Adding the best racing wheel to your setup allows you to experience a plethora of great sim racing titles in a way a controller, mouse, or keyboard cannot.
However, finding the right one can be tricky given not every wheel is compatible with every gaming platform. For instance, some of the best wheels for PS5 work exclusively on PlayStation and PC, which may lead you to believe your choice is limited when it comes to Xbox
Don't worry though, there are still some amazing wheels for Xbox to choose from. In fact, most racing wheels are compatible with both consoles - there are just separate versions for each to ensure they're optimised to the console in question.
So, what else should you look out for when selecting a wheel? Well, we'd recommend going for something that can deliver feedback from the road to your fingertips. Force Feedback devices are a great starting point. However, if you're really looking to add realism, then a slightly more premium Direct Drive wheel could be your answer.
From there, we'd suggest going for a wheel made from high-quality materials to ensure you're buying something built to last. Prioritise metal over plastic where possible, and anything including Alcantara is a bonus as it's generally soft and comfortable to hold.
With these features in mind, along with their price and reviews, we've put together a list of wheels that stand out from the crowd as some of the best on the market right now. We'll make sure to keep our selection updated as more wheels join the racing scene. For now, though, here are our top picks...
Best racing wheel
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+ 51. Logitech G923
Best all-round racing wheel
Compatibility: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC
We're starting off with a wheel which, in our opinion, is a great all-rounder given it's compatible with all the major consoles as well as PC. The wheel in question is this Logitech G923, featured before in our lists of the best wheels for Forza Motorsport as well as Gran Turismo 7.
Straight off the bat, it's worth mentioning you get Logitech's TRUEFORCE feedback technology. It's a system designed to plug directly into in-game physics for unprecedented levels of realism thanks to its real-time haptics software.
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Moreover, you get a 24-point selection dial unit on the wheel itself, meaning everything from traction to torque, and even brake force is all adjustable right in front of you.
Logitech hasn't held back on the build either. The wheel is made from a combination of aluminium, steel, and leather. As a result, you should find this Logitech bit of kit can withstand all the trails of home racing, whilst taking your in-game immersion to the next level. On the whole, an excellent wheel that's well worth checking out.
click to enlarge + 52. Thrustmaster T-GT II
Best racing wheel for PS4
Compatibility: PS4, PS5, PC
The Thrustmaster T-GT II is an impressive bit of kit that has been developed through research to deliver a truly authentic and immersive racing experience, complete with all the essentials you need for gaming.
In fact, Thrustmaster say the wheel has been refined through more than 23,000 hours of intense Research and Development work, resulting in a device capable of high-velocity force feedback from its 40-watt brushless motor and consistent performance due to Thrustmaster's patented H.E.A.R.T innovation.
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It's also worth touching on its build. The wheel is wrapped in leather, and it features 25 action buttons on the main console. Included in these buttons are four rotary selectors natively recognised in GT Sport, making it a great option for games like Gran Turismo.
Finally, the wheel is officially licensed for PlayStation, which means it's up there as one of the best wheels you can buy for the PS4. So, if you need to upgrade your sim setup, make sure you check out this Thrustmaster device.
click to enlarge + 53. Fanatec Gran Turismo DD Pro
Best racing wheel for PS5
Compatibility: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC
While compatible with the majority of consoles, we feel the Fanatec Gran Turismo DD Pro is best suited to next-gen (although more current-gen these days) gaming, particularly the PS5.
It's the first Direct Drive wheel on our list, and, therefore, comes with a premium price tag. However, to get the most out of everything the PS5 has to offer, you're going to want something that can deliver as realistic feedback effects as possible. To achieve this, the wheel is directly mounted to the motor shaft, meaning there's no belt or gear drive weakening the response.
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The wheel face is pretty advanced too. You get an OLED head-up display and diffused RevLEDs to give visual information on your driving. You also get a set of four 5-way directional sticks that correspond to the familiar PlayStation inputs, hence why we think it's a particularly great pick for PS5.
Other notable features include the Boost Kit 180 unlocking the wheel's full 8 Nm of torque, paddle shifters, plus the tactile rubber grips around the edge for grip.
All in all, an excellent pick. For more information though, check out our review of the Fanatec Gran Turismo DD Pro right here.
click to enlarge + 54. Fanatec CSL DD
Best racing wheel for Xbox
Compatibility: Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC
Continuing with Fanatec and another Direct Drive wheel, the Fanatec CSL DD looks to be a superb bit of kit for playing your favourite racing titles on Xbox. In fact, it's officially licensed by the World Rally Championship (WRC), and is used in WRC esports competitions as a result.
So, why has the WRC chosen this particular device? Well, it features a premium build that combines brushed aluminium with plush Alcantara for comfort and grip around the rim.
