Looking for a racing wheel or steering wheel for your video game console or PC? Stop here; we have everything you need to choose the best racing wheels for gamers.
Whatever the racing game, a steering wheel puts you directly in the driver’s seat for hundreds of cars, facilitating the passage of each turn or allowing the ideal steering angle for controlled skidding. It is the best and simplest way to drive luxury cars like in real life, on the best circuits, with close interaction with reality. What more can be said? They are a really cheap solution to live this hyper-realistic experience!
Clutching a leather steering wheel while frantically pressing the pedals to get the right gear and the right braking mix is super exciting, but the better your race wheel, the better your experience. For this reason, we’ve put together the best ruffles and pedals for your adventure—and wallet—with games such as the eternal favorites GT Sport and Forza 7, as well as many others.
With inexpensive or entry-level boxes, there’s plenty to have fun with when the steering wheel is properly synchronized, of course. But the more you spend on a racing wheel, the better your equipment—it’s really a device for which the rule applies. You can even push the cap for a high-end steering wheel with the “return of strength” that resists you when you fly (and turns on its own when you let go). Do not forget the pedals and manual gearboxes; both will plunge you into the depths of a more authentic experience.
The best steering wheels to enjoy racing games like a real-life driver
In the small world of video games, the steering wheel is surely the accessory that can improve the overall immersion in the best way. Playing a car racing game with a controller can be very nice, but when you taste a good steering wheel, we often do not want to go back.
The gaming experience is greatly improved, provided you equip yourself with the right equipment. Here, I propose you discover what is best in price ranges that remain accessible to the general public. You’ll find models with the best value for money and entry-level steering wheels that are much better than a single joystick or keyboard.
Thrustmaster T300 RS
The racing wheel at the best price-performance ratio
This is one of the best racing wheels for racing gaming enthusiasts. It includes a strong and powerful return of strength; hitting a wall at the wrong angle could hurt your thumbs. There is a flat to all this motorized resistance; indeed, the fan rejects hot air to the top of the housing; therefore, after a while, you can feel this hot air quite disturbing.
It is excellent in track racing such as Assetto Corsa, F1 2018, or Project CARS, as you can feel the feeling of traction through the motorized return and the immediate reaction to your impulses. It is precise, heavy, and really shakes when the game requires it, making a rally game like WRC 6 (and soon WRC 8?) much more engaging.
The only real trouble with the steering wheel is that the handbrake is assigned to a button accessible with the thumb, making rally games complicated. It is possible to buy a shift lever separately for use as a handbrake and then use the paddles to shift gears, but this is not practical. The steering wheel is often returned during the rally stages, so you will have to choose between a handbrake or a gear lever anyway.
Handbrake aside, it’s a perfect choice for the serious player, and on that one, he has all my support. Ideal for serious riders on PS5 and PS4. The steering wheel is officially supported, and it works perfectly.
+ PROS
- Strong force feedback
- Clear PS4 mappings
- Official support of DriveClub
- Full 1080-degree rotation
– CONS
- Slightly flimsy pedals
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Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel: Leather Edition
It rolls cool for your Xbox One and PC
This is the equivalent of the T300 RS for PlayStation and is equally great when it comes to the quality of controls and returns. This box is more expensive than the standard version of the RX, but the reason why we strongly recommend it is because of two elements provided, namely the T3PA pedal with 3 pedals and the removable leather steering wheel (TM Leather 28 GT 11″).
The leather steering wheel is probably not stamped Xbox (indeed, it connects to the base PS4 because it is universal), but it is a high-end steering wheel. Our only criticism is the finish of the seams inside the steering wheel that causes friction on the thumb, especially after a long session of play at first use.
The pedal is beautiful, with its imposing, heavy pedals that hold well under the feet and allow delicate control while nuanced acceleration and braking. You will probably want to mount it on a racing chair if you are serious about buying this model, even if the floor and desk are enough. There is a supplied, sturdy, and easy-to-attach and disassemble desk attachment.
Ideal for racing track simulation for true enthusiasts, especially on Xbox One and Desktop PC.
