How steering lock is key to lap time in Assetto Corsa Competizione

Assetto Corsa Competizione (ACC) is a sim that requires a little tinkering to get the most out of it. One of the things that can help transform the handling of a car in-game is ensuring the steering lock settings are at the correct values.

Don’t scrub those tires too much now, easy on the steering lock!

WHY CHANGE STEERING LOCK?

The goal of setting the correct steering lock is to minimize the amount of tire wear created by tire ‘scrubbing’. For example, if you use a car with an optimum steering rotation value of 900°, but set it to 450°, you’ll notice the car’s steering goes to full lock much quicker than normal, increasing the chances of the tires reaching the limit of grip quicker.

This sustained tire scrubbing overheats and wears out the rubber, and will also likely cause graining, further reducing grip and tire life. Therefore, having the correct steering lock setting is key to prolonging tire life, and in GT races lasting an hour or longer, this is pivotal to your chances of success.

Constant-radius corners will highlight any steering rotation issues, such as Luffield at Silverstone pictured above.

Steering lock on PC

On PC, steering lock is a rather contentious issue, as many people believe that setting both your wheel’s rotation and the in-game steering lock to 900° gives the best results. This is because ACC takes advantage of the ‘soft lock’ feature, automatically giving you optimal settings per car. Well, that’s the theory anyway!

On the other hand, some PC users will set both values as per the table found below, mimicking vehicle manufacturers’ data to provide the most accurate force feedback from each car. I’m in this camp and regularly switch steering rotation depending on which car I drive. (For reference, I use a Fanatec CSL Elite wheelbase & load cell pedals, with a Formula V2 wheel rim).

Steering lock on CONSOLES

If you are using PS4 or Xbox One, you will definitely need to set the steering lock as per the below. This will give you a one-to-one ratio between you turning your wheel rim and what is displayed in your virtual cockpit. It’s worth noting that if you use a PC to play ACC, there is no downside to setting your steering rotation at the correct levels found in the table, so if you’re after a sure-fire safe bet, then this is the option to go for.

Recommended ACC steering lock settings by car

Steering lock in-game. Set to the values above on console, or 900° on PC. Just remember, you can’t go wrong if you follow the table above! I’ve set mine to 480° as I’m using the McLaren 720s GT3, and also set my Fanatec wheel’s rotation to 480°.

STEERING RATIO

Another way of fine-tuning your steering feel in-game is to alter the ‘steering ratio’ setting in the car setup screen. Essentially, higher values will make the car feel a little lazier and less willing to change direction. Inversely, lowering the steering ratio will quicken the steering rack, making the car more reactive to your inputs, perfect for a tight track requiring rapid changes of direction such as Hungaroring.

Like a lot of setup options, changing your steering ratio can come down to user preference, as some drivers prefer a car with more oversteer, so might prefer a quicker-feeling steering setup. If you’re sharing a car with a team-mate for an endurance race, you’d better make sure both of you are happy with this setting before taking to the track!

The main takeaway on steering lock values in Assetto Corsa Competizione is this: if you are unsure which method works best, set your wheel rotation and ACC steering lock number to the matching value as shown in the table. That way you can’t go wrong; be that on PC, PS4 or Xbox.

Although setting both to 900° is supposed to work perfectly on PC, myself and a few team-mates haven’t enjoyed the same experience. It’s not too much of a hassle to adjust, so definitely worth doing to guarantee optimum performance!