question about steering wheel diameter

we all know that size does matter.. so heres a question

I am working on a steering wheel for my olds.. I will be making it up from scratch

I need to know what max diameter I should shoot for.

I measured my daily driver and the wheel is 15 inches (dia)

the wheel on my 40 ford measures about 16.5 inches (dia.)

whats the max size you have seen?

thanks sawzall

 

15 inches is good/comfortable. If no power steering in a big car it's almost a must.
17-18 is real common for a roundy round car.
When I was in High School 10" was considered real coool, but they are really unpractical. Requires a very distinct driving style.
I like a 13-14 inch wheel, its just a personal preference. I'm running a 14" superior in the Galaxie, and I think that the wheel currently in the F-Truck is 13.5. But I'm planning on going to an older corvette wheel for asthetic reasons and it should be around 15.
I can't swear to it but if I recall full sized cars, Buick Roadmaster for instance from the mid '50s were in the neighborhood of 16-17 inches.
Anyway, in a full sized car with lots of room to take up I would probably shoot for 15--16 inches.
Clear as mud right?

 

Both my '59 Chevy and '57 Buick are without power steering therefore 17-18" is the bomb.

 

It depends on how much steering effort you have, or are willing to put up with. A heavy car without P/S needs a large wheel so you have more leverage. Light car can use a smaller diam wheel and still have easy steering.

Then there is that style and looks factor. The wheel has to be of proportionate size to the rest of the car and interior. Seems that 15 +/- inches is about right for almost all cars.