Driving Gloves? Yes or No
 

This thread and poll is a direct result of this other thread
it's summer! and my right hand burns... started by sleeprx8, discussing the burn from the shift knob when the interior of the car gets too hot.

Anyways, some people suggested driving gloves.

I asked several people their opinions of driving gloves and I heard comments like,
- You must like Knight Rider
- Crank-up Jouney's greatest hits while you're at it.

While I try to be fairly open-minded to suggestions and new ideas, I don't have a positive association with driving gloves.
Basically, I have 2 images that come to mind when I hear driving gloves.

1) Black leather, fingers Cut-off type of glove, and a mullet.
2) Full leather gloves (like the ones OJ wears) and a Members Only Jacket with the sleeves pushed up.

If this were the mid 80's, I would believe people were just imitating TV shows, but in 2006, I have to think that there is a reason for it. I understand that the steering wheel can get very hot in summer, and very cold in winter, but what about people that wear them everyday regardless of weather conditions. If it's about grip, then it would make sense for the track, but in everyday driving, I don't see it.

There was also some discussion in this thread
Anyone recommend driving gloves?, but it quickly turned to jokes about oven mitts, and latex gloves.

So, if you wear them, enlighten me please.
I will be doing autocross this weekend, and I may pick up a pair for that.

- Cesar -

I dont wear them but I believe they are used on cars where vibration comes thru the steering wheel causing hand fatigue, the gloves prevent your hands from going numb and causing you to die from numb hand sydrome.

Only if you are driving in an open convertible and the ambient temp is less than 15 degrees Celsius.

teh ghey

I drive with the Sparco's all the time :)

<coughtoolboxcough>

yah i wear gloves when i drive the s2k. and also for fun i would drive around town with my shoei helmet on :P aroudn town with the top down. its funny watching ppl's reaction.

Fair question, but I would fall into both of your two lower categories:
1) For extreme weather conditions.
2) For spirited driving, track, or autox.

I have lined full black leather gloves for winter. My dash display has show 0F or even -5F first thing on some winter mornings. Below 0F it's not safe to have much skin exposed to the air too long, let alone touch anything. However, like you say, this is 2006 - I certainly don't wear full gloves on a warm day with a light jacket pushed up...... I don't think I've ever seen anyone else do so either.

I have unlined, finger-less gloves for summer for hot steering wheels, hot shifter, comfort or just general spirited driving if I feel like it. (FYI - no mullet here, just long all the way around).

The kids gave me both sets for Christmas. Sadly, the summer gloves are misplaced right now, but *shrug* it's no big - they'll turn up when they turn up.

I drive in a fire-retardant flame suit.

lol!

ive considered finding a cheap helmet at a thrift store just for laughs...even if i'm the only one laughing.

ive also considered getting gloves, but living in southern california, id probably just look like a jerk!

Out of the car it can be quite the wrong look. I tend to leave my summer gloves in the pocket in the driver's door when I leave the car.

lol

i also like to use that Muscle men mentality. like you know when you see a fine girl and they say hi maam do you know where the local work gym is?

well instead ill be at the light and ill look over to other car. And once we get eye contact ill shut my visor and re tigten my gloves to make it like we are going to race. then ill end up taking off normally. i bet he was saying to him self. dude your only racing your self :P

Grey gloves for winter
Fuzzy sheepskin wheel covers for summer when it's over 105 degrees
Can seatcovers be put over leather seats - air bag problems?

You can walk around saying, "I'm the Juggernaut, BITCH!!"


As for the gloves: Absolutely NOT.

My dad asked this very same question—why would anyone wear them? I know that, years ago, some sports car drivers wore them because the steering wheel would get slippery from the sweat on your hands (this is when steering wheels were big and smooth and skinny and not covered with leather or vinyl). And, just like now, some people wore them in winter because it was cold. And undoubtedly some people wore them because all the race car drivers of the day (Stirling Moss and chums) did, so they thought it was cool.

I have a winter set and some "stringback" summer gloves, too—but I don't wear 'em very much—the summer gloves really don't havy a practical purpose, though if the shift knob got really hot that would be one. Basically I have them just for fun.

driving gloves are as cool at fanny packs
http://www.rawganique.com/Images/Acc...40615-53-2.jpg

[QUOTE=New Yorker]My dad asked this very same question—why would anyone wear them?

Because a very cold steering wheel steals heat from your hands, you can't control the wheel as well, and if you have Granny joints they hurt - gloves are a very comfortable. It also links back to an older time - gentlemen and women wore gloves as well as hats. It was a status symbol, like a top hat, cane, and spats. Women continued to wear them, for comfort, long after men abandoned both hats and gloves.

When its hot enough to blister your palms, gloves, or a wheel cover, are simply practical. It keeps hard spots from developing on the hands when you are doing cross country trips. When you are racing you might consider gloves for the same reason you wear a fire resistant suit - if there are flames, fingers are the first to, go and you might still want to pick your nose some day!

