It looks good, and I have used suede wheels on a road course and the grip is much better than your typical leather wheel.

But for all the people inquiring about the suede wrap, you should also consider that to keep it looking the way it does new, you have to use gloves. I mean all the time. The sweat from your hands really screws up the suede and turns it into a pretty fugly looking wheel. And it actually becomes kinda slippery after its been worn down.

So if u are considering this I hope you wear gloves all the time on the street. I wear gloves everytime I drive my race car and people start giving you funny looks ahah

 

I love it with the spokes exposed. I like how it makes the rim slightly fatter too.

I just wish suede didn't break down so quickly from hand oils, as mentioned above.

 

looks comfortable actually

 

It is very comfortable. I'd be interested in getting this done.

 

It's less now....i don't know if i'm allowed to post prices here. Don't want to **** off any mods . I'm PMing people that asked now.


- Andrew

 

As for durability, it's not bad at all. Myles has had his suede wheel since fall of 2004 and it's still holding up great. He is very clean with his car, and uses a suede brush I believe.

But i don't think you'll need gloves every time....just don't eat a bucket of fried chicken and drive at the same time .


Oh and alcantara is also available.


- Andrew

 

was that fried chicken comment related to myles? lol

here is a pic of it sitting on the column,

im going to have the entire top dash covered, to reduce glare...



cheers

cb

 

Sorry, I just don't see the point.

 

im a professional road racer...

this sort of mod comes from my requirements for the driving the car will endure.

we did this mod on our 05 sti, and one other car... it's always well received by those who drive it.

many cars in europe and highline cars use alcantra wheels, gt3 porsches (in europe as option) rs4 audi's, etc etc...

it makes a big difference in wheel control with or without gloves.

cb

 

Thanks for the insight. I guess I don't have any issues at all with wheel control, hence my comment. Too, I'm not entirety sure that my hands won't perspire more with Alcantera. It may very well be different with gloves.

 

why's everyone gotta hate on chad!? he's a function over form kind of guy, like me. do you want it to work or look pretty?

 

I hope you're not referring to me.

 

why ya all have to hate? lol

jk....

if you guys are ever in the shop, you are more than welcome to check the wheel out..... I have had myles do our last two wheels.... we have someone local that can do the dashes etc, but they arent real keen on doing the wheels at present.

the steering wheel will be guiding the car onto this (installed yesterday)...so we can put the ole 2.3 in her next week...



cb

 

I know the benefits of suede and alcantara, as stated I use it in the race car. It's not that it prevents you from sweating oe makes u sweat less. But in the event that the track is really hot and you have no working AC and waiting in the grid.....can feel like 120 degrees. And a lot of drivers are drinking lots of water like they are supposed to so they dont dehydrate.

So when they do sweat the leather wheels can get slippery, even through the gloves. So the suede/alcantara just makes it more grippy in those situations. If you never visit hot tracks, then you dont really need to worry I suppose.


But I do have another question. If the car is mainly a race vehicle, then why not just disable the airbags and go with a lighter non-airbag steering wheel??? It would shaved pounds and been a lot cheaper.

 

its not a purspose built race car..... for us, to make it that, we'd have to invest in it, and take it beyond what we see prepared for current time attack setups..... which we've considered.....

this is going to be a weekend fun car, and showroom car for the shop..... mainly, i just dont like the feeling of the evo wheels....

cb