Steer Your Way Into P1 with the Best Sim Racing Wheels

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Welcome to the thrilling world of sim racing, where the experience of navigating a Porsche 911 GT3 RS around the Nürburgring or wrestling a vintage Ford Mustang through Laguna Seca's corkscrew is no more than a seat and quality gaming rig away. In this adrenaline-fueled sphere, one's choice of equipment makes a difference, but arguably, no piece of gear is more crucial to that tactile connection to the digital tarmac than a proper sim racing wheel.

At the center of all sim racing experiences, a sim racing wheel provides direct feedback from your virtual vehicle and transmits the nuances of the track it's traversing. But how do you decide on the right wheel to ensure your lap times are less about luck and more about skill? Buckle in, because we're here to guide you through the best wheels for anyone looking to get started in the world of sim racing.

Things to Consider When Buying a Sim Racing Wheel

When looking to buy a sim racing wheel, there are key factors to consider:

Force Feedback: This technology simulates the resistance and vibrations you'd feel driving a real car by using a small motor attached to the wheel. This feedback gives you an authentic sense of the road and relays the vehicle's response to your actions, making the digital driving experience more immersive. There are three main types of force-feedback systems: gear-driven, belt-driven, and direct drive. Typically, gear-driven wheels are on the entry-level, while belt-driven and direct drive wheels are for serious sim racers who want the most realistic driving experience.

Compatibility: Some wheels are multi-platform, but others are specific to a single gaming platform. Ensure your racing wheel is compatible with your gaming console or PC. As you'll see in our list below, some manufacturers make what is effectively the same model for different consoles due to different button and feature requirements.

Material and Build Quality: Wheels made of more sturdy components, such as steel or carbon fiber will almost always outlast the cheaper plastic wheels found at the lower end of the sim racing wheel market. Additional touches, such as the use of leather or Alcantara on the wheel, can also lend a more deluxe feeling compared to plastic and composite counterparts.

Pedals and Other Accessories: Many wheels come with pedals for an even more immersive experience, and some also offer gear shifters. Make sure you get the accessories you need for the style of racing you're planning to partake in. For example, if you're planning on rally racing, you'll probably want a sequential shifter and handbrake. Likewise, you'll probably want a formula-style wheel with paddle shifters if you plan on racing open wheel or prototype vehicles for added realism.

Price: Sim racing wheels vary widely in cost, from budget options to high-end setups. A more expensive wheel does not necessarily mean a better experience, but you will typically find the more expensive options offer better materials quality, more realistic feedback, and better support across multiple sim racing games. Select a wheel that matches your budget and meets your specific needs.

G92/G290 Driving Force Racing Wheel and Floor Pedals

The Logitech G29 and G920 are high-quality sim racing wheels that offer an immersive gaming experience. Compatible with PlayStation (G29), Xbox, and PC (G920), these racing wheels are the gold standard when it comes to entry-level sim wheels.

Logitech uses a gear-driven system inside both of these wheels, and while typically looked down upon compared to belt-driven or direct-drive wheels, it’s expected at this price point and still offers a dramatic improvement over using a gaming controller. I’ve used the G920 in the past and while it is a noticeable difference compared to both belt-driven and direct drive wheels I’ve used, it still offers reasonable performance. Some sim racing games, such as iRacing, will even have special feedback modes that can make the gear-driven force feedback feel even more realistic.

The two models are nearly identical mechanically, using the same motor components and identical pedal sets, which include throttle, brake, and clutch pedals. The wheel base and wheels are made of a combination of steel, plastic, and hand-stitched leather. The G29 features built-in PlayStation buttons, while the G920 has Xbox buttons, including D-pads and paddle shifters. The G29 also includes a few extra dials and options for customizable functionality, giving the PlayStation-compatible model a slight edge over the Xbox-friendly G920.

While the gear-driven motors inside these two units aren't as realistic as belt-drive or direct-drive wheels, each model still has a lot to offer considering everything included in the kit, making it a budget-friendly setup for anyone getting into sim racing. Just make sure you get the right model for your gaming system.

G923 Racing Wheel and Pedals

The Logitech G923 is the successor to the company's popular G29 and G920 sim racing rigs. Like the aforementioned models, this unit comes in two different versions: one for PlayStation consoles and one for Xbox and PC gamers. Confusingly, they're both called the G923, so you'll have to refer to the specific model names to ensure you get the right ones: Sony PlayStation and PC model (941-000147), Microsoft Xbox and PC model (941-000156)

Externally, the two units look essentially identical to their predecessors, with the only notable differences being small style changes and the inclusion of a rotary dial, rev lights, and +/- buttons on the Xbox/PC model for the first time. Internally, Logitech has brought a handful of improvements to increase the realism of the wheels. Specifically, Logitech has added what it calls TrueForce, a vibration system that will rumble the wheel independent of the force feedback, adding extra realism when you hit high revs or go off-track. Also new are additional paddles on the back that can be used as a dual-clutch system for games that support such functionality.

The pedal setup that comes with the G923 models has also been improved with a more rigid brake pedal that better mimics the feeling of real-world pedals. Any and all settings you can adjust can be saved as custom profiles using Logitech's G Hub software to ensure specific settings are used across different games.

T300 RS Gran Turismo Edition Racing Wheel

The Thrustmaster T300RS GT Edition is an all-in-one kit that offers a realistic and immersive driving experience at a reasonable price. It's designed for serious gamers and racing enthusiasts who value precision and authenticity. The wheel is equipped with Thrustmaster's HallEffect AccuRate Technology (HEART), which promises accurate and responsive steering. The force feedback system, powered by brushless servomotor, provides a seamless and smooth driving experience, replicating the feel of real-life racing conditions.

The T300RS GT Edition is officially licensed by Gran Turismo and is compatible with both PlayStation and PC platforms. It features a detachable GT-style wheel and a pedal set. The wheel is 11 inches in diameter and covered with reinforced rubber for a comfortable grip. The wheel includes 13 action buttons and a D-pad. The pedal set is fully adjustable and includes a brake pedal with progressive resistance, providing a more realistic braking feel.

Despite its high-end features, the Thrustmaster T300RS GT Edition is also designed to be user-friendly for beginners. It comes with a robust and adjustable mounting system that can be easily fitted to any desk or table, and the wheel's firmware is upgradable, ensuring it stays compatible with the latest games and systems. Overall, the T300RS GT Edition is a comprehensive sim racing wheel that combines high-quality materials, advanced technology, and user-friendly design to deliver an authentic and enjoyable racing experience.