[turbomangt]

When I saw this stering wheel I thought for sure the dye was coming off the leather, as you can see in the pic. I started to scrub it a little and to my suprise it started coming off. Most people don't wash their hands every time they get into their car, and our hands have oils and other foreign particles that effect leather. I would suggest cleaning your stering wheel a couple of times a month. This one took me an hour to clean, results were better than expected. Don't let yours get out of control. Gary

 

[marlinspike]

As far as driving gloves go though, I wear the deerskin gloves made by wheelskins (dynodon sells them). My last pair wore out about 2 weeks before leaving for Italy, so I decided I would get a pair there. I went to every glove shop in Florence and Rome, and none of their gloves held a candle to the wheelskins ones (made in Canada).

 

[Mr.DJ]

When I saw this stering wheel I thought for sure the dye was coming off the leather, as you can see in the pic. I started to scrub it a little and to my suprise it started coming off. Most people don't wash their hands every time they get into their car, and our hands have oils and other foreign particles that effect leather. I would suggest cleaning your stering wheel a couple of times a month. This one took me an hour to clean, results were better than expected. Don't let yours get out of control. Gary

That's nasty! :yikes:

 

[tekhen]

Gary,

that's more than sweat on that wheel. what is it really?

 

[300CUL8R]

Aren't driving gloves for those really old guys who drive 1950s MGs and wear those tweed caps?

Marlin - IMO you're way too young to be wearing driving gloves unless you're driving the hell out of a circa 1985 911 Turbo with no power steering and a racing clutch.

Also, last I checked the 300 is an automatic :drive: .

 

[marlinspike]

300CUL8R, I'm driving the hell out of a 1985 Mercedes 380SE. Sure it has power steering and an automatic (though to get the gears you want in turns you have to shift it through the gates...and yes, like a properly designed shifter, it actually has a gate of sorts even though it's an auto, i.e. it's gated so if you know the pattern of lefts and rights, you never miss the gear you want), but it also has a hard vinyl steering wheel, and the gloves give me that additional steering control that I seek.

Sure it takes 17.2 seconds to run the 1/4, and sure the top speed is only 125mph (though I can say from personal experience that it can do that for 2 hours straight without the coolant temp going up 1 degree), but that German engineered suspension carries those 4100lbs (with gas and driver) through the turns nicely. The words most often heard from my passenger seat: "oh shit." The miata and A4 I dusted and the ZR-1 who couldn't lose me until we got out of the twisties will attest to the fact that the driving gloves help. So will my friend who I gave a ride to the other day as I did a 4 wheel drift at 70 around a curve with chevrons and a recommended 25mph sign.
Though I'll admit, I don't like driving gloves on leather wrapped wheels, I'll take gloves and a plastic wheel over a leather wheel any day.

Edited to add: In case you couldn't tell I catch a lot of flack for my gloves, but when those same people ride with me, they note that they now understand why I wear them.

 

[lennoxavesosa]

im only 20 and wear driving gloves sometimes so i dont want to hear that people are too young to wear them or fit a stereotype.
i agree on a leather steering wheel they arent as necessary as they are on other surfaces. i usually wear them when im driving my 6 speed twinturbo saab arc 9.1 as it just makes driving that car a little more fun, and gives me a little more grip.
as i rarely use them when driving my 300c, a nice leather pair might be nice to keep in the glovebox for those cold winters up here in NY.

can someone please provide more info (price, sizing, quality, and where to buy) of the gloves sold dynodon? also are they insulated? i will maily be using them in the winter therefore might wear them outside my car sometimes.

 

[marlinspike]

Well, dynodon's website is www.dccarcare.com. The website of the company that makes the gloves is www.wheelskins.com. They are cheaper to buy from dynodon's website than from the company's fyi. I've used these and I've used Griot's Garage Limited Edition Jim Clark driving gloves supposedly modeled on the pair of Jim Clark's gloves that Griot owns (if that's true, Jim Clark must have just used baseball gloves). I've also tried on every glove I could find in Rome and Florence and these wheelskins gloves are the best by far. Though part of that is that they are the thin (and unlined), so they aren't going to keep your hands too warm out of the car. They will keep your hand from feeling so cold they burn on the steering wheel in the middle of winter (those who park outside know this feeling all too well) and I've used them to take photos outside in the winter, but they won't keep your hands warm, just prevent them from freezing.
Richard

 

[Meister]

...can someone please provide more info (price, sizing, quality, and where to buy) of the gloves sold dynodon? also are they insulated?...

Best price on the Web tonight, per Froogle, is here, http://www.hondagyrl.com/wheelskinsdrivinggloves.htm, $34.95.

Pure driving gloves are never insulated...feel is paramount...but will keep your hands much toastier than without them.

Nice write-up by the way, Richard; 'enjoyed the read.

 

[dynodon]

I want to thank Marlinspike for mentioning DC CarCare.

I also want to say I will match that price from the Hondagyrl web site.

$34.95.

and my shipping is just $5. I usually keep all colors and sizes in stock, but can ship same day no matter what.

Wheelskins gloves are made from Deerskin. This leather does not stretch out and get sloppy like cowhide. Remember the "if the gloves don't fit" thing from the OJ trial? wouldn't have happened with deerskin gloves.

I know that some people think driving gloves are not cool, but once you wear them, you may think different. They are warm enough in winter that you don't need other gloves, and it is safer to drive with Wheelskins gloves than with winter gloves....more feel, less slop. Less chance of loosing your grip.

During the summer, they are not hot, the holes on the top are not really there to line up with your knuckles, but to let the top of the glove breathe.

I have a pair that i have used for over 8 years, and they still go on tight and right every time.

They are great for autocross and track days, and again, make a great winter glove for driving.

To get the $34.95 price, just mention it in the comments section when you order.

 

[Northern Rider]

Don, let me jump in and say that i have a pair of deerskin driving gloves that I have had for more years than I care to admit.

They are an absolute "must" when driving a big car like the 300C through the twisties.

The top part of the steering wheel - whether it be OEM tortoise shell or california walnut - is very slippery. I can't imagine doing any spirited driving without a good pair of driving gloves.

 

[lennoxavesosa]

yes NR. if id pick anyone to wear driving gloves, it would definatly be you.
you and your damn 'spirited driving' lol. crazy bastard

 

[marlinspike]

Oh yeah on a wood wheel these are an absolute must. Old-time racers wore them for a very good reason.

 

[Meister]

...I will match that price from the Hondagyrl web site.

$34.95.

and my shipping is just $5. I usually keep all colors and sizes in stock, but can ship same day no matter what...

Your new lower price coupled with cheaper, same-day, shipping makes you clearly the go-to person now, dynodon. Good show.

 

[vvv90]

Actually my truck steering wheel is kinda nasty.

Good think it's black 'cuz you don't see it but I can feel it. I've never cleaned it.

Gary, what would be the best chemical/product to use to clean that gunk off. I know it's kinda difficult. When I was a porter I had to clean a wheel like that and with what I had took FOREVER.