What Is the Best Steering Wheel for iRacing?

If you’re looking to upgrade your sim racing experience, choosing the best steering wheel for iRacing is a great place to start. Whether you’re a complete beginner or a competitive racer, the right sim racing wheel can drastically improve your performance, precision, and immersion.

In this guide, we’ll break down the key features that define a great iRacing steering wheel, and help you find the perfect match for your sim rig.

What Makes a Steering Wheel Great for iRacing?

iRacing is known for its realism and competitive edge. That means your sim racing gear needs to be up to the task. A great steering wheel for iRacing should offer:

Accurate and Force Feedback

Force feedback is essential for immersion and control. The best iRacing wheels deliver clear, strong, and nuanced feedback, letting you feel every bump, curb, and slip. This responsiveness helps you react faster and improves your control over time, especially in competitive online races.

Compatibility with Wheelbases and Pedals

A great steering wheel shouldn’t limit your options. Compatibility ensures your wheel works with leading wheelbases and pedal sets. This also gives you more freedom to upgrade individual components without replacing your entire setup.

A Rim Style for Your Preferred Racing Discipline

Different racing disciplines demand different rim and handle styles. Formula handles are ideal for open-wheel precision, while GT rims suit endurance and road racing. The correct rim shape or handle with well-placed buttons helps you stay focused and reduces fatigue during long stints behind the wheel.

High Build Quality and Reliability for Longer Sessions

Long practice runs and multi-hour races push your gear to the limit. That’s why durability is key. Look for solid construction using high-quality materials like aluminum or carbon composites. A well-built wheel holds up under pressure – and ensures consistent performance race after race.

Whether you’re chasing milliseconds or learning the basics, your choice of sim racing wheel impacts how connected you feel to the car and track.

Best Entry-Level Steering Wheels for iRacing Beginners

If you’re new to sim racing, starting with an entry-level steering wheel is a smart way to learn the basics without overcomplicating your setup. These wheels are typically lightweight, easy to handle, and designed with a simple button layout – ideal for learning the basics across different categories.

Paired with the right wheelbase, entry-level wheels give you just enough feedback and control to experience the thrill of racing, while focusing on improving your technique and consistency.

They’re perfect for getting a feel for the car and track without overwhelming detail or torque.

High-End Steering Wheels for Serious Sim Racers

For more experienced sim racers, a high-end steering wheel can elevate your performance by offering premium materials, a more ergonomic grip, and detailed input options like multiple buttons, toggles, and rotary encoders.

These wheels are often designed with specific racing disciplines in mind – such as Formula or GT – giving you better control and immersion in the specific racing category.

When paired with a direct drive wheelbase, high-end wheels allow you to take full advantage of force feedback, helping you feel every subtle change in grip, traction, and surface.

But even the best racing wheel is only as good as the wheelbase behind it – which brings us to the core of any sim racing setup: the wheelbase.

How the Right Wheelbase Improves Your iRacing Steering Wheel

Your wheelbase is the center piece of your steering system – and it has a huge impact on realism. Direct drive wheelbases deliver smoother, more precise torque compared to belt- or gear-driven bases.

If you want a highly immersive and precise feel for iRacing, go for a direct drive wheelbase.

The wheelbase is what translates your car’s behavior into real-world force – sending every bump, curb, and traction change directly into your hands through the steering wheel. No matter how advanced or well-designed your steering wheel is, it’s the wheelbase that determines how detailed and responsive the feedback feels.

A strong and accurate direct drive wheelbase lets you fully utilize your steering wheel’s potential, especially in high-speed corners and under braking. Together, they form a unified system that allows you to react instinctively, drive consistently, and feel truly connected to the car and track.

Do I Need a Formula or GT-Style Rim for iRacing?

Whether you’re racing open-wheel cars or GT style racing, both Formula handles and GT-style rims are perfectly suited for iRacing. The real question isn’t which is better overall – it’s which one best matches the type of racing you prefer.

Formula handles are designed for precision and fast, responsive inputs, ideal for open-wheel cars where quick cornering and tight control are critical. These handles are typically smaller, with molded grips and a compact layout that mirrors what you’d find in real Formula cars.

GT-style rims are larger and more rounded – offering a driving feel that’s more relaxed but equally immersive. They’re often preferred for touring cars, endurance races, and road cars, where smoother steering input and comfort over long sessions matter more.

