Racing wheel
# Racing wheel

A 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

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

| Manufacturer | Product | Year | Max Rotation (Deg) | FFB | Clutch | Shifter | Brake Sensor | Pedal Type |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Atomic | Lamborghini Gallardo Evo Racing Wheel | | 270 | No | No | Paddles | Potentiometer | Standing |
| BRD | Sim Pro Wheel, Speed7 Pedals | (<=2013) | 290 | No | Optional | Paddles | Potentiometer | Standing |
| Thrustmaster | Formula T1 | 1994 | | No | | | | |
| Thrustmaster | Formula T2 | 1995 | | No | | | | |
| Thrustmaster | Ferrari Wireless Gt F430 Scuderia Edition Cockpit | | 270 | No | No | Paddles | Potentiometer | Standing |
| Thrustmaster | Ferrari GT 3-in-1 | | 180 | No | No | Paddles | Potentiometer | Standing |
| Microsoft | Sidewinder Precision Racing Wheel | 1999 | 240 | No | No | Paddles | Potentiometer | Standing |
| ECCI | Trackstar 6000 Series Wheel/Pedals | | 270 | No | Optional | Paddles | "Pressure Modulated" | Standing |
| ECCI | Trackstar 7000 Force Feedback | | 900 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Thomas SuperWheel | TSW Wheels, Pedals | | 720 | No | Optional | Paddles, Sequential | Load Cell optional | Standing |
| A1 | A1 GT Wheel | | 500 | No | — | Paddles | — | — |

### Gear- and/or belt-driven

**Earlier products**

| Manufacturer | Product | Year | Max Rotation (Deg) | FFB mechanism | Wheel detaches from the base | Clutch | Shifter | Brake Sensor | Pedal Type |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Fanatec | Le Mans SE | | ? | Yes | | No | Paddles | Potentiometer | Standing |
| Fanatec | Speedster 2 | | ? | Yes | | No | Paddles | Potentiometer | Standing |
| Fanatec | Speedster 3 | (<=2005) | 210 | Yes | | No | Paddles | Potentiometer | Standing |
| Guillemot | Race Force-Feedback | (<=2000) | | Yes | | | | | |
| InterAct | FX Racing Wheel Review | (<=1999) | | Yes | | | | | |
| InterAct | V4 Force Feedback | | | Yes | | | | | |
| Thrustmaster | Ferrari 458 Italia | | 270 | Yes | | No | Paddles | Potentiometer | Standing |
| Thrustmaster | Ferrari F430 | | 270 | Yes | | No | Paddles | Potentiometer | Standing |
| Thrustmaster | RGT FFB Clutch | | 270 | Yes | | Yes | Paddles, Sequential | Potentiometer | Standing |
| Thrustmaster | FGT 2-in-1 Force Feedback | | 180 | Yes | | No | Paddles | Potentiometer | Standing |
| Saitek | R4 Force Wheel | (<=1999) | | Yes | | | | | |
| Saitek | R660GT | | 180 | Yes | | No | Paddles, Sequential | Potentiometer | Hanging |
| Microsoft | Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel | 2006 | 270 | Yes | No | No | Paddles | Potentiometer | Standing |
| Defender | Extreme Turbo (PRO) | | 180 | Yes | | No | Sequential | — | Standing |

