If you're a fan of racing sims and racing games, you'll know that sometimes an ordinary game controller just doesn't cut it. If you're looking to get the most out of your racing games, you want to invest in a gaming racing wheel.

With customizable button controls, immersive force feedback, pressure-sensitive foot pedals, and a whole host of other features, a racing steering wheel can take your drive time to a whole new level.

These are the best racing steering wheels.

Compatible with PS5, PS4, and PC, the Thrustmaster T300 RS Gran Turismo Edition Racing Wheel is a beast of a racing rig. This is a high-end racing wheel with 1080-degree force feedback and an industrial-class brushless motor with 25 watts of power. It delivers a fast and dynamic performance to let you rip across the finish line; leaving your competitors with no choice but to eat your dust.

The Thrustmaster T300 series all feature a dual-belt system that actively reduces any disruptive noise, and allows for smoother movement. Thanks to a direct link between the dual-belt system and the brushless motor, all dead zones are removed, as are any jolting movements. With these niggling aspects removed, you can enjoy the sheer power and responsiveness that’s left, plus a greater sense of realism and immersion.

This package includes the Gran Turismo Edition pedal set and a quick-release wheel system, should you ever want to change up your wheel type on this rig. The wheel itself is 11 inches in diameter, and features brushed metal spokes, and reinforced rubber around the circumference, for a comfortable grip. All in all, a great package for racing sim fans, and definitely the one to go for if you can stretch to the price tag.

Key Features
  • 1080-degree force feedback
  • 11-inch diameter
  • Officially licensed Gran Turismo racing wheel
  • 3 adjustable metal pedals
  • Customizable button controls
  • Brushless servomotor
  • Dual-belt system
  • Quick release wheel system
Specifications
  • Brand: Thrustmaster
  • Compatibility: PS5, PS4, PC
  • Forced Feedback: Yes
  • Wheel Size: 11 inches
  • Pedals: Yes
  • Paddles: Yes
  • Stick Shifter: No
Pros
  • Ultra-responsive, precision controls
  • Fully customizable
  • Detachable wheel allows for even more versatility
Cons
  • Very expensive
Buy This Product
Thrustmaster T300 RS Gran Turismo Edition Racing Wheel

Another Thrustmaster option for you to burn virtual rubber with is this Thrustmaster T248P Racing Wheel. You’ll save some dollars compared to the T300 RS, while still enjoying an impressive amount of functionality. Officially licensed for PS4, PS5, and compatible with PC, this racing wheel provides dynamic force feedback with three presets to assist with whatever type of track you’re racing on.

It features an interactive race dashboard that has more than 20 different on-screen displays, including force feedback type, gear ratio, RPM, and so on. Take advantage of super-fast gear shifting, thanks to its magnetic and frictionless paddle shifters, and reap the benefits of the resulting 30 millisecond response time this gives you.

The T248P also comes with a magnetic pedal set that provides four different pressure modes for pedal application. Building layers of extra precision, these can make all the difference as you try to stick fast to the racing line. You’ll also find 25 action buttons built-in to this wheel, including two dual-position encoders; giving you plenty of options for customizing your racing setup.

Key Features
  • Force feedback with 3 presets
  • Frictionless paddle shifters
  • Interactive race dashboard
  • 25 built-in action buttons
  • 4 pressure modes for foot pedals
  • Next-gen HYBRID DRIVE system
Specifications
  • Brand: Thrustmaster
  • Compatibility: PS5, PS4, PC
  • Forced Feedback: Yes
  • Pedals: Yes
  • Paddles: Yes
  • Stick Shifter: No
Pros
  • Interactive dashboard features all the in-game data you could want
  • Super-slick controls
  • Force feedback pre-sets to suit different games
Cons
  • Requires PC hook-up to run updates on
Buy This Product
Thrustmaster T248P Racing Wheel and Magnetic Pedals

This Mario Kart Racing Wheel Pro Deluxe by Hori is officially licensed by Nintendo, which offers some assurance as to its quality. Designed for Mario Kart on the Nintendo Switch, this racing wheel can naturally be used to enjoy other racing titles too. It features a two-pedal set, plus gear shift paddles for easy shifting to gain the advantage over your rivals.

The button array on this racing wheel will be familiar to any Switch owners, and you’ll find that they’re fully customizable too. This is great news for fans of party racers, and Mario Kart fans will appreciate the button-hold function too, which allows you to drag items behind you until the perfect opportunity for deployment arises.

