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Home » Guides » How to Choose the Right Sim Racing Wheel for Your Driving Style
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A sim racing wheel is a realistic steering device used to control virtual race cars in simulation games. Unlike a standard controller, it’s designed to closely replicate the size, shape, and feel of a real racing wheel, giving you a much more immersive and accurate driving experience.
While the force feedback is generated by the wheelbase, it’s through the wheel itself that you feel the effects – such as vibrations, resistance, and changes in traction. The wheel is your physical connection to the car in the sim, allowing you to react to feedback from the road and respond with precise input. The shape, grip, and layout of the wheel all influence how comfortably and effectively you drive.
In sim racing – and racing in general – every input matters, and your steering wheel setup is the primary tool that connects you to the track. It’s not just about turning left or right; it’s about how precisely and consistently you can translate your intentions into motion.
The wheelbase delivers the force feedback, but the wheel is what you physically interact with. Its shape, grip, and ergonomics define how effectively you can respond to car behavior in real time.
A well-matched setup allows you to feel what the car is doing: loss of traction, weight transfer, kerb strikes, understeer, and more. If the wheel feels awkward or unsuited to the car you’re driving, you’re constantly fighting your own equipment – and losing valuable confidence and lap time.
Just like real-world motorsport, sim racing spans multiple driving styles. Rally drivers need fast corrections and full-rotation control. GT racers rely on smooth, stable grip for long stints. Formula drivers benefit from compact wheels that support rapid input and precision at high speeds.
That’s why choosing the right wheel isn’t just a personal preference – it’s all about performance. Understanding how rim shape, handle sizes material, and feel affect your driving is the first step toward building a setup that supports your style and goals.
No two racing styles demand exactly the same from your steering wheel. A wheel that feels perfect in a GT3 car might feel clunky in a tight rally stage or overly sensitive in a high-downforce prototype. That’s why it’s crucial to consider the type of racing you’re most passionate about when choosing your sim racing wheel.
In rally, rapid steering corrections, full rotation, and strong grip are essential. Drivers constantly adapt to uneven surfaces, sudden slides, and narrow corners. A round wheel with a tactile, glove-friendly surface like suede gives you the control and flexibility to handle the unpredictable.
In GT racing, endurance and comfort come into play. Here, ergonomic grips, button accessibility, and materials that hold up during long stints matter. Whether the track is fast and flowing or tight and technical, you need stability and balance from your wheel.
Formula-style racing demand ultimate precision. Formula cars are highly reactive and downforce-heavy, so the wheel needs to support sharp inputs with minimal hand movement. Compact designs and optimized hand positioning help you stay fast and consistent through high-speed corners and rapid direction changes.
By aligning your wheel setup with your preferred discipline, you’re not just choosing a style – you’re choosing better performance, improved feedback, and a more immersive experience every time you take the wheel.
Choosing the right sim racing wheel goes beyond looks – it’s about how it feels in your hands, how it responds on track, and how well it fits your driving goals. Whether you race occasionally or compete regularly, the right wheel can unlock a more confident and consistent driving experience.
Wheel shape directly affects how you drive. Round wheels offer full rotation and flexibility, making them ideal for rally or drifting. D-shaped or cut-top wheels are more ergonomic for GT racing, and Formula-style wheels are often more compact and customizable, designed for minimal hand movement and maximum precision. They’re ideal for high-speed racing where quick inputs and tight control are essential – such as in open-wheel or prototype cars. The smaller diameter and aggressive design help keep your hands in the optimal driving position at all times.
Grip is one of the most important factors when choosing a sim racing wheel – especially during long stints or intense racing sessions. The material you’re holding directly affects your control, comfort, and consistency on track.
Most authentic sim racing wheels use suede, leather, or molded rubberized grips (such as silicone-based compounds).
Each material offers a different tactile experience. Suede enhances immersion, leather adds longevity with a refined feel, and rubberized grips offer rugged reliability and comfort. The best choice depends on your preferences, glove use, and how often you race.
Check out our selection of handles and rims.
Modern sim racing wheels are more than just something to steer with – they’re full control hubs. From brake bias adjustments to DRS activation and radio communication, your ability to react quickly often depends on how intuitive and accessible your wheel controls are.
Look for a layout that matches your racing needs. If you drive endurance races or multi-class events, having easy access to functions like traction control, fuel mapping, or pit strategy is essential. Buttons should be within comfortable reach of your thumbs or fingers, so you never need to take your hands off the wheel.
Rotary encoders and toggles can be especially useful for fine-tuning settings while driving. The tactile feel and position of each input matters – the best setups let you make adjustments instinctively, without second-guessing.
Ultimately, a well-designed button layout doesn’t just give you control – it gives you confidence to focus on the race.
Once you’ve identified your driving style and preferences, it’s time to choose the wheel that matches your needs.
Whether you prioritize versatility, ergonomics, or discipline-specific realism, Asetek SimSports offers a range of wheels designed to deliver the right feel and performance for every type of racer.
But which one should you choose to fit your racing needs?
Let’s explore which racing disciplines each rim is traditionally used:
The first discipline we are going to dive into is Rally.
