The best consoles might be changing with the introduction of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, but thankfully the best racing wheels can remain the same for the time being. Even though the new consoles will be introducing new controllers, with Sony even requiring its new controller to play new games, both the PS5 and Xbox Series X will maintain support for earlier racing wheels.
That's great news for racers because the last thing you'd want is to be forced to use a controller for racing games while you wait around for new racing wheels. When it comes to getting nuanced control in a racing game, the short travel of a thumbstick and trigger just can't compare to the range of a pedal or the rotation of a wheel. The best racing wheels can even give you a better feel for the road. While a standard controller might give you a bit of rumble, the force feedback on a racing wheel can pull against you while you're steering to let you feel out each corner. Plus, it's just a lot more fun to sit behind a racing wheel. So, if you're ready to buckle in for your favorite racing games, these are the racing wheels you'll want your hands on – and click here to find them in the UK.
TL;DR — These are the Best Racing Wheels:
- Thrustmaster T300 RS GT
- Hori Racing Wheel Overdrive
- Thrustmaster TMX Racing Wheel
- Thrustmaster T248 Racing Wheel
- Thrustmaster TS-XW Racer
- Logitech G923
- Fanatec GT DD Pro Express Version
1. Thrustmaster T300 RS GT
Best Racing Wheel
From the wheel to the pedal base to the motor inside, the Thrustmaster T300 RS GT covers all the bases for a quality racing wheel that’ll get you into the action in your favorite racing games. This particular model offers up a realistic, 11-inch wheel built on brushed metal and wrapped all the way around with rubber grips so you won’t slip even if the race starts to get hairy.
You’re going to need that grip, too, as the Thrustmaster T300 RS GT uses a dual-belt system with a brushless force feedback motor to deliver 25 watts of power. You’re going to be feeling the road through this wheel, so you’ll want to hold on tight. Fortunately, because it's using a brushless motor, it won’t be terribly noisy. The wheel comes with the controls you need for PlayStation games, including compatibility for PS5, plus it has a 1,080-degree turning range with Hall Effect sensors for accuracy and two paddle shifters to help you always get to the right gear.
2. Hori Racing Wheel Overdrive
Best Budget Racing Wheel
You can get yourself geared up for racing for just $100 with the Hori Racing Wheel Overdrive. It may not be the most feature-packed option, but you’ll get a comfortable wheel that works with Xbox Series X/S as well as Windows PC. Plus, the kit includes a pair of pedals. It’s more than enough to get you casually racing, and it’ll be a serious upgrade from a controller for precision steering.
The Hori Racing Wheel Overdrive provides an 11-inch steering wheel and clamps to attach it to your desk. The wheel has a shorter turning range than high-end options, but it’ll still give you 270 degrees of rotation, or you can cut it down to 180 degrees for more instantaneous feedback. The front of the wheel includes some standard Xbox inputs for easy control in-game, and you’ll even get paddle shifters to really take control of the car you’re driving. The biggest thing you’ll miss out on here is force feedback.
3. Thrustmaster TMX Racing Wheel
Best Xbox Series X/S Racing Wheel
If you like the look and sound of the Thrustmaster T300 RS racing wheel but want to get a model that works with the new Xbox Series X and Series S, then this is the one to check out. There are amble buttons on the wheel, paddle shifter, a control pad, and can the wheel automatically be recognized by the Xbox.
This kit includes a two-pedal set and can attach to just about any mount other wheels can, whether that's a desk or table. The controls also include the Xbox guide button, so you’ll have full functionality to interact with your console.
4. Thrustmaster T248 Racing Wheel
Best PS5 Racing Wheel
The Thrustmaster T248 is a new racing wheel ready for the PS5. If you’re gaming on Sony’s new console, this is the wheel you’re going to want for full support. It provides handy controls that will lineup with those displayed in the game, and it’ll let you feel like you’re actually driving a car a lot more than a standard controller ever will.
The kit includes the racing wheel itself as well as a three-pedal set that provides high sensitivity and even allows for four different pressure modes from the brake pedal. The wheel will let you get a feel for the road through its belt- and gear-driven force feedback system, which can offer three different modes for your preferred level of feedback. The wheel also provides magnetic paddle shifters for quick activation as well as a display at the center of the wheel that can display useful game data from your engine’s RPM to your best lap time.
