There’s a wannabe racing driver in most car enthusiasts even if most of us don’t want to admit it, though having the means to exercise the passion is a different story.
It’s an expensive hobby, yes, and incredibly time-consuming, so here at CAR we’re big on sim racing. Forget oil-stained clothes, trips up and down the motorway and waiting trackside in the rain, sim racing takes all the thrill of dicey wheel-to-wheel action and sticks it in the comfort of your living room for a fraction of the price. If you have a racing itch in desperate need of addressing, taking to the sim rig is a no-brainer.
However, as any seasoned sim racer would attest, the experience will only ever be as good as your driving set up, and for the most immersive time in the hot seat, it takes investment in the right kit. Of course, you’ll need to start by picking out the right sim racing game with a means to play it on, but next comes the rig, and what better place to start than front and centre: the steering wheel.
If you would like to try your hand on a real track, check out our guide to track days and other top driving experiences for petrol heads.
Compatibility
For a more authentic drive in your sim racing seat, we recommend investing in a high-quality wheelbase. Along with the wheel, these small blocky stations make up the centre console of a sim rig, providing the necessary feedback and resistance for a life-like driving experience. They’re great, but it’s important to note that some wheelbases are incompatible with certain wheels.
Some setups, such as the Logitech example, feature fixed wheelbase shafts, meaning the two components cannot be disconnected nor interchanged. Conversely, the T series and Podium Hub bases from Thrustmaster and Fanatec respectively are interchangeable with multiple wheels, though usually with a corresponding wheel from the same manufacturer alone.
A Quick Release Hub sits between the two components, allowing them to be connected so they can work together. On the wheelside of the QR hub, the two components can be fixed together or joined using a specific Pitch Circle Diametrer pattern.
For example, Fanatec’s Podium Hub adapter will allow any steering wheel with the right corresponding PCD sizes – 6x70mm and 3 x 50.8mm – to connect to a Fanatec wheelbase. To read more on which wheelbase compatibility, click here.
Some wheelbases are also compatible with a only a specific gaming console, as well as the PC. Be sure to check that your selected wheelbase is compatible with whichever console you’re running before purchase.
Things to consider...
Racing sim wheels can vary massively, from technical, button-laden F1 wheels to wooden replicas of those found in sports cars from the 1960s. It’s a wide and diverse market, so choosing the right wheel for you can be tough. Allow us to make things a little easier…
Style – For a more immersive experience, you can enhance your sim racing by matching up your steering wheel to the style of car on screen - for example, an F1 wheel for an F1 car. There are hundreds of wheels in myriad styles out there to choose from, sporting authentic materials like wood and alcantara as though they were plucked from the actual cars themselves. If you’re just starting out, you may want to opt for a more generic racing wheel to cover most bases, but as you begin to race more diverse machinery, why not expand your sim racing wheel collection to match?
Capability – Just as real-life racing wheels have developed into button-laden supercomputers, so too have their sim racing counterparts. If it’s hardcore modern GT or open-wheel racing that gets you out of bed in the morning, a technically competent sim racing wheel will not only aesthetically match but offer you the support to make specific alterations to your car throughout a race. The more advanced and capable steering wheels come at a premium and could be overkill depending on the type of racing you enjoy, but for hardcore modern sim racing, they’re a necessary expense.
To help guide towards the perfect sim racing steering wheel, here are a few of our favourites.
Editor's choice
Tifosi spec? You’re covered. Styled in the image of a modern Ferrari Formula One racing wheel, this attractive sim racing turner from Thrustmaster features all the hallmark knobs and switches one might find on the real article – up to 25 active buttons – as well as aluminium paddle shifters so you can feel the quality right through your fingertips.
This racing wheel features a 3mm thick carbo-fibre faceplate for rigidity and stunning looks, supporting balanced force feedback for precise movements at high speed. Complete with a prancing horse centre manettino, this example is as close as you’ll get to an authentic Ferrari Formula One wheel for your sim racing rig.
