Automotive Business

How Do I Install a Wheel-Skins Leather Steering Wheel Cover?

First, let’s review what a wheelskin is. A wheelskin is a cover for a steering wheel that either protects a new wheel, covers blemishes on an older or damaged wheel, or completely changes the look of a wheel. Wheelskins leather steering wheel covers are made from the supple top layers of domestic hides. By processing only the outermost hide layer, Wheelskins produces the most pliable and durable steering wheel covers available. Wheelskins products have been handmade in the USA since 1977. Remember that after your Wheelskins wheel cover has been installed, you only need to gently wash your cover with mild hand soap and clear water. Leather dressing products are not recommended and should never be used.

Let’s move on to the actual installation. When your Wheelskins cover order is shipped, it will include well illustrated installation directions. You will also receive a quality lacing thong and an appropriate needle. You will notice that your cover will have Wheelskins’ exclusive patented lacing hole reinforcement design. This ensures a tight fit on your steering wheel and allows you to tightly lace the cover on your wheel without tearing the leather. For most of you this will be your first experience installing a leather steering wheel cover. Begin slowly and don’t be concerned if you need to take it apart and begin over. First, slide the Wheelskins cover over your steering wheel, keeping the reinforcement holes on the inner side of your wheel ring. Once you have the cover aligned, begin lacing the cover on at the 6 o’clock position on the wheel. The first stitch is made from the inside, going out. The most common error at this point is not lacing the cover consistently tight. You should keep checking for consistency every few inches. If you are not happy with how you are doing the lacing, and it looks uneven, you can unlace it and start over. Don’t be afraid to unlace it and do it over as the reinforced holes will keep the cover from tearing. You can do this as often as you like until you get your technique perfected. It is a good idea to sit back and take a look at your overall work when you are at the 12 o’clock position. By this time you should have mastered your lacing technique. If it looks inconsistent, take it apart and start over.

Pay close attention to the amount you tighten the leather. The edges of the leather should either almost touch, or actually touch, if possible. When you come to the spoke, continue your normal lacing pattern as close to the spoke as you can. Then, over the spoke do a dummy stitch, which is just a stitch through the top layer of the Wheelskins leather. Begin the full stitch on the other side of the spoke as soon as you are able. Make sure that all the holes around the spokes match before and after each spoke. Always keep checking that your holes are lined up correctly and match up. Continue this procedure all the way around the wheel and you should finish your lacing back at the point where you began. You should have no left over holes. Remember, you will need to make sure that you are consistently matching holes around the wheel, especially at the spoke positions. You should come out perfectly at the end with the correct matchup of holes. Then the lacing can be tied off and tucked away

Congratulations, you have installed your first Wheelskins leather steering wheel cover!