Do you always end up in the sandbox on PC racing games like Asseto Corsa or Dirt Rally ? Maybe it's because of the controller. To improve your performance, buy a PC steering wheel. With force feedback, this immersive accessory allows for realistic maneuvers. To help you choose the right model, here's our guide to the best PC steering wheels.
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Our selection
"The Thrustmaster T150 Force Feedback has all the qualities required to finish first. Featuring 1080° force feedback, the Touchsense Immersion technology will amaze you!"
"An entry-level PC wheel with a good driving feel, the Speedlink is perfect for a first time buyer. It offers a 180° rotation angle and…"
"The Logitech G923 is the latest from the Swiss manufacturer. Among the new features is a mechanism called True Force for an innovative driving experience."
"The Thrustmaster T300RS is a steering wheel that takes racing simulation to the next level. The manufacturer has given us a precise steering wheel thanks…"
The Thrustmaster T150 Force Feedback has all the qualities required to finish first. Featuring 1080° force feedback, the Touchsense Immersion technology will amaze you!
See priceAt first glance, this steering wheel may not look like much. But think again, the performance and qualities of the Thrustmaster T150 Force Feedback are excellent. First of all, you have a force feedback transmission with 1080° of rotation angle coupled with Touchsense Immersion technology. This device is metallic, with a ball bearing mechanism for better precision. This allows you to feel all the details of the race, such as road contours or loss of grip.
The angle of rotation of the wheels adjusts from 270 to 1080°, for a better playing experience and comfort is in charge of the 28 cm steering wheel with a rubber coating. For speed, you have two large sequential paddles and two pedals that can be programmed to your liking.
An entry-level PC wheel with a good driving feel, the Speedlink is perfect for a first time buyer. It offers a 180° rotation angle and has an ergonomic pedal board.
See priceThe Speedlink Black Bolt was designed from high quality plastic with strategically placed buttons. The paddles are not metal, but respond well. It's perfect for arcade-style racing games with its 180° rotation angle and it's DirectInput and Xinput compatible. The precise and responsive steering will help you win all your races.
The pedal board has two pedals, brake and gas pedal, and allows for precise metering when pressed. For more realism, this steering wheel is equipped with a vibration mechanism and a cruise mode that automatically maintains the speed.
The Logitech G923 is the latest from the Swiss manufacturer. Among the new features is a mechanism called True Force for an innovative driving experience.
See priceSupposed to be the successor of the G29, this PC steering wheel succeeds its bet. To do so, Logitech has reworked the force feedback and the performance of the progressive brake pedal to correct some mistakes. Unlike the G29, which built on the success of the G27, the G923, with a steel transmission, has its own personality and the improvements are significant.
The major new feature is the TrueForce technology, which offers an unprecedented driving experience. The G923's force feedback system integrates game physics in real time. And game audio is supported to enhance tactile force feedback. The 900-degree rotation angle and shifter immerse you in every race. As usual, Logitech wrapped the steering wheel in leather, which adds to the realism and comfort.
The Thrustmaster T300RS is a steering wheel that takes racing simulation to the next level. The manufacturer has given us a precise steering wheel thanks to Heart technology.
See priceYou can tell that the finish has been taken care of just by looking at the 28cm diameter steering wheel which is adorned with a reinforced rubber coating for unparalleled playing comfort. The two sequential gear paddles are 100% metal and you have all the PS4 buttons on top. Under the hood, you have a Brushless motor, silent, with smooth, responsive and realistic force feedback.
The precision is due to the Heart technology, which uses a magnetic sensor placed on the steering axis to retransmit the movements. In addition, the two pedals are made of metal and the brake pedal mechanism is progressive. The latter are adjustable with 6 possible positions to match your requirements.
Any specific needs?
A great PS4-compatible PC wheel
Your guide :
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| TOP OF THE TOP | CHEAP | TOP OF THE LINE | EXCELLENT | |
In accordance with our commitment, this buying guide does not contain any sponsored products. |
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| OUR SELECTION |
PC Steering Wheel - Thrustmaster T150 Force Feedback
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Speedlink Black Bolt Racing Wheel
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Logitech G923 + Gearshift
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Thrustmaster T300RS
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The Thrustmaster T150 Force Feedback has all the qualities required to finish first. Featuring 1080° force feedback, the Touchsense Immersion technology will amaze you!
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An entry-level PC wheel with a good driving feel, the Speedlink is perfect for a first time buyer. It offers a 180° rotation angle and has an ergonomic pedal board.
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The Logitech G923 is the latest from the Swiss manufacturer. Among the new features is a mechanism called True Force for an innovative driving experience.
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The Thrustmaster T300RS is a steering wheel that takes racing simulation to the next level. The manufacturer has given us a precise steering wheel thanks to Heart technology.
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Rotation
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270 to 1080°
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180°
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900°
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270 to 1080°
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Compatible
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PC/PS3/PS4
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PC
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PS/PC
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PS4/PS3/PC
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Force feedback
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Yes
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No
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Oui
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Yes
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Pedals
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2
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2
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2
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2
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Design
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First and foremost, it's important to choose a PC wheel with force feedback. It's the only one that will reproduce the effects and sensations of bumps in the road, impacts with other cars, tire slippage and even subtle road contours. The challenge for the engineers who develop this type of accessory is that it immerses you completely in your race. With that in mind, they designed steering wheels with two force feedback motors. And, that's what we recommend.
The steering wheel of a car can make 2 or 3 turns before it locks up. This is called the angle of rotation on a PC steering wheel, so a model that only has an angle between 180° and 270° will not be able to make a full turn. This feature has a lot to do with the final price of the product. The very good models can simulate a rotation angle of 1080°, more than 2 turns, which is the closest to reality. To begin with, choose a model with a rotation angle between 180 and 270°. For those looking for more realism, a steering wheel with an angle of 900°, or more will do just fine.
