Anyone ever install a leather cover OVER the present steering wheel surface? I'm not interested in taking the wheel apart or sending it for a recover. I'd like to increase the thickness but I don't want it to look cheap either.

 

I like you don't want to send out my steering wheel, so for about 50 bucks, I bought one of these in oak/black but have not installed it yet.

 

That one looks good, especially around the spokes, which is usually a problem. Where did you get it?

 

Looks like a WheelSkins brand. I have one as well that's perforated leather and yellow/black. They are a pain to install unless you're big into sewing already, but I think its plenty worth it. Great color accent for the car and it feels great. Unfortunately I'm at work for the next week so I can't take a picture. Definitely recommend WheelSkins. Mine's been on for almost a year and still looks great.

 

How close is the color to the Oak interior? Who did you buy it from?

 

I bought one here:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...eel-cover.html

for $51. It took about 3 hours to install-you need patience. It looks and feels great.

 

Ebay. but I believe its originally from Corvette Central. Part #564210-02

 

Its pretty close, i haven't installed it yet, as it was a xmas present from the wife, but it looks just a bit lighter from what she showed me.

 

That one does look like it fits very well.

 

Wheelskins - available from many online sellers. I have the black and tan one in my '99 convertible with Light Oak interior. The tan color (can't remember the Wheelskins official color name) is not an exact match - it's a bit more gray/less yellow in color than the OE Light Oak. I like the feel, however.

I like this type of cover - reminds me of my '75 280z, which had a skinny, old-style steering wheel that was really dressed up when I put on the leather cover. I've done several of them recently - put on one that came with my new seat skins but did not like the embroidered logos right where my hands would grip the wheel. Plus, it was cut too thin in one spot and I just could not get the edges to meet, leaving a gap. Ordered the Wheelskins one and it looks pretty good and feels great. Also put a single color one on my DD Subaru Baja. So that's three I did in about two weeks this past summer.

It will take some time to do it right, though. If you haven't done it before, it will take you 2-3 hours and you might even end up doing it twice because by the time you finish you will have gotten so much better at it that the stitches you put on at first will not be satisfactory to you. Use the "baseball stitch" (just Google it) instead of the single stitch - looks much better. You will need two needles and sometimes the waxed thread that comes with the Wheelskins is not quite long enough (you use twice as much lacing with the baseball stitch). Some sellers will accommodate you if you tell the seller you plan to baseball stitch it and ask for extra thread and a second needle. The one that came with my seat skins did not come with thread or needles so I had ordered a big spool and extra needles.

The single color covers are a bit easier to put on than the two-tones. The singles only have one seam, while the two-tones have four. Seams are more difficult to stretch so that the edges meet. I actually ordered another single color one that I am thinking of putting on the 'Vette so that the edges meet evenly all the way around. Or maybe I will put it on the old Subaru Outback dog-hauler or on my daughter's '98 Acura.

Happy lacing!

K9Leader
Red cars are faster. They did a study on it.

 

I'm learning a lot here, and it seems that Wheelskins is the best. I like the baseball stitch as well. I've used the Superior wheel covers for years, so I'm no stranger to lacing. I'm going with black perf to match the rest of my perforated trim pieces and lower dash.