This Thrustmaster wheel is compatible with all Thrustmaster T series wheelbases and is functional on PC, Playstation and Xbox.
Pros
- Iconic design featuring the most famous logo in motoring
- High build quality
Cons
- Shame if you're a Mclaren fan
www.logitechg.com
While the opportunity to interchange wheels with your wheelbase may appeal, buying separate items can run up a large bill for a potentially irrelevant perk depending on your personal preferences. If it’s a solid and dependable driving rig you’re after, then look no further than this two-in-one wheel and wheelbase from Logitech.
Enjoy professional-grade, tactile connection to your console with Direct Drive and Trueforce feedback, while utilising magnetic gear shift paddles and a thumbsweep button layout for an engaging drive. If you’d like to configure your wheel settings to different cars, you can easily flow between five different onboard racing profiles – including customisable LED RPM patterns – on the fly.
Pros
- All in one - solid beginner's product
- Easy to mount
Cons
- Not interchangeable
Most stylish
business.currys.co.uk
Sim racing doesn’t have to be all carbon fibre rear diffusers and mid-turn differential calibration. In a world of endless charts, graphs and data streams, the pure joy of simple racing often prevails, and what better way to enjoy it at home than with this striking Ferarri 250 GTO replica sim racing wheel.
With its clean lines and elegantly unadorned design, this racing wheel embodies the spirit of 1960s motoring simplicity, but don’t be fooled into thinking this is some cheap plastic knockoff. Boasting a metal faceplate, chrome logo plate and genuine wood finish, this is a quality item with a great feel, ready to take you back in time the moment you fire up the console.
Pros
- Real quality materials
Cons
- Lacking capabilities of other wheels
Did you know you can extend the life of your sim racing wheel finish by donning a pair of gloves? Check out our favourite sim racing gloves here.
Best quality
www.demon-tweeks.com
This modern-style sim racing wheel from Asher Racing also features magnetic paddle shifters and authentic rubber grips for optimal purchase throughout high-speed corners. Machined out of automotive aluminium and ergonomically designed for wheel control, this example has been manufactured with racers in mind.
The face of the wheel boasts over 20 tactile-feeling buttons for you to shift between settings while mid-race, including two thumb encoders so your hands don’t even need to leave the wheel. However, we especially like this wheel for its high-strength aircraft aluminium alloy paddle shifters, providing a strong snap action force for positive seamless gear changes.
This sim racing wheel features a 6x70mm PCD bolt pattern so you can attach the wheel directly onto any direct drive or a quick-release systems
Pros
- Beautifully made
- Designed for hardcore racing
Cons
- Expensive
Best replica
fanatec.com
Like the Ferrari 250 GTO replica, this officially licensed Porsche-style offering from Fanatec is a beautifully crafted heritage model to transport you back in time. This full-scale replica steering wheel has been manufactured based on original CAD data for outstanding accuracy and build quality. The bushed and anodised aluminium rim is covered in genuine suede leather for an authentic Porsche feel and improved grip while on track, with the glittering 3D Porsche logo front and centre.
This wheel is compatible with Fanatec’s CSL Universal Hub, ClubSport Universal Hub, and Podium Hub.
Pros
- Fantastic retro design
- Unrivalled build quality
Cons
- Lacking switches for mid race alterations
Best for hardcore racers
www.demon-tweeks.com
Not all sim racing wheels have to be, well… wheels. This sim wheel from Cube Controls sports a racey open top design for the benefit of driver visibility, allowing the participating racer to see the expanse of their entire onscreen dashboard, keeping them informed and on track.
This wheel has been precision engineered for sim racing, using quality materials and intelligent ergonomics so you can extract the full potential out of every race. Featured on the carbon fibre main plate is a smattering of rotary switches and knobs for mid-race alterations – all CNC machined for tactility and responsiveness - with authentic zero play, short-throw magnetic shifter paddles.
Pros
- Sporty design
- Suede finish for improved grip
Cons
- Expensive
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