As part of interior styling, a racing steering wheel can also complement your ride with new sport looks. So why not upgrade this essential component and go with something more visually appealing. For tuning enthusiasts worldwide, the factory steering wheel is just plain boring and not much to look at.

 

Looking for inspiration many aftermarket steering wheel makers look to the world of motorsports for inspiration. Motorsport wheels are bare, and usually made from metal and plastic. Some have information displays in them and other have a flat base.

 

There are all kinds of aftermarket brands to choose from, with big names such as Raid, Momo, Sparco, etc. You can choose between 2, 3, or 4 spoke style, and in various sizes ranging from 280mm in diameter to 360mm (mine being 320mm). There is also a wide variety of colors and materials available with leather, carbon fiber and brushed steel now popular choices, with flat bottoms as well becoming the latest trend. There is now a number of performance hatchbacks that come with racing steering wheels as factory standards, including the Volkswagen Golf GTI, Opel Astra OPC, Audi S3/S4, and others.

 

Generally speaking, aftermarket steering wheels are smaller in size than standard wheels and this can affect the control you have over the car particularly if you do not have power steering. An example of this would be the Lotus Elise/Exige. Simple rules of leverage apply here and this is why older cars without power steering have such large steering wheels. You should also aim to get a wheel with a central hub that is wider than your steering column. Steering wheel covers can make a dull wheel look more sporty but most implementations look really tacky. There are some good quality leather covers which require stitching.

 

Safety - many steering wheels are attached in the center with metal rivets or nuts. In a crash these will cause nasty cuts and puncture wounds unless they are recessed deep within the housing. The force of your head rushing forward will not usually be stopped by the plastic surround and you will make contact with the metal nut. Cars with air bags will usually need the air bag removing, and this can cause a warning light to appear in the dashboard. If you are in doubt consult an auto electrician and your cars maintenance handbook.

 

Car horns can also be a problem. In some car models the horn is on a separate stalk but with most modern cars a button within the steering wheel operates the horn. When buying a new steering wheel you will need to check if it has a horn built in and if it comes with suitable wiring. As a horn is just a couple of simple contacts it should not present much of a wiring challenge.

 

A wheel with a flat bottom imitates formula one wheel which needs to allow the driver as much leg room as possible. There is no real practical reason to have a flat bottomed steering wheel in a car other than the fact it looks cool.

 

Steering wheels with digital readouts such as mph, rpm, oil pressure, and fuel look very nice but there are some drawbacks. They cost a fortune and they can be a real challenge to wire up as they need to be connected to various senders around the car. You are better off getting some gauges and having these fitted to the car instead.

 

Most steering wheels come as a kit with an adapter ring to allow it to fit your car. So decide in advance what theme you are going with and look for the right steering rather than just buying the first on you see.

 

Race and motorsport cars have a quick steering rack (one which goes from full left lock to full right lock in 2-3 turns, whereas most cars will take 4-5 turns of the wheel). A motorsport wheel is usually marked to show the top in a contrasting color to help the driver reflexively get the correct amount of lock on the wheel as the margin for error is much reduced.