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Moreover, it comes with its own set of detachable paddles, a RevStripe, and a three-digit LED screen to provide useful information like your speed in compatible games. You can also access the Tuning Menu to tweak any settings during gameplay to suit your preferences.
Again, it's worth mentioning it comes with Fanatec's Boost Kit 180 to deliver 8 Nm of torque. So, if it's a powerful, high-quality wheel you're after for Xbox, then this CSL DD is well worth exploring.
click to enlarge + 55. MOZA RS V2
Best racing wheel for PC
Compatibility: PC
PC gaming tends to lend itself to some of the more serious sim racing titles. With that in mind, one of the best wheels for the likes of Assetto Corsa, rFactor 2, and iRacing, for example, is this MOZA RS V2.
Firstly, it's worth mentioning that this 13", genuine leather, carbon fibre, and aluminium wheel is compatible with a range of Direct Drive and Force Feedback bases, including the impressive 9 Nm MOZA R9 for an unrivalled Direct Drive experience.
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On the wheel, you get a ton of additional buttons and an LED Rev counter to help you time your gear shifts to perfection with all the information right in front of you. And, when it comes to actually changing gear, you get two lightweight carbon fibre magnetic shifters on the back of the wheel to make each change as quick as possible.
Finally, it comes with a handy quick-release system to ensure a solid, stable connection after every use, and when you want to switch between devices. Overall, the RS V2 stands out from the crowd as one of the best wheels for PC right now.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Buying a racing wheel can often lead to a ton of questions, especially if it is your first time. Don't worry though, we've answered some of the most commonly asked queries below.
How much should you spend on a racing wheel?
Your available budget along with how much you're willing to invest in sim racing will determine how much you should spend on a wheel.
That being said, racing wheels vary massively in price. So, whatever budget you do have, there's bound to be a wheel out there to suit what you can afford.
Of course, some of the budget options may not come with all the bells and whistles some of the more premium picks have. However, there are plenty of great wheels with relatively inexpensive price tags to consider.
The Hori Overdrive / Apex, for example, features in our guide on the best budget racing equipment around. Despite its lower price, you still get a 270-degree turn radius with adjustable output options to give you complete control over your setup.
If you can extend your budget a little further though, then there are a whole host of great wheels to consider that come with Force Feedback and, towards the top end of the scale, Direct Drive, to add more realism to your sim experience.
With all this in mind, the choice of how much to spend comes down to you. Don't worry if you can't afford a premium wheel right now though. You can always upgrade down the line.
What does Force Feedback mean for a racing wheel?
Force feedback is a simulation technique used in racing wheels to create as realistic a racing experience as possible.
Force Feedback is achieved through a combination of in-game code from whichever title you're playing, the right configuration, and several electric motors inside the wheel itself.
The motors work in tandem with what is displayed on the screen, and adjust themselves depending on the driving conditions to create resistance.
At this point, it's worth noting not every racing wheel comes with Force Feedback capabilities. You may be able to change this by upgrading to one of the best wheel bases, although this isn't always the case.
We'd recommend going for something that comes with some kind of feedback technology though, as, without it, you're missing out on some excellent in-game immersion.
What does Direct Drive mean for a racing wheel?
Direct Drive technology takes Force Feedback to the next level by eliminating the belt or gear system that is typically used in conjunction with the motor to simulate resistance.
With Direct Drive, the wheel is directly attached to the feedback motor, allowing users to experience full resistance with fewer components between the wheel, motor, and the user. Direct Drive devices tend to be more expensive than their Force Feedback counterparts as they use larger motors, which require more materials.
Also, to Direct Drive, only a few motors are capable of meeting the necessary precision, including stepper motors or AC servo motors. These motors require complex control systems and separate drivers to function properly.
Are racing wheels adjustable?
Yes, many racing wheels are adjustable to allow you to customise your gaming experience according to your personal preferences. For example, most racing wheels allow you to adjust the sensitivity of the steering input. This determines how much the virtual steering wheel in the game turns in response to your physical input on the racing wheel.
Also, some racing wheels allow you to adjust the rotation angle of the virtual steering wheel, influencing how far you need to turn the physical racing wheel to achieve a full lock-to-lock turn in the game.
Those with feedback settings tend to allow you to alter the strength and intensity of the feedback effects, such as vibration, resistance, and movement. You can often fine-tune these settings to match your preferred level of realism and immersion.
As racing wheels typically come with buttons and other controls, most models allow you to customise the button assignments to suit your preferences or to match the controls of the specific racing game you're playing.
Keep in mind that the extent of adjustability can vary between different racing wheel models. So, it's a good idea to review the product specifications and user manuals to understand the specific adjustable features offered by that particular model.
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