My driving outfit...

http://www.fortheretarded.com/images...s/DSC01226.jpg

I beleve it :rollingla :rofl:

:mdrmed: :mdrmed:
hahaha!!! its good to be able to entertain yourself.
i might steal your routine if thats okay with you.

I have a fingerless set of MOMO cabretta gloves in all 3 of my cars that I always wear when driving.

Started doing it after going to Bondurant for the first time, some 18 years ago.

Police and Bikers with Mullets wave at me unless I'm in the 8, then they just stare.

Gotta problem with that??? :bootyshak

The only reason I can think of to use driving gloves is in an older car where the steering wheels can be made of wood or hard plastic and get slipery, but even that's stretching it. If I saw somneone driving around with driving gloves the first word that pops into my head is douchebag. If it's a newer Japanese car I'm thinking "moronic ricer".

Do you still wear acid washed jeans?

Indeed. The only time I wear them is in a race car. I can't imagine putting a pair on for anything but racing.

Some of you have mentioned gloves help with older, slippery steering wheels. Well, I think my 8's steering wheel is somewhat slippery, even though it is leather wrapped. Even though I have avoided treating it with the typical leather wipes that I sometimes use on the seats, it still is pretty smooth. A little rougher surfce would be more easy to grip. I have had the steering wheel slip in my hands a couple times, :SHOCKED: luckily not at a critical moment. Maybe mine is just unusually smooth, but sometimes driving gloves help.

Have any of you found a leather treatment that improves the grip on the 8's steering wheel?

Zoom, Zoom! :ylsuper:

Try pine tar ;)

My 'ol lady won't let me. :rollingla

I want one of those fuzzy suede steering wheels that all the racers have. :crazy:

dont hate!

The burly construction guys where I stop for my AM coffee are cool with my car & me. They smile. stare, & will ask me about it.
But...I think if I drove up with driving gloves on(not winter gloves) they'd pull me out of the 8, drag me around back, and pummel me.
I wouldnt blame them, either!

I tried that. Had great grip, but when I got home and tried to pet my shepherds, they bared their teeth and backed off like I was their vet with a needle in hand! :mdrmed: :hahano: :mdrmed: :hahano:

Any other suggestions?

haha i was waiting for that one

I thought only asian moms wear gloves driving..

Of course not... lots of mercinaries and bail enforcement officers wear them while driving too!
:Wconfused

Never catch me with one... too small for my carry weapon!:suspect:

I tried the "grip" stuff from a golf shop. It works ok for a while but can actually make things slippery when it wears off. A better answer is hand moisturizer -- I only have the problem when my hands are dry. But with all the macho strutting going on in this thread I should probably say "just use spit". :Drooling_

i dont need the gloves for that, i do it anyways

In the winter I use lined leather gloves until the wheel warms up.

I also have gloves for autocross/track, to help with grip and sweaty hands on hot days. I actually use batting gloves since they're thin, flexible and I can feel the car's feedback pretty well. I haven't tried the fire retardant gloves yet (Sparco, G-Force, etc) since I don't use a fire-retardant suit yet anyway. :D:

I agree with glassetcher. I love the size of the wheel in the 8 but it is a little too smooth and slips in my hands, especially when they are dry. I have thought of getting driving gloves to use sometimes but I would prefer to find a treatment that would make the leather a little more supple. Hmmm...It may be worth trying something like Minkoil for shoes and leathers. I'll have to see if I still have some around here.

On a related note - does anybody else get the feeling that our steering wheel is too thin? Sometimes I think if it was a little thicker I'd have better grip.

The thin wheel makes it easier to drive with a thick sheepskin cover
I would love to see a contest between macho types who wear neither gloves nor resort to wheel covers - Let the car sit out in the sun on one of those nice 107 degree days and then watch them grab the wheel and hold on tight - Let the games begin!

And if you were borrowing the car of one of those spitters...well, you might really want to consider gloves! :stickpoke

There is a gymnastic resin that might help with the grip, as an alternative to saliva

When I originally searched the web for a suitable leather treatment I found something called "Hamanol", which supposedly conditions leather and restores it's natural "grip". Only seems to be available from UK suppliers.

Another thing I've though of doing is rubbing the wheel down a bit with Glad Press-n-Seal food wrap. The stuff that makes it sticky is Gum Arabic, which I think may be just the ticket.

I wear the aforementioned 80's-style leather glove (left hand only) with the fingers cut off... rock on.

In all seriousness, I find that it's a lot safer to drive with a glove in the RX-8. I didn't have a slippage problem in my previous car (93 corrado vr6), but for some reason, my hand keeps slipping off the RX-8's wheel. My hand is either too dry to get grip (in the wintertime) or too sweaty (in the spring/summer). I know that I look like a dork and hope that whoever sees me understands that it's not a fashion-thing... it's a safety thing. Self-consiousness is gone now, though... I really don't care anymore.

Attaboy!!, Wear those cutouts proudly my friend, and keep the grip!! :icon_no2:

I forgot to mention previously how large hands play an important part in my glove habit.