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Best Entry-Level Sim Racing Wheel

Claire

April 5, 2021

If you’re just getting into sim racing, you may be feeling overwhelmed by all the different choices in equipment, software, and games. But don’t worry, this article will provide you with an easy-to-understand breakdown of the best entry-level sim racing wheels on the market.

To build out this list, we’ve spent countless hours researching, analyzing reviews, and product testing, while taking into account key features like console compatibility, brand ecosystem, peripherals, force feedback, and mounting options. To get a better understanding of each of these factors, check out our Sim Racing Wheel Buying Guide.

Generally speaking, the higher your budget, the higher the quality of wheel you’ll be able to get – especially in regards to power and force feedback. This is what will give you a more immersive driving experience, and can actually help you perform better because you can more accurately feel what’s happening in the sim.

That being said, as a beginner you may not want to invest a huge amount of money into a wheel until you know whether or not you really love sim racing. The most expensive wheels you can get (direct drive wheels) also require more knowledge and time tinkering to get the settings just right, so aren’t well-suited for entry-level racers anyway.

For these reasons, our recommendations focus on lower-budget (but high-quality) wheels from reputable brands that are easy to set up. Our list of the best entry-level sim racing wheels, ordered from lowest to highest price, includes:

Thrustmaster T80

Thrustmaster T80 Wheel and Pedals

• Price: $80 USD on walmart.com (subject to change)
• Includes: Wheelbase, steering wheel, 2 pedals (gas and brake)
• Force Feedback: None
• Resolution: Unknown
• Wheel Rotation: 200 degrees
• Torque: Unknown
• Console Compatibility: PC and PS
• Mounting Options: Desk mount clamp
• Wheel coating: Plastic with rubber grips

If you’re an entry-level racer on a really tight budget, the Thrustmaster T80 is a solid choice for a wheel and pedal set.

It is the best sub $100 wheel currently on the market, but just keep in mind that you will not get a realistic driving experience because of the limited wheel rotation and lack of force feedback. Without force feedback, you’ll have a harder time controlling your car because you won’t be able to feel what’s happening in the sim, and the lack of rotation will give you less control over your car. It also has plastic pedals, which lack resistance and can be prone to breaking.

That being said, it has everything you need to get started sim racing, it’s easy to set up on any desk, there are action buttons and sequential shifters built into the wheel.

If you like the look of this wheel but you’re an Xbox gamer, the Thrustmaster Ferrari 458 Spider is the Xbox equivalent.

Thrustmaster T150 & TMX

Thrustmaster T150 Wheel

• Price: $179 USD on amazon.com (subject to change)
• Includes: Wheelbase, steering wheel, 2 pedals (gas and brake)
• Force Feedback: Hybrid belt pulley and gears
• Resolution: 12 bit
• Wheel Rotation: T150 1080 degrees / TMX 900 degrees
• Torque: Unknown
• Console Compatibility: T150 PC and PS / TMX PC and Xbox
• Mounting Options: Desk mount clamp
• Wheel coating: Plastic with rubber grips

The next step up from the Thrustmaster T80 is the Thrustmaster T150. This wheel and pedal set will give you a relatively realistic driving experience while keeping your budget low. With the Thrustmaster T150 you’ll get force feedback, plus a full 1080 degrees of rotation. 

Like the T80, it also has a desk mount for easy set-up and the wheel has built-in paddle shifters and action buttons. It also comes with plastic pedals, however, you could always upgrade to the T3PA  pedals which are made out of metal (more info on these in our best pedals article).

Xbox fans: The Thrustmaster TMX is the Xbox equivalent to the T150, with no differences in specs except for the lower max wheel rotation of 900 degrees (but this is still more than enough rotation for most racers).

Thrustmaster TMX Wheel

Logitech G29 & G920  [Editor’s Choice]

Logitech G920 and G29 Wheel and Pedals Sets

• Price: $249 USD on logitech.com (subject to change)
• Includes: Wheelbase, steering wheel, 3 pedals
• Force Feedback: Helical gears
• Resolution: 16 bit
• Wheel Rotation: 900 degrees
• Torque: ~2.1Nm (estimated)
• Console Compatibility: G29 PC and PS / G920 PC and Xbox
• Mounting Options: Desk mount clamp, hard mount with screws
• Wheel coating: Leather

The Logitech G29 (or G920 for Xbox) is our favorite entry-level wheel and pedal set.  Logitech’s high-quality hardware will give you the full sim racing experience, with relatively powerful force feedback and a full 900 degrees of rotation. 

Like the Thrustmaster T150, the Logitech G29/G920 wheel also has a built-in table clamp, so you can easily set it up without a full cockpit.

The Logitech G29/G920 does have more of a luxury feel than the Thrustmaster T150 though, thanks to leather coating on the steering wheel and built-in LED RPM lights. The Logitech pedals are also significantly better than the Thrustmaster pedals, since they are made of metal, include a clutch, and have more options for adjustments. 

The only real downside is that it uses a gear-driven force feedback system, so it’s less powerful and not as smooth as a belt or direct drive wheel.

