anyone else notice a problem with their steering wheel and shift knob rotting?
Like, during high humidity weather (f'in Texas) the steering wheel, shift knob, center console cover, and driver door arm rest area all seem to get sticky.
the leather is actually deteriorating and dicentigrating, leaving black marks on my hands, and ......just nasty.
I'm guessing skin excretes oils that break down leather????
WTF?

 

Eew. Guess I'll be buying myself a cheap AutoZone Steering wheel cover after all.....

=X

Don't think it might be under warranty, don't you think? But then again it might be considered "wear and tear" too. Hrm......

 

yeah.....
when the humidity drops, the leather dries out, and it feels like sandpaper....
But the stickyness and it dissentigrating (like when you rub a paper towel on carpet and get those little rolled up specks) on your hands...
EWW factor level 7.8

 

The humidity really softens up the leather. And then you constantly shifting, holding the steering wheel, and i'm sure arm on the window, just rubs it down.

 

It's not the leather coming coming off, it's the layers upon layers of oil and dirt from your hands. I had the same experience with my Talon. I scrubbed the crap out of the shift knob and got all those black rolled up little bits off and there was clean, virgin grain underneath. Just keep the knob clean as much as you can.

 

or wash your hands more often.

 

I just wash my interior and use armorall, never had a problem. I dont use the stock shiftknob but my steering wheel is fine.

 

i get that too. anyone know if theres something (besides armor all) you can put on it to reduce the wear?

 

Wear driving gloves.

 

its common
because your hand are sweating alot
thats why they form a layer of dirt on your shift knob and steering wheel
its natural as you drive aggressively
your hand tend to get sweaty from the excitment

 

Putting Armor All on the wheel isn't a great idea. The leather can be cleaned with water and (literally) a drop of dishwashing liquid, and a brush.

 

Hmmmm I'll have to try that. i was using the armor all leather protectant.

 

Yeah, its mostly your grimy hands. Get some leather treater and protectant, clean semi-frequently and you'll be fine.

 

Use leather cleaner/protectant once in a while and it won't do this. I personally use Armor All wipes and just rub it down really well afterwards with a microfiber towel so its not slippery. This helps to clean, restore, and protect the leather from sun damage.

 

^^^ +1 i do this alot and it seems to protect fine