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Home Ā» Guides Ā» Sim Racing Wheelbases for Beginners: A Complete Guide
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If you’re just starting out in sim racing and want to understand what makes a good setup, this beginner-friendly guide will walk you through the most essential components – starting with the sim racing wheelbase and its relationship with the steering wheel.
A sim racing wheelbase is the unit that powers your racing wheel and delivers force feedback. Think of it as the engine of your sim racing car – it brings your driving experience to life by simulating how a real car feels on the track.
Inside the wheelbase are motors and electronics designed to give you realistic, physical feedback as you drive. This lets you feel every bump, corner, and curb – just like in a real race car.
Want to go deeper?
Check out our technical video for more advanced information about wheelbases.
Sim racing is not just about what’s shown on the monitor. It’s also about haptic experiences and what you feel in your hands during the race. When racing in a real-life race car, your senses are crucial when controlling the car. Professional racing is a combination of several senses, and high-level performances require that you use them all.
For example, the sim racing wheelbase sends constant signals and feedback to the steering wheel that can help you master the car and clock the fastest laps ā again and again.
Therefore, it’s not only your vision that’s important if you want to achieve fast and consistent sim racing. It’s also the psychical feedback you get from the wheelbase through the steering wheel.
Furthermore, sim racing hardware keeps getting better to make the experience more and more realistic. Advanced force feedback systems, moving platforms, and immersive pedals make the sim racing experience closer to real life than ever before.
These upgrades on the hardware not only make racing more authentic for you, but also help pro drivers practice in lifelike settings.
In terms of hardware, wheelbases are primarily constructed in three different variations.
In the following sections, youāll be introduced to the different variations of wheelbases and their advantages and disadvantages.
A gear-driven wheelbase is usually the cheapest solution. The motor in the gear-driven model is connected to a set of gears that amplify the motorās torque and generate force feedback.
A disadvantage with a gear-driven wheelbase is that leeway can occur in the future, and the leeway can potentially create inconsistent force feedback.
A belt-driven wheelbase is based on the same principles as a gear-driven wheelbase. The major difference is that the belt-driven wheelbase uses a belt and system pulley system to amplify the motorās torque. Using that system means smoother force feedback because thereās no metal-on-metal contact.
A disadvantage is that the belt can absorb force feedback, giving you more imprecise signals when sim racing. Furthermore, because itās a psychical belt, it can stretch and become looser over time and eventually stop working as expected.
A Direct Drive wheelbase differs from the other two wheelbases. A Direct Drive wheelbase consists of a motor directly attached to the steering wheel.
There are no gears or belts, meaning the force feedback and torque are on higher and more immersive levels than gear-driven and belt-driven wheelbases.
This means that a Direct Drive wheelbase gives you the highest level of reality and the most authentic experience when sim racing.
From a technical perspective, a Direct Drive wheelbase has no disadvantages compared to the other wheelbase options. It’s undoubtedly the superior choice for a serious sim racer.
You can learn more about our three Direct Drive Wheelbases right here.
Like wheelbases, sim racing steering wheels can also be divided into different categories:
When choosing your steering wheel for sim racing, there are some aspects to consider.
First, you must figure out which racing category you primarily want to spend your time on. If you know that you’re mainly going to spend your time racing Formula cars, a Formula steering wheel will suit you the best, and the same concept applies to rally or GT.
And now, you may be wondering: Do I need three different steering wheels if I want to race in three different categories?
The answer is no ā but it’s not recommended.
The answer is no because nothing stops you from using a designated Formula steering wheel to race in GT or rally cars, except compatibility issues between the sim racing hardware you’re using in your rig.
But having said that, it’s not a recommended solution if you want full immersion and authenticity.
The correct sim racing steering wheel is a defining factor that contributes to an authentic simulation rather than an arcade game feel.
While we ‘only’ have three main steering wheel categories, it doesn’t mean there are only three steering wheel types. There are different subcategories, giving you the opportunity to find the perfect fit for your preferences.
Whether you prefer a simple design or a high-tech wheel with a lot of features, we have the steering wheel for you.
Our range of wheels have what you need: From buttons you can customize to special grips in both Formula and GT categories. Each type of sim racing wheel is made for different needs, so you can make your driving experience just the way you want- everytime.
Learn more about all our steering wheel types here.
The wheelbase and steering wheel form the core of your sim racing setup. The wheelbase generates force feedback, while the steering wheel delivers that feedback to your hands.
Paired with a solid set of sim racing pedals, these components elevate the experience from casual gaming to full immersion. Higher-quality gear results in more accurate, responsive driving.
While it’s impossible to perfectly recreate real-world G-forces in a sim rig, you can get incredibly close in every other aspect with the right combination of hardware and software.
In particular, a well-tuned wheelbase and compatible steering wheel can help you feel subtle changes in traction, steering resistance, and understeer or oversteer dynamics. These cues are critical in helping you develop control and confidence, especially as a beginner.
Additionally, many wheelbases and wheels offer tuning options such as adjusting force feedback strength, smoothing, and response curves.
Learning how to fine-tune these settings will further enhance your ability to react to changing track conditions and improve your driving consistency.
As your skills progress, you’ll come to rely more and more on the feedback delivered through the wheel. That’s why selecting a setup that balances comfort, performance, and reliability is key to long-term success in sim racing.
Today, sim racing hardware and software are so innovative that you get a degree of detail that you never imagined ten years ago. You can feel the exact sensation of hitting curbs and bumps when racing if you have a proper sim racing wheelbase and steering wheel.
There is no doubt that wheelbases and steering wheels are essential parts of a sim racing setup – regardless of whether you are a beginner or an experienced sim racer.
The wheelbase and sim racing wheel – together with the sim racing pedals – create the necessary realism and immersion that allows you to take your sim racing to the next level.
Not at all. While Direct Drive systems are powerful, many entry-level models are designed to be beginner-friendly and offer adjustable force feedback settings to ease the learning curve.
Direct Drive wheelbases offer the most precise, responsive, and immersive driving experience. Without belts or gears, feedback is more accurate and immediate – something that benefits both beginners and advanced sim racers.
Yes, as long as your hardware is compatible. However, using a wheel suited to your preferred racing style – such as Formula, GT, or Rally – enhances realism and comfort.
