How to choose the best gadgets for racing simulators

What parameters do the rudders have

The first and main parameter that you should pay attention to when choosing a steering wheel is feedback and vibration feedback… They are critical for racing simulators, as they will transmit a huge amount of information to you about the behavior of the car on the track. Only with feedback can you quickly feel when the rear axle is sliding, allowing you to correct the car and avoid turning. It will also help you feel the loss of grip and many other points. And vibration feedback will be an indicator of irregularities on the track, collision with curbs and so on.

When buying, it is important to clarify what type of feedback is used in the steering wheel. Manufacturers often do not specify this point in the description and thus mislead the user. The passive system is implemented using a spring that returns the steering wheel to its original position when turning. It does not make any sense from the point of view of information content. We need Force Feedback – the steering wheel will also return to its original position, however, the torque will be regulated by a system of electric motors, gears and belts, simulating its real behavior.

Another important indicator is steering angle… There are models on the market with a maximum range from 240 to 1,080 degrees. Everything is simple here: the larger the angle, the more versatile our device is. That is, for cars with a steering wheel that drive only on race tracks, the minimum values ​​will be enough for us, but for drifting or for racing on production cars, this will not be enough. Ideally, a steering wheel with a steering angle like in real cars is useful, that is, 720-900 degrees. If you don’t dwell on one class and prefer to ride everything from charged hatchbacks to Formula 1 cars, good steering wheels have the ability to limit the steering angle.

In addition to the steering wheel itself and the base, the kit usually includes pedal set and other additional devices: gearshift unit, handbrake and so on. There are already too many subtleties to describe them all in one or two paragraphs, so we will highlight only the main nuances. For example, the pedal set may not have a clutch pedal. In principle, not everyone needs it, since many racing cars are equipped with an automatic clutch, but if you are a fan of “mechanics”, drift and so on, then you simply cannot do without a clutch. As for the gearshift unit, there are options on sale for both sequential gearboxes and mechanical ones, while the number of positions (gears) may differ.

The last point is ergonomics and design… The simplest steering wheels are ordinary plastic “steering wheels”, sometimes they are covered with leather, rubber, and the most elite models are completely made of metal. This practically does not affect the quality of piloting, but at the same time it is much more pleasant to hold on to the steering wheel covered with high-quality leather, and not consisting of hollow plastic.

There is no concept of “budget” in simracing

Opening any online store in search of a gaming steering wheel and sorting by price from cheap to expensive, you can find hundreds of options ranging from ₽2 thousand from a dozen different manufacturers. But do not even think that among the budget options there are models suitable for simrace. In reality, we will need a budget of 7-10 times more. Cheap steering wheels are devoid of force feedback, have a small steering angle and are absolutely useless for our requests. The most they are good for is to have fun in the arcades. And it will only be entertainment for children or people who have never driven a real car.

In practice, we are only interested in two manufacturers – Logitech and Thrustmaster… All other brands, if you are new to your first sim racing wheel, you just have to forget. At the same time, even these companies also offer relatively cheap options, in which, again, there will be no feedback on the effort we need. Therefore, we will designate the two cheapest models as of 2023 that will satisfy all our minimum requests.

Logitech G29 – from ₽20 thous.

The G29 is one of the most popular models on the market in 2023. There is support for connecting to the PlayStation 4. For Xbox One you will have to buy an analog Logitech G920, which is several thousand rubles more expensive. On a PC, of ​​course, both of these steering wheels will work fully and without any problems. Logitech G steering wheels have been the best value for money throughout their history, and many aspiring simracers choose them.

In the kit, we get a steering angle range from 270 to 900 degrees (you can even play with it in Euro Truck Simulator if you want), informative feedback and a pedal assembly with a clutch. The feedback does not work perfectly, but beginners are unlikely to feel it, which means that it is suitable for initial mastering of simracing. There are many buttons and switches on the steering wheel to which you can assign all the necessary controls so that you do not have to constantly grab a gamepad or mouse.

Thrustmaster T150 PRO Force Feedback – from ₽21 thous.

