Last updated: May 23rd, 2023
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.
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:
- Cube Controls F-Core
- Cube Controls GT Pro OMP
- Cube Controls F-Pro
- Turn Racing R305 with BP2 button plate
- Rexing Mayaris Formula Wheel
- VPGV-PF1
- Precision Sim Engineering GPX
- Gomez Formula Pro Elite
- SIMLINE 720S GT3 (Mclaren)
- Grid Porsche 911 RSR (Official)
- LM-Pro Steering Wheel (Precision Sim Engineering)
- Cube Controls Formula CSX3
- LM-X Steering Wheel
- F1 wheels
- Fanatec 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.
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 compund mixture of PVC and rubber to get a good grip level, without it being too exhausting hanging on to the wheel!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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. In fact, this wheel is compatible with any wheelbase, mounted via their Universal Hub to any 70mm PCD QR hub.
The price starts at around €550 and you can find the product here on our partner site G-Performance here 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 fiber, with a thickness of 4mm, providing a lightweight and durable construction. The die-cast aluminum main body ensures zero flex and a solid, sturdy design.
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 overcharge/undercharge, and connection and battery status LEDs indicate the wheel’s charging status.
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.
Cube Controls GT Pro OMP
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:
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.
The detail work on this Formula-style steering wheel is extremely impressive:
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:
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:
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.
Rexing Mayaris Formula Wheel
Rexing is a European manufacturer (based in Croatia) of Formula, GT, and custom-made sim racing wheels. What’s awesome about the Rexing Formula is that it’s made in full carbon fibre. This gives a professional-looking wheel much as you’re likely to get in an actual F1 car.
It really looks the part:
The specification on this wheel is very high, it’s clear Rexing has gone all out to build the best wheel they possibly can with a pursuit for the stiffest and most ergonomic grip we’ve felt for a while.
With huge assignability featuring a D-Pad, joystick controller and a large array of momentary buttons and rotaries, all ergonomically located, we think this wheel would make a very high-end upgrade for the once-Playstation F1 driver to the full-on PC F1 sim driver.
VPG V-PF1 Pro
Out of every sim steering wheel I’ve tested, this Mercedes F1-inspired unit is technically the most astonishing we’ve ever had in the rig for review:
I’ve owned a custom sim racing wheel from the guys at VPG for several years now and as you’ll read in my post, I’m delighted with the results:
VPG is hot on customer service and support – they were really happy to spend more than an hour with me in Discord getting set up to maximise my experience.
So you can check out their other wheels but the V-PF1 is their flagship, pure Formula One wheel, and it’s a very worthy addition to our list indeed:
sim racing wheel for F1 enthusiasts (review here)
The V-PF1 Pro sim racing wheel boasts a 280MM diameter and a full 6061 CNC’d aluminum body for a sturdy and high-quality construction. The injection molded grips and CNC aluminum knobs provide a comfortable and responsive feel during intense races.
With 4 thumb rotary encoders and 3 front rotary encoders, this wheel offers plenty of options for customization and precision control. The 12 MEC tactile push buttons on the front and 2 high-quality MEC tactile push buttons on the back provide easy access to important functions and commands.
The all-in-1 magnetic gear shifters are equipped with forged 5mm thick carbon fibre paddles and dual-clutch paddles with electronically adjustable bite points for an immersive racing experience. The Vocore 4.3″ touchscreen LCD display is compatible with SimHub and provides real-time telemetry data and control and a myriad of dashboard options.
This sim racing wheel also features an industrial-grade M12 connector and coiled USB cable for a secure and stable connection. The 25 dimmable RGB LEDs are all configurable using SimHub and add an extra level of customization and style to your setup.
With a wheel hub on the back for a 50.8mm or 70mm QR Hub, this sim racing wheel is ideal to mount on a high-end direct drive wheelbase, during our tests of course it was mounted on the Simucube 2 Pro. Amazing.
