I’ve been driving my new Rav4 Hybrid for a couple months now and love everything about it except for the steering wheel. I had never given my steering wheel a second thought until this car. It is a matte finish leather with basically no grip. The unexpected side effect of this is that my hands start to get tired after longer drives from having to hold on tighter. Any suggestions on how to add some grip/friction to this thing without using one of those cheap covers? Any sew on covers I find for this model are also in a matte finish leather.

  • cmrtopher@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    May use some dish soap and water to wash off any residual oils on the leather. They spray all kinds of stuff on them at the factory to protect the finishes in transit.

  • mr_niyi@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Sorry mate! Looks like you’re going to have to get the covers. Otherwise, just as u/VINNcanada says, get an aftermarket steering wheel. Or be like me and get some driving gloves.

  • phungki@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    If your hands are getting sore I think your first avenue to correct that is changing your driving posture and/or grip. You should not have to hold the wheel that tight, and certainly not that tight for an extended period of time. You can experiment with hand placement, rest your elbow on the door if possible, loosen your grip a bit.

    Steering wheel covers are not a great idea, many covers can slip in relation to the steering wheel and in an emergency situation you’ve now lost steering control.

    • Affectionate_Cloud86@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      I get so much shit from my other half for wearing driving gloves lmao; but I get sweaty hands and they really are the best solution for me.

      • wuxxler@alien.topBEnglish
        1·
        1 year ago

        I drive a lot, and had the same issue with my Highlander until I started using driving gloves. Fingerless leather gloves on Amazon for about $20. Because they’re fingerless, I can use touchscreens without taking them off.