The steering wheel braid is very popular and is often purchased as an accessory for your car.

Drivers acquire this attribute for many reasons: in pursuit of decorating the car interior, increasing the comfort in using the steering wheel and updating its already boring look.

Also, the braid contributes to the long-term preservation of the presentation of the car interior, because the steering wheel is the most noticeable part.

The steering tape is considered the most optimal and affordable way to tune your car.

It is sold in any auto store and is inexpensive.

The assortment contains many varieties of this accessory: leather, fur, curly braids with foam inside, eco-leather.

By purchasing a steering wheel braid, you can easily put it on yourself and replace it without any problems if it loses its presentation or just gets bored with you.

At the same time, when choosing a braid for the steering wheel, you need to take into account some difficulties, which include the correct selection of size, material, style, color scheme and fixation option.

Some covers can be very simple to dress, while others will require a fairly long and accurate work with the use of special threads.

Very often, drivers ask themselves the question: "Do you need a steering wheel braid at all?"

The most fortunate owners of the luxury vehicle category, where the car interior is equipped with leather trim, the design is sustained in the same style and the leather braid on the steering wheel perfectly combines with the overall style of the entire interior.

At the same time, the owners of budget cars have to resolve issues with aesthetics on their own, because in such a segment of cars there is minimalism, in which there is not even anything to "catch on".

Also, a braid on the steering wheel will be necessary for the driver of a used car, in which the steering wheel has lost its visual appeal, having acquired many scratches.

The steering wheel cover acts as a cover, which serves to preserve the attractive appearance of the steering wheel of your car in a situation when you decide to sell your vehicle.

Also, the braid on the steering wheel prevents the hand from sliding along the surface, preventing scrolling and increasing driving safety.

Also, this attribute, increasing the thickness of the steering wheel, makes it possible for car owners with wide brushes to comfortably hold the steering wheel in their hand.

How to choose the right steering wheel casing?

The choice of this accessory should be carried out according to several criteria:

1. Manufacturing material. Today you can find a variety of braids that are made from different materials. Girls prefer to buy soft velor, fabric and suede braids. These types of braids are characterized by fun coloring and are pleasing to the eye. Men, on the other hand, opt for classic versions. Therefore, leather braid or eco-leather are very popular due to their long service life and external noble style. You should not buy foam rubber covers, because they very quickly lose their shape, being washed out by touch.
2. Color scheme and style. Choose a steering wheel cover based on your interior color scheme. If you are the owner of a black interior, then the braid also needs to be selected in dark colors. No need to "decorate" expensive representative cars with braids in the form of a velor dog or flowers. Such a decision completely spoils the whole impression of the owner's good taste.
3. Fixation type. The steering wheel braids are divided into two categories: covers that do not require upholstery, and steering wheel braids that are fixed with a special thread. Each of the models has its own advantages and disadvantages. The fixed cover will be very easy to put on, but during use, they can twist and even slide if they are loose. Such accessories are able to completely blend into the interior of the car's interior to such an extent that no one will even notice that the steering wheel braid was purchased separately. But it can be difficult to install such models. Installation will require some skills and free time to make the steering wheel trim on its own.

If you decide to buy a steering braid for yourself, then you should not have any difficulties when choosing.

You just need to measure the diameter of the handlebars and provide this information to the seller.

If you decide to buy a cover as a gift, then you need to understand the categories of such accessories, which are divided into several varieties.

Today in stores there are several sizes of steering braids:

• Size S(diameter 35-37cm). This type of braid is ideal for a small car such as Oka or Tavria. You can also purchase this size for cars that have a sports steering wheel. In Kia Picanto, a similar size is also suitable, but when installing it, you should take into account that it will be difficult to fit, but it will clearly fit the steering wheel;
• Size M (diameter 37-38 cm). This type is the most relevant for passenger cars. It is considered standard because it is suitable for such cars as Kia, Nissan, Ford, Toyota, Chevrolet, and even domestic "eights", "nines", "ninety-ninths", "tens", Grant, Kalina and Priora. Therefore, if you are the owner of foreign-made light vehicles or domestic cars from the above list, then you can buy this braid size;
• Size L (diameter 38-40 cm). These sizes are suitable for Niva, Volga and Moskvich. Also, the braid will be ideal for models such as "seven", "eleventh", "thirteenth";
• XL size (diameter 42-43 cm). This braid is intended for UAZ and GAZEL cars;
• Size XXL (diameter 47 cm). Designed for steering wheels of foreign freight transport;
• XXXL size (diameter 49 cm). Purchase this accessory if you are looking for a braid for KAMAZ.

