My Ranger has the leather (aka, "high priced vinyl) wrapped steering wheel and over the years it's gone from a nice matte finish when it was new to a shiny finish. I fully expected this to happen, history tends to repeat itself, not sure if I'm right but my theory is that sweat from my hands and rubbing did this. The question is, has anyone that has had this happen to them gone in there with some good saddle soap or something else, scrubbed it real good for hard and long, and got it look like it did when it was new? And if you've done this, does the restored appearance endure like they do when new, or is it a short lived touch up, meaning it's back to shiny in a month or two?

 

I don't think there is a way to permanently restore those, either put a lace on leather cover on it on check the salvage for one in better shape.

 

what year ranger do you have...i know the leather on my wheel has always been shiny

 

^^^04. When new, it had a nice matte finish. I kinda wonder if there's a gallon of dried hand sweet and oil in it, and if a thorough scrubbing will get it out and maybe get rid of the gloss.

 

I dunno about the difference between mine and yours, But i use Megiuars on mine to make it look new-ish again.
After a while the steering wheel starts to flake off in my hand, i just put some more on for a bit, makes it a matte finish again and we're good.

 

I've used Wheelskins in plain black before. It looks almost like factory and is actually a nicer material. It takes patience to install, but is worth it. I may install one on the Ranger, but for now its in decent shape. I have soaked it with Lexol.

Leather Steering Wheel Covers Manufacturer and Distributor

 

Noticed my steering wheel flaking at the top, likely sun damage, going to give Wheelskins a try, thanks for the tip TXxlt.