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A sim racing wheel is a control device for use in racing games, racing simulators, and driving simulators. They are usually packaged with a large paddle styled as a steering wheel, along with a set of pedals for the accelerator, brake, and clutch, as well as transmission controls. An analog wheel and pedal set such as this allows the user to accurately manipulate steering angle and pedal control that is required to properly manage a simulated car, as opposed to digital control such as a keyboard. The relatively large range of motion further allows the user to more accurately apply the controls. Racing wheels have been developed for use with arcade games, game consoles, personal computers, and also for professional driving simulators for race drivers.

One of the earliest racing wheels for the PC mass market was the Thrustmaster Formula T1, released in 1994. It had no force feedback, only some form of spring-based centering resistance proportional to the steering angle. Two of the earliest FFB wheels for the consumer PC market were the Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback Wheel, released in 1997, and the Logitech Wingman Formula Force.

Force feedback

Force feedback sim wheels have motors to simulate steering kickback. Racing wheels started off as simple plastic wheels hooked up to a rotary potentiometer, which were sprung by springs or bungees. These spring-based wheels had a reactive torque that increased proportionally only to the steering angle, without regard for the simulated vehicle dynamics.

Eventually manufacturers began to use electric motors in the controllers, in place of springs, in order to achieve a level of force feedback (sometimes abbreviated FFB), first seen in Microsoft's Sidewinder wheel. At first this technology simply provided the centering force and other artificial effects such as shaking the wheel in a crash or other vibrations. However, as driving simulations have evolved, their physics engines have become more elaborate, allowing also for linking the force feedback close to the simulated vehicle dynamics of the in-game physics. This allows the user to truly feel what forces go through the steering rack, instead of just artificial effects, and genuinely enhance the realism of the game. A fundamental factor for an adequate subjective steering-feel and perception of drivability from a force feedback wheel, is the transfer function from steering torque to steering angle.

In 2015, a preliminary comparison of gear-driven and direct-drive wheels in the 0–30 Hz frequency range, for a study on hard real-time multibody simulation and high-fidelity steering wheel force feedback, concluded that direct-drive wheels are preferable.

Buttons

Sim racing wheels, like real-world racing steering wheels, can have many buttons. Some examples are cruise control or pit-lane limiter for the pit lane, button for flashing lights, windscreen wipers, radio communication with the team, adjustments to the racing setup (such as brake balance, brake migration, differential braking (entry, mid+, exit, hi-speed; to make use of torque effectively at different points in a corner), traction control (amplitude and sensitivity), anti-roll bar adjustment (front and rear), engine program (strat mode/ engine mode to get extra power or conserve fuel and engine life), engine braking (the engine's throttle or absence of throttle when there is no input from the gas pedal, i.e. whether the engine contributes to the car slowing down or is keeping its speed), etc.), seeing sideways or in the mirror, or to browse various menus (for example using a 7-way «funky switch»).

Comparison of racing wheels

Subsections by motor type: no FFB, gear- or belt-driven, and direct-drive wheels.

No FFB

Gear- and/or belt-driven

Earlier products

Gear-driven

Hybrid gear and belt-driven

Belt-driven

Direct-drive bases or wheel + base combos

Other types / uncategorized

Pedals

Other features by which pedals can be compared are whether they can be inverted (hanging pedals), build material (plastic, aluminum), adjustability (position, pressure, travel), measured pressure, travel length, sensor resolution.

Potentiometer-based and magnetic brake

Loadcell brake

Shifters

Notes

1. Utilizes fluid dampening.
2. Future FFB addon possible.
3. Includes two separate analog paddle axis.
4. ^ Components may be packaged together in some cases and sold as a bundle.
5. Includes hub mechanism only; wheel and adapters not included.

See also

• HOTAS (hands on throttle-and-stick)
• Linkage (mechanical)
• Sim racing
• Sim racing pedals
• Sawtooth wave