**Gear-driven**

| Manufacturer | Product | Year | Max Rotation (Deg) | FFB mechanism | Wheel detaches from the base | Wheel cover material | Clutch | Shifter | Brake Sensor | Pedal Type |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Microsoft | Sidewinder Force Feedback Wheel | 1997 | 240 | Gears | | | No | Paddles | Potentiometer | Standing |
| Act Labs | Force RS (Force Racing System) | (<=2000) | 270 | Gears | | | No | Paddles | Potentiometer | Standing |
| Logitech | Formula Force | | 180 | Yes | No | | No | Paddles | Potentiometer | Standing |
| Logitech | Driving Force EX | | 180 | Gears | No | Plastic + Rubber | No | Paddles | Potentiometer | Standing |
| Logitech | Wingman Formula Force Wheel | (1998) | 180 | Steel belts and motors | No | | | | |
| Logitech | GT Force | 2001 | 180 | Yes | | | | | | |
| Logitech | MOMO Force (Red MOMO) | 2004 | 270 | Yes | No | | No | Paddles | Potentiometer | Standing |
| Logitech | MOMO Racing Force | 2005 | 240 | Yes | No | | No | Paddles, Sequential | Potentiometer | Standing |
| Logitech | Driving Force Pro | | 900 | Yes | No | | No | Paddles, Sequential | Potentiometer | Standing |
| Logitech | Driving Force GT | 2007 | 900 | Yes | No | | No | Paddles, Sequential | Potentiometer | Standing |
| Logitech | G25 | 2006 | 900 | Gear-driven (with straight-cut gears) | No | | Yes | Paddles, H-shift, Sequential | Potentiometer | Standing |
| Fanatec | Porsche 911 Carrera Wheel | 2009 | | Gear-driven | | | | | Potentiometer | |
| Logitech | G27 | | 900 | (helical) gear-driven | No | Leather | Yes | Paddles, H-shift | Potentiometer | Standing |
| Mad Catz | Pro Racing Force Feedback Wheel | 2014 | 900 | (helical) gear-driven | Yes | Suede leather | No | Paddles | Potentiometer | Standing |
| Logitech | G920 | 2015 | 900 | Yes | No | | Yes | Paddles, H-shift | Potentiometer | Standing |
| Logitech | G29 | 2015 | 900 | Gear-driven | No | | Yes | Paddles, H-shift | Potentiometer | Standing |
| Logitech | G923 TRUEFORCE Sim Racing Wheel | 2020 | 900 | Dual-motor geared force feedback | | | | | | |

**Hybrid gear and belt-driven**

| Manufacturer | Product | Year | Max Rotation (Deg) | FFB mechanism | Wheel detaches from the base | Wheel cover material | Clutch | Shifter | Brake Sensor | Pedal Type | Pedal Unit |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Thrustmaster | T150 RS | 2015 | 1080 | Hybrid | | | No | Paddles | Potentiometer | Standing | |
| Thrustmaster | T150 Pro | | 1080 | Mixed belt-pulley and gears system | | | Yes | Paddles | Potentiometer | Standing | |
| Thrustmaster | T248 | 2021 | 1080 | Hybrid | No | Plastic, Fake Leather | Yes | Paddles | Contactless, Magnetic | Standing | T3PM |
| Thrustmaster | T128 | 2022 | 900 | Hybrid | No | Plastic | No | Paddles | Contactless, Magnetic | Standing | T2PM |

**Belt-driven**

| Manufacturer | Product | Year | Max Rotation (Deg) | FFB mechanism | Wheel detaches from the base | Wheel cover material | Clutch | Shifter | Brake Sensor | Pedal Type |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Fanatec | Porsche 911 Turbo S Wheel | (<=2009) | 900 | Belt-driven | | | — | Paddles | — | — |
| Fanatec | Porsche 911 GT2 Wheel | (<2011) | 900 | belt-driven Mabuchi 550 motor | | Alcantara | — | Paddles | — | — |
| Fanatec | Forza Motorsport CSR Elite Wheel | (<=2011) | 900 | Yes | | | — | Paddles | — | — |
| Fanatec | Forza Motorsport CSR Wheel | (<=2011) | 900 | belt-driven Mabuchi 550 motor | | | — | Paddles | — | — |
| Fanatec | Porsche 911 Carrera Wheel | 2011 | 900 | belt-driven | | | Yes | Paddles, H-Shift | — | Standing |
| Fanatec | Porsche 911 GT3 RS Wheel | (<=2011) | 900 | Belt-driven | | | — | Paddles | — | — |
| Fanatec | CSL Elite Wheel | 2017 | 1080-degree | Yes, single non-ribbed belt-drive, up to 6 Nm torque | | | — | Paddles | — | — |
| Fanatec | ClubSport Wheel (CSW) v.1 | (<=2013) | 900 | Single belt drive (Single gear toothed belt drive), brushless servo motor | Yes | | — | Paddles | — | — |
| Fanatec | ClubSport Wheel (CSW) V2.5 | | 900 | dual belt-drive, up to 8 Nm torque | Yes | | — | Paddles | — | — |
| Thrustmaster | T300 RS | 2014 | 1080 | Dual-belt-driven, brushless motor, hall sensor with 65k positions resolution | Yes | Rubber | Yes | Paddles | Potentiometer | Standing |
| Thrustmaster | T500 RS | 2011 | 1080 | Brushed motors | Yes | | Yes | Paddles | Potentiometer | Standing/Hanging |
| Thrustmaster | TS-PC Racer | 2017 | 1080 | dual-belt-drive, brushless motor (about 6 Nm torque), hall sensor with 65k positions resolution | Yes | Pseudo-alcantara | | | — | — |