Sturdy suction cups secure this wheel to your tabletop at home, and you can connect two wheels to a single Switch console via USB for one-on-one competitive play. Great fun for kids of all ages, this Mario Kart racing wheel is the absolute best way to enjoy your favorite kart racer; and to make your opponents thump their own leg in frustration as you up-end their kart for the umpteenth time!

Key Features
  • Customizable button setup
  • Gear shift paddles
  • Button hold function for Mario Kart
  • Connect two racing wheels to your Switch
Specifications
  • Brand: HORI
  • Compatibility: Nintendo Switch
  • Forced Feedback: No
  • Pedals: Yes
  • Paddles: Yes
  • Stick Shifter: No
Pros
  • Mario fans will love the look of this wheel
  • Customizable button setup
  • Two wheels means great one-on-one racing action
Cons
  • One for party racers, rather than racing sims
Buy This Product
Nintendo Switch Mario Kart Racing Wheel Pro Deluxe By HORI

For Xbox gamers, this Logitech G923 Racing Wheel and Pedals is a great way to enjoy racing titles like Forza Horizon and Need For Speed. Compatible with PC too, this racing wheel provides high-definition force feedback, as a result of its TRUEFORCE system. G923 TRUEFORCE connects the game’s physics engine directly to the wheel, for pure precision gameplay.

There’s a built-in closed-loop motor control, which makes continual adjustments to the amount of voltage flowing through the wheel motors as you play. This provides a more responsive feel to the controls and lends a greater depth of immersion to the whole racing sim experience. The G923 also enables dual-clutch controls (for supported titles) for greater traction, giving you the means to scream away from the starting line even faster.

On-wheel game controls feature a 24-point selection dial for torque, clutch control, brake force, and more. Plus, button settings can of course be customized to suit your preferred play style. Paddle shifters let you change gears fluidly, and spring-powered pedals mimic heel-to-toe maneuvers, allowing you to exert even more control. A serious piece of kit for Xbox and PC racers, which puts the emphasis firmly on realism.

Key Features
  • TRUEFORCE system
  • Dual clutch launch
  • 1000Hz force feedback
  • 24-point selector
  • Fully customizable button controls
  • Auto-adjusts in-game to allow for shifts in terrain, etc.
Specifications
  • Brand: Logitech
  • Compatibility: Xbox X/S, Xbox One, PC
  • Forced Feedback: Yes
  • Pedals: Yes
  • Paddles: Yes
  • Stick Shifter: No
Pros
  • Precision gameplay
  • Dual clutch control for springboard starts
  • High-definition force feedback offers greater immersion
Cons
  • Pedals can be a little 'clicky' sometimes
Buy This Product
Logitech G923 Racing Wheel and Pedals

Maybe you’re a gamer who enjoys racing sims on a variety of different platforms. If so, the PXN V9 Gaming Racing Wheel could be the multi-platform racing wheel for you. The V9 features left and right dual motor vibration for increased realism. It also includes a six-in-one manual gearstick shifter, as well as on-wheel paddle shifters, giving you even more options for gameplay.

Interestingly, this wheel features alternate rotations for different types of games. A turning angle shifting switch is located towards the base of the wheel hub and provides for easy switching between 270 degrees and 900 degrees. The former being most suitable for competitive racing sims, and the latter being more suited to real driving simulators; where the vehicles are somewhat more heavy-duty and require a much larger turning circle.

The racing buttons on this wheel can all be mapped to your preference, and further steering wheel functions and settings can be accessed by pairing them with the V9 Tool on the PXN app. There’s no force feedback with this wheel, which is to be expected for the price. However, its multi-platform compatibility works in its favor, as does the option for manual as well as automatic gear-shifting.

Key Features
  • Multi-platform racing wheel
  • 270 and 900-degree wheel rotations
  • Customizable button set up
  • Further customization via PXN V9 Tool app
  • Six-in-one manual gearstick shifter
Specifications
  • Brand: PXN
  • Compatibility: Multi-platform
  • Forced Feedback: No
  • Pedals: Yes
  • Paddles: Yes
  • Stick Shifter: Yes
Pros
  • Lets you race on all your different consoles
  • Decent amount of customization options
  • Gearstick shifter gives you a manual control option
Cons
  • No force feedback
Buy This Product
PXN Gaming Racing Wheel V9 Xbox Steering Wheel

Officially licensed by Sony for use with PlayStation 5 (and PlayStation 4) and compatible with PC, the HORI Racing Wheel Apex for PlayStation 5 allows users to adjust settings and make custom profiles on the HORI Device Manager App. It provides a 270-degree turn radius with adjustable output options, letting you make the most out of this full-size wheel for an authentic feeling racing experience.

