I changed my regular sport steering wheel to the XPA padded version yesterday. Here is a photo that shows the difference in diameter at top of wheels. The tape is on the padded wheel, and the gap is the difference in diameter between the two. The second photo shows the leather wrapped on the edge of the hub. The padded leather version feels so much better in my opinion, partly due to the slight increase in rim diameter, and mainly due to feeling less like plastic. Purchased from Sunset.

 

I only like the sport steering wheel.

My dealer spec 911, fortunately came with the XPA steering wheel.

I really like it!

 

I liked my sport wheel UNTIL I saw photographs of how Techart makes the steering wheel , It's not cheap and I had to gulp before buying it but the hands on feel of this wheel along with the (real) aluminum shifter change the driving dynamics so much.

page 2 of this thread shows how it's made https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...chart+steering

 

I had swapped the wheels from my first to the second car for this reason, I much prefer the XPA wheel. Did you look at the GT3 wheel? I have heard that it is not as thick as the XPA wheel, do you know if this is true.

 

The Techart wheel is amazing, there is one on display at the local Techart Distributor.

Do you find it comfortable on long trips? On the Track?

 

I only have it about three months and my car has only 5K miles after one year. It's not my daily driver . I have not tracked my car . it has taken one full year just to modify it (EVT700). I did drive to Key largo though (1 hr) --loved it !!!!

 

Dou you have the alu version steering wheel from techart?

 

A year to get the EVT700 kit installed? I have heard it was a two week install job. Or did I misunderstand what you were saying?

 

I did look at some GT3 wheels and like them very much. But the XPA wheel seems richer feeling to me, and I thought the leather may hold up better than alcantara over time. But it was very tempting, because it is half the price of the XPA wheel.

 

Do you know if they were the same thickness? or is the GT3 thinner?

 

Ed: I've seen comments that they are the same, and comments that they are different. I'll measure one at cars & coffee Saturday morning, where there is usually at least a few GT3s, and let you know how it compares to the XPA.

 

That would be awesome Ken, thanks.

Ed

 

Confused...which wheel is smaller in diameter?

 

The Standard three spoke wheel is thinner then the XPA wheel by about 1/4 inch in radius. I have heard that the GT3 wheel is the same thickness as the XPA wheel, but I have also heard it is thinner.

Ed

 

Actually, by my measurement shown in my photo, it is about 1/4 inch difference in circumference, not radius. I know, picky picky.