In order to have the best gaming experience, it is recommended to opt for PC steering wheels with the right dimensions. If you opt for a product with a small wheel diameter, you'll quickly run out of grip when things get tough and you'll feel discomfort quickly. The ideal diameter for a computer steering wheel will be between 27 and 30 cm, approximately .
On
entry-level PC steering wheels, sometimes all the components are built into the steering wheel block. These are perfect models if you don't have much money. However, for a successful gaming experience, it's best to start with the models, again at the entry level, that have a pedal board with the brake and throttle
. This is a possible challenge for about 20 euros more. Models with a gear lever and 3 pedals are only available on the top of the range models, starting at 150 euros.
When playing on a PC steering wheel, one must be able to pause the game or access the settings window quickly with the various buttons placed on it. There's nothing more annoying than looking for your keyboard at every turn to change something. At the very least, go for a model with 6 buttons and a pad.
A PC steering wheel costs between 50 and 200 €, even more. It is an investment that must be used properly and maintained from time to time.
To avoid breaking your new accessory quickly, it's important to secure it to a table. If you install it loosely, at the slightest touch of the wheel your accessory will come loose and fall to the floor. This could damage the mechanism inside the steering wheel in the medium term. For a successful and long-lasting installation, it is better to fix it solidly in a fixed place. If you move it too often, it will create play in the fastening system, especially for those equipped with a suction cup.
Once this step is done, it's time to plug it in by connecting the USB plugs and the power supply, if applicable. In order to verify that your installation is correct, you should check it in the Windows settings under the printers and peripherals tab. If your steering wheel is there, you are ready for your first settings!
Regularly clean the surface of your PC steering wheel with a damp cloth to remove dust deposits. The dust will stick to the inside of the mechanism, which is why it is advisable to clean your computer desk regularly. By cleaning, you will be doing a great service to all the components of your computer and its peripherals.
Yes, there are two types of PC steering wheels on the market. The difference between them is not well known to the general public, but both models have a specific use. From the point of view of reliability, realism and comfort of play, they are both opposed.
The majority of entry-level PC steering wheels are of the arcade type. They are made entirely of plastic, the quality of which varies according to the manufacturer
. You can find good, durable quality models among the entry-level products. Secondly, most of them do not have force feedback and have a limited wheel angle.
One thing though, this type of accessory is perfectly, yes perfectly, suitable for arcade racing games like Need for Speed or Grid
for example. Secondly, these are very affordable products for a first experience of playing with a steering wheel.
Project
Cars, F1 2020 or other simulation games require a quality PC steering wheel. Force feedback, vibration, and rotation angle
here matter a lot. With these assets, it becomes easy to be Lewis Hamilton at Silverstone or Sebastien Ogier turning and oversteering on the Corsican roads. The problem is that this type of PC steering wheel is expensive, especially the models of major brands that sell for no less than 200 €.
PC steering wheels with gearboxes immerse the gamer more in his virtual race. Shifting gears or downshifting before the curve and preparing to slide, pure happiness. There are two models on the market: sequential and 6-speed. For virtual rally experts, you need an H-shaped gear lever like the real thing. Only the top of the range models have a shifter included, as they add the clutch pedal.
The entry-level models and some of the mid-range models do not have a gearbox. You have two paddles where you can assign the two gear modes or you can play in automatic mode. They cost less, but can give you a good feeling if you are not picky about it.
The stick shift models are suitable for virtual racing game enthusiasts and the average person with the right budget. Yes, a PC simulation steering wheel is compatible with arcade mode. However, if your son has little gaming experience and asks you for a steering wheel, it is recommended to go for an arcade type model. But, it depends on your requirements and budget!
Buy a PC Steering Wheel Chair
Buying a special PC steering wheel chair, Playseat, will add some excitement to your immersion. The models available on the market are comfortable and look like racing buckets, very realistic.
Have a good PC
The
bad experience would be to buy a good steering wheel and have a PC that doesn't have enough power to run your racing game at the medium graphics level. This will cause you to miss easy turns due to slowing down the image. For a good feeling, the ideal will be to play a game like Dirt Rally in high mode at 1080p with 60 FPS, equivalent to a console.
Do not use an extension cord
It
may happen that the cable length of your PC steering wheel is not long enough to connect to your PC. It is not allowed to use a USB extension cable, as it will cause input latency. When you turn the wheel, your gesture will be a millisecond late on the screen. The solution will be to move your PC closer. Leave the screen in front by buying a longer HDMI or DVI cable.
Buy a handbrake lever
Basically, the parking brake is assigned to a button on the steering wheel even on some high-end models. This is an accessory that can be purchased for as little as €50.
Use a headset
Having
a good helmet will complete your immersion. Just like in a car, you will react to the sound and reactions of the car.
The best PC steering wheel depends on your needs and your budget. Read our buying guide to find the best products out there.
Force feedback means force feedback. On a PC steering wheel, a motor will take care of giving you some opposition, force, when you turn the wheel. This is how PC steering wheels reproduce the stresses of real-world steering.
The pedals consist of 2 or 3 pedals that act as accelerator, brake and clutch. Entry-level steering wheels are supplied with a two-pedal pedal unit as standard.
To turn off the vibration feature on a PC wheel, you need to go into the game's own preferences, not Windows, and select the controllers tab. There, look for the vibration tab and turn it off.
In general, you should mount it on an immovable support. The vibrations caused by a moving table will affect your gaming experience. To learn more, read our full guide.
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