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Home » Guides » The Best Direct Drive Wheels: The Complete Guide
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In this guide to the best direct drive wheelbases, you’ll learn everything you need to know about these important components. We’ll cover different types of wheelbases, their features, and provide tips for choosing the right one for your sim racing setup.
Whether you’re just starting out or want to learn more about direct drive wheelbases, this guide is for you.
When choosing a direct drive wheelbase, it’s important to note that there are different versions available on the market. At Asetek SimSports, we offer three different wheelbases. The main difference between these wheelbases is the amount of force feedback they can provide.
If you want to dive deeper into direct drive wheelbases, we also have an extensive guide that covers everything from A to Z and what to consider when selecting a DD wheelbase that suits your needs the best.
You can read it here: Choose the Right Direct Drive Wheel.
Direct drive wheels are known for their superior force feedback and precision compared to other types of wheelbases.
The main differences between direct drive wheels include torque level, build quality, and software integration. Higher – and more precise – torque provides more realistic and powerful feedback, allowing you to feel every detail of the track and immerse yourself in various racing categories.
Authentic direct drive wheelbases is designed and built with quality materials, making them more durable and giving a better feel. Furthermore, their advanced software allows for more customization and fine-tuning of the wheel’s performance, providing you with a highly personalized and immersive racing experience every time you race.
For both beginners and seasoned sim racers, several factors are important to ensure an immersive experience:
Force feedback: The strength and accuracy of the force feedback help replicate the feel of real driving, providing important sensory information about the car’s handling and road conditions. An authentic force feedback sensation allows you to feel when you’re losing grip or when you need to adjust your driving.
Build quality: High-end products require high-end materials. Durable materials ensure that the wheelbase can withstand the forces and provide a sensation of real racing.
Adjustability: One of the most important factors of a wheelbase is the ability to customize the settings to fit you and the race categories you drive.
Compatibility: Your wheelbase isn’t worth much if it can’t be used with the most popular games like Assetto Corsa and iRacing. Therefore, it’s crucial that your wheelbase is compatible with these games, among others.
Easy of use: A user-friendly interface and easy setup process make it easier for both beginners and experienced racers to get started and make adjustments.
Support and community: Access to customer support, updates, and a community of other sim racers can enhance the overall experience.
Direct drive wheelbases work by connecting the steering wheel directly to a powerful motor.
This motor generates force feedback, which mimics the sensations of driving a real car. Unlike other systems that use gears or belts, direct drive systems provide more accurate and immediate feedback.
The strong motor also allows for greater torque, making the driving experience more immersive. This helps the driver feel the road and car movements better.
Torque is a measure of rotational force. In the context of sim racing wheelbases, it refers to the amount of force the motor can exert to turn the steering wheel.
Higher torque means that the wheelbase can provide stronger and more realistic force feedback, simulating the physical sensations of a real car more effectively. This includes feeling the road’s texture, the car’s weight shifts, and the effects of cornering and braking.
The benefit of having more torque is that it enhances the overall immersion and control during sim racing, making the experience more authentic and engaging.
