Wheelskins wheel covers

Bill - Thanks a lot for the picture. Your cover looks very nice -good job. I spoke with Wheelskins and they are sending me a new cover - so I can give it a 2nd try. This time I am going to follow your advice. I will let you know the outcome and post a picture too if it comes out this time.

BTW - Can't say enough about the staff at Wheelskins in Berkeley, CA, they are 100% customer service oriented. Great people.

On the other side of the coin, apparently retailer Eautoworks is known for their lack of customer service or even concern for that matter. Would not buy anything else from them regardless.

Thanks, Michael (Cairo94507)

 

I too ordered a wheelskins steering wheel cover from eautoworks. It is too big.

Here is the deal:

If you go through the size selection process at the wheelskins site, it tells you that you need a 14 3/8 inch X 3 3/4 inch wheel cover for a 2004 or 2005 Prius. The Prius steering wheel is 14 3/8 inches across and 13 1/2 inches "tall." This is why the 14 3/8 inch diameter is too big. Eautoworks must have used the sizing process from the wheelskins company....IT is wrong because of the oblong shape of the steering wheel.

This is the second one I applied from eautoworks (same size)...the first one broke and wheelskins sent me another of the same size. Once I got that one on, it was obvious it was the wrong size (I used the techniques suggested by Bill Merchant - thanks Bill).

I've emailed eautoworks and asked for my money back. I may have to special order from wheelskins directly....probably a 14 inch X 3 3/4 inch....if they make them that small.

Here are the pictures of the installed wheelskins cover -- wrong size. FYI, I emailed these pics to eautoworks on 6/19/05. I will keep everyone informed of the results re: eautoworks.

My first attempt at posting pictures (hope it works!):

 

OK - That is exactly what happened to mine. I now have a new wheel cover directly from Wheelskins, same size as the first one though, 14 3/8" - but now think I might wait to see what happens in your situation before I try to lace it up. Those pictures could be of my car - it was the same situation.

FYI -you are likely wasting your time dealing with the retailer -deal directly with Wheelskins they are great people and will work to solve the problem.

 

Update:
Eauto.com is has issued me an RMA so that I can return both of the wheelskins they sent to me (one broke, both too big). I measured the wheel myself and sent them to Eauto.com. They are going to see if wheelskin can custom size one for me.

As before, I will keep you posted.

RJG

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco\";p=\"100651)</div>

I went to the website and they had the 2004-2005 Prius on their sizing chart. Nothing about custom ordering. The sizing chart gives the size that was sent to me...too big.

I am guessing that you ordered yours a while ago and they may not have had the Prius on their sizing chart then. As I said, they do now and it is the wrong size.

 

[font=Comic Sans MS:9609d78f14]I think Wheelskins knows what they are doing and they are providing the correct size for the oval Prius wheel. When I put mine on the first time it wasn't as loose as that pictured last, but I didn't like the fit.

Let me reiterate what I said before about strategically tying the Wheelskin to the wheel before you begin to lace if you are using a EuroTone or EuroPerf style. With the smaller color band at the bottom, center it between the two bottom spokes. Center the top color band and measure down three holes, front and back, from the seam. Using your bodkin, make a loop through both holes and tie a tight knot just above the spoke. This will anchor the top portion from slippage when lacing the bottom portion.

Look at the bottom portion and count five holes from the seam, front and back, on each side and again loop through and tie a knot on the outside of the two bottom spokes. This will anchor the bottom portion from slippage when lacing the top.

Now start someplace convenient, say the mid-top, and start lacing, pulling the lace as tight as you can (gloves help). I left the car on while I did this to listen to the radio and use the air conditioning; you can also turn the wheel to keep the lacing from being in an awkward position. When you get to your stay stitches, just cut them out and lace on the front side over the spoke.

The stay stitches will keep the front holes and back holes aligned and parallel (so the lacing doesn't skew), and also keep the whole Wheelskin from slipping around the wheel as you lace.

Worked for me...[/font:9609d78f14]

 

Thanks again, Bill. I talked directly with Wheelskins and got their story. The information they used for their sizing chart came from a conversation Wheelskins had with Toyota where Toyota simply measured the diameter of the wheel in the West-->East direction, the widest diameter of the wheel. This week they received an actual steering wheel for the 04-05 Prius and realized that the shape of the steering wheel is the issue. Rep said the 14 3/8 X 3 3/4 is the wrong size and will send me the right size as soon as it is available (said in a week or two). Wheeskins rep said they have had several complaints. They apologized for the inaccuracy and said they will be updating their sizing chart on their website very soon. On an intermediate basis I am satisfied, but am holding final judgement until the correct size arrives.

However, I am glad the larger size worked for you, you are much more talented at the Wheelskins application process than I am.....you were able to adequately deal with the oversize. Yours does look great!

 

That is why this site is so cool. Now I will call Wheelskins and place my order for the correct size and have them send me a packing label for the one I have in my garage. Thank you Bill and Rick for all the help. And Kudos to Wheelskins for actually caring to solve the problem for us.

