Whether you’re playing your favorite racing sim on your PC, Xbox Series X|S, or PS5, a racing wheel can make all the difference to your gameplay experience. Sure, a good gaming mouse or controller will suffice to a point, but turning into a sharp corner and feeling the resistance from the race track while you grip hold of a steering wheel is far more immersive.
TL;DR – These are the Best Racing Wheels:
- Thrustmaster T300 RS GT (Best Overall)
- Logitech G923 (Budget Option)
- Hori Racing Wheel Apex (Budget PS5)
- Thrustmaster TMX Racing Wheel (Best for Xbox)
- Thrustmaster T248 Racing Wheel (Premium PS5)
- Hori Mario Kart Racing Wheel Pro Deluxe (Best for Switch)
- Thrustmaster T-GT II (Belt-Driven)
- Fanatec GT DD Pro (Direct Drive)
- Thrustmaster T-818 (High-End Wheel Base)
- Logitech G Pro Racing Wheel (Best High-End)
With powerful force feedback, and even pedals, racing around the virtual track feels more lifelike with the best racing wheels. We’ve picked out a great selection of racing wheels for you to choose from, including budget options and fully kitted-out sets — and click here to find them in the UK.
Contributions by Danielle Abraham
Best Racing Wheels
1. Thrustmaster T300 RS GT
Best Racing Wheel
From the wheel to the pedal base to the motor inside, the Thrustmaster T300 RS GT covers all the bases for a quality racing wheel to get you into the action of your favorite racing games. Whether you’re a beginner or even a more advanced sim racer, you’ll appreciate all this wheel has to offer. For starters, there’s the realistic feel of the 11-inch wheel built on brushed metal and wrapped all the way around with rubber grips, so you won’t slip even if the race gets hairy. That grip will come in handy, too, with all the power behind that wheel.
The Thrustmaster T300 RS GT uses a dual-belt system with a brushless force feedback motor to deliver 25 watts of power. You’ll feel every twist and turn of the road, so you’ll want to hold on tight. However, thanks to the design, all your actions should remain smooth, and it won’t be terribly noisy. The wheel even totes a 1,080-degree turning range with Hall Effect sensors for accuracy and two paddle shifters to help you always get to the right gear. The face of the wheel features all the buttons and controls you need for PlayStation 5 games, as it’s compatible with PS5, PS4, and PC. And to complete the kit are three metal pedals: an accelerator, clutch, and brake.
2. Logitech G923
Best Budget Racing Wheel
Logitech offers an affordable way to get into sim racing with the Logitech G923 racing wheel. For less than $400, you're getting a wheel with geared force feedback, and it’s decently realistic to a degree, though it’s not the most nuanced and can be a bit noisy. However, a "Trueforce" feature should add some extra immersion through a vibration motor, which, in supported games, does things like simulating the feel of the engine revs vibrating through the steering column straight into your hands.
Beyond the belt-driven force feedback and vibration motor, the Logitech G923 wheel features all the customizable controls and buttons you need for a PlayStation or PC setup. There’s even a 24-point selection dial and LED rev indicator lights. Finally, a full set of metal pedals complete this budget-friendly racing setup.
3. Hori Racing Wheel Apex
Best Budget Steering Wheel for PS5
You can get yourself geared up for racing for just $120 with the Hori Racing Wheel Apex. It's not quite as fancy as other racing wheels on this list, but the Hori Racing Wheel Apex is the perfect way to get started with a racing wheel on the PS5. It's a basic setup, with a racing wheel, equipped with the standard PlayStation face buttons, and two pedals. That means no clutch, but Automatic is the way to go anyways, we don't care what anyone says.
The Apex isn't just compatible with the PS5, though. You can also use it with the PS4 and PC, and the 270-degree turn radius is perfect if you're looking for a bare-minimum experience. You can also rest comfortably knowing that the Hori Racing Wheel Overdrive does come with a desk mount system, so you don't have to worry about the wheel sliding everywhere when you're struggling to hang on to first place as you cross the finish line.
4. Thrustmaster TMX Racing Wheel
Best Xbox Series X/S Racing Wheel
If you like the look and sound of the Thrustmaster T300 RS racing wheel but want to get a affordable model that works with the Xbox Series X and Series S, then the Thrustmaster TMX Racing Wheel is the one to check out. There are ample buttons on the wheel, paddle shifter, a control pad, and the wheel is automatically recognized by the Xbox, allowing it to work just as well as the best Xbox Series controllers.
