i am interested in getting a new steering wheel on my car. what are the laws? i checked the local highway patrol website and can't seem to find out anything on this subject.

first of all, removing an airbag-equipped steering wheel is illegal. but that doesn't stop many people. so if u have no problem with breaking the law, then u just have to have ur wheel taken off and a new one installed. there aren't many rules regarding steering wheels. so customize all you want, just know there may be consequences, like if u get in a head-on collision, ur gonna eat the steering wheel and not an airbag. .

wait so if i take off my exsisting stock steering wheel and put (for example)a sparco racing wheel its illegal?ANd its only a fix-it fee if they catch u right?

stick with an airbag steering wheel... like nap said, you dont want your face smash into the hard-steering wheel. wont look nor feel so good. Remember

Safety > style

wat about seat belts..?

a lot of people do it. i know 3 guys who have aftermarket steering wheels. one of them got it was cuz it would cost too much to replace with a stock one. none of them has had any trouble when they got pulled over or what-not (except for the reason they got pulled over). and as for seatbelts, they also have bucket seats with the racing harness. one of them looks kinda ghetto cuz he has a bucket seat and the stock passenger one.

>
if you go aftermarket, you wanna sell me your stock wheel?

i don't know what i am going to do yet. the reason why i ask is cuz on my stock wheel the "skin" (i don't really know a better term for this) of the steering wheel is rubbing off at the top. may have found a good(cheaper and safer) solution for it.
ebay wheelskins
i have the 3 post wheel so i don't really want to get rid of it. maybe i will save up and get the trd srs wheel.

This post has been edited by goferris: Jul 11, 2007 - 3:54 PM

'wheelskins' make good products, my dad got a cover and it looks nice, it a pain to put on tho. btw i dont think i would ever ride without an airbag in my wheel...saved my life

check with your local PD and state sheriff and see what they say. Here in Ontario its not illegal to remove an airbag equiped wheel, but most cops will report it to your insurance company where they might revoke your pollicy, but its not illegal to remove it or have an after market one. As for seatbelts, keep your original ones because there is no DOT approved aftermarket belt, not even Takata who makes most of the seat belts for cars. Stock is the safest. if you wanna spend $ on an aftermarket feeling wheel with an Airbag, try and track down a 7th gen wheel, pay the $ for a TRD wheel or see if you can get some one in the UK or Japan to find you an OEM momo/toyota wheel. Keep the airbag, that after market steering wheel wont look cool with your face plastered on it.