Alcantara Steering Wheels?

jamesgareth · Oct 18, 2024

What's with alcantara steering wheels? What exactly is the attraction? Is it just a fashion thing? I sat in an Emira couple of days back and it had one - and it felt to me like somebody forgot to put on a perfectly decent leather grip and instead put on some crunchy old rag (it was a brand new car). I don't get it. What exactly is the point? Really. I'd love to know.

seriously · Oct 18, 2024

jamesgareth said:
What's with alcantara steering wheels? What exactly is the attraction? Is it just a fashion thing? I sat in an Emira couple of days back and it had one - and it felt to me like somebody forgot to put on a perfectly decent leather grip and instead put on some crunchy old rag (it was a brand new car). I don't get it. What exactly is the point? Really. I'd love to know.

It’s soft and sexy for a few months.

jamesgareth · Oct 18, 2024

seriously said:
It’s soft and sexy for a few months.

Ha. Right. If you like that sort of thing.

I suppose they're on actual racing cars and/or they might give more grip if you're tracking your car?

I'm sure somebody here who has one will come up with a perfectly good reason to have one on a road-based car.

We shall see.

Adam Brouillard · Oct 18, 2024

I think Alcantara works better than leather if you are wearing gloves, like if you plan on tracking in a full firesuit. I personally prefer to drive without gloves on a leather (or rubber) steering wheel unless the suit is required.

jamesgareth · Oct 18, 2024

Adam Brouillard said:
I think Alcantara works better than leather if you are wearing gloves, like if you plan on tracking in a full firesuit. I personally prefer to drive without gloves on a leather (or rubber) steering wheel unless the suit is required.

Right. OK thanks. Far as I can see of the 80 or so Emira's on auto-trader right now (in the UK) around half have alcantara steering wheels. I can't believe half of the people are going to track these cars so regularly that such a thing would be seriously useful.

I can only think it's a fashion statement.

Adam Brouillard · Oct 18, 2024

jamesgareth said:
Right. OK thanks. Far as I can see of the 80 or so Emira's on auto-trader right now (in the UK) around half have alcantara steering wheels. I can't believe half of the people are going to track these cars so regularly that such a thing would be seriously useful.

I can only think it's a fashion statement.

Yeah, I think most people just get it because they like the look/feel. The grip difference is not really significant enough to matter for typical use. It's more noticeable in racecars or karts with very heavy steering.

seriously · Oct 18, 2024

Regarding fashion it’s a great excuse to wear your driving gloves.

I’ve read that it is entirely possible to keep them fresh with proper cleaning but it is still a lot more work than preserving leather wheels. After cleaning for instance you really need to brush the wheel to get the soft feeling back.

Pdl2thmdl · Oct 18, 2024

I ordered the Alcantara steering wheel without giving much thought, then found a whole online cohort of people who despise it. I feared for my life after my order was locked and thought I would have to trade my car immediately (JK). I actually love it

I wouldn't necessarily advocate for it over leather (it's just preference), but I find that it is insanely grippy without gloves, it matches my alcantara interior, and it adds to how special it feels every time I get into that car. Mine feels soft and grippy after 1000+ miles, no mats or clumps and having never cleaned it. My hands are almost always clean so maybe that helps. I find myself not shifting my hands or letting it slip through my hands as much, my driving habits feel much more like racing in that car lol. Honestly I wouldn't change my spec.

netsinah · Oct 18, 2024

Rumour has it that leather steering wheel covers are the TRUE fashion statement, for those with really discerning taste, the need to cling onto a dead animal hide as opposed to a man-made material, and to fulfill the all-important desire to show those pesky animal activists just who’s really “steering” the ship (pardon the double pun, since leather is made from steers; lol).

This tremendously divisive automotive issue has kept me from getting a good night sleep, for far too many decades!