References

1. Andrew See (1994) THRUSTMASTER FORMULA T1 DRIVING SIMULATOR CONTROLS by Thrustmaster, Game Bytes Magazine
2. DARIN GANGI Throwback Thursday: Thrustmaster T1, AUGUST 22, 2014
3. Thrustmaster Formula T1/T2 Profile
4. Julien Jay SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel review
5. ^ Dell’Amico, M., Marzani, S., Minin, L., Montanari, R., Tesauri, F., Mariani, & Tango, F. (2007) Design of an adaptive feedback based steering wheel, p.181, in Marvin J. Dainoff (Ed., 2007) International Conference on Ergonomics and Health Aspects of Work with Computers (pp. 180–188). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.
6. Chen, W., Chugh, T., Klomp, M., Ran, S., & Lidberg, M. (2017) Design and control of the steering torque feedback in a vehicle driving simulator, in Maksym Spiryagin, Timothy Gordon, Colin Cole, Tim McSweeney (Eds., 2021) The Dynamics of Vehicles on Roads and Tracks, ch.7 (pp. 213–219). CRC Press, p.215
7. Harrer, M., Pfeffer, P., & Braess, H. H. (2017). Steering-feel, interaction between driver and car. In Steering Handbook (pp. 149–168). Springer, Cham.
8. Pastorino, R., Desloovere, M., Vanneste, F., Degezelle, P., Desmet, W., & Optidrive, N. V. (2015) Development, implementation and validation of a hard real-time multibody simulation for high-fidelity steering wheel force feedback, in Proceedings of the ECCOMAS Thematic Conference on Multibody Dynamics, Barcelona, Spain (Vol. 10).
9. What all the controls do on a modern day F1 steering wheel
10. The Red Chip Review, Issues 2–6, Crown Point Publishing, 1997, p.40
11. ECCI TrackStar 6000, Jan 21, 2009
12. ^ Fanatec Speedster 3 (Xbox) Review, Gabriel Vega, neoseeker.com, Sunday, June 12th, 2005
13. Fabio "Bill" Cristi Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback Wheel – Review
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16. Saitek R4 Review, August 1st, 1999
17. William Gall Saitek R4 ForceFeedback Wheel Review @ RDGR, 3D Gaming World Hardware Review, March 21, 1999
18. ^ Gonzo Wingman Formula Force Wheel, arstechnica
19. Yingzong , Hardware One, 12/01/00
20. Logitech Wingman Formula Force Installation Guide, Copyright 1998
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22. ^ Logitech Momo Racing Force-Feedback Wheel, Joel Santo Domingo, pcmag.com, Mar 17, 2005
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24. ^ "Logitech G27 a Step Up From the G25?". Tekcore Magazine. 7 November 2011. Archived from the original on 25 September 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
25. ^ Porsche Carrera Wheel Review & Clubsport Pedal Preview, Inside Sim Racing, Feb 14, 2009
26. ^ Andrew Williams Thrustmaster T300 GTE Review, November 3, 2014
27. ^ Catz Pro Racing Force Feedback Wheel Review, Inside Sim Racing, Aug 10, 2014
28. ^ Logitech G923 Review: Mainstream Mainstay, August 22, 2020 (updated Aug 24, 2020), Andrew Evans, gtplanet.net
29. ^ Sim / By FLOW RACERS Thrustmaster T300RS GT Review
30. Smoljic, Hrvoje THRUSTMASTER T150 PRO RACING WHEEL REVIEW: ENTRY LEVEL EXCELLENCE, keengamer.com, 2020-04-18
31. t150-pro-forcefeedback at thrustmaster.com (retrieved October 2021)
32. "Thrustmaster T248 Wheel Kit Review, Sim Racing Garage". YouTube. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
33. ^ "Thrustmaster T3PM". Retrieved 23 January 2023.
34. "T128: The Force Feedback racing wheel to get started in racing simulation". Thrustmaster website. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
35. "Thrustmaster T128 Wheel Kit Review, Sim Racing Garage". YouTube. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
36. Fanatec Porsche 911 Turbo S Wheel – Review
37. ^ "Fanatec Forza Motorsport CSR wheel and Elite pedals review". Engadget. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
38. ^ Fanatec Porsche 911 Carrera Wheel – Review, virtualr.net
39. ^ Williams, Andrew (1 January 1970). "Fanatec CSL Elite racing wheel review". PC Gamer. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
40. ^ Fanatec ClubSport V2.5 review, at techradar.com
41. CSL Elite Wheel Base V1.1 at fanatec.com
42. Thrustmaster T300RS GT Review, Sim Racing Garage, Feb 17, 2018
43. T300 RS: THE FIRST OFFICIAL FORCE FEEDBACK WHEEL FOR PLAYSTATION®4, Thrustmaster official Press release, Los Angeles, June 10, 2014
44. T300 RS, the first force feedback racing wheel for the Playstation®4 System !, Thrustmaster official Press release, New York, 09.15.2014
45. ^ Andrew Williams Thrustmaster T300 RS Review, trustedreviews.com, October 27, 2016
46. Thrustmaster Racing Wheels Benchmarking, thrustmaster.com
47. ^ Thrustmaster T300 RS review, from isrtv.com, beracer.com
48. Greer, Jordan Thrustmaster T300RS Review, gtplanet.net, February 9, 2015 (updated Jun 26, 2017)
49. Matej Inside Sim Racing Reviews Thrustmaster TS-PC Racer, January 9, 2017 (updated Jan 24, 2018)
50. Sim Racing Garage Thrustmaster TS-PC Ferrari 488 Challenge Edition Review, Oct 14, 2018
51. ^ Josh Walrath THRUSTMASTER TS-PC WHEEL REVIEW: A GENUINE LEAP, pcper.com, Feb 27, 2018
52. GamerMuscleVideos THRUSTMASTER TS PC RACER WHEEL REVIEW, Dec 13, 2016
53. Frex Sim Wheel v1
54. Frex Sim Wheel Review by SRT at InsideSimRacing, Aug 25, 2008
55. ^ The 5 Best Sim Racing Load Cell Pedals, flowracers.com, 2020
56. ^ Fanatec CSR Elite Pedal Review, Nov 22, 2011, Inside Sim Racing
57. Fanatec CSR pedal review, Inside Sim Racing, Nov 22, 2011
58. Thrustmaster T3PA Pedal Set Review by Inside Sim Racing
59. Thrustmaster Thrustmaster T3PA-PRO Pedal Set Review
60. "Thrustmaster launches affordable T248 hybrid drive wheel and pedal set".
61. ^ Fanatec CSR Elite Pedals – Review, at virtualr.net, January 2, 2012
62. Fanatec CSR Elite Pedal Review, Inside Sim Racing, Mar 16, 2010
63. Fanatec Clubsport Pedal V2 Review by Inside Sim Racing, Apr 18, 2013
64. DSD Wilwood Load Cell Pedal Set – First Look by Inside Sim Racing, Jun 15, 2014
65. ^ Fanatec ClubSport Pedals V3 Review, Inside Sim Racing, Dec 30, 2015
66. Fanatec CSL Elite Wheel Base and Pedals First Look, Aug 28, 2016
67. Thrustmaster T-LCM Pedal Review – Thrustmaster's FIRST Load Cell Pedals!, Sim Racing Paddock, Feb 22, 2020
68. MOZA SR-P Pedals Installation Tutorial, Jun 7, 2022

• Game controllers
• Racing simulators
• Driving simulators