Picture the scene – you own a PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5, you’ve been getting into your racing games and now you’re ready to take things up a notch. It’s time to buy a steering wheel peripheral.
Or, you’ve already got an entry-level device, but you’re now wanted to ace those Gran Turismo 7 apices and take your Assetto Corsa Competizione experience online. You need to know if the investment in a more expensive wheel is worth it.
Fret not, in this guide we will explain the best sim racing steering wheels for PS4 and PS5, highlight their best and worst features and it’s all laid out from the pinnacle to the more affordable beginner set-ups.
Ultimately, whether it’s GRID Legends or F1 22, a steering wheel add-on will make you quicker and more engaged once you’ve learnt the ropes.
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The crème de la crème – Fanatec Gran Turismo DD Pro
The Fanatec Gran Turismo DD Pro is, no question, the best steering wheel for sim racing on PlayStation right now.
It uses direct drive technology – no belts or gears here, just pure, unadulterated, feedback with 5Nm of torque by default, or 8Nm of force with an optional Boost Kit 180. Direct drive, up until this point, was the preserve of professional grade PC-only wheel bases pushing over the £1,000/$1,000 mark.
Despite it generating more strength than other PlayStation-compatible wheels, you can still mount this onto a desk, and the Premium Bundle comes bundled with the wheel base, a Gran Turismo-themed steering wheel, the Boost Kit and some load cell pedals. If you would like to pick and mix the wheel add-on and pedals, the wheel base is available as a stand-alone unit too.
It can also be used on a PC and, if you buy an Xbox-compatible wheel, Microsoft’s devices too. Speaking of which, this also opens you up to the incredible Fanatec wheel ecosystem. NASCAR, WRC, Formula 1, GT – there are specific wheels for that, compatible with this system.
Oh, and while the bundled wheel is Gran Turismo-themed, it can be used across all wheel-compatible racing games. Just in case you weren’t aware.
While there are many more affordable devices available, this is the current pinnacle of force feedback on PlayStation. Hands down. No arguments. Provided money is of little consequence, of course…
- Fanatec Gran Turismo DD Pro Premium Bundle: €969.85/$969.85*
- Fanatec Gran Turismo DD Pro (8Nm): €849.90/$849.90*
- Fanatec Gran Turismo DD Pro (5Nm): €699.95/$699.95*
- Fanatec Gran Turismo DD Pro Wheel Base only (8Nm): €599.95/$599.95*
- Fanatec CSL DD Table clamp: €29.95/$29.95*
- Fanatec Boost Kit 180 (to go from 5Nm to 8Nm of feedback force): €149.95/$149.95*
- Recommended optional wheel – Fanatec CSL Elite Steering Wheel McLaren GT3 V2: €199.95/$199.95*
*When purchasing in the UK, you may be charged an additional import/duty fee post-Brexit. Fanatec does not list the prices in GBP, but it does ship to the UK.
The ultimate – Fanatec Podium Racing Wheel F1
This is the best of the best for PlayStation drivers. The officially Formula 1 licenced Podium set-up from Fanatec comes with an F1-themed racing wheel and a 20Nm direct drive wheel base.
20Nm is more than double the force outputted by the Gran Turismo DD Pro listed above, which is already above anything else on this compendium. This device is in essence a Podium DD1 wheel base – which is professional PC-grade material – with the F1 wheel rim added to the package.
The reason why it’s not quite our overall top pick is simply the price. Sure, the Gran Turismo DD Pro is pricey, but the Podium Racing Wheel F1 is another level at close to $2,000 (and for those in the UK, most likely in the £2,000 range when import duties are added on). Also bear in mind such forces cannot be clipped onto a desk safely, so you will need a dedicated cockpit to mount it to.
This really is close to ultimate in feedback delivery (the PC-specific Fanatec DD2 wheel base offers up to 25Nm, but that’s the peak), but it’s only one for those who are aiming to be a full-time sim racing professional or have a bath full of spare money.
- Fanatec Podium Racing Wheel F1: €1,779.95/$1,779.95*
*When purchasing in the UK, you may be charged an additional import/duty fee post-Brexit. Fanatec does not list the prices in GBP, but it does ship to the UK.
Best value – Thrustmaster T248
A relatively new contender, the Thrustmaster T248 mixes both traditional Thrustmaster belt-drive technology for smooth performance, with gear-driven feedback – something usually the reserve of Logitech – for additional punch.
The result is a satisfying sensation. The sensations are generally a tad smoother than the Logitech G923 (below), but it delivers significantly more force than the entry-level T150 (also below).
Alongside the hybrid drive system, you receive a wheel rim that has a soft rim, clickety-clack buttons, gearshift paddles and, the bonus feature of three pedals with interchangeable springs. These alter the push needed to slow down or speed up, something you can switch between to match your personal preference.
