Getting your first sim racing steering wheel can be quite complicated with how many alternatives there are - so here is our beginners guide to sim racing wheels to help you out!
Your first racing wheel is always something special, like your first game console or your first car. If you've only ever played racing games with a gamepad, you finally get a realistic steering feel, and you're much more connected to the car - you are finally driving!
Most people will probably make the leap into Sim Racing through titles like the EA F1 series, Forza Motorsport, Gran Turismo or BeamNG, and one thing is for sure: it's worth it! The range of wheels is now highly diverse, and since last year, there have been many new entry-level and mid-range options, even several direct-drive wheels and bundles available for under $500. In this guide, we will give you an overview of some of your options and share our experiences and recommendations.
MOZA Racing R3 bundle in action.
We are going to break down the options by price range because even as a beginner, you can theoretically spend $1000 or more on mid-range wheels and pedals - it's always a question of your own budget, of course. And a critical piece of information up front: none of the manufacturers mentioned below are sponsoring this guide. These are my personal recommendations and experiences I’d like to share from the last 15 years of Sim Racing.
My journey started in a very typical way: I was into the Colin McRae games, which I played with a keyboard or gamepad until DiRT 3. Then came F1 2010, and Logitech released the G27 - it was time for my first wheel! Then came the Thrustmaster TX, the T300 RS and the TS-XW - all devices that I had a lot of fun with in the 2010s, and these never let me down. Even today, these two manufacturers - Thrustmaster and Logitech - are still a good place for beginners to start.
Thrustmaster T300RS mechanical explosion diagram. Image: Thrustmaster
$200 or less
Logitech G29 & G920
With that in mind, we move into the $200 category. If you are on a tight budget and not sure if a wheel is for you, then the second-hand market is a good place to start. Ideally, if you sell your wheel after a month, you won't lose any money, as typical examples, such as the used Logitech G29, are stable in price. You can get them for under $200, and they come with pedals and even a clutch - and they are compatible with PCs, PlayStation 4 & 5! For Xbox and Forza drivers, there is the G920 variant.Thrustmaster Ferrari 458, T80 & T128
If you want to buy something new, Thrustmaster has some very reasonably priced sets on offer. The Ferrari 458, T80 or T128 could be the way to go, depending on the platform you want to race on, but you have to be aware that in this price range, most products have more of a toy appeal, and these entry-level gear and belt driven wheels do not generate much force, and that the 458 and T80 do not feature Force Feedback.A classic Thrustmaster Ferrari 458 wheel bundle. Image: Thrustmaster
However, these options are perfectly adequate, especially if you are buying this for your kids - it is undoubtedly better than no steering wheel at all. On the downside, the noise level is higher than that of more modern direct-drive steering wheels. This is something to bear in mind if you are using it in the living room.
All the pedal sets that come with these affordable wheels are very soft, brittle and designed to work under the desk without a fixed screw connection. They are simply not excellent quality. On a positive note, as these wheels all have a large user base, you can quickly find help and suitable settings for the various games and simulators.
There is another way to try out different equipment. Sim Racing exhibitions! Sim Formula Europe will take place in Maastricht in the Netherlands next week from the 16th to the 19th of January. We will be there with 3 rigs. There will be lots of brands on site, and you will be able to try out their equipment. It's going to be a fun few days with new announcements, tournaments and racing action. Come and talk to us! The Interclassics Classic Car Show will also take place at the same time. Use this link for tickets and information.
Up To $600
MOZA Racing R3 Bundle
If you have up to $500-600 to spend, the entry-level range of direct-drive wheels, which have finally overtaken belt and gear-driven wheels in recent years, is open to you. The MOZA R3 Racing Wheel & Pedals Bundle for the PC is probably the cheapest way to get started. For just under $300, you get everything you need for racing: a tiny 3.9Nm peak torque wheel with a 280mm diameter ES wheel, including solid steel hall sensor pedals, and a table clamp included as well!MOZA Racing R3 bundle
The version that runs on the Xbox is about $100 more expensive. In my opinion, this is the best deal for between $300 and $500 as you have great options to upgrade your pedals and wheel thanks to the MOZA ecosystem - the latter as long as you are on a PC, as the Xbox compatibility comes through the ESX steering wheel. The MOZA Quick Release System is also simple and solid.
MOZA Racing R3 mechanical explosion diagram
MOZA Racing R5 Bundle, Cammus C5 & PXN V12 Lite
A small personal recommendation: If you don't need the Xbox compatibility and can save a bit more, go straight for the MOZA R5 bundle. The 5.5Nm is already noticeable in comparison, and this is very often on sale, so it just makes it into our second price category. The Cammus C5 and the PXN V12 Lite, both of which have videos on our YouTube channel, are also worth considering.However, you will have to import them and pay high shipping and customs fees depending on where you live. According to the website, Cammus won't be able to deliver again until February or March, and it hasn't been easy to get hold of an available PXN V12 Lite over the past few weeks. The PXN is basically a top-of-the-range package and offers even more than the R5, namely 6 Nm peak torque, a clutch pedal and dual clutches on the steering wheel.