+ PROS
- It comes standard with a 3-pedal set
- Outstanding quality of control
- Strong, smooth, and quiet force feedback
- Better quality of the pedal compared to the classic model
- Built to last a long time with contactless sensors
- Adjustable conical Brake mod to simulate progressive resistance
- Has upgradable firmware to keep current on your Xbox One and PC
– CONS
- The pedals can’t be inverted
- The pedals are mostly made of plastic
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Logitech G29 Driving Force Racing Wheel
Simply the best steering wheel for simulations
An excellent steering wheel from Logitech, the G29 replaces the very popular G27 of the old generation of PlayStation. The set is really designed for games under PlayStation 4 and has additional buttons compared to the Xbox G920, namely a ratchet wheel to adjust the braking on the fly and plus/minus buttons to adjust the control of traction (Traction Control System TCS) or whatever you have associated.
New for this model are the colored LEDs on the top of the center column of the steering wheel, which light up to signal the moment to change gears (if supported by the game). The pedals are responsive, and the brake pedal is shifted. Which gives more realistic braking sensations than with a cheap pedalboard.
This is an excellent steering wheel for any PlayStation 4 player. However, it is unfortunate that the gearbox is not integrated into the set, but it is not very expensive to buy it in a bundle. This is unquestionably one of the best ways to have all the driving experience at home.
Ideal for the simulation of races like Project CARS and Dirt Rally. True racing fans will love it.
+ PROS
- The leather-topped wheel feels good
- Designed to work specifically with the PS4 and PS3
- Great pedals
- TCS and ABS control in addition to the steering wheel itself
– CONS
- Turning and feedback feel ‘notchy’
- Gearbox not supplied, unlike its predecessors
- Still expensive
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Logitech G920 Driving Force
A flexible and responsive steering wheel with super-force feedback
This Xbox One steering wheel is super flexible and exceptional to handle. It is ergonomic (know that non-regular hands will suffer systematically after a few hours) and nice and slender, while keeping a good feeling of robustness.
Apart from the same concern for “handbrake” as in the case of Thrustmaster, the pedal remains the only real area of consternation. The device we tried has an unusually hard brake pedal, which requires strong pressure to activate braking. Comments suggest that other users have encountered the same problem—something that is not found with the G29 for the PS4. You can reassign the brake control to the clutch pedal (which comes standard for this steering wheel), but it is not optimal for a true racing enthusiast. This situation is somewhat better if you fit the pedals properly on a racing chair or a non-slippery floor mat, but in reality, this pedal should not be so hard.
Let’s move on to the brakes because, moreover, it’s a racing wheel with a remarkable return of strength and one of these models that will make your race sessions more fun and even more user-friendly.
Ideal for Xbox One owners who want to live the race, not just play it.
+ PROS
- Full 900 Degrees
- Build quality
- Brilliant force feedback
- It comes standard with gas, brake, and clutch pedals
– CONS
- Shifters are sold separately
- Does not have a headphone jack
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Thrustmaster TMX Force Feedback Racing Wheel
Flying with force feedback for an entry into the material
We all agree on the benefit of the return of strength during a race. Feel the steering wheel react to the moment of an impact or retransmit realistic effects, and even remember the memories of these coin arcade games like Daytona USA. But technology has a price, which means you have to think carefully before buying… It’s done already? Thrustmaster has marketed an impressive steering wheel with force feedback for a very interesting price level, and it is necessarily an attractive offer.
The delivered pedal is plastic and offers little resistance. In addition, it does not offer a clutch pedal. However, you can change them to a better-compatible kit if you decide to go upmarket later. The steering wheel is also cheap and far from reflecting the luxurious feel of interchangeable, high-end steering wheel models.
What about the return of force? It’s not as efficient as other pedestals, but it does the job. If you have a tight budget, this box provides a steering wheel with real force feedback, a rotation angle of 900 degrees, and a pedal. You will get really good value for your money, and it’s downright awesome.
Ideal for players wanting a steering wheel with force feedback but without the means to buy high-end equipment.
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Thrustmaster T150 Pro Racing Wheels
Cheap force back for PS4 with Ferrari design
This is the PS4 version of the TX model for the Xbox One. Although there is a standard version of the T150, the Ferrari series is cheaper at the moment. And then, who does not like Ferrari? The Ferrari red rubberized steering wheel has a look that makes the difference while providing comfort and control, and the slightly curved control paddles at the rear of the steering wheel allow you to hold the wheel in either the 9:15 or 10:10 position for more mastery while keeping the ability to easily shift gear when using a manual gearbox.
