The Best Sim Racing Wheels: Our Ultimate Buyer’s Guide

cube controls f-pro sim racing wheel

Featured image: Cube Controls F-Pro


One of the most crucial pieces of equipment you’ll need on your journey to becoming a pro eSports sim racer is a solid sim racing wheel mounted on your favourite direct drive wheelbase. But, how do you know which is the best wheel to buy when there are so many choices available on the market?

If you’re just getting started in sim racing, most often you’ll buy a sim racing wheel bundled with your choice of wheelbase. But, if you’re looking to take that next step forward, you might find yourself looking for a sim racing wheel better suited to the type of car you prefer, be it GT, Touring, or Formula racing.

Cube Controls F-Pro
Cube Controls F-Pro sim racing steering wheel

And even if you don’t need a new wheel at the moment, that can’t stop us from taking a look, right?

Our top sim steering wheels:

  1. Cube Controls F-Core
  2. Ascher Racing F64 V3
  3. Cube Controls F-Pro
  4. Turn Racing R305 with BP2 button plate
  5. Cube Controls GT Pro OMP
  6. Grid Porsche 911 RSR
  7. Grid MPX
  8. Simagic GT NEO – Pre Order Feb 2024
  9. Cube Controls Formula CSX3
  10. F1 wheels
  11. Fanatec wheels
  12. PS5 wheels

A note on price vs build quality

At first glance, the assortment of sim steering wheels offered by sim racing equipment manufacturers may leave you somewhat overwhelmed and wondering why some pieces of kit are available for as little as £100, while others can cost well over £1,000.

As with everything in life, you generally get what you pay for, and the best way to look at it is like this; as the price goes up, as does the build quality of the wheel and realism of the driving experience. My best advice is, if you’re not sure, read the reviews and pay attention to the close-up images before you buy.

Sim Racing Wheels

What’s the difference between “good” and the “best” rims and which wheel should I buy?

The wheel is your main physical interface with the sim racing environment, so you’ve got to feel comfortable with the device in your hands. Assuming that you already own a good direct drive wheelbase the first and most important thing is the choice between Formula-style wheels and GT wheels.

My trusty Fanatec GT Alcantara sim steering wheel
My trusty Fanatec GT Alcantara wheel (more Fanatec wheels here)

Good to great: What’s best in a sim steering rim?

The wheel is your main physical interface with the sim racing environment, so you’ve got to feel comfortable with the device in your hands. So, the first and most important thing is the choice between Formula-style wheels and GT wheels.

A Formula car doesn’t offer a huge maximum steering angle. You’re probably turning the wheel around 300° at the very most in normal racing conditions. You are, however, dealing with higher forces than a GT car, so it makes sense that you’re able to grip the wheel in a single place very firmly indeed. Formula wheels tend to have shorter, firmer paddles, possibly a clutch paddle, and usually more buttons and rotary encoders. The most expensive ones have a display screen to keep you updated on whatever race information you’ve configured in the wheel setup. Cube Controls take the grip aspect of Formula wheels very seriously, with a nice compound mixture of PVC and rubber to get a good grip level, without it being too exhausting hanging on to the wheel!

Elastomer grip close up of the Cube Controls F-Core with Q-Conn connector in view
Elastomer grip close-up of the Cube Controls F-Core with Q-Conn connector in view

GT wheels are for cars that have a wider maximum steering range. They tend to have longer paddles so you can reach for a gear shift from a number of different positions around the wheel. They tend to have fewer buttons, rotary encoders and rarely have a display screen except at the very high end. Naturally, GT wheels are more diverse in their possible uses as you might have a manual shifter setup in your sim, too.

If you’re a VR user, simplicity is key. I like the Cube Controls approach of using little indentations around the buttons so that you can find the button without seeing it. Too much complexity is wasted if you’re VR racer, as is a display screen!

ascher racing F64 V3
Ascher Racing F64 V3 (review here)

Naturally, build quality is critically important. While all the sim racing wheels I’ll talk about below are built to very high standards of manufacture, some are made very, very nicely indeed.

