Alcantara · +$50–100Most grip
Soft and grippy, even with gloves. Oils and sweat wear it down and cause pilling, which our warranty doesn't cover because it's normal for the material.
Care: brush and clean regularly.
Grip & materials guide
Alcantara or leather? Choose by how you drive.
You've picked Carismo. Now pick the grip. Here's how each material feels, wears and cleans, and what adding heating changes.
- Smooth leather
- Perforated leather
- Alcantara (+$50–100)
30 seconds
Three questions, one recommendation
How do you mostly drive?
Do your hands get warm or sweaty on long drives?
How much care do you want to put in?
Alcantara
The most grip when you're working the wheel. Skin oils make it wear and pill over time, so it rewards regular cleaning. Adds $50–100 depending on your car.
Perforated leather
Small holes let the leather breathe, so it stays comfortable on long, warm drives. A strong all-rounder for a car you drive every day.
Smooth leather
The easiest to wipe clean and keep looking tidy. It can feel slicker than the others if your hands get sweaty.
General guidance. Tell us your climate and how you drive and we'll help you choose.
Side by side
How each grip feels and ages
Alcantara · +$50–100
Perforated leatherBreathes
Leather with small holes that let air through, so your palms stay drier on long drives.
Care: wipe with leather cleaner and keep dirt out of the holes.
Smooth leatherEasiest to clean
A clean, classic feel that wipes down quickly. The best pick if you want low maintenance.
Care: wipe down, condition occasionally.
Shape
Sport or Signature?
Sport · round top · base shapeOur classic reshape
Light contouring and ergonomics in the right places, for a comfortable, secure grip whether you're driving hard or cruising.
Signature · flat top · +$100Our crown jewel
A modern design built on straight lines, with balanced proportions and comfortable ergonomics.
Heating
Heating is part of the material choice
On eligible cars, keeping heating adds $150. We set the heating up to warm the leather or Alcantara parts of the wheel, and test it before it ships. The carbon parts don't heat.
So if you want a warm wheel in winter, choose a design with more leather or Alcantara where your hands rest.
Tesla wheels include heating by default. Some wheels can't keep heating, like the Audi B9.5. In-stock wheels aren't heated unless the title says “Heated”.
TwillClassic diagonal weave · gloss or matte
PlainTight checkerboard weave · gloss or matte
ForgedMarbled look · +$150
HoneycombHex pattern · +$150
Near New York, New Jersey or Connecticut?
Feel every material in person at our Staten Island showroom, by appointment.
Too far to visit?
Message us which materials you're deciding between and how you drive, and we'll help you choose.
FAQ
Material questions
Which material holds up best with little care?
Perforated leather. It breathes on long drives and still wipes clean easily. Alcantara needs regular cleaning to stay grippy and wears faster with skin oils.
Is Alcantara wear covered by the warranty?
No. Wear and pilling are normal for Alcantara, so they aren't manufacturing defects.
Can I mix materials?
Yes. In Build Your Own you choose the main material and the grip material separately.
Can you match my interior color?
We can get close. A perfect match from photos alone can't be guaranteed.
What's the difference between gloss and matte carbon?
Gloss has a clear, shiny finish that shows the weave. Matte has a satin finish with less reflection.
We lean toward gloss: it holds up better long-term and oil wipes off easier, while matte shows oil over time. We still build matte if that's the look you want.
Build Your OwnChoose shape, carbon and grip
Build your wheel
Opens Build Your Own for your car where one exists, otherwise your car's collection.