Big help holding steering wheel

[Pete & Linda]

All the talk about a blowout on a front tire here has me holding the steering wheel real tight and with my arthritis after about 150 miles my hands are killing me. I went to WM and got a pair of batting gloves and what a difference. The grip on the wheel is unreal, I don't have to hold on quite as tight to have a good grip. Best $15 I have spent in a long time.

[mikron]

I am going to try that, if for no other reason as to relax my hands.

[RVhauler]

Sounds like a good idea. I have used a steering wheel cover for years and a pair of drivers gloves

[Mike Canter]

Wow Pete, I hate to see anyone drive that tense waiting for something to happen. That takes the fun out of it all. If the front tires are less than six years old from the DOT date and have been kept covered and inflated correctly the odds of having a blowout are pretty darn slim. According to Michelin and their video the odds of a blowout without first having a slow leak are also pretty slim. In order to relax and enjoy driving my recommendation would be to buy a TPMS system that will alert you if the air pressure starts dropping so you can pull over.

[Pete & Linda]

Mike I have a TPMS, not all that tense just holding a good grip on the wheel (arthritis), with these gloves I can relax the grip and still have a good hold on the wheel. I do enjoy the driving.

[Mike Canter]

OK Pete, in your initial post sounded like you had a death grip on the wheel. Like driving in high wind and rain and your hands and shoulders killing you after a couple of hours. Sorry to hear about your arthritis. I bet those gloves will keep your hands warm and that will help. I pretty well drive with just one hand on the wheel but the other one ready to go. I use the arm rests to brace by arms. The only scare I have ever really had was the engine ECU failed and it stopped abruptly and lost all power steering on I-12 at 65 mph in Baton Rouge. Talk about a death grip but still I could steer it over to the shoulder.

[Billieg]

Buy yourself a Steer Safe unit and forget about it. It will be the best $600 (installed) you ever spent.

[MegaRoadie]

I second that Steer Safe recommendation... the "before" and "after" experiences were dramatic ! Before I almost went and got a football/boxing mouthpiece to help control my gritting... now it is much more relaxed.

Mike, do you happen to have that link to Michelin you referenced above ?

[bluepill]

Yep. WM batting gloves are a great mulit-use tool. I wear them instead of work gloves except for heavy duty work because the feel is much better. Also for motorcycle and bicycle in hot weather because of the venting.

[Mike Canter]

Here is the link to the Michelin RV Video. It is an eye opener. The same applies to having a blowout in a car.

One thing to learn out of this video is DO NOT HIT THE BRAKES if you have a blowout on an RV or a car. Hitting the brakes will cause you to go sideways and roll.

YouTube - How to Handle a Tire Blowout in Your RV

[gklehner]

Thanks for the glove idea! Have RA with resulting "repairs" on wrists, neck, ankle, etc., driving gets a bit uncomfortable fairly quick. Did find the Steer-Safe system helpful to prevent fighting the rig in winds and big rig pass.

[Billieg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gklehner Thanks for the glove idea! Have RA with resulting "repairs" on wrists, neck, ankle, etc., driving gets a bit uncomfortable fairly quick. Did find the Steer-Safe system helpful to prevent fighting the rig in winds and big rig pass.

My coach was all over the road, wind, no wind. I bought a Steer Safe and it helped 70% plus the fact that most commercial trucks have them installed in case of a front blow out. (I watched a friend die hitting a bridge with his Peterbuilt after a front blow out) The other 30% was the bell crank and bushings. I now don't have to "saw" my way down the road and don't worry about a front blow out. Get the front end checked out by a good truck center and install a Steer Safe and enjoy the ride!

[Pete & Linda]

Thanks for all the input. There are some units similar to the steer safe that are less expensive, any thoughts on them? Billieg $600 installed where?

[Billieg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete & Linda Thanks for all the input. There are some units similar to the steer safe that are less expensive, any thoughts on them? Billieg $600 installed where?

Any truck center can install one. They cost around $400 and 2 hours labor to put it on. I had a truck center here in SW Florida do mine and it came to $589. I don't have any real input on the other units but I do know most of the trucking companies use the Steer Safe. The owner of the truck center has one on his coach and he can put anything on there that he wanted to. Hope this helps.

Bill & Linda