Steering Wheels

The steering wheel is where the driver feels what the front tyres are doing, and its diameter, dish and grip change both the effort and the precision of every input. The range covers aftermarket wheels in leather and suede, flat or dished, with car-specific hubs, horn buttons and rings, wheel bolts and steering quickeners.

Diameter sets leverage. A smaller rim turns the front wheels further for each centimetre the hands move, but needs more force, which a car without power steering shows in tight corners. Dish sets reach: a deep wheel brings the rim towards the driver, so the arms stay slightly bent with the seat set well back. A flat wheel suits a car whose column already ends close to the driver.

Use the listing data to choose:

• Diameter: from 285 to 380 mm, with 300, 320 and 350 mm in between. Smaller suits a tight cockpit and quick hand movements; larger gives more leverage where there is no power assistance.
• Dish: flat, or 65, 70 or 90 mm deep.
• Grip: suede grips well with race gloves but wears and soaks up sweat; leather lasts longer and wipes clean. Horn rings come in black, silver and blue.
• Bolt pattern: the wheel’s bolt circle, such as 6×70 mm, must match the hub or quick release. Spoke details are given where known, such as 5 mm spokes in brushed, anodised black, and some listings include a horn button and wiring.
• Quickeners: 1:1.5 and 1:2 ratios turn the steering shaft further for each turn of the wheel. That cuts the turns from lock to lock, at the cost of heavier steering.

Hubs are listed by car in the title and adapt the car’s splined column to the wheel’s bolt pattern. Power steering delete belts, listed by engine family, are for engines run without a power steering pump.

On most road cars the original wheel carries the driver’s airbag. An aftermarket wheel removes it and can bring on a warning light, so check what your road rules and insurer accept. Before unplugging the airbag, disconnect the battery and wait as long as the car maker specifies. Tighten the wheel bolts evenly with thread-locking compound, centre the wheel with the front wheels straight, and check that the horn works.