Best Leather Steering Wheel Cover

Our cars are often our pride and joy. But like everything in life, they experience wear and tear over time, dropping their value. In order to try and retain your car’s worth, maintenance is imperative. In this sense, a leather steering wheel cover will help to protect your steering wheel from scars and marks, scratches, scrapes, and discoloration.

For the average driver, a leather steering wheel also provides a better grip, more ergonomic comfort, and a more sophisticated aesthetic. This is why we’re providing a comprehensive guide to the best leather steering wheel covers available today. Outlining the pros and cons, we will dive into which products provide which aspect and how they are best suited to your needs. So check out this guide to steer you to a protected car.

Best Leather Steering Wheel Cover Comparison Chart

What Makes a Good leather Steering Wheel Cover? Are All Leather Steering Wheel Covers the Same?

When you're looking for a steering wheel cover, you need to think about more than just price. The price can help you to understand the quality of the product, but also stops you from exploring your own requirements and differentiating between the covers.

Firstly, consider the material. Better quality leather is more expensive but it will protect your steering wheel better. This is because it is denser, doesn’t scratch or wear easily, is very durable, and lasts a long time.

Secondly, look for a steering wheel cover that is designed for comfort. Some have grooves cut into the design for your hands to fit, while others are smoother or skin-tight for a narrower grip. Other leather steering wheel covers are padded, which provides extra comfort for your hands but may be an issue if you have small hands.

You should also think about the seams. While some have fancy seam designs, sometimes these can rub on your palms while you are driving, causing sore skin and calluses on your hands.

Think about the overall look you are going for. You will want to search for a leather cover that matches the interior of your car, while some are personalizable and include patterns or textures to improve the feel and look of your car.

What Kind of Leather is Typically Used on Leather Steering Wheel Covers?

Steering wheel covers tend to use harder types of leather that have a more durable finish. Soft leather is nice to touch but would wear away quickly on a steering wheel. Also, because there is regular skin contact, the oils from your skin destroy softer leather, so tough, durable leather is necessary.

Full-grain or top-grain leather are the most expensive types of leather for steering wheel covers but they are also the most durable. Very shiny and dense, these leathers tend to keep their appearance, are harder to the touch, and are less flexible.

Nubuck, split, and bonded leather are cheaper options because they’re mixes of softer leather and other materials, reconstituted to be either. While they’re cheaper, they don’t last as long - especially on a steering wheel that deals with a lot of body oils and dirt.

The Benefits of Using a Leather Steering Wheel Cover

While steering wheels appear to be covered in leather some of the time, often this is a cheap imitation or low-grade leather. Alternatively, steering wheels are made of plastics.

Without a steering wheel cover, the steering wheel gets dirty. Constant touching from your hands leaves oil and grime on the wheel which cakes into the material and plastic, staining it over time and discoloring the wheel. This drops the value of the car as it looks worn and tired. To avoid this, a steering wheel cover will take the brunt of the dirt and oils.

This is also applicable to real tangible damage. Older steering wheels especially were made from strange foam that easily got bumps, scratches, and holes in it. Steering wheel covers protect against this and keep the wheel in one piece.

Also, for those traveling on long journeys or commuting frequently, leather steering wheel covers increase comfort and an ergonomic design can help to enhance your experience, prevent back problems, and increase blood flow to the brain. In this sense, a steering wheel cover can provide padded placement for your hands, to relieve stress from the wrists, hands, arms, and back. Moreover, the softer touch can prevent calluses on your hands.

Steering wheel covers are also engineered to improve the look of your car. Available in a wide range of colors, designs, and textures, steering wheel covers bring a touch of class to the car.

How Will a Leather Steering Wheel Cover Stand up to Water, Messy Hands, Sweat?

Steering wheel covers are engineered specifically to stand up to wear and tear and protect your steering wheel from receiving this treatment.

In general, steering wheel covers are made from tough, high-quality leather and are therefore mostly waterproof. Similarly to hiking boots, while the material is a little porous, the cover can protect from soda spills, coffee stains, and water damage.

Secondly, your steering wheel cover is taking all the dirt and grime from your hands that would usually go on your wheel. While it may not be visible to the naked eye, small amounts of dirt build up over time, so a steering wheel cover protects the wheel from being subject to all this grime.

Leather is a great material for those with kids because it is wipe-clean. With this in mind, having a leather steering wheel cover makes cleaning your car easier after mucky hands have been touching all the surfaces. With a wet wipe of a damp cloth, you can clean off sticky messes from a steering wheel cover without affecting the original wheel.

The sweat from your hands will also transfer on to your steering wheel and covering it helps to protect against this, as sweat can sink into the material and degrade it. To help enhance the lifespan of your steering wheel cover, you can polish the leather to remove bodily oils.

How to Clean and Care for a Leather Steering Wheel?

Like our skin, leather is natural and needs similar care. Think about how you would care for your own skin and this will give you some hints.

