Steering Wheel Cover

302Rover

Member
Hello Fellow Roverites,
I'm not sure if this question is appropriate for this section or perhaps under Steering/Suspension but has anyone found a good source for leather steering wheel covers? I'd like to increase the size of the wheel rim to get a 'fatter' feel as opposed to the original 'skinny' rim. Given that the Rover wheel is rather large in diameter compared to modern cars, most suppliers that I've searched don't seem of offer any thing that will fit the Rover P6. Any hints/help/ideas would be most welcome.

Cheers,
Tom
 
HI there Tom.
There are two size of wheel . I have power steer , therefore the smaller 16" diameter wheel .
Ive aquired a nice leather one off Ebay , as I spent ages scanning local auto shops and they only seem to stock the common 15" .
You will find quite a number on eBay .Mostly out of china . Read the full description on their ads as often the header reads 16", 41cm and they only stock 15" . Also leather PU is not leather . Vinyl may rip when lacing it up .
I increased the rim size with a layer of door draught excluder wound around the rim . It is sticky on one side and once the cover is laced up , gives a nice chunky grip like a modern .
The wheel was done over ten years ago and is still looking/feeling great .
Gerald
 
GRTV8 said:
HI there Tom.
There are two size of wheel . I have power steer , therefore the smaller 16" diameter wheel .
Ive aquired a nice leather one off Ebay , as I spent ages scanning local auto shops and they only seem to stock the common 15" .
You will find quite a number on eBay .Mostly out of china . Read the full description on their ads as often the header reads 16", 41cm and they only stock 15" . Also leather PU is not leather . Vinyl may rip when lacing it up .
I increased the rim size with a layer of door draught excluder wound around the rim . It is sticky on one side and once the cover is laced up , gives a nice chunky grip like a modern .
The wheel was done over ten years ago and is still looking/feeling great .
Gerald

Hi Gerald,
thanks for the hints, especially about wrapping the rim before fitting the outer cover. My wheel is the large 17 inch diameter one. I currently do have power steering that I salvaged from a 3500S and coupled that with a Moto Lita 'knock off' 15 inch wheel from Germany. But I don't like the feel of the old style power steering and it is beginning to get noisy thus a rebuild is on the horizon. I've saved the original manual steering box and will re-fit that, along with the original wheel, hoping for better 'road feel' at the expense of ease of steering effort.
Cheers,
Tom
 
Hi Tom,

This company in the United States will taylor make one for the Rover. I know because I have one. It was however a gift, so apart from the size, I don't have any other details.
http://wheelskins.com/





The quality of the leather is first class and the fit is absolutely perfect. It took me about 2.5 hours to lace it on, but the time required is very well spent.







The small bump at 11 o'clock is where the original leather cover had split, and the rubber beneath had bulged out. I taped it over first, but the bulge was determined to stay.

The look and feel is fabulous, plus it gives the interior a lovely leather aroma.

Ron.
 
SydneyRoverP6B said:
Hi Tom,

This company in the United States will taylor make one for the Rover. I know because I have one. It was however a gift, so apart from the size, I don't have any other details.
http://wheelskins.com/





The quality of the leather is first class and the fit is absolutely perfect. It took me about 2.5 hours to lace it on, but the time required is very well spent.







The small bump at 11 o'clock is where the original leather cover had split, and the rubber beneath had bulged out. I taped it over first, but the bulge was determined to stay.

The look and feel is fabulous, plus it gives the interior a lovely leather aroma.

Ron.

Hi Ron,
thanks for the information and for taking the time to post the photos. I noticed the size on the box says 15 3/4 inch. Is that the diameter of your steering wheel? I'm beginning to see that Rover supplied various styles and diameters of wheels. Mine, for example, is from a NADA 200TC manual steering car and is 17 inch diameter. The finish is faux wood and the rim is rather small in size giving an old fashioned, not too comfortable feel. Apparently cars supplied with power steering, such as your 3500, had 16 inch wheels. It appears, from the photos, that the 15 3/4 cover fits your 16 inch wheel perfectly. Also you noted that your wheel has the original leather cover which mine does not. I also notice that the two spokes are covered in matching leather; I assume that was part of the custom order?

I'll check with Wheelskin to see what they can do for my 17 inch wheel. Thanks again for the help.
Tom
 
It seems that have exactly the same cover on the same steering wheel with Ron, although it has been a few years now and i cannot remember where i bought it from. :oops:
The original leather cover was becoming sticky and i could not manage to seal it permanently.
The new cover is made from thick quality leather, even after all those years it remains nice to touch, and made the rim a little thicker and more comfortable to grip.
 

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I remember when I did mine , I soaked the leather in water and then stretched it over my padded-out rim. As it dried, the leather shrank back and, I ended up with a tight fit without ripping the padding or cover .
Or you may be able to dry stretch it by hooking the cover over an anchored item [pipe in a vice ] and gently pull the cover as you rotate it around its length .then try it on the steering wheel .
I don't think I would try this on PU leather. It may let go at the stitch.
The stitching up on the rim takes the time and its a 'p'off when you drop a stitch and don't see it til the missus points it out .
'F'sake .
Unpick it otherwise she will point it out every time you go for a drive .
 
302rover wrote,...
I also notice that the two spokes are covered in matching leather; I assume that was part of the custom order?

Hi Tom,

No, my Rover's steering wheel left the factory with the spokes covered. As Harvey mentioned, some came that way, whilst others were left bare.
Glad to help Tom!

PeterZRH wrote,...
Good job. Looks almost "factory".

Thanks Peter. :)

Demetris, we do indeed have exactly the same cover. Nice to know that a few years down the line it will still look like new.

Ron.
 
SydneyRoverP6B said:
No, my Rover's steering wheel left the factory with the spokes covered. As Harvey mentioned, some came that way, whilst others were left bare.


I have it in my mind that the PAS wheel on the autos came with the spokes covered, and the 3500S just had them brushed, but there would be others better qualified than me to confirm/deny that.
 
I have two P6 optioned 16" spoke type s/wheels .
One is leather clad on the rim and spokes . The other has a leather rim with polished spokes .
Another option?
Not everyone knew that
 
I believe that the PAS wheel with the leather covered spokes was specified for both the auto and manual V8 models from around the time of the '74 model year for cars such specified. Though the auto's may have had them before this.
 
harveyp6 said:
GRTV8 said:
I have two P6 optioned 16" spoke type s/wheels .

So that's where they all went.....

Yes , my missus drives me nuts , so Ive given her a wheel for her side of the car , now she can drive herself nuts !!


GRTV8 said:
One is leather clad on the rim and spokes .

Auto.
Didn't know that

GRTV8 said:
The other has a leather rim with polished spokes .

Manual.

or that
 
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