 

Odd, I also bought the 14 3/8 wheelskin eurotone cover, and it fit very snugly on the wheel. I wish I'd have thought of tying it in a few places because it did shift just a tiny bit as I laced it. You would have to be really picky (like me) to notice.

 

Just got off the phone with Wheelskins and they are working on the Prius cover as I type this. They hope to have it done by next week and ready to ship. Very nice people.

 

Dear Cairo, Rick, Narf, etc.

I am the President of Wheelskins, Inc., manufacturer of Wheelskins Genuine Leather Steering Wheel Covers. The problem with the Wheelskins for the 2005 Prius was brought to our attention. This wheel is indeed an oval, not a circle. It is 14 3/8" across, but only 13 3/4" from top to bottom. We missed this oval shape and differences in diameter during our mass measurements for the 2005 models. We apologize.
The result is that by relying on the larger measurement, we inadvertantly cut the Wheelskins for the 2005 Prius a bit too long.

Prius owners that have had any problems with their Wheelskins can let us know and we will immediately send out a proper replacement.

Our thanks to those of you that noted the excellent experiences that you had with our customer service staff. We have always strived to make the best products and offer the best service, and that is what has sustained us these past 28 years.

Jim Valley
Wheelskins, Inc.
[email protected]
1 800 755-2128

 

[font=Comic Sans MS:cc074087ae] Thanks Jim. May I make one small suggestion? The larger colored portion of the EuroTone/EuroPerf is just a bit short to go between the upper wheel spokes. This puts the Wheelskin seam in the palm of your hand. If you could make the upper color portion a bit longer, that would be a great improvement.[/font:cc074087ae]

 

Jim,

That is the type of statement that makes me want to support businesses like yours. You are 100% behind the consumer, and I appreciate it. Don't have any of your products (yet), but I really do like to acknowledge business owners who are more about the product than the dollar. Thanks, and I wish you great success.

--BigDaddy.

 

OK, these guys at Wheelskins are the model for the way a business will grow and thrive in the 21st century. I received the new shorter Wheelskin cover yesterday and put it on -it fits perfectly; it is a nice tight fit and looks great.

The only suggestion I would make is that the top portion of the wheelskin cover that goes between the wide spokes, could be about 1" wider so the seam hits on the spokes like the bottom portion of the cover does. I got the 1/2 smooth leather and 1/2 euro-perf, in all black. The smooth is on the top and bottom of the wheel.

Aside from that I am getting pretty good at putting these on, this is my 2nd time and it was a lot easier, still speant about 1.3 hours though. Took my time and made sure it was tight all the way. I will post pictures later today or this evening.

 

Just to add a couple of things...

I got my WheelSkins from aapd.net for ~$35, single color. In the Secial Requests I mentioned Prius '05 and it fit great.

On the other hand, in the attempt of getting an even thicker grip, I added a layer 3/16" weather stripping between the steering wheel and the cover. By the time the leather stretched over it and the steering wheel, it added only about 1/16" and just a bit of extra softness. I dare say that it now feels similar to a 5-series steering wheel.

 

OK -Here are the pictures of the Wheelskins Steering wheel cover project.

The first picture shows the newly made steering wheel cover installed and looking good. Thank you Wheelskins, you are top-flight.

The second picture is the cover just placed over the wheel -believe me is it a lot tighter fit than the first one.

The last photo is the newly made Wheelskin in the box, size (13 3/4") next to one I first installed (14 3/8").

Thank you and good luck to all -this is an easy and terrific modification to our wonderful cars. I love the feel of the steering wheel now -as a bonus it now matches my perforated/solid leather interior.

 

thanks, guys,

I just got off the phone with wheelskins and they're sending me a new one. I didn't even try putting the larger one on and now I know that black would look better than the sand, saved a lot of time and aggravation.

matrum

 

Have they considered being a PriusChat sponsor, or are they already a sponsor? If I decide to add such an item, they get my vote and business.

 

Let me echo all the favorable comments about Wheelskins. I had virtually the same experience as Cairo -- ordered from Eautoworks.com, got the wrong size, sent it back, got the wrong size again. GRRR! Called Wheelskins and spoke to Andrew. While I was on the phone, they pulled out a Prius steering wheel and verified that, yes indeed, 14 3/8" is the wrong diameter. Within a day, they had the right measurement (13 3/4 x 3 3/4", as others have noted), and the new cover was on its way to me. Andrew even left a message to make sure I knew they had shipped the new cover, and to encourage me to call him if I had any problems. Wow! Now that's customer service.

Put the new cover on yesterday, and it fits perfectly. Thanks Wheelskins, you guys are the best! As for Eautoworks ... caveat emptor, as they say.

Cairo, the pix look great. Matrum, FWIW, I got black and sand, and I think it looks pretty nice. Then again, so does the black. Either way, I think you'll be happy with the result.