This model is less reliable than the Logitech G29, sometimes it overheats during active taxiing and turns off. The T150 PRO has fewer buttons, which can be problematic in simulators like the F1, where there are a lot of controls on the steering wheel. But it has two key advantages – a more advanced and accurate feedback mechanism and a maximum rotation angle of 1,080 degrees.

Otherwise, it differs little from the G29 and G920: a pedal assembly with a clutch included, a steering wheel with rubber inserts, except that there is no Xbox One support. If you wish, you can save a thousand rubles and buy a PRO version without a postscript, having received a pedal assembly without a clutch. So if you drive a racing car carefully enough and do not like races for several hours, and the quality of feedback is more important to you, then the T150 PRO will suit you better than the G29.

Thrustmaster T300 RS – from ₽32 thous.

The Thrustmaster T300 RS costs significantly more than the T150, but it lacks all the drawbacks of its cheaper sibling like overheating and poor reliability. Of the minuses – two pedals are included in the standard kit. You can buy more expensive counterparts – the T300 RS GT Edition or the T300 Ferrari Integral Alcantara Edition, there will also be a clutch on the pedal assembly. However, they are more expensive by ₽3,000 and ₽8,000, respectively, and besides the pedals, you only get the Gran Turismo logo on the GT Edition and the Ferrari badge and Alcantara trim on the Ferrari Integral Alcantara Edition. So, if the budget allows, when choosing between the G29, T150 and T300, you should pay attention to the latter model.

When money is not a problem

There are many manufacturers of top solutions for racing simulators in the world. Not every title will be able to realize all their capabilities, while the price of devices can go up to several thousand dollars. But they are the ones who are able to give virtual racers the best gaming experience.

These manufacturers include SimXperience, SIMUCUBE, SIM-PLICITY, Fanatec, SIMAGIC and others. In them, the feedback is realized not with the help of gears and belts, but with a direct connection between the steering wheel and the electric motor, which creates the force. This allows you to get the most accurate transmission of any irregularities in the roadway, machine displacement, skidding, tire wear, loss of traction, damage and collisions.

The only drawback of this system is the price. Manufacturers do not offer full-fledged products, like Thrustmaster and Logitech, but sets of separate components – a base, a removable steering wheel, a pedal assembly, and so on. And the cheapest and minimum set will cost about a thousand dollars, that is, more than 70 thousand rubles. , which will be exact copies of real analogs.

If there is no money, but you want to drive

If you are seriously thinking about getting involved in sim racing, but ₽You don’t have 20 thousand for a good steering wheel, you might think about buying something simpler and cheaper for a start. But don’t even think about it! A cheap wheel without Force Feedback is money wastedwhen it comes to using it in racing simulators. But still, there are options on the market for which you will not have to shell out such a large amount.

There are quite old, but high-quality models already out of production, so it will be almost impossible to find them in stores. But on Avito, Yulia and other similar sites, you can buy used options at a good price. The only problem is that you won’t be able to connect them to PS4, Xbox One and new-generation consoles without dancing with a tambourine and additional adapters.

Logitech MOMO Racing (₽1.5-4 thousand) – the most accessible and simple option from which you can start acquaintance with the world of simracing. It has force feedback, there is even a simple sequential gear shifter.

Of the minuses – the maximum angle of rotation is 240 degrees, that is, you will not get a full-fledged experience in driving road cars. But for racing cars, this is quite enough. On the same “Avito” you can find options already modified at 600 and 900 degrees, or modification kits. But such solutions create a new problem: the feedback will not work as accurately as at 240 degrees.

Thrustmaster Ferrari F430 Force Feedback (₽4.5-8 thousand) – steering wheel with a maximum steering angle of 270 degrees. It does not have a gear lever, but the force feedback is much better than the Logitech MOMO Racing. That said, it’s much more reliable than the newer T150 – don’t worry about a used steering wheel that won’t last long.

Logitech Driving Force GT (₽5-8 thousand) – at one time a real “people’s” steering wheel with 900 degrees of rotation and force feedback. One of the best value for money solutions.

The set includes a pedal assembly without a clutch and a gear lever. Driving Force GT is the most versatile option that you can buy on the secondary market for less than 10 thousand rubles. And despite the feedback, which is worse in quality than Thrustmaster, it is quite suitable for beginners and not the most picky users.