You can switch between a 270-degree and 180-degree turn radius, to better suit your racer of choice, and make adjustments and tweaks to things such as dead zones, pedal sensitivity, and so on. Button functions can be customized too, letting you race your way and giving you that extra advantage.

On-board paddle shifters help accommodate a fast and furious gameplay style, and pressure-sensitive foot pedals help keep things tight and controlled when you need it. With this being a more budget-priced racing wheel, you won’t find force feedback functions here or any of the more premium features. However, this HORI Apex Racing Wheel does what it does very well, and will serve your PS5 racing career admirably.

Key Features
  • Custom profiles and settings via HORI Device Manager App
  • 270-degree turn radius
  • Pressure sensitive foot pedals
  • Customizable button functions
  • Tabletop clamp system
Specifications
  • Brand: HORI
  • Compatibility: PS5, PS4, PC
  • Forced Feedback: No
  • Pedals: Yes
  • Paddles: Yes
  • Stick Shifter: No
Pros
  • Full size wheel is a bonus
  • Smooth and precise controls
  • Pressure foot pedals add immersion
Cons
  • No force feedback
  • Clamping device can be fiddly to install
Buy This Product
HORI Racing Wheel Apex for PlayStation 5

Another multi-platform racing wheel from PXN, the PXN V311 is a 180-degree racing wheel that will work with just about any game console, as well as being PC-friendly too. It provides manual dual-motor feedback for a realistic competition wheel-style design and has auto-adjust vibration levels that acclimate themselves to whatever you’re playing.

It has a manual gearstick shifter, as well as on-wheel paddle shifters, giving you the option of a more manual play style if you want it. The button array is far simpler than some other models, and button functions cannot be customized with the V311. However, for some racing fans, this may not be that much of a big deal, and you’re still getting good value for money here.

Seven suction cups will ensure your V311 sticks to your desktop like glue, and the ergonomic design of the wheel itself provides plenty of comfort as you drive. Non-slip gas and brake pedals give you extra control behind the wheel. And provided that your racing needs won't exceed that 180-degree turning circle, you’ll have lots of fun with this budget-price racing wheel.

Key Features
  • Multi-platform racing wheel
  • 180-degree turn radius
  • Auto-adjust vibration levels
  • Manual gearstick shifter
Specifications
  • Brand: PXN
  • Compatibility: Multi-platform
  • Forced Feedback: No
  • Wheel Size: 10.24-inch diameter
  • Pedals: Yes
  • Paddles: Yes
  • Stick Shifter: Yes
Pros
  • Manual gearstick option is a nice extra
  • Auto-adjust vibration adds some immersion
  • Ergonomic design is comfortable to handle
Cons
  • Cannot customize buttons
  • Limited wheel turn radius
Buy This Product
PXN V3II 180 Degree Universal USB Car Sim Race Steering Wheel

FAQ

Q: How to Choose a Sim Racing Wheel?

The biggest question is budget. How much do you want to spend on a sim racing wheel? Although sim racing wheels start at a very low price, you definitely get what you pay for. There are a few considerations, such as the sim racing wheel turn radius, force feedback, pedal and shifter combinations, integrated buttons and gear shifters, and so on.The entry-level sim racing wheels have a small turn radius, which affects your in-game driving precision. Similarly, a wheel lacking force feedback makes steering accurately that bit more difficult. It'll be better than the jerky movements you get from a gamepad (in most cases), but still not entirely accurate.In that, you don't want to break your budget. But ensuring your sim racing wheel does tick those boxes will provide much greater enjoyment. You should also note that you don't have to buy the latest and greatest sim racing wheel to have an incredible experience. Some of the best beginner's sim racing wheels hit the market years back but are still excellent options.

Q: Should I Buy a Second-Hand Racing Wheel?

If you don't want a massive outlay when purchasing your first sim racing wheel, you can try the second-hand sim racing wheel market. There are always sim racing wheels for beginners available on eBay, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Carousell, and numerous other online selling sites.

Some sim racers believe beginners should buy higher-end second-hand hardware rather than lower-spec new hardware. The reasoning is that although the second-hand sim racing wheel is already used, the wider range of functionality and potential for a better experience is a better introduction to sim racing wheels for beginners.

Q: Why Are Sim Racing Wheels Expensive?

Like most things in life, if you want quality, you pay a premium. Sim racing wheels are no different. The further up the pricing tiers you go, the more features there are, the better the force feedback, and the more premium build materials you'll find.

Q: Is a Sim Racing Wheel Better Than a Controller?

If you want to increase your immersion in the racing game, want to become competitive in the world of sim racing, or just want to bring down those lap times, a sim racing wheel is better than a controller.