The addition of a unique steering wheel is a common aftermarket accessory. It makes sense, as the steering wheel is the only other major control mechanism in an automobile except for the pedals and the gear shift.

Your driving experience can be greatly enhanced by installing an aftermarket custom steering wheel.

The original equipment manufacturer does not create the steering wheel. Hence it is considered an aftermarket product. Aftermarket steering wheels allow you to tailor your driving experience to your needs and tastes, including size, weight, and material.

Alternatively, you can have them made to your specifications. Any car can have an aftermarket steering wheel installed.

Nonetheless, security should be a top priority. Replacement steering wheels typically have a flat base to prevent them from rubbing against your legs.

There is a wide variety of designs for steering wheels, and many of them feature a variety of grooves to aid in grip. Some have grooves at 9 and 3 o’clock for the thumbs and others at the base of the wheel for the fingers.

Advice on Selecting a Steering Wheel

There is some planning and investigation involved in choosing the best steering wheel. Choosing a stylish wheel and installing it in your vehicle is only the beginning.

The aftermarket car shops have steering wheels that suit your needs. 

Whether you replace your airbag with a racing harness is a matter of personal preference when behind the wheel.

A flat-bottomed steering wheel with a fast feature is practical for time-attack cars since they allow the driver to quickly get in and out of the vehicle.

However, if you’re into drifting, the wheel’s flat bottom will get in the way, much like it does when turning it from lock to lock.

Below are some of the most crucial criteria for picking a racing wheel.

Diameter

You may be curious why older vehicles featured thinner, bulkier steering wheels instead of the smaller, more ergonomic ones in modern vehicles.

Power steering wasn’t commonplace at the time. Thus, that was a major factor. For greater leverage and greater force application, larger steering wheels were used.

In theory, smaller wheels need more effort to turn, but in practice, the difference is insignificant in modern vehicles with power steering. They may not be noticeably faster, but they respond more quickly.

Therefore, your diameter or size is entirely up to you. The lengths range from 14 inches to 17 inches, and the diameters of the grips go from two and a half to four inches.

Form and design

Various forms and styles of steering wheels that aftermarket car shops have to choose from. There are a few main types of shape variants you’ll encounter:

D- or flat-shaped bottom, more space for your legs and a less steep entry/exit.

In a nutshell, round objects have a predictable good grip.

Easy gauge reading thanks to the open roof design.

There is a correlation between the location of your hands when driving and the form of your steering wheel.

Additional details to consider when designing include grooves, curves, pores, indicators for the 12 o’clock position, and the colors used for the stitching.

Material

Substitutes allow you to choose a wheel made of the materials you prefer, a major perk of swapping out your factory steering wheel, as custom steering wheels typically have a leather coating.

What about gloves? That’s something else to think about. You may get a great grip with the correct steering wheel and a pair of gloves constructed from the same materials used in top-tier motorsports.

Conclusion

When it comes to the aftermarket custom steering wheel choices accessible to enthusiasts, the possibility of encountering counterfeit products is virtually unavoidable. You won’t have anything to worry about if you purchase from reliable sources.