Help me decide: Keep my LC500's stock wheel or modify

[Mercy30]

Okay, fellow Lexus junkies and LC owners—I need your brutal honesty. My buddy Dave just installed a TTD CRAFT carbon fiber steering wheel in his LC500, and damn, it’s stunning. That weave glinting under the cabin lights, the aggressive flat-bottom cut, the red center marker... it looks like it teleported straight from a GT3 car. He let me grip it at a cruise last weekend, and now my stock leather wheel feels... ancient. But I’m low-key sweating the trade-offs.  
 

This is my friend's Instagram video
 

https://www.instagram.com/quinton.htx?igsh=YWtubTR1dGFrYXdq

**Here’s why I’m obsessing over the carbon swap:**  
- **Weight & Response:** That CF wheel is stupid light. Like, flick-your-wrist-through-S-curves light. Dave swears it sharpened his steering feel, and honestly? I believe him. Our LCs are all about driver connection (shoutout to GA-L platform magic), and shedding rotational mass should make the front end even more telepathic. Plus, no sweaty-palm slips during aggressive drives.  
- **Aesthetics = Unreal:** Let’s be real—the LC’s cabin is art. But that TTD CRAFT wheel? It turns the cockpit into a spaceship. The matte/textured grip, the exposed carbon matching our optional CF roofs... it’s chef’s kiss. My stock wheel suddenly feels like a rental-car relic.  
- **"Racecar Cred":** Yeah, I’m shallow. Every time I see Dave’s interior, I hear Jeremy Clarkson whispering ”POWERRRR”. CF screams intentionality. It whispers, "This owner doesn’t settle."  

**But my gut’s screaming warnings:**  
- **Comfort vs. Cool Factor:** Our stock wheels are wrapped in buttery semi-aniline leather or Alcantara. Dave’s CF? Ice-cold in the morning and rigid. Long drives might turn my palms into tenderized steak. And goodbye, heated wheel function (RIP, winter commutes).  
- **The Integrity Fear:** Lexus’ TAKUMI touch is no joke. That stock wheel’s angle, thickness, and stitching were obsessive-engineered for our driving position. Will some aftermarket piece—even a "perfect fit" like TTD’s—mess with the ergonomic voodoo?  
- **Risk vs. Reward:** What if I hate it? Swapping wheels isn’t like changing tires. Airbag compatibility, clock-spring alignment, potential creaks... one install hiccup could nuke my dash’s symphony of silence. And resale? Purists might side-eye a modded helm.  

**Dave’s TTD CRAFT Experience (The Good & Gritty):**  
- **Quality:** Flawless finish, zero flex, plug-and-play with airbag and paddles. Feels OEM+.  
- **The Catch:** He mentioned the first 48 hours felt "alien"—grip thinner, no squish. Took muscle-memory recalibration. Also, no more heated steering—a legit sacrifice.  

**So, LC fam—talk me in or out:**  
1. **Daily Drivers:** Anyone rocking CF year-round? How bad is the winter freeze?  
2. **TTD CRAFT Specifics:** Seen their LC500 model in the wild? Long-term durability?  
3. **Soul Poll:** Is the LC’s essence enhanced by CF... or is that wheel sacred ground?  

**TL;DR:** Friend’s TTD CRAFT carbon wheel got me questioning life choices. Worth ditching Lexus’ leather perfection for weight savings + flex? Or am I just starry-eyed?  

Throw me a lifeline in the replies. I’ll buy the coffee (or bourbon) for the best take. 🏁  

[McBrian]

If you like it do it.

Definitely a sexy upgrade that brings out the interior contrasts better than the stock wheel.

Installation caution is legit. Never lose that. If you do it yourself research and rehearse this job obsessively before proceeding. Or go to the same place Dave did.

Zero add to any performance though.  Aesthetic only and the feel is only in the mind (not always a bad thing.) Race engineers redirect drivers all the time for non-existent "changes" and confidence/speed immediately increases.

There is no "rotational mass" savings. You're not turning any more than a few degrees and everything connecting the wheel to the car is electronic and motorized. Changing software (ECU flash) and gearing is the only way to make your car change direction faster.

Weight savings might only be a few grams. Zero again. Only things like shedding unspring vehicle weight makes a difference in a street car.

I wouldn't even begin to worry about extreme temps. Even if you're in NWCA, you're still going to touch leather until the interior gets comfortable.

If you're in the position to flex a CF steering wheel, I hope you survived the rest of the accident or you're in some sort of anger management class 😁 - if in this case flex is showing off... Who cares? If you like it do it. In this case, I agree but my opinion doesn't matter for what you spend your money on.

Long term durability is up to you on how you take care of the leather and protect the CF from UV. Your front window shade (which you should use everywhere in every season) will keep it from fading or delaminating. (I'm debating on replacing mine now because the "wood" faded on the top...)

I can understand the loss of the heated steering but I'd sacrifice that for the visual. That wheel is pretty friggin' elegant and tasteful.
 

[Mercy30]

OK, thanks for your reply. According to what you said, I understand that there is a change in appearance, but the actual use is not great. Is that right? I will think about it later, because I was really amazed by my friend's steering wheel. I will now find out about the manufacturer that made the carbon fiber steering wheel for him: TTD CRAFT

[McBrian]

It adds nothing but cool. LOTTA freakin' cool, but zero performance add.

[Mercy30]

Thank you for your answer. I still decided to install a carbon fiber steering wheel.

[LC5Phil]

I would highly recommend a new steering wheel. It’s something that you see and touch everyday at least for me because it’s my daily. It definitely gives your interior something you didn’t know what was missing.

 

Edited June 28 by LC5Phil

[dcfish]

Looks Great...But, Leave your Lexus 100% Lexus....