Driving games have gone from strength to strength in recent years, from the ultra-realistic Project CARS 3 to the amazing range of cars in the stunning Forza Motorsport 7. But, like with most games, it doesn’t feel like you’re there when you’re using a controller or keyboard & mouse combo.
That’s where racing wheels come in. They bridge the gap between you and the game, and transport you to the driver’s seat. You can hear the engine revving and, depending on the wheel you opt for, feel the car rumbling beneath your fingers – you’ll never want to use a controller on a driving game again.
With so many racing wheels on the market, all choc-a-bloc with confusing terminology that beginners don’t understand, which should you buy? Don’t worry – we at Tech Advisor have done the legwork for you. Here, we explain what you should look for when on the market for a steering wheel and provide a selection of our favourites, hand-picked and tested by us.
Best racing wheels
1. Logitech G923
The Logitech G923 may look familiar, and that’s because it’s nearly identical to its predecessor, the G29 and G920, widely regarded as the best entry-level wheels that money could buy. With a rep like that, why fix what isn’t broke?
With that said, the G923 sports dual-motors for impressive force feedback, a 900-degree lock-to-lock rotation, a full pedal unit and semi-automatic stainless steel paddle shifters with optional support for a 6-speed manual gearbox too.
The changes are more in the software department, featuring new TrueForce technology that hooks directly into a game’s engine to use data available to better simulate feedback, rather than relying on profiles and a library of haptics effects like most others on the market. There’s also a higher 1/1000 second polling rate which provides a much more realistic sensation when driving.
The catch? Like most gaming accessory features these days, software support has to be added by the developer, meaning that in games like Assetto Corsa, you simply won’t notice a difference compared to the older wheel.
However, when running a supported title like Grid 2019, the effects of the system are immediately noticeable. You’ll get a tangible sense of engine idle as you’re sat waiting for the race to begin, and that extends to just about every aspect of racing – even contact with other cars.
TrueForce also utilises in-game sounds for a more immersive experience, with a noticeable engine rumble coming from the FFB system during races, but with most sim drivers using headsets, it’ll be overlooked by many.
The only notable physical change compared to its predecessor is in the pedal department; Logitech included a rubber/foam insert on the G29 pedal system that users hated – so much, in fact, that many took the pedals apart and replaced them. This time, Logitech went for a progressive spring system, solving the issue in a cost-efficient way.
Simply put, if you’re looking to get your hands on a great entry-level steering wheel, the G923 offers great value for money and a fun driving experience.
Read our full Logitech G923 review
2. Logitech G920
The Logitech G920 is a great entry-level steering wheel, and although the updated G923 is now available, the G920 is being sold at discount – making it an even more tempting option.
It’s a standard circular wheel clad in high-quality, hand-stitched leather designed to provide the look and feel of a high-performance sports car. It’s soft to the touch but breathable, meaning you won’t get sweaty palms at those tense times when racing. In the middle you’ll find dedicated Xbox-branded buttons including triggers, meaning you won’t need to use a secondary controller to set up races and navigate menus.
Inside the G920 you’ll find dual-motors that provide impressive force feedback, and believe us when we say that you really feel every bump, skid and knock when using this wheel. You’ll find yourself wrestling with the wheel just trying to keep control when skidding out, even to the point where your table may wobble – and it’s great. You’ve also got 900-degree lock-to-lock rotation, which isn’t as much as what’s on offer from Thrustmaster, but it does the job.
It, of course, comes with a pedal unit featuring a throttle, brake and clutch, and provides an accurate feeling of what it’s like to change gears, accelerate and brake in real life. It has rubber feet for hardened surfaces, but where the G920’s pedal unit really stands out is with its retractable carpet grip, little teeth that pop out and grip the carpet beneath. Once the grip is out, that unit won’t move – even when you’re flooring it.
Like the other wheels in our roundup, the G920 features semi-automatic stainless steel paddle shifters behind the wheel to control gears. But, if flappy pedals aren’t your thing, you can opt for the Logitech Driving Force Shifter, a 6-speed manual gearbox compatible with the wheel.
In terms of platform support, the Logitech G920 is compatible with both Xbox One and PC, ideal for those looking to cash in on Microsoft’s Play Anywhere scheme and use the wheel across console and PC. Those looking for the PS4-supported variant should check out the Logitech G29.
3. Thrustmaster T-GT
Some committed people can imagine spending £700/$700 on a videogame steering wheel accessory. For the rest of us mere mortals, this is a ludicrous use of money. But for those rarefied few, there’s the Thrustmaster T-GT.
Designed specifically for Gran Turismo Sport on the PS4 (though compatible with other games, thankfully, including PC support), this is the crème de la crème of authentic driving experiences on console.
Read through Thrustmaster’s official page and you’ll be bombarded with acronyms: T-LIN, T-40VE, T-M.C.E., H.E.A.R.T., T-F.O.C. and more besides. It boils down to this: the T-GT is packed with tech to make sure the force feedback is as powerful, dynamic, and accurate as possible.
You’ll need to play GT Sport to make the most of this, where you’ll find the wheel reacting dynamically to the game, from every rev of the engine to each time you skid uncontrollably off the track (I may have had a bit of a learning curve with the game). Exclusive to GT Sport, it can even subtly alter the vibrations to reflect the driving surface or weather conditions – there’s pretty much constant feedback of some sort or another.