5. Thrustmaster TS-XW Racer
Best PC Racing Wheel
PC gamers are accustomed to the finest things in gaming, and once you get past the slightly exorbitant price tag, it’s hard to compete with the Thrustmaster TS-XW Racer. This wheel offers one of the most realistic feels in PC gaming thanks to its exceptional 40-watt brushless force feedback and self-aligning torque. You’ll feel the subtlest cues in your game. Plus, it even features a scale replica of the Sparco P310 Competition wheel, so you can pretend you’re hitting the pavement in the cockpit of an actual race car.
Since the Thrustmaster TS-XW Racer comes toting tons of power, it’s important to keep the internals cool. The cooling system onboard ensures peak performance is maintained while remaining quiet. And, it can self-calibrate itself with an angle of movement from 270° to 1080°. The wheel also comes with two paddle shifters, 14 buttons, and a D-pad. Coming with a metal three-pedal set to complete the package, it’s plug-and-play ready. But if you want to make any modifications, this wheel fits seamlessly in the Thrustmaster ecosystem.
6. Logitech G923
Best Belt-Driven Racing Wheel
Logitech offers an affordable way to get into sim racing with the Logitech G923 racing wheel. This wheel is effectively a light revision of the G920, which isn't a bad thing. That was a solid and affordable racing wheel, and that holds true with the G923.
You're still getting a wheel with geared force feedback. That offers a decent degree of realistic feedback in games, though it's not the most nuanced and can be a bit noisy. With this new wheel, Logitech has also added a "Trueforce" feature which adds some extra immersion through a vibration motor. In supported games, that Trueforce adds some extra sensation, simulating the feel of the engine revs vibrating through the steering column straight into your hands. This kit also continues to make sim racing more affordable by including a full pedal set.
7. Fanatec GT DD Pro Express Version
Best Direct Drive Racing Wheel
If you are looking for a wheel that best emulates the direct drive experience, look no further than the GT DD Pro Express Version. It is the perfect addition to your gaming setup and will have you ready for a fully immersive experience when Gran Turismo 7 launches in March 2022. As the name might suggest, direct drive wheels connect a large motor directly to the steering wheel which allows for much better control and force feedback. This is what professional racers and enthusiast sim racers use.
You can get 5Nm of force feedback from the GT DD Pro Express Version, but it can go up to 8Nm with the additional 180 Boost Kit–it is sure to make your hands and wrists sore even after a short circuit race. The wheel itself features a great interface with familiar PlayStation controls, unique 5-way directional sticks, and RevLED which offers visual information while driving. The included steel two-pedal set will complete this ultimate direct drive setup. Compatible with PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S (when using an Xbox licensed wheel), and PC, you should be doing laps in no time.
Where to Get the Best Racing Wheels in the UK
What to Look for in a Racing Wheel
One of the first things you should think about when shopping for a racing wheel you should consider how comfortable it's going to be for you to use. Is the wheel large enough and comfortable enough for you to use? Padded and leather (or pleather) bound add a nice touch of comfort, but you may still want to buy a pair of gloves if your wheel delivers a lot of force feedback.
Speaking of force feedback, there are three main types out there in the world:
- Gear Drive - In this case the wheel's shaft is attached to gears that connect with the main force feedback motor. This type of force feedback system helped amplify torque, but it was notorious for jolting imprecisely and being extremely noisy. Gear Drive systems are also among the oldest type of force feedback system used on racing wheels and you can rarely find one aside from the Logitech G25 Wheels you might find on Ebay.
- Belt Drive - The most common type of force feedback system used by modern racing wheels. This type of system takes the same concept of translating torque from the haptic motor as Gear Drive, but instead of using gears it uses belts. The resulting experience feels much more precise while being significantly quieter. However, due to the nature of rubber, Belt Drives often absorb some amount of the force feedback before it gets to the wheel and your hands, they also stretch and degrade overtime and require users to replace the belt.
- Direct Drive - Often regarded as the best type of force feedback, this system often has the wheel mounted directly to a large motor. There's no delay or loss of torque with this type of force feedback system. However, since there aren't any belts or gears amplifying the haptic force these systems often have to use larger motors. Direct Drive wheels are also the most expensive type of racing wheel you can buy and they usually start at around $1,000.
Kevin Lee is IGN's Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam
