A steering wheel cover only fits right if you know your wheel's size, and most people have never checked. It comes down to two numbers you can get with a soft tape in under a minute. Below is how to take them, how to read the Wheelskins size chart, and what to do when your car isn't listed. 

Every cover mentioned comes from Lane's Steering Wheel Covers collection.

Measure It in Four Steps

1. Grab a soft tape measure and wipe the rim clean so grit doesn't pad the number.

2. Diameter: stretch the tape straight across the wheel, through the center, from outer edge to outer edge. Keep it level. Following the curve of the rim reads too big.

3. Grip: wrap the tape once around the rim, away from the spokes, snug but not tight. This is the distance around the rim where your hands sit, which some guides call grip thickness.

4. Write both down, diameter first. Wheelskins sizes read the same way, like 15 x 3¾.

The Wheelskins Size Chart

Wheelskins' published chart uses six standard sizes. Each pairs a diameter with a grip, in inches.

Newer wheels skip the letters. The chart lists them by exact measurements instead, like 14½ x 4 or 16 x 4¼, and if your numbers don't land on a listed size, that wheel is a special order. The printed chart runs through the 2013 model year. For later years, Lane's lists covers by exact year, make, and model.

Same Model, Different Year

Here is the Ford F-150 across five generations.

Five generations, five sizes. That's why Lane's lists a separate cover for every year, like the 2011 F-150 and the 2013 F-150, which sit on different rows above.

Metric Wheels, Converted

Some wheels, especially European and aftermarket ones, are specified in millimeters. Divide by 25.4. An inch is exactly 25.4 mm, which NIST's conversion tables list as 2.54 centimeters per inch.

Convert, then confirm with your tape before you order.

What a Wheelskin Covers

A wheelskin wraps the rim only. Spokes and hub stay as they are. If your wheel already has a factory leather wrap, measure it as it sits, because covering factory leather can call for a larger size than bare plastic.

The Lace-Up Install

Each cover ships with nylon lacing cord, a needle, and illustrated instructions. The holes are pre-punched with a patented reinforcement to prevent tearing, and Wheelskins estimates about an hour. If your spokes are 2 inches or wider where they meet the rim, it suggests dummy stitches at the spokes.

Do your interior cleaning first and lace the cover on last. Our 7-step interior cleaning guide covers the cabin, and Wheelskins warns that all-purpose cleaners and protectants strip the leather's finish. Once it's on, hand soap and water is all the cover needs.

Not Listed? Special Order

Older and antique vehicles are the usual special orders, and heavy-duty trucks have their own Trucker Series in 18, 20, and 22 inches. Lane's also makes special-order sizes to fit any steering wheel. Have both measurements ready and ask the Lane's team (1-866-798-9011) how to place one.

Pick a Style Last

Size comes first, style second. Original is one color, EuroTone is two-tone, and EuroPerf is perforated, and all three follow the same sizing. See them on a 2017 Dodge Ram Truck EuroPerf and a 2015 Subaru Crosstrek EuroTone.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I measure my steering wheel size?

Take two soft-tape measurements: diameter across the wheel and grip around the rim, written in that order. No soft tape? Lay a piece of string around the rim, mark it, and measure the string against a ruler.

How big is a 300mm steering wheel?

About 11.8 inches, which is smaller than any factory wheel on the Wheelskins chart. A wheel that small is almost certainly aftermarket or motorsport, so it would be a special-order size.

What is the diameter of a normal steering wheel?

Most passenger-car wheels run between 14 and 16 inches across, roughly 355 to 405 mm, with 14½ and 15 inches the most common on the Wheelskins chart. Trucks and older cars lean toward the top of that range.

Is a smaller steering wheel better?

It depends on what you want from it. A smaller wheel feels quicker and takes less hand movement, but it gives you less leverage, so steering can feel heavier. For a cover, it doesn't matter either way, since the cover has to match the wheel you already have.

Do all steering wheels fit all cars?

No. Wheels differ in diameter, grip, and how they mount, which is why a cover is cut for one specific size. If you've fitted an aftermarket wheel, treat it as unlisted and measure it rather than going by your car's year and model.

We Measure Twice Because Leather Only Gets Cut Once

Lane's Car Products has supplied professional car care since 2000 through Fast Lane Detailing, and more than 40 dealerships rely on our products. We sell Wheelskins by exact year, make, and model for the same reason we measure: the right fit is the whole job. Learn more on our About Us page.

Have your two numbers? Find your year, make, and model in the Interior Accessories collection, or call 1-866-798-9011 and we'll help you size a special order.