posted by Scott on May 25
There are a few different things to consider when upgrading to a new steering wheel.
Older cars will have steering wheels that are easier to remove and do not require special tools, where newer cars will have a locking plate and an airbag, requiring more expertise to change.
If an airbag is installed on your car, then the laws in most countries will prevent you from installing a steering wheel that does not provide for an airbag.
These replacement steering wheels are designed to allow fitment of the original airbag.
When choosing a new steering wheel you will need to consider such things as the diameter of the wheel and reach from the dashboard, which is mainly determined by the steering wheel’s dish; Some wheels are deeper ‘dished’ than others, so this will also affect the steering wheel’s distance from the driver.
If you choose a smaller diameter steering wheel than the original, then you will need to consider the reduced leverage that you will have to turn the wheel, especially if the vehicles tyres are wide or power steering is not installed. Race cars usually have small steering wheels due to space in the cabin, and also because they will have high-ratio steering racks that will move the steering wheels through a wide range with little movement of the steering wheel. At low speed (such as daily commuting) a small steering wheel will require increased effort to turn, and may quickly become tiring.
You will also want to make sure that the new wheel does not block your view of the dashboard instrumentation, and that you can still access the indicator, light, and window washer controls.