The pedal is the same as standard and remains quite light, with much less resistance than the game of metal pedals that you can buy separately. But the set supports a gearshift if you’re ready to buy it, and the pedals can be exchanged for better too. But even if you do not, this product is a good way to understand the driving simulation.
This is one of the best racing wheels for PS4 players on a tight budget but who want realistic racing sensations.
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Thrustmaster Ferrari 458 Spider Racing Wheels
The only inexpensive option we recommend for Xbox One
Let’s be clear: cheap shuttlecocks are consistently mediocre. Compatibility is rarely guaranteed, the force feedback is absent (sometimes giving place to vibrations when turning), and the pedals are not strong and do not have crampons to prevent them from slipping. And do not even try to play with the steering wheel on your lap—I did it, and it’s horrible.
But this box of Thrustmaster is a cheap alternative for Xbox One races. With an official license, it has linear resistance to stresses thanks to a system of extensors (it sounds like high tech, but it’s just rubber bands) and a grip to keep it at a desk or in a wheelchair. However, the reduced rotation angle of 240 degrees means that it would be a good controller for arcade games rather than a device to use seriously for race simulations. Reactivity is a real concern, even if there is a setting to reduce it every time you play. For this, you need to read the user guide and adjust the settings correctly.
In any case, it is more interesting than using a directional cross, and if it is more expensive than the cheapest ruffles on the market, it is the only cheap steering wheel that we could buy ourselves.
Ideal for occasional players with a very small budget but who want equipment that is more or less suitable.
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Why do you have to play with a wheel?
I do not think I need to answer that question. If you like motorsports and driving, then obviously the steering wheel will be more exciting for you than a joystick. The simulation is more real, the immersion is much more complete, and suddenly the pleasure of play is increased tenfold.
It’s also a better way to improve our performance and our lap times. All the best players are on the wheel, and we understand easily that the controller, or worse, the keyboard, quickly shows their limits. It is not for nothing that the wheel of a real car is not replaced by a joystick. It is more practical, more precise, and allows us to gain efficiency. Whether for cornering, braking, or acceleration, we are more precise, and the gain in performance becomes significant.
If a few years ago, the wheels had too much latency and a lack of responsiveness, today they react as quickly as a controller, and it even seduces the real race drivers. The biggest champions no longer hesitate to train on PC, admitting that the game wheels give them the opportunity to review the tracks at full speed, without risk for them or for the car, and in very close conditions.
This degree of immersion seduces, of course, all the amateurs, who, thanks to the best ruffles, can feel the shocks, the stalls, and the skids in the bends, but also the asperities of the road. In short, we dive into a virtual world in the best way and transform a game into a real simulation.
How do you choose your game wheel?
The racing wheel market for PC and console is quite large, but not all manufacturers offer the same performance and therefore the same pleasure of play. You must learn before making your choice, and not just jump on the one with the most beautiful look in your eyes. Here are the questions you need to ask yourself and the key points to analyze.
The budget: the question that stings!
No choice; we must go through the box budget. How much do you have at the end of the month? Will Grandma give a big ticket for Christmas or a birthday? Because yes, a steering wheel costs a certain price, and it is better not to dream of the most technological and immersive models if we do not have at least $300 for this purchase. It’s almost the price of a console as I write this text.
However, we find models about three times cheaper, which will allow us to improve our performance and accuracy, but that will not bring the necessary effects to a real simulation.
What type of player are you?
If the car is your life and you spend several hours a day in front of your console or your computer, then you probably need a good enough steering wheel. Indeed, if you are a big player, it is better to invest properly in a solid and effective product rather than turn to an entry-level product that will obviously be more fragile and will show its limits rather quickly.
On the other hand, if you just play a few games once or twice a week or less, then a first prize can be enough. It all depends on the level you want to reach, whether you are playing for performance or simply to have fun and relax a bit.
Criteria for choosing a steering wheel
You may have technical priorities for your future flying, and that can be understood. Me too; I appreciate a certain wheel diameter, a heavy pedal, and certain compatibility with my favorite games. Here are the important criteria to check:.