This is the best racing wheel for Xbox Series X and includes a two-pedal set and can attach to just about any mount other wheels can, whether that's a desk or table. The controls also include the Xbox guide button, so you’ll have full functionality to interact with your console. You'll be ready to take it to the tracks in the latest Forza Motorsport.
5. Thrustmaster T248 Racing Wheel
Best High-End PS5 Racing Wheel
The Thrustmaster T248 is a racing wheel ready for the PS5. If you’re gaming on Sony’s console, this is the wheel you want for full support and more immersive experience than your typical PS5 controller. It provides handy controls that will lineup with those displayed in the game, and it’ll let you feel like you’re actually driving a car a lot more than a standard controller ever will.
The kit includes the racing wheel itself as well as a three-pedal set that provides high sensitivity and even allows for four different pressure modes from the brake pedal. The wheel will let you get a feel for the road through its belt- and gear-driven force feedback system, which can offer three different modes for your preferred level of feedback. The wheel also provides magnetic paddle shifters for quick activation as well as a display at the center of the wheel that can display useful game data from your engine’s RPM to your best lap time.
See our guide to the best PS5 racing wheels for more options.
6. Hori Mario Kart Racing Wheel Pro Deluxe
Best Nintendo Switch Racing Wheel
Joy-Cons or another Switch controller can work when you’re in a pinch, but the Hori Mario Kart Racing Wheel Pro Deluxe will take your Mario Kart experience to another level. Coming in around $100, it isn’t a pro-level wheel with powerful force feedback or direct drive systems, though you get a little bit of resistance while making turns. The two pedal set for the break and gas is also responsive while offering some resistance for more control.
The Hori Mario Kart Racing Wheel Pro Deluxe features a plastic build with a decently sized wheel that feels solid in hand. You’ll find all the controls to navigate games and sturdy paddle shifters. The wheel is even customizable with programmable buttons and different sensitivity levels for better handling. Plus, it’s not exclusively for Mario Kart, so it’ll work with your favorite Switch driving games and some PC offerings.
7. Thrustmaster T-GT II
Best Belt-Driven Racing Wheel
Belt-driven systems offer smooth force feedback using a belt connecting a motor to the wheel but are often seen as lesser than their direct-drive counterparts. However, the Thrustmaster T-GT II may change your mind, as it best exemplifies what these wheels are capable of. You’ll feel all the road’s curves as you cruise the racetrack, thanks to the powerful, high-capacity torque, while the wheelbase is precise and quick to react, giving direct drive wheels a run for their money. The only major drawback is the system can get a bit noisy.
Beyond the impressive belt-drive system, the Thrustmaster T-GT II offers plenty more. Leather wraps around the wheel for a premium feel, while its face totes plenty of controls, including 25 action buttons and four rotary selectors. The two brushed aluminum paddle shifters should be quick to react and hold up well through all the gear changes throughout your wheel's lifespan. To complete this setup, you get a set of three metal pedals, so you’ll be ready to hit the track.
8. Fanatec GT DD Pro
Best Direct Drive Racing Wheel
If you are looking for a wheel that best emulates the direct drive experience, look no further than the Fanatec GT DD Pro. It's the perfect addition to your gaming setup and will have you ready to take on the streets in Gran Turismo 7. As the name might suggest, direct drive wheels connect a large motor directly to the steering wheel, which allows for much better control and force feedback. This is what professional racers and enthusiast sim racers use.
You get 8Nm of force feedback from the Fanatec GT DD Pro thanks to the included 180 boost kit. That type of torque is sure to make your hands and wrists sore, even after a short circuit race. The wheel itself features a great interface with familiar PlayStation controls, unique 5-way directional sticks, and RevLED for important visual information while driving. The included steel two-pedal set completes this ultimate direct drive setup. Hopefully, you scored a killer PC deal, as this wheel is pricey. But it also works with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S (when using an Xbox licensed wheel), if you'd rather do console gaming.
9. Thrustmaster T-818
Best High-End Racing Wheel Base
For a wheel base with an insane amount of power and a realistic feel, the Thrustmaster T-818 is what you need to grab. This direct drive motor offers a wild 10Nm of torque for superb angular acceleration and force feedback. You’ll feel every twist, turn, and bump in the virtual road. There are also no filters for the in-game effects, so you’ll experience the games as intended, but be prepared for a slight learning curve.
