Best racing wheels for PC and console 2021

The Logitech G923 may look familiar, and that’s because it’s nearly identical to its predecessor, the G29 and G920, widely regarded as the best entry-level wheels that money could buy. With a rep like that, why fix what isn’t broke?

With that said, the G923 sports dual-motors for impressive force feedback, a 900-degree lock-to-lock rotation, a full pedal unit and semi-automatic stainless steel paddle shifters with optional support for a 6-speed manual gearbox too.

The changes are more in the software department, featuring new TrueForce technology that hooks directly into a game’s engine to use data available to better simulate feedback, rather than relying on profiles and a library of haptics effects like most others on the market. There’s also a higher 1/1000 second polling rate which provides a much more realistic sensation when driving.

The catch? Like most gaming accessory features these days, software support has to be added by the developer, meaning that in games like Assetto Corsa, you simply won’t notice a difference compared to the older wheel.

However, when running a supported title like Grid 2019, the effects of the system are immediately noticeable. You’ll get a tangible sense of engine idle as you’re sat waiting for the race to begin, and that extends to just about every aspect of racing – even contact with other cars.  

TrueForce also utilises in-game sounds for a more immersive experience, with a noticeable engine rumble coming from the FFB system during races, but with most sim drivers using headsets, it’ll be overlooked by many.

The only notable physical change compared to its predecessor is in the pedal department; Logitech included a rubber/foam insert on the G29 pedal system that users hated – so much, in fact, that many took the pedals apart and replaced them. This time, Logitech went for a progressive spring system, solving the issue in a cost-efficient way.

Simply put, if you’re looking to get your hands on a great entry-level steering wheel, the G923 offers great value for money and a fun driving experience.

The Logitech G920 is a great entry-level steering wheel, and although the updated G923 is now available, the G920 is being sold at discount – making it an even more tempting option. 

It’s a standard circular wheel clad in high-quality, hand-stitched leather designed to provide the look and feel of a high-performance sports car. It’s soft to the touch but breathable, meaning you won’t get sweaty palms at those tense times when racing. In the middle you’ll find dedicated Xbox-branded buttons including triggers, meaning you won’t need to use a secondary controller to set up races and navigate menus.

Inside the G920 you’ll find dual-motors that provide impressive force feedback, and believe us when we say that you really feel every bump, skid and knock when using this wheel. You’ll find yourself wrestling with the wheel just trying to keep control when skidding out, even to the point where your table may wobble – and it’s great. You’ve also got 900-degree lock-to-lock rotation, which isn’t as much as what’s on offer from Thrustmaster, but it does the job.

It, of course, comes with a pedal unit featuring a throttle, brake and clutch, and provides an accurate feeling of what it’s like to change gears, accelerate and brake in real life. It has rubber feet for hardened surfaces, but where the G920’s pedal unit really stands out is with its retractable carpet grip, little teeth that pop out and grip the carpet beneath. Once the grip is out, that unit won’t move – even when you’re flooring it.  

Like the other wheels in our roundup, the G920 features semi-automatic stainless steel paddle shifters behind the wheel to control gears. But, if flappy pedals aren’t your thing, you can opt for the Logitech Driving Force Shifter, a 6-speed manual gearbox compatible with the wheel.

In terms of platform support, the Logitech G920 is compatible with both Xbox One and PC, ideal for those looking to cash in on Microsoft’s Play Anywhere scheme and use the wheel across console and PC. Those looking for the PS4-supported variant should check out the Logitech G29.

Some committed people can imagine spending £700/$700 on a videogame steering wheel accessory. For the rest of us mere mortals, this is a ludicrous use of money. But for those rarefied few, there’s the Thrustmaster T-GT.

Designed specifically for Gran Turismo Sport on the PS4 (though compatible with other games, thankfully, including PC support), this is the crème de la crème of authentic driving experiences on console.

Read through Thrustmaster’s official page and you’ll be bombarded with acronyms: T-LIN, T-40VE, T-M.C.E., H.E.A.R.T., T-F.O.C. and more besides. It boils down to this: the T-GT is packed with tech to make sure the force feedback is as powerful, dynamic, and accurate as possible.

You’ll need to play GT Sport to make the most of this, where you’ll find the wheel reacting dynamically to the game, from every rev of the engine to each time you skid uncontrollably off the track (I may have had a bit of a learning curve with the game). Exclusive to GT Sport, it can even subtly alter the vibrations to reflect the driving surface or weather conditions – there’s pretty much constant feedback of some sort or another.

Beyond performance, the T-GT is slick throughout. The stitched leather finish to the wheel is supple and comfortable, and there’s a comforting (and sturdy) heft to the whole thing. The silver-y plastic on the bottom of the wheel is the only blip in a build that otherwise screams ‘premium’ from beginning to end.

There’s no gear stick included, though it’s compatible with Thrustmaster’s TH8A, but the accompanying pedals are solid. The three-pedal board is built of plastic with metal footplates, and they’re responsive enough – though undeniably less impressive than the wheel itself.

At the end of the day, you already know if you’re the sort of person who’d even consider spending the better part of a grand on a PS4 steering wheel. If you are – and you expect to sink serious hours into GT Sport – it’s hard to imagine the T-GT being bested anytime soon. And if not, well, feel free to gawp at it with the rest of us.

At £649/$715 the TS-XW Racer is only slightly cheaper than Thrustmaster’s top-of-the-line model, but it offers a different setup altogether. First up, the TS-XW Racer is the outcome of the first collaboration between Thrustmaster and Sparco and offers some pretty impressive internals.

But before we get on to what you’ll find beneath the surface, let’s first talk about design. It’s a 1:1 scale replica of the Sparco P310 Competition wheel, hence the unique shape and design compared to other wheels in our roundup. The ergonomic design means it’s easy to grip and comfortable to use over long periods, and the use of genuine suede leather on the wheel is a nice premium touch.

Our only gripe with the design is that the centre of the wheel seems a little… bare, especially when the Xbox-branded buttons are fairly spread apart (it’s for Xbox One and PC) and the buttons on the base are a little awkward to reach when racing. It could’ve been home to additional buttons or even a full analogue stick to make navigating through menus a little less painful. It does feature programmable buttons though, which should benefit more advanced racing sim drivers.

But it’s on the inside that the TS-XW Racer really shines. It offers a 40-watt brushless servomotor that should continue to provide great performance over long periods of time, coupled with a dual belt-pulley system and metal ball-bearing axel that provides up to 1080 degrees of rotation. While that may not mean much to some, it translates to an incredibly realistic experience that’ll make your arms ache. You’ll feel every bump, every tyre slip, and every collision.

The wheel is backed up by the T3PA 3-pedal set, a plastic board with three fully adjustable metal footplates. They’re fairly responsive, but we found that it wasn’t as grippy as that offered by the Logitech G920 and would occasionally slip away underfoot.

It’s compatible with a range of accessories, including the Thrustmaster TH8A gearstick which, like its more-expensive cousin, doesn’t come with the wheel itself but is available to pick up from Amazon.