Imagine tearing through narrow gravel roads in the middle of a forest, flying over bumps and throwing the car into corners. That’s the thrilling world of rally.
In Rally, drivers and their co-drivers race against the clock rather than head-to-head with other drivers. The courses, known as stages, cover a variety of surfaces like gravel, mud, snow, and tarmac, making each rally a unique test of adaptability and precision.
If you want to succeed in the world of rally, you need to constantly be on the edge, feeling every slide and movement of the car. The steering wheel becomes an instrument of finesse, allowing drivers to navigate with accuracy and maintain control over every bump.
The steering wheels used in rally are mostly round with a suede finish. This round shape and suede finish of rally steering wheels are carefully chosen to offer drivers the best possible combination of control, grip, durability and comfort. These are essential factors in the intense and unpredictable world of rally.
The round shape of the steering wheel is versatile and allows the driver to make quick and precise adjustments. This is crucial as the driver is constantly adjusting the steering to navigate different surfaces and corners.
Our new Round Comfort+ Rim offers the most authentic rally experience.
If you are not a fan of the suede look, we recommend the Round Black Leather Rim instead.
We recommend using racing gloves for the best experience, especially with the suede wheel.
GT cars are like undercover superheroes. They might look sleek and polished, but underneath the hood, is a high-performance beast.
Unlike the off-road adventures of rally racing, GT racing takes place on purpose-built tracks. These tracks demand not only top speed but also meticulous control as drivers navigate a series of challenging turns, straights, and elevation changes. The tracks range from high-speed corners at Portimao to tight corners at Macau. This means drivers need a diverse set of skills, to be fast in all races during the season.
Compared to formula racing, the driving experience of a GT-car is heavier with a tendency towards understeering. This means you must be cautious about carrying too much speed into corners and instead focus on getting early on the gas to prepare for the straight. As Sebastian Vettel once put it “Honestly what are we doing here, racing or ping pong” and yes Sebastian, in GT racing we often bash a few doors and tend to be more like ping pong racing – At least if we are talking about DTM.
The materials are of high-quality materials such as grippy leather or suede cover. The leather or suede not only provides a comfortable and tactile surface for the driver’s hands but also ensures a secure grip during long periods of racing.
Unlike the simple round design often seen in rally cars, GT racing steering wheels often have a more complex, ergonomic shape. The steering wheel varies a lot between the different cars. Some cars use a formula style wheel and others a closed or open D shaped wheel.
These rims offer the most authentic GT experience:
This category is very similar to formula cars. They are designed with plenty of downforce, allowing high speeds through the fast corners.
These purpose-built racing cars are designed to compete in endurance races, showcasing a combination of aerodynamics, cutting-edge engineering, and performance. You’ll find these cars primarily in WEC and IMSA. The cars are built to withstand the extreme wear of endurance racing, for instance in the 24 hours of Daytona 24 or Le Mans.
The Open D Rims and formula wheels replicate some of the steering wheels used in LMP3 and LMP2 cars.
The design of the steering wheel is carefully crafted for ergonomic comfort. There isn’t much room inside these cars, and therefore the wheel must fit snugly in the driver’s hands, allowing for precise control and quick maneuvers during the race. The grip material is either made of leather or suede, ensuring a secure and comfortable hold.
These rims offer the most authentic prototype experience:
One of the many benefits of our ecosystem is its fully modular design. All wheels are engineered to work seamlessly with interchangeable rims and handles, allowing you to swap styles in seconds – no tools required. Quickly adapt your setup to suit rally, GT, formula, or any other racing discipline.
Want a closer look at the different handles, and how our modular design works in practice?
Check out this video where we walk through our latest sim racing wheel accessories – including how easily you can swap and customize parts to match your preferred racing style.
Now that you understand how wheel shape, grip, and functionality affect your performance, it’s time to bring it all together.
Your sim racing wheel isn’t just a piece of gear – it’s part of how you drive, react, and improve on track.
Here are a few final considerations to help you perform even better.
If you’re using a suede grip, racing gloves are highly recommended. Not only do they protect the material from wear and sweat, but they also improve your grip and comfort – especially during longer sessions. For silicone or rubberized grips, gloves are optional.
Many drivers enjoy the direct feel without them, particularly for shorter or casual stints.
If you mainly race within one discipline, a single, well-matched wheel can serve you perfectly.
But if you enjoy switching between rally, GT, and formula cars, having multiple rims and handles allow you to tailor your setup for each type of racing. Modular systems make it easy to swap rims and maintain immersion across different cars and styles.
Choosing the right sim racing wheel is about more than specs or aesthetics – it’s about finding the equipment that complements your driving style and elevates your experience. From grip material to rim shape and button layout, every detail plays a role in how you connect with the car and the track.
Whether you’re carving through rally stages, battling door-to-door in GT cars, or chasing lap times in Formula cars, the right wheel gives you more than control – it gives you confidence.
Take time to understand your needs, test what feels right, and don’t be afraid to invest in gear that helps you drive at your best.
Sim racing is at its most rewarding when your equipment disappears and you’re fully immersed in the moment, and it often starts with the right wheel in your hands.