Because iRacing simulates so many different motorsport categories, many sim racers choose to own both and swap depending on the series they’re competing in. If your wheelbase supports interchangeable wheels, it’s easy to switch between styles and stay fully immersed in any racing discipline.

Once you’ve selected your steering wheel, the next step is getting it properly connected and configured in iRacing. This setup process ensures your hardware performs at its best and responds accurately to your inputs on track.

Don’t worry – it’s easier than it sounds. Let’s walk through the steps.

How do I connect my steering wheel to iRacing?

1. Once you’re in the game, navigate to “OPTIONS” and then select “DRIVE.”
2. Choose “Steering” to assign steering wheel controls. When prompted, turn the wheel completely to the right, then fully to the left. Re-center the wheel and select “Done.”
3. Rotate the wheel 90° left, hold it, and press “Done.”
4. To configure pedal actions, select “Pedals.” Press down the throttle entirely and let go, then click “Done.”
5. Fully press and release the brake pedal, then click “Done.”
6. Fully engage and release the clutch pedal, then click “Done.”
7. Select “Gearbox” to set up shifter actions. Follow instructions to set a control for up-shifting in vehicles with sequential shifters and press “Done.”
8. Set a control for down-shifting in vehicles with sequential shifters and click “Done.”
9. Select “Yes” to confirm.
10. Bind shifter controls as directed. Move the gear stick up to engage the 6th gear for reverse binding and click “Done.”
11. Switch to neutral gear and click “Done.” Assigning the neutral gear to the button on the shifter’s right side is advised.
12. Engage the 1st gear and press “Done.”
13. Follow the same process to bind remaining gears.
14. Once all gears are set, click “Done.”
15. Adjust the steering wheel’s rotation limit to 1080°.
16. Enable the “Force Feedback” option.
17. Adjust the torque setting: set to 3.2Nm for V10 or 10Nm for V12, depending on your wheel’s specifications.
18. To use manual transmission, activate “H-Pattern/Direct Selection” before game start.
19. On the “Control” page, assign additional in-game functions. For instance, bind “Second Up Shift” by using the paddle on the wheel’s right, confirming the bind if “Dev 0 Btn 4” appears.

Summary: Find the Best Steering Wheel for iRacing

The best steering wheel for iRacing depends on your racing goals, experience level, and preferred racing discipline. Whether you’re just getting started with an entry-level rim or aiming for a high-performance setup, your choice of wheel should match how and what you race – be it GT, Formula, endurance, or something in between.

Just as important as the rim itself is the wheelbase it connects to. A quality wheelbase is what brings your steering wheel to life, delivering detailed force feedback that lets you feel the road, the car, and every split-second decision.

With the right combination of rim or handle style, build quality, and wheelbase performance, your sim racing setup can feel closer to the real thing than ever before. It’s all about creating the connection between you, the car, and the track.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the best steering wheel for iRacing?

The best steering wheel for iRacing depends on your experience level and racing style. Look for a high-quality wheel that suits the discipline you prefer whether, and make sure it pairs well with a compatible wheelbase.

2. What’s the difference between GT and Formula-style wheels?

GT-style rims are larger and suited for touring or endurance racing, offering comfort and smooth steering input. Formula handles are more compact and responsive, designed for quick inputs in open-wheel racing. Both work great in iRacing – your choice depends on what you race.

3. Do I need a direct drive wheelbase for iRacing?

You don’t need one to enjoy iRacing, but a direct drive wheelbase will give you significantly better force feedback, precision, and immersion. If you’re serious about sim racing, it’s a major upgrade that elevates the entire experience.

4. Can I use one steering wheel for multiple racing categories?

Yes, you can. Most sim racing wheels work across different types of racing in iRacing. However, if you want the highest level of immersion and realism, it’s best to use a wheel that matches the category you’re racing in.

5. How important is force feedback in sim racing?

Force feedback is crucial – it tells you what the car is doing beneath you. From tire grip and curbs to understeer and oversteer, strong and accurate force feedback helps you drive more precisely and consistently.

6. Does the wheelbase affect how my steering wheel feels?

Absolutely. The wheelbase is what drives the entire steering system. It generates the torque and feedback that travels through the steering wheel, making it the most critical factor in how realistic and responsive your sim racing experience feels.