It is difficult for an ordinary person to identify bona fide sellers from the huge variety of online auto stores. Buying goods in questionable stores, people are faced with low-quality goods and violation of delivery times.

Especially for you, we have selected several proven online stores with the best prices, where you can buy good quality steering wheel braid without any fear.

A similar procedure should be carried out from above. Pull on the top of the outer casing and gradually work downward as you slide the cover over the steering wheel.

In this situation, it is most comfortable to use the help of an assistant who will help you.

If you don't have anyone around to help, then use ordinary scotch tape.

While pulling on the underside of the braid, fix it with tape (so that the adhesive tape does not leave marks, cover the material with an ordinary cloth or polyethylene).

After this procedure, continue to pull the cover over the lower half of the handlebar.

When tightening, it will be convenient to use 2 flat-head screwdrivers.

Putting the braid on the upper half of the steering wheel, pull on the underside of the cover, prying it off from both sides.

In the future, remove one screwdriver and immediately press down this place with your hand. Using a screwdriver, it is necessary to pry the rear side of the casing, directing it to the steering wheel.

For an easier stretching procedure, it is best to soak the steering tape in warm water or heat it with warm steam.

Interesting! With this method, the leather braid will get more elasticity and it will be easier for you to put it on due to the stretching of the materials.

You can also stretch the steering tape by placing the spacers in it for 12 hours. For this action, ordinary slats are suitable, on which you need to tension the material.

After you have been able to put the braid on the steering wheel of the car, fix it with the special cords located on the inside of the steering wheel.

If you do not like the assortment of steering braids offered by stores, you can make this accessory yourself. Initially, you will need to decide on the color scheme and the material used for the braiding, and then start working.

The most suitable option for a headband is perforated leather, which is soft and elastic, making it easy and comfortable to work with.

Choose a material that is 1.2-1.4 mm thick.

For work, you will need to prepare:

• Steering braid material;
• Sewing accessories (needle, thread, scissors);
• Patience.

It is best to remove the steering wheel itself before sewing. However, if we take into account the difficulty of the procedure, it is possible to get rid of the removal of interfering components (airbags, adjusting buttons).

Remember to disconnect the battery before performing this procedure.

Any kind of sewing starts with a pattern. It is very easy to create it.

You will need to wrap the steering wheel with cling film, winding paper tape on top. Next, you should draw a seam along it with a marker and make a cut along the drawn line.

Due to this action, you should have three pieces of the stencil on your hands, which should be numbered so as not to confuse the sewing sequence.

Apply the stencil to thick cardboard and trace around with a marker, cutting out the templates with a margin of 5 mm on each side.

Important! The transfer of the developed model to the skin should be accompanied by an additional margin of 1.5-1.7 cm.

After you have completed these procedures, attach the parts to the steering wheel and check that you did everything correctly and that the dimensions are correct. With a good result, you can start stitching all the components in the correct order.

It is best to sew parts on a sewing machine using nylon threads. The use of this material will make it possible to make smoother seams that will last a long time.

Also, this seam simplifies the process of tightening the braid, because the holes for the loops will already be made.

You can do the sewing process yourself if you are not afraid of difficulties. If you are unsure of your talent as a tailor, then contact the task at the tailor shop.

The main detail that the driver touches the most is the steering wheel. The steering wheel should be comfortable not only mechanically (easy to turn), but also should be comfortable in girth: not hard, not too soft and not slip. There are several ways to improve your steering wheel, such as making your own steering wheel braid.

The steering wheel upholstery is classified according to the method of attachment, material, and durability. That is, convenience, design, and control efficiency depend on what the steering wheel trim will be. It may be that the braiding will turn out to be too thick and this will create inconvenience in the girth of the steering wheel for people with short fingers.