On a more serious note, here’s an article some may find interesting, which describes the origins of alcantara and comments on some of its benefits:

https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/a8636/what-is-alcantara-the-story-of-the-ubiquitous-faux-suede/

Carig5A · Oct 18, 2024

jamesgareth said:
What's with alcantara steering wheels? What exactly is the attraction? Is it just a fashion thing? I sat in an Emira couple of days back and it had one - and it felt to me like somebody forgot to put on a perfectly decent leather grip and instead put on some crunchy old rag (it was a brand new car). I don't get it. What exactly is the point? Really. I'd love to know.

I don’t know I just optioned it

at least for me I really don’t care for as long car drives great and problem- free

RoryBellows · Oct 18, 2024

It just a preference thing. I think they feel awesome in the hand but they also collect oils and dirt in a worse way. I generally try to keep leather at touch points when possible. That said I probably would have bit at a colored alcantara interior.

DaaS · Oct 18, 2024

I ordered it because (to me) it had a more premium look and feel compared to the leather steering wheel. I also never had a full alcantara steering before, so it was a good change. It still looks and feels new and I haven’t done anything special to it. No regrets.

MPD · Oct 18, 2024

It's a personal preference and I like how it looks/feels. I have three cars with it and three cars with leather. I make sure my hands are clean to maintain the alcantara. No problem keeping it clean and if/when I need to, I can use the kit from colourlock. I like both options and happy we have choices, to each their own

crestima · Oct 18, 2024

Perhaps not so much because it's a fashion statement, but simply a matter of preference of look and feel. I never liked the look or feel of alcantara on steering wheels, although I do like it on trimming and lining, particularly on the interior overhead.

kitkat · Oct 18, 2024

I’m quite enjoying my alcantara wheel, thankfully you don’t have to configure your car with it.

KCDarkV · Oct 18, 2024

I got leather because I know myself and I knew I would eat/drink in the car, not clean the steering wheel weekly, etc.

Kinda wish I went with alcantara just to make it feel a little more “special.”

Speedy Emira · Oct 19, 2024

KCDarkV said:
I got leather because I know myself and I knew I would eat/drink in the car, not clean the steering wheel weekly, etc.

Kinda wish I went with alcantara just to make it feel a little more “special.”

I make sure I don’t eat and drink in the car and love the alcantara on my steering wheel. I make sure I wash my hands before driving my car and it’s staying pretty clean.
Once a year I make a very weak solution of washing up liquid and water to clean it. I use a white towel that doesn’t shed fibres and wipe it down with clean water and clean part of the towel. Comes out like new.

jamesgareth · Oct 19, 2024

Pdl2thmdl said:
I ordered the Alcantara steering wheel without giving much thought, then found a whole online cohort of people who despise it. I feared for my life after my order was locked and thought I would have to trade my car immediately (JK). I actually love it I wouldn't necessarily advocate for it over leather (it's just preference), but I find that it is insanely grippy without gloves, it matches my alcantara interior, and it adds to how special it feels every time I get into that car. Mine feels soft and grippy after 1000+ miles, no mats or clumps and having never cleaned it. My hands are almost always clean so maybe that helps. I find myself not shifting my hands or letting it slip through my hands as much, my driving habits feel much more like racing in that car lol. Honestly I wouldn't change my spec.

Well excellent thanks for that somewhat contrarian view. It's good to hear the other side. I'm going to start a new thread in relation to this - because some of the best colour combinations out there have alcantara wheels and I'm wondering what it would cost to replace them with leather should I really not like it.

jimshadow · Oct 19, 2024

I've had Alcantara wheels in my last 3 cars and they look, feel and hold up great! It's fairly easy to deep clean, but there is a process to it and it's more than just wiping it down. I'll be finalizing my Emira order in the next few days and will be ordering Alcantara for sure!

crestima · Oct 19, 2024

Alcantara vs Leather, so few choices. If only Lotus were to also offer Synthetic Resin, hmmm

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Alcantara Steering Wheels?

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