Precision Sim Engineering GPX
This wheel has to be one of the priciest sim racing wheels on the planet, priced at approximately £2399 / $3350.
This is a state-of-the-art simulation racing wheel intended for professional racing teams, sim outfits and professional F1 / LMP1 drivers. For most of us, using this wheel and driving would be difficult, nigh on impossible, but for the F1 drivers of this world, this is one incredible piece of professional sim racing equipment.
The good news is that it can be supplied with a Fanatec or Accuforce adapter if needed, meaning that if you’ve got the budget, you can use this with your Fanatec DD wheelbase. Otherwise, it’s a standard PCD fitment on the rear casing for a standard PCD QR hub fitment. If you can afford this wheel, wow. Enjoy!
nobs and a joystick. Compatible with Simucube or any other wheelbase with the right hub adapter.
GOMEZ SIM INDUSTRIES: Formula Pro Elite
This work of art from Gomex Sim Industries, the Formula Pro Elite is a full-featured sim steering wheel with a high-resolution USBD480 screen that can be used with all of today’s popular sim software, including Simhub.. Using only the finest materials and construction the feeling is nothing short of rock-solid immersion – with absolutely no flex, it’s a high budget wheel at £1,399.00 inc. VAT but, it’s is absolutely beautiful!
Simline 720s GT3 Wheel
This wheel should be perhaps a little higher up my list as a faithful reproduction of the steering wheel found in the Mclaren 720s GT3. It’s a high-quality item, featuring aluminium and carbon fibre SimLine button box and magnetic shifters.
Featuring Leo Bodnar electronics, a Funky switch, a high quality, thick carbon fibre front plate and aluminium rotary controls, this wheel absolutely looks the part for hardcore GT3 racing!
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 on our website and on several planned products carrying the Porsche branding.
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!
LM-Pro Steering Wheel Precision Sim Engineering
This is a really nice offering from Precision Sim Engineering. A 300mm diameter LMP and GTE style racing wheel, designed for an immersive endurance racing experience, with the versatility for Formula racing too:
You may notice, it has a very simple layout and no screen. Personally, I don’t think that’s a bad thing. If you want a dash display, install a DDU which, in my opinion, is much less distracting.
The USB-powered LM-Pro can be supplied with a fitted Fanatec QR adapter should you own a DD2 or CSL DD direct drive unit, but of course, you can buy the wheel ready for your own QR Hub, with a 50.8mm PCD mount. That’s most QR hubs on one end, basically, but do check!
In terms of compatibility, you can mount this wheel to basically anything including the Fanatec Podium DD1 / DD2, CSL DD and even the older CSL Elite wheels. You can also mount the wheel to the following direct drive wheels:
- Simucube SC2 or SC1
- SimSteering
- OSW
- Accuforce (Accuforce quick release not included)
- VRS
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:
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?
LM-X Steering Wheel – Precision Sim Engineering
The LM-X sim racing steering wheel is an ultra-professional 300mm rim designed to unlock the full potential of your direct drive wheelbase. It is manufactured by Precision Sim Engineering, a company known to have produced custom wheels for Formula 1 drivers, meaning you can guarantee the highest levels of craftsmanship with this piece of equipment.
Featuring an MFS (Multi-Function Switch), the LM-X offers 7-way control over in-game menus, providing a seamless and intuitive experience for the user. With a 4.3in LCD display and 16 RGB LEDs, the LM-X presents all the necessary information needed to succeed, making it compatible with major software suites such as SimHub, Z1 Dashboard, and Joel Real Timing.
The LM-X comes with Magnetic Gear Shifters as standard, while the ATRS version includes a pair of Quick Adjust Paddles for rapid setting changes, as well as Dual Clutch Paddles featuring the new Electronic Launch Control system. With this system, you can precisely calibrate your paddles and adjust your bite-point setting electronically, giving you the best possible starts. The ATRS version also includes a Precision Sim Engineering presentation box with a custom-made foam insert to protect and display your wheel when not in use.
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.