Things to look out for in a good sim racing wheel:

  • A nice ergonomic feel to the wheel when you’re gripping it
  • High-quality grip material (not necessarily Alcantara!)
  • Quality finish to any carbon parts
  • Case material machining
  • Weighty, sturdy feel, and no flex
  • An intuitive, tactile feel to the buttons and encoders
  • Compatibility with your wheelbase and hub
  • Funky switch – useful for controlling aspects of the simulation software such as iRacing’s “black box”
  • You enjoy using it!

What about wheelbase and hub compatibility?

I’ve recently written about the Fanatec Podium Hub, and how to fit it to a Cube Controls wheel to make the wheel compatible with a Fanatec DD2. Most of the time, however, if you’re a Fanatec direct drive wheelbase owner then you’re probably looking for compatible wheels. To save a bit of complexity (and length) in my article, I’ve moved all Fanatec wheels here.

If you buy a Fanatec sim racing wheel, it’s designed to be solely compatible with a Fanatec wheelbase. Making them compatible with any other wheelbase type takes time, deep expertise, and effort. For example, this PCB from Leo Bodnar will turn your Fanatec wheel into a USB joystick controller. You could send your wheel to SRM to have it converted (electronics to USB and hub to whatever wheelbase hub you want). I’ve not come across a reason to do this yet, but the option is available if you want to change your wheelbase from something like a DD2 to a Simagic, VRS, Simucube or Accuforce wheelbase.

If you wanted to fit a wheel to your Fanatec DD2, that’s easier thanks to the Podium Hub or the slightly shorter Fanatec wheel side QR adapter from SRM.

Fanatec QR Hub adapter
Fanatec QR Hub adapter (more)

If you own a wheelbase like the Simucube 2 Pro, fitting any wheel is comparatively trivial. Most wheelbases have a universal style hub that offers 70mm and 50.8mm PCDs on a ring mounted directly on the wheelbase hub (or an adapter for one) so you can mount a wheel on pretty much any hub including HRS hubs / Fanatec’s Podium Hub / Fanatec hub emulators from SRM, the Tomy Racing QR TRX and many more.

Sim-Lab QR hub - more standard and far easier to deal with
Sim-Lab QR hub – more standard and far easier to deal with

We’ve since written an extensive guide to QR hubs and wheel compatibility here. Essentially you can mount any wheel to any wheelbase with an adapter and hub and a little bit of research. With that said, my preference is not to attempt to convert a Fanatec wheel to be compatible with other wheelbases – you’ll always lose the little OLED screen and may experience some loss of utility with various buttons or encoders.

Our best sim racing wheels

With that rather lengthy introduction done, we can get on with the actual wheels. I’ve tested quite a few different sim racing wheels now, and here’s a collection of the best sim racing wheels (in my opinion) on the market today. There are more coming in 2024, too – as we speak I have the new Cube Controls Mercedes AMG wheel in test:

Mercedes-AMG – GT Edition SIM Wheel
Mercedes-AMG – GT Edition SIM Wheel – we’re reviewing this wheel right now (order here)

I’ve tried to order these wheels in terms of price:

Cube Controls F-Core

Finally available, the F-Core, from Cube Controls represents a slight change in Cube Controls’ manufacturing and pricing ethos. Notably, at the entry level, a switch to a composite material for the shifter paddle bodies on the rear of the wheel. It’s cheaper too.

But perhaps, more significantly, Cube Controls have made their entry-level wheel (which will probably replace the Formula Sport, in my opinion) a Bluetooth-compatible gaming device, meaning their wireless technology is no longer reserved for Simucube owners. This wheel is compatible with any wheelbase, mounted via their Universal Hub to any 70mm PCD QR hub.

F-Core by Cube Controls - mounted to our sim
F-Core by Cube Controls – mounted to our sim (read the review here)

The price starts at around €550 and you can find the product here on our partner site G-Performance to order the wheel (before it sells out which I think is likely).

The Cube Controls F-Core sim racing wheel offers a range of technical specifications designed to enhance the user’s racing experience. The front plate is made from pure carbon fibre, with a thickness of 4mm, providing a lightweight and durable construction. The die-cast aluminium main body ensures zero flex and a solid, sturdy design.

Cube Controls F-Core sim racing wheel

The hand grip compound of the F-Core has been improved with a combination of silicon and rubber to offer an even better level of grip than their previous iterations. The grip-to-grip wheel length is 290mm, with a maximum diameter of 43.00mm.