Leather steering wheel

The most expensive and reputable steering wheel upholstery is leather. Compared to other materials, leather braiding lasts longer and is easy to clean. Can be made from perforated (perforated) leather. Leather products with holes give a volumetric look, hide irregularities, the steering wheel rim is ventilated.

Leather steering wheel upholstery comes first in terms of performance.

The ability to wash the steering wheel or treat it, for example, with alcohol is a very useful feature. Especially if you are not the only one driving.

In terms of cost, leather steering wheel cover will cost more than, for example, from rag materials or wire, but not every month to change it. Therefore, such upholstery will pay off with a lifetime.

Do you know what the black plastic strip on the hood is called and what is it for? It is installed not as a tuning element, but to protect against insects crashing in at high speed. It is called or a deflector.

Fur braid on the steering wheel

At first, it may seem that the steering wheel braid made of fur is chic. But, after a couple of days of using such upholstery, you will be disappointed, because this material gets dirty quickly and cannot be wiped off like leather. Especially light-colored pile and fur will quickly lose their beautiful appearance.
In addition to the fact that such a sheath is too easily soiled, the steering wheel can slip in the summer if the palms of your hands sweat. Accordingly, such material for such a critical part of the machine does not favorably affect the safety of vehicle control.

Wire steering wheel cover

Since Soviet times, drivers of VAZ 2101-2107 cars willingly made braid on the steering wheel on their own. It was fashionable at the time. Multi-colored wire was chosen for weaving.

By design and hygiene, the wire doesn't look as good on the handlebars and is also not hygienic. A lot of dirt collects between the wires. Even if washed with cleaning solutions, dirt will not completely come out of hard-to-reach places.

The advantage of wire braiding is that it is durable and easy to manufacture.
But there are also disadvantages:

• it is stiffness for the hands;
• also slipping of wet palms and fingers;
• the insulation of the wire blows out quickly in the cold and does not heat up for a long time, which is why you have to use gloves.

Other options

Thrill-seekers install special braided inserts that massage the fingers as they grip and are believed to increase blood flow to the fingers. If the circulation is weak, the fingers begin to go numb.

Some people, on the contrary, do not like it when sharp rubber spikes or other attachments press on their fingers. Plus, some people also do a steering wheel heating with a power button on the dashboard. Very convenient for residents of the Far North, where the temperature reaches -50 C.

Braid thickness and color

Unless you own a super expensive car and have no servants, you shouldn't choose glamorous steering wheel colors. Get tired of washing those fur upholstery. In addition, the bright color quickly becomes boring.
As for the thickness of the braid, it should not turn out too thick, otherwise your fingers will get tired of holding the steering wheel. This is especially noticeable when you have to drive long distances.

Volume inserts

There are simple ways of making a braid insert to increase the diameter of the steering rim. For example, you can use foam rubber. It will give softness, increase the diameter (if the handlebars are thin). But the foam insert will quickly lose its shape, it will sell somewhere.

There is a good way to make the steering wheel braid with your own hands - this is a gasket with helium inside. Such an insert will not allow you to lose shape even with prolonged use.

Steering wheel trim options

To calculate the length and diameter of the steering wheel (by the way, who does not know, according to the geometry, the shape in the form of a steering wheel is called a torus), you do not need to remove it. Buy a flexible tailor meter and measure the outer circle of the steering wheel and the diameter.

To the obtained data, it is necessary to add another 3 to 5 mm for the overlap seam. The diameter of the steering wheel is generally 35-40 cm. Large steering wheels are installed from the factory on executive cars, and small ones on sports cars.

There is a State Standard that regulates the diameter of the steering wheel of a passenger car. According to GOST RF, the diameter of the steering wheel should not exceed 40 cm.

Do-it-yourself steering wheel trim

There is a tuning studio for cars that specialize in covering the steering wheel with leather and other materials, covering car seats, etc. But, if you have the right material and tools, you can easily do it yourself.

Materials and tools for the steering wheel cover:

• leather strip, with an approximate size of 10x120 centimeters;
• high strength nylon cord, about 3 meters long;
• awl or special breakdown;
• two needles from 5 cm long;
• a hook with a small head for pulling a nylon thread;
• a thimble so as not to perforate the fingertips;
• roll of scotch tape;
• cling film;
• white sheet (Whatman) A1 format for patterns.

