If you're a newcomer to PC-based sim racing, there are a few items you might want to consider buying. Your CPU or graphics card may need an upgrade or, worst-case scenario, a whole new gaming PC might be in your future. A multitude of gaming monitors to choose from are just a click away or, if you want serious immersion, virtual reality headsets will get you in the racing game.
But the most essential purchase you'll make will be a gaming steering wheel and pedal set, which are the only components that you'll actually touch and the only accessories that are able to mimic the tactile sensations of a sport that's largely based on feel.
For the money, the Fanatec Clubsport V3 pedals are hard to beat.
FanatecRead more: How to build the best PC for iRacing
Needless to say, getting the best racing wheel and pedals setup is hugely important for racing simulation, but finding something that fits your budget is also key. You can easily spend more on a sim racing setup than you might on a real race car -- which sounds totally crazy until you start to do the math on what actually being competitive in the real world costs. There's also no way to begin to explain the type of variety available in racing simulator components -- think adjustable pedals, leather wheel, and more. Way different than a typical game console setup.
I've been sim racing for nearly 20 years now, and in that time have tested a lot of wheels from a lot of companies. Jump on in and we'll find you the best racing wheel and pedals set for your budget. This list is updated periodically.
The Next Level Racing GTtrack offers solid, flexible construction.
Next Level RacingA place to play
Before you start shopping for a PC racing wheel, it's important to figure out exactly where you're going to drive. If you already have your PC set up at a desk, clamping your racing wheel on there is probably the easiest -- and certainly the cheapest -- way to go. However, it's not for everyone, especially if you hate having extra cables slung around your workspace.
Additionally, many higher-powered wheels cannot be clamped to a desk, simply because they're way too powerful. So, if you have the budget and the floor space, a dedicated sim racing cockpit with a wheel stand and more makes a world of difference. The ability to just sit down and start driving means you'll spend less time fiddling with cables and more time driving. Plus, you can start customizing your cockpit with bespoke seating and button pods and all sorts of fun stuff.
Watch this: The 3 best wheels and pedal setups for iRacing
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This is definitely an area where recommendations are difficult, because preconstructed sim cockpits vary hugely in price, size, construction and intent. For my needs, I wanted something sturdy so that I could test out high-power wheels. I needed a small footprint, however, to keep from giving up too much of my office. And I also didn't have thousands to spend.
I opted for the Next Level Racing GTtrack. It's only 21 inches wide, so it slotted in nicely next to my desk, yet is sturdy enough to handle the most powerful direct-drive wheels on the market. It's also easily customizable, with an open, box-frame construction featuring plenty of exposed holes and surfaces for adding on whatever you like. You can also upgrade to a motion platform down the road, should you feel like adding a little momentum to your rig.
At $899 it isn't cheap, but Next Level Racing has other, more affordable options, like the $499 F-GT, suitable for midlevel wheels, and even the $299 F-GT Lite, which you can fold up and stuff in the closet.
Those are three great choices, but if you're looking to save some money and don't mind going the DIY route, Open Sim Racing has dozens of plans that rely on inexpensive extruded aluminum sections, meaning you can make a truly custom setup.
Logitech Driving Force G920, G29
Pick your poison.
LogitechFor the entry-level, I'm going to recommend the Logitech G920 -- or the G29. Either will do, because they're basically the same wheel -- the former is for the Xbox One, the latter for the PS4, and both are PC compatible.
If you're only doing iRacing and the like on the PC, you can go with either, but I will say the Logitech wheel has more buttons and knobs, making it the slightly better choice. It's a minor difference, though.
Either way, you're getting a well-built racing steering wheel with primarily metal construction and a stitched leather wrapping. 900 degrees of wheel rotation will handle anything short of a big-rig racing simulator and the force feedback is perfectly adequate.
There are a few shortcomings, however. For one thing, the wheel diameter is less than 10.5 inches, meaning this racing wheel feels somewhat toy-like compared to the real thing -- or, indeed, some of the later wheels I'll mention. The bigger problem, however, is with the pedals. The brake pedal uses a potentiometer, a means of digitally detecting the degree of rotation.
