Model S

Make
Tesla
Segment
Sedan

Over the past couple of years, there have been a number of strange steering wheels that we've come across. Whether these are conceptual wheels that may never reach production or ones offered by manufacturers for today's market, they all seem to do the same sort of thing: reinvent the wheel. In some cases, this can be an innovative idea, but in most, it's a case of fixing something that isn't broken. One of the most famous examples is Tesla's yoke, which has come under fire for being impractical and potentially unsafe. An aftermarket company called T Sportline has now come up with a fix for the wheel, but we have questions.

First of all, why would you choose to fit a more traditional steering wheel after receiving your car when you could have done so when ordering it? We have to assume that the company is catering to the very few people who had decided on a yoke at first but then realized that it was uncomfortable in their hands. Of course, the wheel could hold some aesthetic appeal too, as the real-life unit can be finished in a variety of different materials. So what exactly is being offered, and what does such a conversion cost?

The company says that a Tesla Model S or Model X gets a new top section on the yoke, consisting of "the finest 3M metal structure and baltic birch plywood for extensive layers, density, and strength." The wheel is CNC-machined and then upholstered by hand in European leather. It is bonded with a polyurethane adhesive "to prevent moisture, cracking, and deformation as well as long term high heat resistance."

This basic option costs $2,299 while adding customized upholstery would take the price to $2,499 and carbon fiber elevates the cost to $3,499. Fortunately, when you send in your original yoke wheel, a core exchange fee of $500 will be refunded once the airbag has been transferred.