The steering wheel can be sheathed completely, that is, with the steering wheel spokes or, only the steering rim. Let's consider both options.

The steering wheel upholstery without spoke (only the steering wheel rim is upholstered)

We calculate the length of the leather strip using the formula: multiply the outer diameter of the steering wheel by the number P (3.14). We get the length of the circle. Can be checked with a tailor's flexible meter. When you get close to the joint, the leather strip must be pulled, since the leather will stretch itself and it must be done so that the upholstery does not sag.

It is not necessary to make the skin one color. Some people sew pieces of leather in different colors to create a custom design.

There are such options for seam joints:
You can grease the seams with a special glue for leather. This will prevent the threads from being pulled apart.

Punch holes are made for nylon thread. A breakdown is a hollow metal tube with one sharp edge around its entire diameter.

With one side it is placed on the skin, and on the other side it is hit with a hammer and a hole is made.

If you make holes for lacing with an awl, then the rope should be wound immediately after the awl.

Complete steering wheel upholstery (spoked)

This option is much more complicated. It is necessary to make a pattern for sewing upholstery. The pattern is made using cling film. To do this, you need to wrap all the steering wheel parts with foil and fix it with tape so that it does not unwind.
Next, you need to draw all the seams and number them. On paper, you need to draw diagrams of numbered pieces of future upholstery.
Now you can cut the film at the seams, put these pieces on a Whatman paper and trace with a pencil. Add 5 mm to the drawn contours at the seams and cut them out.

Now we cut out patterns from leather. We sew parts along the length of the steering wheel on a typewriter or by hand. We put on the steering wheel and tighten. Then we make holes and lace up. If the plastic decor of the steering wheel interferes, then remove it first.

Video

This video shows in detail how to make a pattern for the steering wheel with your own hands.

5 mistakes when replacing the steering wheel cover.

Video instruction on the steering wheel cover.

24.04.2016

The steering wheel of a car is not only one of the main controls, but also an element that you pay attention to when you get into the car and which determines how convenient and pleasant it is to drive. Intensive use of the steering wheel leads to a rather rapid loss of its original appearance. In this article « » I will tell you how to return the steering wheel to its previous appearance and make it even more attractive.

To get started, you need

1. Remove the steering wheel from the vehicle (refer to the vehicle repair and maintenance manual).
2. Building masking tape - 1 large roll (paper tape, regular oilcloth will not work)
3. Food or packaging film - 1 roll
4. Stationery knife, preferably with a new blade
5. Dark marker - 1 piece
6. Cardboard (preferably medium density)
7. Strong nylon thread (the one used for shoe repair is suitable)
8. Sewing needles, preferably hardened (take a few pieces, may bend or break)
9. Two thimbles on middle fingers (to protect fingers from puncture)

Well, the most basic material for work is leather. Leather is better than a good quality brother, and if you want to exercise, then it is better to use leather or a leather substitute from old jackets, pants, bags, etc.

We make patterns

It is necessary to wrap the steering wheel with food (packaging) film. The film should fit snugly against the steering wheel base.

Then on top of the film as tightly as possible we roll the masking tape so that the final result does not turn out to be a larger braid.

We take a marker and divide the steering wheel into four parts, make a mark on the inside of the steering wheel for the inner seam, preferably evenly.IMPORTANT: number or sign each part before cutting. We cut it clearly according to the marks made, you should get four patterns.

Cut out patterns and lay them on a flat surface, press them with something heavy, and leave them overnight so that they level out and take the desired shape. Next, transfer the aligned patterns to cardboard (it will be more convenient to make patterns on the skin, MANDATORYmake a margin of 1-1.5 cm for each element), and then transfer to the skin.

We sew the elements cut out of leather in order from numbers 1 to 4, the first and the last are sewn together to make a ring.

We try on the finished braid on the steering wheel, the workpiece should not dangle, but should fit snugly against the steering wheel (if it does not fit, you need to sew it in one of the seams). If everything worked out, we proceed to the next stage, take the steering wheel braid and sew the edges to perform this procedure better with a sewing machine, if it is not possible to sew, you can make a winding on the edges of the product (use only strong threads).

