True flat bottom steering wheel?

[Evil Minion]

Ok, here's my little rant, and question. Does anybody make a true flat bottom steering wheel for the S550 yet?

And I'm not talking about the GT350 "flat bottom" wheel that really isn't...

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying the 350 wheel isn't great in all other ways like the better grip geometry, thickness, material, etc., but a true flat bottom it isn't.

I'm looking for a wheel that does not reuse the factory little plastic trim at the bottom of the wheel, circled red below, AND keeps the OEM airbag:

The GT350 wheel reuses it, and from all pics I can see, the thickness below the edge of the trim to the bottom of the wheel is about the same on the stock wheel as it is on the GT350 wheel.

(courtesy of CJPony site)

It looks like the 350 just flares out more at the bottom to make it look flat, when all it's doing is actually taking up more space.

Ideally the wheel I'm looking for looks like this poor photoshop I made:

And it's not like it hasn't been done before from an OEM...

So that's my tiny rant. Now is there anywhere I can get a proper flat bottom steering wheel that is significantly shorter than the stock one???

Sponsored

 

[GTP]

You should just cut out the upper and lower sections of your stock wheel and go F1 style!
:lol:

 

[Evil Minion]

You should just cut out the upper and lower sections of your stock wheel and go F1 style!
:lol:

Lol, not helpful! This should be right up your alley Mr tall guy

 

[GTP]

Yeah, the main feature to a flat bottom wheel would be that I would no longer rub my right leg on it when getting in the car.

 

[Drugdealr]

This is as close as you are gonna get to flat bottom using the original wheel. which IMO its pretty flat.

 

[Evil Minion]

This is as close as you are gonna get to flat bottom using the original wheel. which IMO its pretty flat.

Yeah, I saw that, but it still reuses the bottom trim piece, so it's really not any shorter distance from the center of the hub to the very bottom of the wheel. Looks a hair shorter than the GT350 wheel, but not by a lot...

 

[GTP]

Glad I could help.

 

[subbz]

I think this is a pretty good one. It still uses the stock wheel but it's pretty flat. Only thing is it's a little expensive :/ http://www.ebay.com/itm/Carbon-Spor...tang-S550-2-3-EcoBoost-5-0-GT-C-/301915930120

 

[Evil Minion]

I'm not sure I got what I'm looking for across very well...

Any wheel that reuses the factory bottom plastic trim piece is really not any shorter from the hub center to the bottom of the wheel.

The "flat bottom" look I don't care about, I just want it to be significantly shorter from the center of rotation, to the bottom diameter of the wheel. I'm looking for something around 1" shorter or more. The Carbon Dynamics and GT350 wheels are maybe 1/8-1/4" shorter in that dimension if that, and when combined with the flared bottom corners to make it look "flat bottomed", it actually gives less clearance to enter the car if the wheel is at a lower angle towards the driver.

Anyone have any experience with upholstery shops being able to re-wrap a wheel? I'm half temped to get a cheap stock wheel that someone upgraded, take a hacksaw to the bottom, weld in a straight across section, and have it re-wrapped. Dunno what place can do a custom wheel wrapping though...

Something like this, removing that entire lower section and significantly shortening or replacing that lower trim piece:

 

[wildcatgoal]

The GT350 wheel isn't really much (if any) thicker than the stock wheel. May seem/feel that way because of the layer of alcantera, but it's not significant. I want a THICKER steering wheel. I can give a hoot about a flat bottom, personally, but that'd be cool.

 

[69mach1-395]

I'm not sure I got what I'm looking for across very well...

Any wheel that reuses the factory bottom plastic trim piece is really not any shorter from the hub center to the bottom of the wheel.

The "flat bottom" look I don't care about, I just want it to be significantly shorter from the center of rotation, to the bottom diameter of the wheel. I'm looking for something around 1" shorter or more. The Carbon Dynamics and GT350 wheels are maybe 1/8-1/4" shorter in that dimension if that, and when combined with the flared bottom corners to make it look "flat bottomed", it actually gives less clearance to enter the car if the wheel is at a lower angle towards the driver.

Anyone have any experience with upholstery shops being able to re-wrap a wheel? I'm half temped to get a cheap stock wheel that someone upgraded, take a hacksaw to the bottom, weld in a straight across section, and have it re-wrapped. Dunno what place can do a custom wheel wrapping though...

Something like this, removing that entire lower section and significantly shortening or replacing that lower trim piece:

I know how old this is, but the question remains...
OP still around and did you find anything?

 

[exvette]

Ok, here's my little rant, and question. Does anybody make a true flat bottom steering wheel for the S550 yet?

And I'm not talking about the GT350 "flat bottom" wheel that really isn't...

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying the 350 wheel isn't great in all other ways like the better grip geometry, thickness, material, etc., but a true flat bottom it isn't.

I'm looking for a wheel that does not reuse the factory little plastic trim at the bottom of the wheel, circled red below, AND keeps the OEM airbag:

The GT350 wheel reuses it, and from all pics I can see, the thickness below the edge of the trim to the bottom of the wheel is about the same on the stock wheel as it is on the GT350 wheel.

(courtesy of CJPony site)

It looks like the 350 just flares out more at the bottom to make it look flat, when all it's doing is actually taking up more space.

Ideally the wheel I'm looking for looks like this poor photoshop I made:

And it's not like it hasn't been done before from an OEM...

So that's my tiny rant. Now is there anywhere I can get a proper flat bottom steering wheel that is significantly shorter than the stock one???

 

[exvette]

While you are looking for the new wheel, how about just adjusting the wheel to its highest position when you leave and swing it down when you return?

 

[69mach1-395]

I can try that, but I'm guessing it will get old fast and maybe not be good in the long run for the parts involved...

 

[Mezzoni]

I can try that, but I'm guessing it will get old fast and maybe not be good in the long run for the parts involved...

I do it in my work truck every single time I get in and out of it. Given it’s an international bucket truck and not a ford mustang, but it definitely doesn’t have any issues

Sponsored