Those paddles, however, are a source of discontent – they are simply too loud. If someone is in the same building, or with you in a party chat, the chances are they’ll hear your gearshifts, particularly grating with the Formula 1 games.
There’s also a digital display on the wheel that can cycle through game-specific telemetry – the problem being it’s low-resolution and taller racers may not be able to read it. More useful, however, is the ability to increase or reduce the force feedback on the fly with a dedicated button – handy if you are swapping between something serious like Assetto Corsa Competizione, and then something a bit more accessible such as GRID Legends.
The wheel does not clip off, so you can’t dip into Thrustmaster’s range of high-end steering wheel rims, but it does work on PC and has the PlayStation-appropriate buttons.
- Thrustmaster T248 – Recommended price: £299.99/$399.99
- Often found for: £279.99/$349.99
Best gearshift paddles – Logitech G923 TRUEFORCE
This is a rather tenuous category, granted. The thing is, splitting this with the Thrustmaster T248 is more difficult than developing the Large Hadron Collider. Both operate within a similar price bracket, can be mounted to a desk, include three pedals and don’t have removable wheel rims.
In other words, the ideal package to get into sim racing with.
The metal paddles used for selecting gears are some of the most satisfying around, both in terms of material quality and action. The G923 is a gear-driven unit, which Logitech brands as TRUEFORCE. It’s tough enough, but sometimes makes some strange noises and if you concentrate you can notice the sensation of gears clicking into place through the palm of your hands.
Like all the wheels on this list, it does work on PC and has the PlayStation-appropriate buttons.
If you spot a deal on the Logitech or Thrustmaster, buying either of these provides you with a brilliant feedback experience that can be used across any PlayStation wheel-compatible game or simulation.
- Logitech G923 TRUEFORCE – Recommended price £349.99/$399.99
Best budget buy – Logitech G29
Aha, you thought the G923 replaced the venerable G29. You’d be right. But strangely, the OG is still in production and readily available.
During the 2022 Amazon Prime Day, for example, this had 43 per cent off its original list price in both the UK and US. While the design is older than the dinosaurs, something that is essentially the same as the contemporary G923 but with a less subtle force feedback system – some games deliver an audible rattle through the chassis – for sub £200/$200 at times is a bargain.
Thanks to its lengthy time on sale, plenty of working examples are available used too. Just be aware of the pedals clogging up with dust – eventually, they can stop working. The material used on the wheel rim is resilient, but also a bit rough on the inside of your thumbs after extended racing sessions.
The G29 is affordable, provides punchy feedback, includes those genre-leading shift paddles and is compatible with an optional h-pattern gear shifter. There’s a reason why many full-time sim racers used a Logitech to get started…
- Logitech G29 – Recommended price: £299.99/$399.99
- Often found for: £239.99/$299.99
- Sometimes found for: £169.99/$190.00
Second best bargain buy – Thrustmaster T150
Okay, there are cheaper options on the market, such as the Hori Wireless RWA Racing Wheel Apex, but the T150 elevates itself above such devices because we know it’s universally supported – something that isn’t necessarily true of some brands.
This model is age-old, the plastics used are pound-shop worthy and its belt-pulley-gear force feedback system is hardly arm-wrenching. But it works, and works well, includes the PlayStation buttons, PC compatibility and two pedals.
You know when a device has been around a while when the spec sheet boasts PlayStation 3 compatibility…
The Thrustmaster T150 Pro kit adds an enhanced T3PA pedal set with a silver metal finish and a clutch pedal – the base-level bundled pedals are rudimentary, to say the least. There’s also the Ferrari edition, pictured below. This is the same device, save for the rim itself, and is no longer listed by Thrustmaster directly, but some outlets do still carry new stock.
The coloured design elements of the wheel rim can cause your palms to be sweaty, clammy even, like you’ve been clinging onto an Amsterdam rental bicycle’s handlebar too hard trying to avoid trams. Gloves are recommended for longer sessions.
The Logitech G29 is sometimes reduced to around this price but then the T150 in-turn is also on offer at times. Depending on which deal is available at the time, if the Logitech is in range, plump for that. However, if the Thrustmaster is in stock at a reasonable price, this is a fun entry-level wheel for those just starting out.
- Thrustmaster T150 – Recommended price: £189.99/$249.99
- Offen found for: £165/$220
- Thrustmaster T150 Pro – Recommended price: £199.99
That’s it for our best steering wheels for PS4 and PS5 in 2022 – we’ll update this article if more suitable wheels become available.
If you do end up purchasing a Thrustmaster TGT II, Thrustmaster T300 and Hori Wireless RWA Racing Wheel Apex know that you have a perfect playable device, it just didn’t make this list for a variety of reasons. Also, note that the Fanatec CSL Elite is now discontinued. As for the Logitech G PRO, it’s brilliant, but its steering wheel add-on ecosystem is non-existent at present.
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