Logitech G923

Logitech G923 Wheels and Pedals

• Price: $399 USD on logitech.com (subject to change)
• Includes: Wheelbase, steering wheel, 3 pedals
• Force Feedback: “TrueForce”
• Resolution: Unknown
• Wheel Rotation: 900 degrees
• Torque: ~2.1Nm (estimated)
• Console Compatibility: PC and PS / PC and Xbox
• Mounting Options: Desk mount clamp, hard mounting with screws
• Wheel coating: Leather

The Logitech G923 wheel and pedal set is more or less the same as the Logitech G29/G920, except for two main elements: the brake pedal and the force feedback system. 

The rubber block underneath the brake pedal was replaced by a progressive spring for a more responsive and accurate feel. 

In terms of force feedback, Logitech introduced a new system called “TrueForce”, which’s supposed to provide a more realistic drive with quicker and more accurate force feedback. 

Wheel reviewers have reported mixed experiences with it, and when we tried it we couldn’t feel a huge difference from the G29/G920. It’s also important to note that currently, the TrueForce system is only compatible with certain games. 

For these reasons, the less expensive Logitech G29/G920 is still our preferred choice as an entry-level wheel.

Thrustmaster T300 RS GT

Thrustmaster T300 RS GT Wheel and Pedals

• Price: $479 USD on amazon.com (subject to change)
• Includes: Wheelbase, steering wheel, 3 pedals
• Force Feedback: Dual belt
• Resolution: 16 bit
• Wheel Rotation: 1080 degrees
• Torque: ~4.5Nm torque (estimated)
• Console Compatibility: PC and PS
• Mounting Options: Desk mount clamp, hard mount with screws
• Wheel coating: Rubber

The Thrustmaster T300 RS GT wheel and pedal set (which has replaced the popular T500) is a great choice if you’re willing to invest in a more realistic racing experience. 

Compared to the wheels listed earlier in the article, the T300’s higher torque and dual-belt force feedback system will give you a smoother and more immersive driving experience, while still including a built-in table mount for easy set-up. 

It includes 3 high-quality metal pedals (brake, throttle, and clutch), and the steering wheel is detachable, so you have extra flexibility if you want to switch wheels down the road.

The only thing the Thrustmaster T300 is missing compared to the Logitech wheels is the more luxurious (and grippier) leather cover and the built-in RPM lights. The T300 is also only compatible with PS and PC, but not Xbox.

Fanatec CSL Elite [Wheelbase Only]

Fanatec CSL Elite Wheel Base

• Price: $399 USD on fanatec.com (subject to change)
• Includes: Wheelbase only
• Force Feedback: Single belt
• Resolution: 16 bit
• Wheel Rotation: 1080 degrees
• Torque: 6Nm torque
• Console Compatibility: PC and PS or Xbox
• Mounting Options: Desk mount clamp, hard mount with screws
• Wheel coating: No steering wheel included

Fanatec produces some of the highest quality and most innovative sim racing equipment on the market today, and the CSL Elite wheelbase is no exception.

Fanatec works a bit differently than other wheel brands in that their wheelbases are always separate from their rims (steering wheels) and pedals, so you can build a custom set that’s perfect for you.

Although it may seem steep in price compared to the other wheels listed in this article (especially considering it only includes the wheelbase), the CSL Elite is Fanatec’s entry-level line. But, you get what you pay for.

With the CSL Elite wheelbase, you’ll get significantly more torque than the other wheels listed in the article, even compared to the Thrustmaster T300 RS GT (~4.5 vs 6Nm)! Because it’s belt-driven it will still feel smooth to drive, without the mechanic feeling that you get in gear-driven wheels. Because of these factors, this wheel will give you the most precise feeling drive out of all the options we’ve run through.

This is also the only wheel in the list that includes an internal cooling system to keep your wheel from overheating when playing for long periods of time. You’ll also see in the picture that it does have built-in RPM lights, which are very helpful while racing.

If you’re overwhelmed by all the wheels and pedals to choose from, check out the Fanatec CSL Elite Starter Kit bundle, including everything you would need to get started. 

Fanatec CSL Elite PS Starter Kit

Alternatively, if you plan on building your own set, check out our article on the best pedals for sim racing for a breakdown of Fanatec’s best pedals.

Summary

Choosing an entry-level wheel really comes down to how much you’re able and willing to invest in sim racing, and how much of a realistic racing experience you’re after.

If you’re on a really tight budget and are willing to sacrifice the realism and precision that a higher-quality wheel and pedal set can offer, then the Thrustmaster T80 is a good choice.

If you can spend a bit more, you can’t go wrong with the Logitech G29 (or G920 for Xbox). The quality to price ratio is great on this set, which includes a leather-covered wheel with force feedback and 900 degrees of rotation, plus three well-constructed metal pedals. It’s an all-around great “plug and play” set.

Finally, at the higher-end of the entry-level spectrum, if you want a powerful wheel with a smooth drive and precise feedback, take a look at the Thrustmaster T300 RS GT and Fanatec CSL Elite wheelbase.

If you have questions about sim racing wheels that were not answered in this article, check out our Sim Racing Wheel FAQs, and hopefully you’ll find some answers there.

We hope you found this article helpful, and look forward to seeing you on the track!