Potentiometers work well for the throttle and clutch pedal, but the hydraulic brakes in a real car work not on how far you press the pedal, but how hard. Since potentiometers only measure movement, accurately modulating the brakes can be a challenge. Logitech attempted to replicate the feel of a load cell by limiting the travel of the brake pedal, but if anything that just reduces precision.
Really, though, at this price point, that's the only fly in the ointment. The Logitech G920 and G29 are excellent wheels for a great racing experience. Plenty of pro-level iRacers use them, which is about as good a vote of confidence as you can get. I raced with a G27 for years and, if $400 is outside of your budget, I'd highly recommend hitting up eBay for a used G27 or even a used G25. They're largely the same wheel, and a healthy modding community will ensure they'll work for years to come.
If you're doing a little Forza Motorsport on the side and need an Xbox One steering wheel, the Xbox One-compatible G920 is for you.
If you're more into the Gran Turismo side of the equation and looking for a PS4 steering wheel, the PS4-ready G29 is your choice.
Got a bit more to spend? Check out the Thrustmaster T300, particularly in the Thrustmaster Ferrari Integral trim. The Thrustmaster racing wheel starts at $500 and offers a larger-diameter, Alcantara-wrapped wheel that feels more like the real thing or a leather wheel. That wheel is also swappable, should you want something different down the road.
For those looking to get a bit more serious about their sim racing, Fanatec has a range of products guaranteed to challenge the healthiest of budgets. In my book, the Clubsport Wheel Base V2.5 hits the sweet spot between luxury, performance and price.
Its belt-driven internals deliver the power from a high-torque motor situated within an attractive, anodized aluminum base. The window on top exposing the internals is a nice touch, showing the attention to detail here. Its 6 pound-feet of torque makes it almost four times as powerful as the Logitech, but if that's too much it comes with an extensive suite of tuning software, meaning you can dial it in how you want it.
I'd recommend pairing that with Fanatec's $300 BMW GT2 wheel, which, at 12.6 inches, is full-size and Alcantara-wrapped, like the real thing, and offers a healthy selection of buttons and controls. However, the positioning of those buttons leaves a bit to be desired (many are too far away to be reached via quick thumb-press) and the paddle shifter on the back is awfully vague.
The Clubsport Wheel Base V2.5 hits the sweet spot between luxury, performance and price.
Finally, on the floor, the Clubsport V3 pedal set is hard to beat. The all-metal construction means business, and they come with two sets of pedal surfaces. The flat ones installed by default are easily replaced with D-shaped pedals, which are my preference. They even have haptic motors that buzz away to replicate ABS.
Most importantly, the brake on the Clubsport pedal set features a load-cell. Unlike a potentiometer, this measures force, not movement, so you can precisely scrub off speed moving through T1 and T2 at Suzuka and handle all that trail-braking which is so important in iRacing.
If there's one drawback, it's the cost. The Fanatec Clubsport Wheel Base V2.5 costs $550, which might not sound so bad except that you'll also need to pay an additional $300 for the BMW GT2 steering wheel and a further $360 for the pedal set. Total cost? A cool $1,210.
If your budget hasn't reached the breaking point yet, welcome to the Podium level. While Clubsport is Fanatec's midtier product, Podium is at the top, and the $1,200 DD1 is my pick at this price level. With a whopping 14.7 lb.-ft. of torque at your disposal, it can quite literally rip the steering wheel out of your hands. So, do be careful -- the warning labels on this thing are not for show.
That torque is a nice talking point, maybe even needed for those desiring the ultimate realism when simulating vintage cars with no power steering. For me, I turn the torque down to about 65% when I'm driving with my DD1. Why? More force from your racing wheel won't make you faster. If anything, it can make you slower as you fight the wheel.
For me, the real draw to the DD1 is the fidelity of the sensations. While all the wheels I've discussed thus far rely on gears or belts to get the force to the wheel, the DD here means direct-drive. That is to say, the steering wheel is more or less directly attached to the shaft of an electric motor. The feel is perfectly smooth, just like in a real car.
It's a premium piece of kit and something that I feel good about using, but the great part of Fanatec parts is that you're buying into a healthy and always-expanding ecosystem. The steering wheels you use on a Clubsport Wheel Base can be used here, as can the pedals and things like external gear shifter, handbrakes and lots, lots more. So, as your skills and your needs grow, so too can your setup.
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