Firstly, to clean leather, you need a soft damp cloth. You can use soapy water for this. Gently make small circles with the damp cloth removing any dirty, muckiness, or stickiness. If you’re really struggling to get sticky patches off your steering wheel, you can use alcohol to remove them. Bear in mind, however, that alcohol dries the leather so should be used sparingly and should be moisturized afterward.

Once the leather is clean you need to leave it to dry. Leather is porous, so the water needs to evaporate from the cells holding it to prevent you locking in dampness and causing mold.

Once completely dry, you can polish the leather. This is will give is a shine and a moisturized coating. While some polishes condition and polish the leather, some don’t. Make sure to check. If your polish is for moisturizing and conditioning your leather, you must do this first.

For both polish and wax, rub on with a soft, dry cloth. Be thorough and rub in small circles. Leave for a few minutes before rubbing off again, leaving the surface shiny without excess.

How to Choose the Best Leather Steering Wheel Cover for Your Needs?

When selecting a steering wheel cover, it’s a very personal choice. You need to think about what you’re looking for. Is the look more important than the feel? Consider your own requirements first.

If you are concerned with the design, you need to select a color that complements the interior of your car. There is a whole range of designs and colors to choose from, leaving you in your element to select a design you like.

Next, think about the texture and feel. Does it feel good to grasp it? Does it have enough grip? Is it padded and comfortable or slim and fine-fitting for smaller hands? Is there an irritating seam that will rub your palm?

You need to measure your steering wheel to ensure that the one you want actually fits. It would be a shame to find a model you like only to realize you can’t stretch it over your wheel. Look at how it is installed (a zipper, poppers, or stretch-on) and consider if it fits your wheel. Search the design using your dimensions.

Think about cost. Leather is expensive, so you need to think about the grade that’s most suitable to fit your budget without breaking the bank. Remember that while cheaper models cost less upfront, they often have to be replaced later or maintained more due to the lower quality. This may end up costing more over time.

Reviews of the Best Leather Steering Wheel Cover

If you’re in the market for a steering wheel cover, you’ll no doubt find that you have steering wheel cover options coming out your ears. When it comes to selecting a high-quality leather steering wheel cover, you may want to check out our pros and cons before making a purchase. We’ve scoured the market and think these are a great fit - here’s why.

SEG Direct Black Microfiber Leather Auto Car Steering Wheel Cover Universal 15 inch

This 15-inch leather cover is made from a smooth leather that is skid-proof and stable to the touch. The microfiber leather is durable and eco-friendly, while the elastic allows this to fit wheels from 14.5 to 15-inches.

Bottom Line

This is a lovely, smart cover but is a little thick for smaller hands. This is larger than expected but the special grippy leather makes it a comfortable cover, increasing safety with the added friction to prevent the wheel from slipping.

AULLY PARK Universal Car Steering Wheel Cover Genuine Leather Stitch On Wrap (Size M, Black)

Available in varying sizes, this cover is made from high-quality leather. It comes with installation instructions and includes a thread and needle for you to add your own customized design.

Bottom Line

This is a great quality steering wheel cover with a long lifespan. This comes with thread and a needle and instructions to help you customize it for a more fun experience. You can select your size.

Sino Banyan Girly Cystal Steering Wheel Cover,with PU Leather Bling Bling Rhinestones,Beige 

This sparkly wonder is a very girly addition to the steering wheel cover array. This model comes in a variety of sequined designs and stretches easily over a 15-inch steering wheel. When driving, the crystals massage your palm, while the sequins catch the light.

Bottom Line

As this has less leather and more sequins, it’s not as great quality. However, despite its short lifespan, it gives your car a diva feel and fits on easily.

Valleycomfy Steering Wheel Covers Universal 15 inch With Genuine Leather For Car Truck Suv

This heavy-duty leather cover weighs 1.3 pounds and fits steering wheels from 14.5 to 15.5-inches. It has a skid-proof lining to keep it secure, while the heavy-duty leather provides a strong grip.

Bottom Line

Slightly smaller and thinner than expected, this model is a smart addition to your car. The cross-hatching and anti-slip lining help to increase safety when driving, while the manufacturer guarantees a 100% odor-free experience.

Mayco Bell Car Steering Wheel Cover 15 inch No Smell Comfort Durability Safety (Black Beige)

This 15-inch cover is made to fit most cars and is engineered to be easy to install. It is made of smooth microfiber leather that is extremely durable and long-lasting. It features two-tone tan and black leather, with interesting stitching and a little padding.

Bottom Line

While this cover is a versatile model with a unique design, there are a great number of cars it won’t fit. Despite this, for the cars it does fit, it provides an easy-to-install solution for more comfort and better protection while adding a stylish look.

Conclusion

Using a leather steering wheel cover can help to retain the value of your car as it protects the steering wheel from damage, wear, and tear. Always remember to measure your wheel first to find a design that fits, before choosing the perfect color and texture only to realize it doesn’t fit. Remember that for people with small hands, big, padded leather steering wheel covers may be uncomfortable; as is true of covers with deep seams running around them. When selecting a model for your budget, always bear in mind that cheaper upfront costs often mean replacing the wheel cover more often.