Handlebar Tuck Stitching Options

Completion robots

In order to prevent the braid from slipping on the steering wheel during operation, the edges can be fixed with glue or epoxy. After all the preparatory robots are completed, you can proceed to tightening the braid on the steering wheel. When finished, the robots install the steering wheel back on the car and enjoy the result.

Recently, steering wheel covers have become an incredibly popular fixture with motorists around the world. Therefore, the choice of braiding and the correct way to dress them on the steering wheel is a topic of constant controversy. This article will cover: the main types of braids, the method of choosing the appropriate braid, and the process of putting on and lacing the cover on the steering wheel of a car.

Why do you need a braid?

The braid on the steering wheel is not only an important element of the car's interior decoration, but also a detail that performs a lot of useful functions. The braid increases the thickness of the steering wheel, which makes it much more comfortable for your hands to wrap around the steering wheel. It also makes the steering wheel warmer in winter weather - it is much more pleasant for the driver to touch the soft surface of the sheath than the cold metal surface of the standard steering wheel.

The braid protects the surface of the steering wheel from scratches and other mechanical damage, because if the braid is damaged, then it can be replaced with a new one at any time, while the same replacement of an entire steering wheel is much more difficult and more expensive in terms of money.

The steering wheel covers differ depending on the material from which they are made.

Genuine Leather

• pros: durability, resistance to antiseptic agents, hygiene, ease of care, pleasant to the touch.
• Minuses: high price.

Artificial leather (eco leather)

• pros: no toxic emissions, easy to install, easy to clean, affordable price.
• Minuses: low resistance to antiseptic agents, average durability of use, most often unsightly appearance.

Wire (braided cover)

• pros: high strength, durability, low cost.
• Minuses: low level of hygiene, it is very difficult to clean from dust, inconvenient in winter, when it hardens and warms up very badly.

Silicone

• pros: high strength, affordable cost, easy to clean.
• Minuses: unstable before exposure to antiseptics, short-lived, unattractive appearance.

Foam rubber

• pros: high strength, minimal cost, easy to clean.
• Minuses: not very comfortable, short-lived, unattractive appearance.

Braids with additional properties should also be noted. For example - braids with heated arms: they are more expensive, any material can be used. It is worth noting the popularity of these covers, because for many motorists these very additional properties of the cover are the determining factor when buying.

How to choose a steering wheel cover

As with the selection of any other device for a car, you need to choose a steering wheel cover based on your own needs and preferences. Nevertheless, there are general parameters here that help to choose the best option for the buyer:

• Braid size depending on handlebar size (S - 35-36 cm diameter, M - 37-38 cm, L - 39-40 cm, XL - 41-43 cm, 2XL - 47-48 cm, 3XL - 49 cm.) ...
• The make of the car for which the braid is bought is the determining factor, because the size of the steering wheel depends on the make of the car.
• The type of braiding must correspond to the visual data of the machine and the material of its interior upholstery.

How to put on and lace up your braid

The main headache of a person who bought a braid suitable for the diameter and external characteristics of the steering wheel of his car is the need to put it on in the right way. And in this case, it all depends on whether the braid is designed for the steering wheel spokes. If not, then everything is done quite quickly, because there is no need to carry out additional manipulations with the steering wheel. If the braid is designed for spokes, then the steering wheel must be removed (you need to remove it carefully, disconnecting the battery and waiting a few minutes to prevent the airbags from deploying), the braid is put on the removed steering wheel, and then the steering wheel is installed back into place.

Removing the handlebar and putting on the casing

The main problematic when putting on the braid is lacing it. Yes, it is possible to purchase a one-piece case that does not require to be laced up. But if lacing is necessary, and the buyer does not know how to do it correctly, then the process of installing the braid on the steering wheel can become a real problem. Learning to lacing the braid is quite easy, because this process, although long, is also very simple.

In the event that, as a result, any folds remain on the cover, the problem areas of the braid can be warmed up. This technique will help increase the elasticity of the material and facilitate the lacing process.