The F-Core is compatible with all formula-style quick-release hubs (3 bolts, 1-inch and 70mm PCD) (sold separately), with a straight-back QCONN USB charging connector for ease of use. The LiPo battery offers up to 40 hours of use, with a high capacity 2000 mAh onboard battery. Integrated charging electronics prevent overcharging/undercharging, and connection and battery status LEDs indicate the wheel’s charging status.

Cube Controls F-Core (rear) - note the universal hub adapter, composite shifter bodies and optional aluminium clutches
Cube Controls F-Core (rear) – note the universal hub adapter, composite shifter bodies, and optional aluminium clutches

The Q-CONN magnetic connection cable (provided) offers a secure and reliable connection to the PC, with an on/off pushbutton on the backside of the wheel for convenience. The F-Core is VR-friendly, with a weight of 895g. It offers both USB and Bluetooth dual mode, with in-software clutch and shifters configuration for a customized experience. Overall, the Cube Controls F-Core sim racing wheel offers a range of features to enhance the user’s racing experience, with a focus on durability, comfort, and precision.

Ascher Racing F64 V3

I had the pleasure to review this sim racing wheel just a few weeks ago:

Ascher Racing F64 V3 wireless
Ascher Racing F64 V3 wireless (review here)

This is very much a “no frills” wheel that happens to have been manufactured with very nice components throughout, so from a tactility and ergonomics point of view, it’s a great item. Everything is so precise with an Ascher wheel.

Ascher Racing sim racing wheel (rear)
Ascher Racing F64 V3

The attention to detail is very clear, looking at the rear of the wheel in the photo above – this is considered a professional-level sim racing wheel and one of the best ones I’ve used recently. I should point out there is a USB version of this for non-Simucube owners – this was the wireless, Simucube-only version.

Cube Controls F-Pro

Cube Controls have announced another addition to their stable, the new F-PRO which is available now. This isn’t just another addition to the existing range, it appears that Cube Controls have gone all out and completely redesigned the original Formula Pro, with a new connector, revised grips, chassis, front plate, RGB lighting system and revised paddles.

Cube Controls F-Pro installed on my sim setup
Cube Controls F-Pro installed on my sim setup (read my review here)

The detail work on this Formula-style steering wheel is extremely impressive:

Cube Controls F-Pro paddles
Cube Controls F-Pro

Everything has been refined on this unit, including a revised connection to your PC called “Q-Conn”, with a simultaneous Bluetooth connection for wireless driving. It features full RGB functionality, too, so that you can customise the colours you see while night driving:

Cube Controls F-Pro RGB system
Cube Controls F-Pro RGB system

Turn Racing R305 with BP2 Button Plate

We recently tested this wheel from Turn Racing. Fantastic polyurethane grips mean there’s heaps of scope for long-endurance racing without getting tired:

Turn Racing R305 with BP2 button box
Turn Racing R305 sim steering rim with BP2 button box

I’m a fan of simplicity and, frankly – this is an ideal, simple starter wheel that does not compromise on quality. It’s well built and would suit any direct drive wheelbase. The smaller diameter at 305mm is excellent for sim karting and formula racing, while the slightly larger R320 is perfect for GT class and all-round racing.

Cube Controls GT Pro OMP

Cube Controls GT Pro OMP
Cube Controls GT Pro wheel

We’re excited by this GT style sim racing wheel at SRC HQ, mostly because we have one of these here, too. The GT Pro comes with all of the refinements and excellent build quality of the Formula Pro wheel making it a VR-friendly proposition, and a lot of fun to race with.

A nice selection of tactile rotary encoders and buttons surrounded by Cube’s trademark VR-friendly tactile surrounds make this a joy to interface with. Can’t wait to put it to the long-term test!

This wheel is the daily driver on the simulator:

the OMP pro GT
Our OMP Pro GT (Read the review here)

Grid Engineering MPX

The GRID MPX Sim Racing Steering Wheel is a masterpiece that’s made a splash in the sim racing community, I’ve really enjoyed having this wheel on my setup.