The Thrustmaster T-818 is just a wheel base, meaning you need to purchase a wheel and pedal set separately. Luckily, this base is compatible with all wheel rims in the Thrustmaster ecosystem — past, present, and future. So, if you’ve got a wheel from the Thrustmaster T300 RS GT, you can use that and save some money. It even includes a “Fast Release” attachment system for easy swapping out of wheels. As for pedal sets, all Thrustmaster offerings are compatible via USB on PC, while an RJ45 port future-proofs the base.
10. Logitech G Pro Racing Wheel
Best High-End Racing Wheel
Hitting up to 11Nm of force feedback, you’ll feel every twist and turn of the road, leaving your hands worn out after a few laps around the track when using the Logitech G Pro Racing Wheel. This direct drive wheel drives smoothly, and the special haptics technology, Trueforce, brings it to another level. You’ll sense road imperfections like potholes or loose gravel. However, this feature is only available on certain games.
There are two models of the G Pro Racing Wheel, an Xbox Series/PC or a PS5/PC version, and both wheels feature all the buttons and controls needed, including a handy tactile joystick for easy navigation and two sets of metal paddle shifters. If you’re looking for foot pedals, this already pricey wheel requires you to purchase them separately for $350, but the pedals are simple to adjust and feel fantastic, especially the load cell brake pedal.
Where to Get the Best Racing Wheels in the UK
How to Choose a Racing Wheel
One of the first things you should think about when shopping for a racing wheel is how comfortable it's going to be for you to use. Is the wheel large enough and comfortable enough for you to use? Padded and leather (or pleather) bound add a nice touch of comfort, but you may still want to buy a pair of gloves if your wheel delivers a lot of force feedback.
Speaking of force feedback, there are three main types out there in the world:
- Gear Drive – In this case, the wheel's shaft is attached to gears that connect with the main force feedback motor. This type of force feedback system helps amplify torque, but it's notorious for jolting imprecisely and being extremely noisy. Gear Drive systems are also among the oldest type of force feedback systems used on racing wheels and you can rarely find one, aside from the Logitech G25 Wheels you might find on eBay.
- Belt Drive – The most common type of force feedback system used by modern racing wheels. This type of system takes the same concept of translating torque from the haptic motor as Gear Drive, but uses belts instead of gears. The resulting experience feels much more precise while being significantly quieter. However, due to the nature of rubber, Belt Drives often absorb some amount of the force feedback before it gets to the wheel and your hands. They also stretch and degrade overtime and require users to replace the belt.
- Direct Drive – Often regarded as the best type of force feedback, this system often has the wheel mounted directly to a large motor. There's no delay or loss of torque with this type of force feedback system. However, since there aren't any belts or gears amplifying the haptic force, these systems often have to use larger motors. Direct Drive wheels are also the most expensive type of racing wheel you can buy and they usually start at around $1,000.
Racing Wheel FAQ
What are the best games to play with a racing wheel?
If you love racing games but don't know where to start, there are a few great modern games with racing wheel support you can try. Gran Turismo 7 is a great newer option if you have a PS5 or PS4, and Forza Horizon 5 is solid choice for those with an Xbox or PC. Dirt Rally 2.0 is a great rally sim that you can play on both consoles and PC. For Nintendo Switch users, you can never really go wrong with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
Are racing wheels worth the investment?
For those who just occasionally play driving games, you might want to save money and invest in other gaming accessories or grab a cheap wheel. However, if you’re constantly hitting the virtual open road, a great racing wheel is worth the splurge. Compared to your typical input devices, you’ll enjoy deeper immersion in games thanks to force feedback, which provides a more realistic driving experience, letting you feel turns and bumps in the road. Performance should also improve, as a wheel offers more precision and accuracy. Just be prepared for a slight learning curve as you master the controller.
How Realistic Is a Racing Wheel?
Racing wheels can provide a realistic driving experience by reproducing accurate force feedback that you would feel by driving a real car. Of course, the quality and features of your chosen racing wheel will play a big part in the level of realism, but there are some incredible options available if you want to up your racing sim game.
Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN and the PC components queen. You can follow her @Jackiecobra
