed due to the tight fit.
Overall an excellent choice for those that are on a budget but also want to introduce a luxurious touch to their cars.
Pros And Cons Of Steering Wheel Covers
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Why Get A Steering Wheel Cover?
Steering wheel covers offer a relatively cheap and hassle-free way of upgrading and freshening up your interior.
They also offer a stylish way of protecting the actual steering wheel from damage due to long term use. This could help the value of your car in the long run.
Comfort
Drivers, especially those that use their vehicles for longer journeys, tend to experience discomfort when using their steering wheel. An ergonomic steering wheel cover can offer a comfortable solution to this problem.
This is one of the most important features that help distinguish between the best steering wheel covers and the average ones.
Safety
The best steering wheel covers should also help to increase safety, especially if the grip on the original steering wheel is beginning to show signs of wear.
Needless to say, gradual wear and tear of your steering wheel can lead to the grip becoming smoother and thus requiring more effort to control overall.
This can lead to slower reactions when emergency maneuvers etc are called for.
Temperature resistance
The effect of a worn-out steering wheel can also negatively affect comfort and safety in a similar way in hot and cold conditions.
The ability to give breathability is common in the best steering wheel covers.
Driver Fatigue
The material and texture of a steering wheel cover can help the driver to feel more relaxed when holding on to a nice, comfortable, and ergonomic steering wheel.
The padding, which is also associated with a typical steering wheel cover, also offers small shock-absorbing properties, which over many long journeys can help avoid potentially unexplained ailments in the future.
Material Of Steering Wheel Covers
What’s great is that you can buy a steering wheel cover from different designs depending on the driver’s mood, occasion, weather, you name it.
This allows for a good level of customization, but we recommend always being mindful to not compromise on the core benefits that make a steering wheel cover comfortable and safe.
The styles on offer these days are enough for people to really put a personal stamp on their vehicle. Especially with the advancement of printing technology in recent years.
Style ranges we’ve seen include:
- Period design patterns e.g. 80s, medieval, etc
- Sports teams
- Holiday season designs
- Cartoon characters
- Imitation metal, wood designs
- Animal prints
- Embossed quality leather material
Steering Wheel Size Guide
When ordering a steering wheel cover, it’s important to have your measurements to hand, even if the manufacturer claims the product has a universal fit.
This will eliminate any potential headache of ordering a steering wheel cover that wasn’t designed to fit your car.
In the past, there have been multiple instances of people flagging steering wheel cover installation problems, when sometimes it has also been down to this simple step being overlooked.
What is also important to consider is the shape of your steering wheel. Some steering wheels may have additional contours to help handling and performance.
These contours may not be compatible with the steering wheel cover that interests you.
If you are unsure, simply compare a picture of the product you are interested in with your steering wheel and see if the shapes match.
Alternatively, ask the seller if it will fit your model and send them a picture of your steering wheel so that they understand exactly what you are after.
History of The Steering Wheel
Steering wheels have almost always been designed with ergonomics in mind. After all, they are designed to be used by your hands.
What is interesting though, is how the design of the steering wheel has evolved over the decades to what we have now.
Steering wheels actually used to be steering levers until the late 19th century.
In the early days of the steering wheel, before power steering was a thing, the central focus in its design was to ensure that the driver could convey the requisite force to the wheels in order to steer the vehicle effectively and in a timely manner.
This worked well considering the technology available at the time.
The design was typically that of a metal frame with a wooden surface. The steering wheel would be much thinner than what we are used to today.
With the advancement of power steering, the focus started shifting more towards comfort. This is evident when observing the evolution of the ergonomic design.
Following the wooden frame, the material of choice then became plastic, due to the cheaper production costs and lower risk of injury caused by splinters and other wood related injuries.
The issue with plastic is the tendency to become slippery if the conditions allowed for it.
Now, manufacturers are more mindful of issues like this.
This is evident in the way steering wheels are designed nowadays, with more embossing allowed for better grip, padding for extra comfort, and more premium materials to further help comfort and durability.
Which brings us right back to the steering wheel cover. This accessory allows us to add even more comfort, safety, and durability to our already excellently designed and manufactured steering wheels.
Conclusion
Making it this far means that you are now indeed armed with the information needed to pick the best steering wheel cover for your needs.
As will have seen, there are so many varieties available, from those with quality leather material to those with durable materials that offer wear-resistant properties.
Above all, I think you will agree that comfort and safety are not hard to come by either, with these examples allowing you to maintain a firm grip at all times with non-slip linings.
You will also hopefully have found the background on steering wheels and their evolution informative.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Choose A Steering Wheel Cover?
To choose the best steering wheel cover for you, we recommend always measuring your steering wheel before shopping.
Using a tape measure for the diameter, circumference, and grip thickness.
These measurements will arm you with the info you need to choose a compatible steering wheel cover. It is always better to be sure before you buy.
Are steering wheel covers worth it?
This depends on your budget, and there are many options out there that will fit any budget range. The key differences that can affect the value for money tend to be:
- Durability - the material should offer reassurance that it can be used for a long time without degrading too quickly.
- Material - the material can be a factor that affects the price. For example, we would expect a genuine leather steering wheel cover to be at the higher end of the price range, although this isn't always the case.
- Design - There are some innovative designs that can really help people that suffer from issues ranging from sweaty palms to arthritis.
Are all steering wheel covers the same size?
No, they are not. Steering wheel covers tend to be designed to fit different vehicle types and models.
Overall, there are options that offer a universal size, which is designed to fit the majority of steering wheels in the size range.
Also, it's worth understanding that the steering wheel of a truck is likely to be vastly different in size to that of a mini hatchback. Steering wheel covers, therefore, tend to cater for different vehicle types separately.
It is always prudent to measure your steering wheel and ask the manufacturer or outlet any questions before purchasing.
What is a size C steering wheel cover?
A Size C WheelSkins steering cover measurement: Outside, 14 1/2 to 15 1/2 inches Grip circumference: 3 7/8 to 4 1/4 inches
What's The Point Of A Steering Wheel Cover?
Common reasons for quality steering wheel covers are:
- To help protect people’s hands from the heat of the sun on hot days or the chill of a winters night.
- Some people site comfort being a key reason. For example, stock steering wheel covers can sometimes hurt some people's hands after continuous use.
- Protect the steering from damage from continuous long-term use, which can help preserve the vehicle’s value
- Freshen up the look and feel of the vehicle.
Can I use a steering wheel cover on a heated steering wheel?
Generally, it is not recommended to put anything like a blanket or cover over anything that emits heat.
A heated steering wheel will likely contain elements and other parts that are designed to be temperature regulated when uncovered.
Adding a steering wheel cover can disrupt features like this and cause them to fail, potentially leading to safety issues.
Always consult the car manufacturer’s manual for specific guidance on this.
Are steering wheel covers dangerous?
If you compromise on the key features that make a steering wheel cover safe, then this can be dangerous.
It is always important to ensure that the product is from a manufacturer or an outlet that you are confident in. Recommendations are also a good source of gaining confidence in your choice.
Ultimately you should ensure that the steering wheel cover will have excellent grip both inside the lining and outside where your hand grips the steering wheel.
How to install a steering wheel cover
Different brands can be slightly easier or harder to install. But overall, the process is more or less the same.
It is usually recommended to start fitting from the top of the steering wheel to the bottom.
The video below gives an example of how best to install a steering wheel cover.
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