Wheel
A steering wheel too small, with a touch too much plastic, which slides and is too light, gives the impression of having a toy in the hands quickly, and the immersion is not much better than with a controller. I can only recommend a wheel of at least 28 cm in diameter with rubber or leather material at the grips of the hand. If all the wheel spin is in this nice material, then it’s even better.
The buttons should fall under your fingers, and the paddle shifters should be easily activated without being too sensitive. Indeed, there is nothing worse than an inadvertent downshift a few hundred meters from the finish while we were knee-to-elbow with our worst enemy…
With or without force feedback
This is the criterion that will generally inflate the budget. Indeed, a steering wheel with force feedback and vibration will always be much more expensive than a simple model with a single spring back in the center.
It is this return of force, as well as the vibrations, that will bring all the effects related to a stall in a bend, a difference of ground, or a shock on a sidewalk. The immersion is much better, and the sensations of play have increased tenfold. Thanks to the return of strength, we feel that when our vehicle wins, we are more responsive and more precise.
A flywheel usually works with more than 4,000 different values spread all around the steering wheel, which allows for great precision and a lot of fluidity. There are no jerks without stopping, as with a joystick.
Flying without force return usually has an angle of only 270°, so you cannot do a full turn. On the other hand, with a return of force, one has approximately between 900 ° and 1080 °, which is between 2 turns and a half and 3 turns. This is obviously a considerable plus for the simulation.
The pedalboard
It is important not to underestimate the importance of the pedals. A good steering wheel with a crummy pedal—it’s boring! If it is too light, it slips without stopping, the pedals are too fluid without resistance, we cannot adjust the inclination, and then we will lose quality and comfort of play.
We first find pedals with two or three pedals. If you want to gradually invest in a gear lever, then the clutch pedal will be welcome, but if you stay with the paddles of the steering wheel, then you will go without any problem.
Being able to adjust the rigidity of the pedals is important. Thanks to progressive braking, one gains in precision, one does not give jolts, and the driving is then more fluid. A well-tuned pedalboard saves precious hundredths of a second on the track.
As it takes responsiveness, we will sometimes stop full pot and support very hard; the pedal must be as solid as possible. It will usually be metal on high-end force feedback and plastic systems for more entry-level arcade rims.
The fixing system
This is an important criterion, but today all manufacturers have generally understood how to set up a steering wheel. Anyway, the steering wheel must not move, let alone a model with force feedback. It must be perfectly fixed to its support.
Of course, it will be appreciated that the system is simple to set up and remove. Most players do not have a clear space dedicated to the game, and we will not always be able to leave all our virtual pilot equipment in the middle of the show.
Of course, there are complete steering supports to come to fix our steering wheel and our pedal. This is obviously the best of the best, but it takes a little space and still costs quite a bit. If you are a real enthusiast and you have room, it is still a great investment.
Compatibility
It’s almost a criterion that I should have put in the beginning… The steering wheel you choose will obviously be adapted to your game platform. There are PlayStation shuttlecocks and Xbox shuttlecocks, and both are usually PC compatible. The manufacturer indicates the bulk compatibility on the product sheet, you can not blame you if you order a steering wheel that is not provided for your console.
Unfortunately, if you have an Xbox One and a PS4, you will have to make a choice. Not easy if you like both Gran Turismo and Forza Motorsport. Anyway, the quality of play is similar on these two consoles, and manufacturers usually offer different references, one for PlayStation and one for Xbox, so there should not be jealous.
In conclusion
It takes time to think before buying a video game racing wheel, especially when you’re not on a huge budget. Anyway, if you are a big passionate player, so wait a little if necessary, save, but pay yourself a good model with force feedback and vibrations, wheel and pedal metal, and the possibility in the time of adding a gear lever. This is not a purchase you will regret.
If you are a casual player, then a more arcade model, not very expensive and that will still allow you to gain precision in cornering and braking, will be enough. In the event that you finally have a passion for auto simulation, then you can always buy a more powerful steering wheel later.
In any case, whatever your choice, you will take much more pleasure than your controller, and you will not touch much, at least for racing games. Also, don’t forget to see the best gaming chairs review, another important accessory to enjoy your video games to the fullest.