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I've used them on both. If you want grip and more grip, suede on suede is the answer. I tend to let the wheel slide through my free hand if I'm shuffling, so were it my choice, I'd do a leather wheel, suede gloves.

I bought the Sparcos in 2005, and they've worn well. I'd buy another pair.

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Karl S.
2014 Baby, 2014 House, 2013 Ford Focus ST, 2013 BMW 328i, 1994 Mercedes E320
(Insert passive aggressive signature line here)

Shuffling????? I get my hand slapped when I shuffle steer

I can't imagine using a smooth steering wheel. Suede only. And with the Sparco gloves I've used (which is all I've ever used), I've never had a grip or fatigue problem.

As for gauges, I'm a big advocate of warning lights. That said, if you think you'll ever do much "real" racing, I highly recommend training yourself to scan those gauges regularly. I'm not great about it, but when I hopped into the Koni Challenge RX-8 the thing was brand new and there were known diff and tranny temp issues to watch for. Very important to be diligent about it so you can get ahead of the problem. If it starts to climb at a place like Miller just before you get to pit road, you're better off being able to decide to stop THEN rather than having to make another 4+ mile lap when things might get bad in a hurry.


--Donnie

Well, it looks like I'm down to the following 2 wheels:

The OMP Targa @ 330mm dia and it's pretty fat at 34 x 27 on the hoop girth. This wheel is flat with no offset. I have a friend that's sold/handled a lot of racing product and he won't fail to mention how impressed with their product he is.

http://www.ompracing.it/prodotti.html?c ... anguage=en

I can get a pretty killer deal on a Momo Mod 80 in the next couple of days. It's 350mm dia, 28mm on the hoop girth and has 37mm offset.

http://www.momo.it/products.php?id_cat= ... t=146&l=en

Anybody got any other suggestions? Donnie, I'm sure you've used a lot of different product. What do you like?

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“I feel safer on a racetrack than I do on Houston's freeways.” - A.J. Foyt

Kevin Butler
Mobetta Autosport Spec E30 #612
2003 C5 Z06 Corvette
AFR Miata, SM2 61, '93 w/200 SC'd RWHP - soon to be resurrected
Waaaay too many other projects....

I can't remember models. I generally like Momo stuff, and almost everything I've ever hopped in had a suede feel. I'm hard to find a perfect wheel because I like it closer to me, which generally means I use a quick release, then an inch or more of extension, and then I like about an inch of dish, but I usually can't find a wheel that has everything. In a cramped car like a Miata I also like a flat bottom wheel for leg clearance.

I generally can't do a bigger diameter wheel in a cramped car, but in a car with room I do like the larger diameter stuff ("larger" in the sportscar world, not the NASCAR world). It's really about what YOU like best, I'm afraid.


--Donnie

that would be because you are a Newbie, Rob. shuffle steering is now old school.

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BenchWarmer Motorsports

another one of those damn LeMons heads

just another Chump

we are an Autocross Club Dammit............

interesting. I tend to drive bare handed, though the old Z i drove, had a wrapped wheel. Leather wrapped, I developed quite the callouses on my hands.. Afterwards it was not a problem.My sentra also has wrapped wheel, though with power steering is not such a problem.Really, power steering is only needed running either blindingly fast with unreal amounts of grip.. or slowly in a lot or slalom. I have run W/O power steering multiple times.My father's 325is we ran at sanford last year, at the year ender event.. has no power steering anyomore.Hand fatigue is something i am not really familiar with anymore. All the cars i have driven had the stock wheel on it.However, i like the old big 3 spoke wheels for looks anyway, having a large wheel for driving is good, because the effort is lower, sit upright, close-ish to the wheel, get strapped in good.. and the need to hang on tight is not needed quite so much. As for shuffle steering, I got my hand slapped for shuffle steering in drivers ed, Though i just ignored him.. b/c we race and he did not. I still shuffle, some of the heavy equipment i drove had such heavy steering.. if i did not shuffle, turning tight turns would be really hard

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hey yall,watch this...

Update - I went with the MOMO Mod 80 in suede. It arrived today, so I played around a little. I think I'll be pretty happy with this wheel. The hoop is 28mm thick front to back, about 24mm thick OD to ID. This means I don't have to close my hands very much to get a good grip on the wheel. My 2 year old smooth Alpinestar gloves do not slip on the suede covering. I may have to get a suede wheel for the Miata too.

I also realized another reason for my grip being challenged in my late fall adventures at the track. The bushings in the Miata are original from 1993. Under threshold braking I was having to hold the wheel straight for all I was worth so the car wouldn't want to wander around at 130 mph. That problem will be fixed next week - got new delrin bushings to throw in.

_________________
“I feel safer on a racetrack than I do on Houston's freeways.” - A.J. Foyt

Kevin Butler
Mobetta Autosport Spec E30 #612
2003 C5 Z06 Corvette
AFR Miata, SM2 61, '93 w/200 SC'd RWHP - soon to be resurrected
Waaaay too many other projects....

Kevin I'm a bit late to this thread but I changed to a suede wheel a while back because, as you noted, dry leather gloves don't stick well to a leather or fake leather steering wheel. The suede gave a huge increase in grip.

Also, treating the gloves with saddle soap added quite a bit of grip back to them. Probably turns them into flaming torches in a fire.....

Ron