At its heart, it’s a melding of top-tier craftsmanship and innovation. Made with a 5mm carbon fibre front plate and grippy custom over-moulded PU grips, it’s both robust and comfortable for those often very intense racing sessions. When you’re gunning for that pole position, the tactile feedback from the paddle shifters, enhanced with the addition of extra magnets, ensures every gear shift feels just right.

mounted MPX wheel
The RGB lighting on this wheel is quite the sensation

What truly sets the MPX apart is its attention to detail. Reviewers, including myself, have been raving about the 87 telemetry controllable RGB LEDs which not only add to the aesthetics but also provide invaluable real-time data, keeping your eyes glued to the race. The wheel’s controls, from the APEM push buttons to the ELMA encoders, are strategically positioned for ease of use, ensuring that every input feels like second nature.

beautifully lit RGB lights on the Grid Engineering MPX sim racing wheel
Beautifully lit RGB lights on the Grid Engineering MPX sim racing wheel (review here)

Connectivity is a breeze with the GRID MPX. Compatible with all PC wheelbases via USB, it’s versatile for a range of setups. And the software? Whether you’re using SimHub or waiting for GRID’s own software release, customization and control are at your fingertips.

In conclusion, the GRID MPX Sim Racing Steering Wheel is a game-changer. It’s not just a wheel; it’s a statement. Its blend of aesthetic appeal, tactile feedback, and superior build quality makes it a must-have for serious sim racers. If you’re looking to elevate your sim racing experience, the MPX should be at the top of your list.

GT NEO – Pre Order Feb 2024

The Simagic GT NEO is Simagic’s latest sim racing wheel. It’s available for pre-order for delivery in February 2024. While we don’t know absolutely everything about this wheel )just yet!) we can say that the RRP will be priced at $289.00. It’s a 300mm diameter wheel (therefore Formula/ LMP and GT3 spec) with a weight of 1500g.

Simagic's new GT NEO sim racing wheel
Simagic’s new GT NEO sim racing wheel (preorder)

The GT NEO includes 2 thumb rotary encoders, 2 seven-directional switches, 4 12-bit absolute value encoders, 10 customizable RGB buttons, and 4 Hall Effect paddle modules. It is PC compatible and works with 3rd party wheelbases, although a Mag Con cable (USB connection) is required, and you’ll need to choose a compatible 70mm PCD QR hub.

Side view - Simagic's new GT NEO sim racing wheel
Side view – Simagic’s new GT NEO sim racing wheel (preorder)


Grid Porsche 911 RSR (Official) by Sim-Lab

Grid has an official license with Porsche on various products under their GRID brand, which is owned by Sim-Lab. To start, the official GRID 911 RSR is now available for purchase, and on several planned products carrying the Porsche branding, including the rather impressive Porsche Cup DDU, listed on our DDU buyer’s guide here.

Porsche 911 sim racing wheel
Official Grid Porsche 911 sim racing wheel

Clearly, this is a very high-end sim racing wheel, priced well above the unofficial wheels. But, that’s a real Porsche badge and for some hardcore Porsche enthusiasts, this wheel will really make an incredible addition to the collection!

Rear of the 911 RSR wheel - amazing attention to detail
Attention to detail on the machine work on the paddle and clutch. Lovely!

Cube Controls Formula CSX3

The spiritual successor to the CSX2, the CSX3 solves a lot of problems that plagued the CSX2, most notably, the CSX2’s reliance on the Ultimate Game Tech platform, which a lot of people struggled with and generally reported as unstable.

But, problem solved: This brand-new offering from Cube Controls wipes the slate clean, with pretty much everything revised, including the configuration software. Now running on Simhub, the CSX3 is the flagship Cube Controls wheel:

CSX3 on my sim racing rig
Cube Controls Formula CSX3

Cube Controls have added additional paddle options so you can now have 6 paddles on the rear. There’s a cheaper option to just have 4 which is more like the kind of thing I’d prefer! Proper F1-style launch control is possible and configurable via the dedicated Simhub plugin they’ve developed. As you can see from the photo, there are more buttons, encoders and funky switches whose backlights are all configurable in Simhub, precisely to your liking.

The LCD screen is high resolution, colourful and vibrant and, because it’s now Simhub compatible, there will be a lot of dashboard options coming out of the community very soon. The CSX3 just makes you wonder, how much further can sim racing wheel development go?

I hope you’ve found my recommendations useful – let me know if you have any questions by getting in touch via the contact us form.


The Best Sim Racing Wheels: Our Ultimate Buyer’s Guide