Beyond performance, the T-GT is slick throughout. The stitched leather finish to the wheel is supple and comfortable, and there’s a comforting (and sturdy) heft to the whole thing. The silver-y plastic on the bottom of the wheel is the only blip in a build that otherwise screams ‘premium’ from beginning to end.
There’s no gear stick included, though it’s compatible with Thrustmaster’s TH8A, but the accompanying pedals are solid. The three-pedal board is built of plastic with metal footplates, and they’re responsive enough – though undeniably less impressive than the wheel itself.
At the end of the day, you already know if you’re the sort of person who’d even consider spending the better part of a grand on a PS4 steering wheel. If you are – and you expect to sink serious hours into GT Sport – it’s hard to imagine the T-GT being bested anytime soon. And if not, well, feel free to gawp at it with the rest of us.
4. Thrustmaster TS-XW Racer
At £649/$715 the TS-XW Racer is only slightly cheaper than Thrustmaster’s top-of-the-line model, but it offers a different setup altogether. First up, the TS-XW Racer is the outcome of the first collaboration between Thrustmaster and Sparco and offers some pretty impressive internals.
But before we get on to what you’ll find beneath the surface, let’s first talk about design. It’s a 1:1 scale replica of the Sparco P310 Competition wheel, hence the unique shape and design compared to other wheels in our roundup. The ergonomic design means it’s easy to grip and comfortable to use over long periods, and the use of genuine suede leather on the wheel is a nice premium touch.
Our only gripe with the design is that the centre of the wheel seems a little… bare, especially when the Xbox-branded buttons are fairly spread apart (it’s for Xbox One and PC) and the buttons on the base are a little awkward to reach when racing. It could’ve been home to additional buttons or even a full analogue stick to make navigating through menus a little less painful. It does feature programmable buttons though, which should benefit more advanced racing sim drivers.
But it’s on the inside that the TS-XW Racer really shines. It offers a 40-watt brushless servomotor that should continue to provide great performance over long periods of time, coupled with a dual belt-pulley system and metal ball-bearing axel that provides up to 1080 degrees of rotation. While that may not mean much to some, it translates to an incredibly realistic experience that’ll make your arms ache. You’ll feel every bump, every tyre slip, and every collision.
The wheel is backed up by the T3PA 3-pedal set, a plastic board with three fully adjustable metal footplates. They’re fairly responsive, but we found that it wasn’t as grippy as that offered by the Logitech G920 and would occasionally slip away underfoot.
It’s compatible with a range of accessories, including the Thrustmaster TH8A gearstick which, like its more-expensive cousin, doesn’t come with the wheel itself but is available to pick up from Amazon.
Racing Wheel Buying advice
For those new to the world of racing wheels for consoles and PC, the process of finding the best wheel for their needs can be overwhelming – especially when websites mention techy terms like force feedback, rotation, etc. But don’t fret – we break down the key features that you should be looking out for when on the market for a new steering wheel for your favourite driving games or sims.
Vibration and force feedback
Let’s start with Force Feedback, something found in the majority of modern, high-end steering wheels. Much like when driving a car in real life, driving a car in racing games and simulators doesn’t always go to plan – you’ve got bumps in the road, slippery surfaces, tyre grip slip and, of course, other cars to avoid.
And that’s where features like vibration and force feedback come into play – they aim to provide the same sensations that you’d feel when driving a real car. If you’re losing the car at a corner, you’ll have to wrestle a Force Feedback-enabled wheel to keep it under control. It makes you feel like you’ve really worked for your victory and really enhances the overall driving experience.
When it comes to immersion, nothing beats a decent Force Feedback Motor, though they do come at a premium. If you’re looking for the ultimate Force Feedback experience, keep an eye out for a wheel with two motors, though it’s worth noting that these are usually pretty pricey and are really only for those dedicated sim drivers.
Wheel size and rotation
While you’d assume that most racing wheels would aim to emulate the size of those you’d find in real cars, that’s not often the case. Instead, the best racing wheels have a great balance of size, function and rotation to imitate the feeling of not one but a variety of car models.
On average, racing wheels are around 11inches in diameter, but you may come across some that are slightly larger or smaller – it’s down to you to decide what is more comfortable for you.
In terms of rotation, higher-priced wheels offer a wider range of rotation – some up to an incredible 1080 degrees – and provide more of a “real car feel”. Of course, you can pay a little less and get something with a smaller range of rotation, but you might feel that it limits your control (depending on the type of car you’re driving).
Pedal unit and accessories
If you were contemplating buying a racing wheel without a detachable clutch and pedals, stop. To deliver a truly engaging driving experience, the most impressive racing wheels come with a set of pedals, allowing you to drive with more precision and control. When it comes to braking at corners, nothing offers more than control than a physical pedal beneath your foot.
If you really want to go for it, you could also purchase a manual gearbox. After all, there’s nothing more satisfying than shifting gears and hearing the roar of the engine behind you. Many of the best racing wheels offer compatibility with optional gearboxes – all steering wheels below are compatible – but it also makes driving games more complex, even for those that drive cars in real life.
Platform compatibility
Last but not least, you should find out about platform compatibility before purchasing any racing wheel. Generally speaking, wheels are designed for either the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S or PC, and much of the time, the console variant will also be compatible with PC – but not other console platforms. That means while you may be able to use your PlayStation-based wheel on your PC, you won’t be able to use it with an Xbox.
So, to summarise, make sure you buy the correct steering wheel for the platform(s) that you’ll be using it on. You don’t want a £300 paperweight, do you?
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