There are a lot of factors to consider when buying a sim racing wheel, and because of the high price tags it’s a decision most people don’t take lightly.
We’ve taken note of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to buying a wheel and have done our best to answer them. We hope you find this article helpful!
If you’re looking for more information on what type of sim racing wheel to buy, check out our article on the best sim racing wheels for any budget.
FAQs in this article include:
- What is a direct drive wheel and how does it work?
- Is direct drive worth it?
- What’s the best direct drive wheel?
- What is a force feedback wheel and how does it work?
- What is the best force feedback steering wheel?
- Is force feedback realistic?
- Does force feedback make you faster?
- What does force feedback clipping feel like?
- Are racing games better with a wheel?
- What racing wheels are compatible with Xbox1?
- What’s the best racing wheel for PS4 and PS5?
What is a direct drive wheel and how does it work?
A direct drive wheel has the steering wheel (rim) connected directly to the motor shaft and uses a large motor to amplify power. Because of this direct connection, you get very quick, smooth and accurate force feedback so you can feel more of what’s happening with your car. This provides a much more realistic racing experience and gives you more control over your car. With belt or gear driven wheels, the extra parts can actually absorb some of the force feedback, so you don’t feel as much of it in the wheel, and the gears and belts have a tendency to wear out over time which can lead to more instances of mechanical failure compared to a direct drive system.
Fanatec Podium DD1 Direct Drive Motor
Is direct drive worth it?
Yes, if you’re serious about sim racing direct drive is the pinnacle of wheel technology. It will give you the highest fidelity when it comes to replicating the feel of a real race car, with the quickest, smoothest and most accurate force feedback. Direct drive wheels often require less maintenance as well, since there are no gears or belts that wear out over time. However, direct drive wheels take significantly more time and tinkering to set up properly, so if you’re looking for ease of setup, direct drive may not be for you.
What’s the best direct drive wheel?
The Fanatec Podium DD1 is our pick for the best direct drive wheel. While it doesn’t have the 25Nm peak torque of the DD2, it still puts out 20NM of torque which is more than enough. It has high fidelity force feedback, fantastic tuning software with an OLED display on the wheelbase (for tuning as well as displaying real-time motor and force feedback data), all while being a few hundred dollars cheaper than the DD1. On top of that, it can be compatible with either PlayStation or Xbox (depending on which model you choose) and you get access to Fanatec’s extensive ecosystem of high-quality peripherals.
Fanatec Podium DD1 Direct Drive Wheel Base
What is a force feedback wheel and how does it work?
Force feedback wheels are built to send haptic information from what’s happening in the sim into your wheel. This is what makes sim racing feel like you’re actually driving a car. Ideally you want the force feedback to be as quick and smooth as possible so that there’s no lag between what you see and what you feel. Not only does this feel more realistic, but it also allows you to react more accurately, ultimately improving your performance. There are three main ways that force feedback is generated in sim racing wheels: gears, belt and direct drive. Each of these technologies provides a different level of power and smoothness – and the more power and smoothness you get, the higher the price.
Inside Logitech G923 Force Feedback Wheel Base
What is the best force feedback steering wheel?
There are lots of great force feedback wheels on the market, and the more budget you have the higher quality wheel you can get. We recommend the Logitech G29/G920 as a cheaper force feedback wheel for beginners, the Fanatec Clubsport V2.5 as a high-end (and high-power) wheelbase for more serious players, or the Fanatec Podium DD1 direct drive wheel for those able to invest in a top-of-the line set up.
Logitech G920 and G29 Force Feedback Wheel and Pedals Sets
Is force feedback realistic?
Yes, force feedback can be very realistic. If you want the most realistic experience then you’ll want to look at direct drive wheels. They have the highest-quality force feedback thanks to the direct connection between the steering wheel (rim) and the motor shaft. This means that the force feedback is as quick and smooth as possible, so there’s no lag between what you see and what you feel. Plus, Direct drive wheels can output the same levels of force as a real race car.
Does force feedback make you faster?
Force feedback can make you faster in that it allows you to feel what’s happening in the sim so that you can react more accurately. For example, you’ll be able to truly feel the difference between a small turn and a big turn, or feel when you’re slipping into understeer or oversteer. The highest quality force feedback can be found in direct drive wheels.
What does force feedback clipping feel like?
Force feedback clipping is when your motor maxes out and you lose the ability to feel the force of what’s happening in the sim through your steering wheel. For example, as you turn into a corner you would normally feel increased force as you turn your wheel until you reach the peak of the corner, and decreased force as you get out of the turn. However, if your wheel can’t put out enough force to match what’s happening in the sim, then you will not continue to feel increased force as you turn in. In other words, you won’t be able to tell if your tires are losing grip, and will therefore have trouble driving “on the edge”. Clipping can be solved by reducing the force feedback level on the sim. Wheels with a higher peak torque as also less likely to experience clipping because they can output more force throughout your drive. Some wheels, like the Fanatec Podium DD1, actually have OLED displays built-in than can show you when FFB clipping is happening during a race.
Fanatec Podium DD1 OLED Force Feedback Display
Are racing games better with a wheel?
Yes, racing games are significantly better with a wheel. They feel much more realistic and will improve your performance. If you’re serious about sim racing, a high-quality force feedback wheel is a must-have. Check out our list of the best sim racing wheels.
Sim Racing with a Wheel
What racing wheels are compatible with Xbox One, Series S and Series X?
There are lots of Xbox-compatible sim racing wheels on the market, and the higher your budget the higher quality wheel you can get. Some great Xbox-compatible wheel options, from low to high budget, include: Thrustmaster Ferrari 458 Spider , Thrustmaster TMX, Logitech G920, The Logitech G923, Fanatec CSL Elite, Thrustmaster TS-XW, Fanatec Clubsport V2.5, Fanatec Podium DD1 and Fanatec Podium DD2 .
Xbox Series X
What’s the best racing wheel for PS4 and PS5?
There are lots of PS4 and PS5 compatible sim racing wheels on the market, and the higher your budget the higher quality wheel you can get. Some great playstation-compatible wheel options, from low to high budget, include: Thrustmaster T150 , The Logitech G29 , The Logitech G923 , Thrustmaster T300 RS GT, Fanatec CSL Elite, and Fanatec Podium DD1.
PlayStation5
![How to Install iRacing Setups [Step-by-Step]](https://www.nitrosimracing.com/wp-content/uploads/thumbs_dir/iracing-my-setups-load-setup-1xhss34y8lmavp5m6bq4a0c2orrazaxawr4zyj3z8hwk.png)