Last Updated on 19 August 2025 by David Ainsworth
Are you thinking of upgrading your car’s steering wheel? Perhaps the current one doesn’t feel quite right in your hands, maybe it feels too big or too small, or you simply don’t like the look of it. Whatever your reason – whether you’re after enhanced looks, improved performance, or a touch of motorsport authenticity – installing an aftermarket steering wheel from Demon Tweeks is an excellent choice.
This upgrade can significantly enhance your driving feel and the overall aesthetic of your interior. Here’s an easy-to-follow guide to help you do it right!
Step 1: Safety + Preparation
Before starting any work on your vehicle:
- Disconnect your battery: To avoid accidental airbag deployment, disconnect the battery and wait at least 15 minutes to allow any residual charge to dissipate.
Step 2: Removing the Airbag Module
- Access the retaining bolts: Usually 4, these are often found behind the steering wheel. You’ll need a Torx driver or socket set depending on your vehicle.
- Detach the airbag module: Remove these bolts and gently lift out the module. Always a good idea to not position yourself directly in front of the air bag, just in case!
- Disconnect wiring carefully: Unplug the airbag and any additional wiring for the car’s horn, ensuring you handle these gently to avoid damage.
Step 3: Removing Your Old Steering Wheel
- Mark alignment points: Before removing the wheel, mark its position on the steering column so you have a top dead centre. This makes aligning your new wheel much easier.
- Loosen the central nut: Use a socket wrench to remove the central nut holding the wheel in place, this is usually a 21mm nut but can vary depending on the vehicle.
- Remove the steering wheel: The steering wheel may have been on the car a good number of years so it may need some gentle persuasion and a wiggle from side to side to get the steering wheel off fully.
Step 4: Choosing Your New Steering Wheel
- This is where the fun starts: Choosing your new steering wheel! There are many factors to consider here, steering wheel size, steering wheel shape, dish of the wheel, steering wheel material and so on.
- Steering Wheel Size: Generally, a smaller wheel can offer quicker steering response. Because your hands are closer to the centre of the rotation, a small movement on the wheel translates to a quicker turn at the wheels. This can be great for more agile handling, a larger diameter wheel might be more comfortable and offer easier low-speed control (though power steering plays a big role here too).
- Flat Steering Wheels: just as it sounds, a flat steering wheel has very little to no dish. The wheel’s rim is pretty much in line with the mounting surface. Here are a couple of our top picks –
Re-released is the popular 1990’s favourite, the Momo Race 2.0 available in 320mm & 330mm this is a strong option when a flat steering wheel in a leather finish is the desired look.
- A Semi-Dished Steering Wheel: bridges the gap between a flat wheel and a fully dished one. It has a moderate amount of dish, meaning the rim is set back from the mounting point, usually by around 40-70mm. This can make a real difference to improve reach and space around the wheel, adding not only a styling upgrade but one of comfort too.
Hand crafted in Italy, The Pirro from Motocorsa offers excellent comfort with a suede finish, available in 300mm, the Pirro is a strong choice when a semi dished steering wheel is your preferred choice.
- A Full-Dished Steering Wheel: has a significant amount of offset, typically around 71-90mm or even more. This brings the wheel much closer to the driver, offering a much more race orientated driving position, allowing for a more comfortable driving style to give better control.
The OMP Corsica is the ever-popular full dish steering wheel that has been the go choice for so many drivers down the years, available in 330mm or 350mm with a suede or leather finish, this steering wheel will have an option to suit your style.
Step 5 : Fitting Your New Steering Wheel
The next step is to purchase a model specific boss kit or can be known as hub adapters, this will help you fit that nice shiny new steering wheel.
Boss kits from the most recognised brands such as Momo, OMP, Motocorsa and Sparco have a 6 hole by 70mm PCD which covers the fitment of most aftermarket steering wheels.
Most aftermarket steering wheels come with a horn push so this should be straight forward enough to wire back up with just the two wires. To avoid any airbag warning lights, the vehicle specific boss kit will come with a resistor that will fit into wiring harness, effectively tricking the system to not recognise you have removed the airbag to fit your new steering wheel. Remembering the steps we spoke about to remove the old steering wheel, following these back should see your new steering wheel fitted in no time.
Once it’s all fitted, a new steering wheel can really transform the feel of your car. It can make driving more comfortable, give you better grip and control, and just add a touch of your own personality to the interior. It’s a modification that you’ll interact with every time you get behind the wheel, so getting it right can make a real difference to your driving enjoyment.
So, there you have it – a bit of a guide to swapping your steering wheel. It’s a job that can be tackled at home with the right tools and a bit of care, and it can be a great way to put your own stamp on your motor.