PXN V12 wheelbase bundle
Thrustmaster T598
If you are on the PlayStation, Thrustmaster has recently come up with a really attractive deal - the T598 offers new Direct Axial Drive technology and a whopping 5Nm of constant torque for $500. Our review showed that not everything is perfect yet, but the first firmware and software updates are pointing in the right direction, and I really liked the pedals, considering they are basic hall sensor units. We can make a recommendation here, but please also let us know about your experiences with delivery times and customer service in the comments below.Thrustmaster's new T598
Fanatec CSL DD Ready 2 Race Bundles
Fanatec still has a very strong starter kit. The 5 Nm CSL DD is available in Ready2Race bundles with different wheel types, so you should keep your eyes open for good deals here, too. The Fanatec ecosystem is also very extensive, and it is the only wheelbase that can be upgraded to 8Nm with a power supply upgrade, the Boost Kit. But now we're leaving the $500 mark, let's see how far you can go with around $800!Fanatec Gran Turismo DD Extreme bundle
Up to $800
Turtle Beach VelocityOne
As we move into the mid-range, it gets harder to find complete packages. Turtle Beach launched the VelocityOne last year, which comes with loadcell pedals, a dashboard display and even a button box. The 7.2Nm provides a bit more overhead than the entry-level DDs, and the set is compatible with PC and Xbox.Turtle Beach VelocityOne bundle
For PlayStation drivers and Gran Turismo fans, Fanatec's Gran Turismo DD Pro with 8 Nm is still a great package; for the $800, you should be able to enjoy the bundle for a very long time and in direct comparison to the T598 mentioned earlier, the extra $300 is worth it in my opinion if you have the budget.
MOZA Racing R9 Bundles
MOZA offers more fine-tuning potential, PC focus, and more Sim Racing appeal with their R9 bundles; my recommendation here would be the KS Wheel. However, pedals are already missing, and 9Nm is a range that is no longer particularly useful with a desk clamp. You should also upgrade your pedals before pushing into the 10Nm range. Load Cell is the keyword here. An all-time favourite of the community would be the CSL Elite V2 for around $300.CSL Elite Pedals V2. Image: Fanatec
We are slowly approaching wheelbases, which alone cost at least $600, and a proper sim rig is slowly becoming necessary. So, let's end with a little rundown on sets that cost more than $800!
$800 & Up
Thrustmaster T818
Our two manufacturers from the very beginning, Logitech and Thrustmaster, also have something on offer here. The latter sends the T818 into the fight. However, 10Nm for 650 dollars is not an unbeatable price, and the concept of unfiltered force feedback does not always lead to the best results. In my opinion, other wheelbases offer a better experience for similar money, such as the Simagic Alpha Mini, the Logitech PRO Racing Wheel, MOZA R12, Fanatec ClubSport DD or Asetek La Prima.Simagic Alpha Mini with a GT Neo
Simagic Alpha Mini, Logitech PRO Racing Wheel, MOZA R12, Fanatec ClubSport DD & Asetek La Prima
These are all steering wheels in the 10-12Nm range, and this already makes it possible to reproduce realistic steering forces, depending on which car or motorsport class you drive. I'm going to give you 4 combinations from 4 manufacturers that I personally think are a great deal.- The Simagic Alpha Mini with a GT Neo and P1000 pedals (Pictured above).
- The Asetek La Prima bundle.
- Fanatec ClubSport DD F1 Esports V2 bundle with CSL Elite V2 pedals.
- MOZA R12 with KS Wheel and CRP 2 Load Cell pedals.
Of course, you can swap the Formula-shaped wheels for round ones if you prefer drifting or rallying. Basically, I recommend having at least 2 types of wheels in the house: one for prototypes, GT and formula cars and one for street and rally cars.
Asetek La Prima Bundle. Image: Asetek Simsports
We recently got the Logitech Pro Racing Wheel, and I was pleasantly surprised by it. In terms of setup, software, and settings, it's a bit more beginner-friendly than most and gives an excellent feel to every simulation out of the box. The Logitech is also available for Xbox and PlayStation; just make sure you get the correct version for your platform of choice!
Xbox-compatible Logitech Pro Racing Wheel bundle.
Fanatec DD+
If consoles are important to you, Fanatec is also worth a look. The 15Nm DD+ was my daily driver for most of last year, and after switching to the Simagic Alpha U, which is otherwise the best wheelbase I've ever had, I miss being able to play Gran Turismo 7 on the rig at home.An honourable mention and a manufacturer that I think could shake up the market this year is Conspit. We are currently testing the Ares wheelbase as well as their steering wheels and pedals. We recently gave an overview at the Sim Racing Expo.
Conspit CPP-Lite pedals.
Tips & Tricks To Start
For this piece, we will leave aside the high-end range with hydraulic pedals and active pedals or wheelbases from Simucube with more than 20 Nm. Instead, I'd like to give you an important tip when setting up your new wheel base. Avoid setting the force feedback to 100% everywhere from the start. This is one of the biggest mistakes beginners make.The weaker direct drive wheelbases are especially prone to clipping, which means you lose valuable effects and information. As a rule of thumb, start with 50% in-game and 80% in the driver, and then feel your way around. Hope this helps!
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I am really looking forward to your comments and experiences. What was your first racing wheel, what game introduced you to Sim Racing and how regularly do you race? Let us know in the comments down below!