### Other types / uncategorized

| Manufacturer | Product | Year | Max Rotation (Deg) | FFB | Clutch | Shifter | Brake Sensor | Pedal Type |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Frex | Simwheel V1 | 2008 | 1080 | Yes | — | — | — | — |
| VPP | Wheel, Hyperreal Pedals | (<= 2006) | 270 | Yes | Optional | Paddles | Potentiometer | Standing |

### 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**

| Manufacturer | Product | Year | Max Rotation (Deg) | FFB | Clutch | Shifter | Brake Sensor | Sensor Resolution | Pedal Type |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Fanatec | Standard Porche Pedals | | — | — | Yes | — | Potentiometer | 8 bit | Standing |
| Fanatec | CSR Pedals | 2011 | — | — | Yes | — | Potentiometer | 8 bit | Standing/Hanging |
| A1 | A1 GT Pedals | | — | — | Yes | — | Potentiometer | | Standing |
| Act Labs | RS Pedals | | — | — | Yes | — | Potentiometer | | Standing |
| Redline | Pedals | | — | — | Optional | — | Potentiometer | | Hanging |
| Thrustmaster | T3PA | 2014 | — | — | Yes | — | Potentiometer | | Hanging |
| Thrustmaster | T3PA-Pro | 2015 | — | — | Yes | — | Potentiometer | | Hanging |
| Thrustmaster | T3PM | 2021 | — | — | Yes | — | Contactless, Magnetic | 10 bit | Standing |

**Loadcell brake**

| Manufacturer | Product | Year | Max Rotation (Deg) | FFB | Clutch | Brake Sensor | Sensor resolution | Pedal Type |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Fanatec | Porsche Clubsport Pedals | 2008 | — | Yes | Yes | Load Cell | | Standing/Hanging |
| Fanatec | ClubSport Pedals | 2009 | — | — | Yes | Load Cell | 10 bit | Standing |
| Thomas Super Wheel | TSW Load Cell Pedals | 2010 | — | — | Yes | Load Cell | | Standing |
| Fanatec | CSR Elite Pedals | 2011 | — | No | Yes | Load Cell | 10 bit | Standing/Hanging |
| Fanatec | Clubsport Pedal V2 | 2013 | — | — | Yes | Load Cell | | Standing |
| Derek Speare Designs (DSD) | Wilwood Load Cell Pedals | 2014 | — | — | Yes | Load Cell | | Standing |
| Fanatec | Clubsport Pedal V3 | 2015 | — | Yes | Yes | Load Cell | 12 bit | Standing |
| Fanatec | CSL Elite Pedals | 2016 | — | No | Optional | Optional Load Cell upgrade | | Standing |
| Frex | Sim2Pedal | | — | — | No | Hydraulic w/ Load Cell (HydroBrake) | | Optional |
| Frex | Sim3Pedal | | — | — | Yes | Hydraulic w/ Load Cell (HydroBrake) | | Optional |
| A1 | A1 Pro Pedals | | — | — | Yes | Load Cell | | Optional |
| CST (Cannon Simulation Technologies) | Pedals | | — | — | Optional | "Pressure Sensing" | | Hanging |
| REVZALOT | P36 Pedals | | — | — | Yes | Load Cell | | Standing |
| Thrustmaster | T-LCM | 2020 | — | No | Yes | Load Cell | 16 bit | Standing |
| Simworx | Pro GT V3 | | — | — | Yes | Load Cell | | Standing |
| MOZA Racing | SR-P Pedals | 2022 | — | Yes | Yes | Load Cell | 16 bit | Standing |

### Shifters

| Manufacturer | Product | Max Rotation (Deg) | FFB | Clutch | Shifter | Brake Sensor | Pedal Type |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Fanatec | Porsche Shifter | — | — | — | H-shift, Sequential | — | — |
| Fanatec | CSR Shifter | — | — | — | H-shift, Sequential | — | — |
| Frex | HShift+ | — | — | — | H-shift | — | — |
| Frex | Shift+ | — | — | — | Sequential | — | — |
| A1 | GearBox | — | — | — | H-Shift | — | — |
| Act Labs | RS Shifter | — | — | — | H-shift | — | — |
| Logitech | G Driving Force Shifter | | | | H-Shift | | |
