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The best PC steering wheels for gaming in 2022 are more important than ever given the huge new driving game and sim releases that we’ve had. They are also, somewhat obviously, the absolute best way to enjoy your racing games. From additional feedback features and more realistic resistance settings to all those lovely extra buttons for customizable controls, there’s plenty for driving fans to dig into here.
There’s more to racing than going left or right, however. Across the best racing wheels, you’ll also find premium features such as force feedback which can take immersion to the next level. Force feedback is when you can feel your car fighting back, particularly on tough terrain. This feature is something that can really set wheels apart from even the most feature-filled PC controllers.
It’s worth taking note of the fact that even some of the best PC steering wheels do not have force feedback so keep and eye out for this feature. Force feedback, along with arrays of pedals to take the complexity of braking and gear changes away from your already overloaded fingers, increase the realism of the experience and help you to shave the fractions of a second off your lap times that can mean the difference between the winner and a loser.
You can also opt for some additional extras to make your driving experience feel much more real, such as car seat style chairs to attach your wheels and pedals to. You can also get yourself a gearstick to change how you play and change gears.
These are the best PC steering wheels to slap in front of your screen or on your desk. While many of these picks will work on consoles too, we have separate PS4 steering wheel (opens in new tab) and Xbox steering wheel guides if you prefer a certain platform.
The best PC steering wheels for 2022
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1. Thrustmaster T248
The best PC steering wheel overall
Specifications
Rotation: 900°Buttons: 25Pedals: 3Adjustable Pedals: Yes
Reasons to buy
+Powerful force feedback+Premium build quality and design+Strong support from a range of titles
Reasons to avoid
-Stiff braking pedal-Occasional issues recentering-Poor grip for pedal base on hard floors
With a massive selection of additional features, easy to reach button placement, and excellent force feedback there’s plenty to love about the Thrustmaster T248. It’s the brand’s latest flagship setup, geared towards PC and PlayStation devices (an Xbox model is on its way), and performed incredibly well in our testing.
The spec sheet speaks for itself here, with dual-encoder controls, magnetic paddle gear changers and an LED telemetry display which can be used in a number of ways by titles like F1. There’s plenty of room for customization in here. The brake pedal can be configured to four different pressure modes, and we did find some a little too stiff for regular play. You’re also getting 25 remappable buttons and the LED display in the centre can be configured to show you a range of stats in supporting games, from race position to lap time to gear number.
All in all, the sense of realism created by the powerful motor and resistance settings in the Thrustmaster T248 invigorates the whole experience. While some of the fancier features are still to be picked up by some titles there’s plenty to dive into here, and this is by no means a cheap option, racing fans will certainly feel a step up if they upgrade.
Read more: Thrustmaster T248 review
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2. Thrustmaster TMX Force Feedback Racing Wheel
The best budget PC steering wheel
Specifications
Compatible with: Xbox One/PCConnection type: USBWeight: 0.998kgForce Feedback: YesRumble: YesMaximum rotation angle: 900 degreesPedals included: YesClutch pedal: NoExpandable: Yes
Reasons to buy
+Genuine force feedback+Won’t break the bank
Reasons to avoid
-Comparatively lightweight pedals-Feedback effect not as strong as the TX base
There’s absolutely no question that force feedback makes a huge difference to how fun a racing game is. Having the wheel push against your hands with varying degrees of resistance when you crash or steer gives you a realistic feel, and even evokes memories of arcade coin-op racers like Daytona USA. But the technology is expensive, meaning you need to be serious before buying… or at least you did. Thrustmaster has produced a cut-down, but still impressive force feedback wheel as an entry level purchase and it’s very desirable indeed.
The pedals included are plasticky, and offer little resistance, and don’t include a clutch pedal either. However they can be swapped out for a better compatible set if you decide to upgrade later on. The steering wheel is similarly low-cost, and nowhere near as deluxe-feeling as the high-end units’ interchangeable wheels.
And that force feedback? It’s not as strong as the other bases, but it does work. If you’re on a tight budget, this product provides a true force feedback wheel with 900 degrees of rotation and a set of pedals for your money, which is pretty darn awesome.
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3. Logitech G923 steering wheel & pedals
The best quality and value-for-money PC racing wheel
Specifications
Rotation: 900°Buttons: 16Pedals: 3Adjustable Pedals: No
Reasons to buy
+More affordable than direct competitors+TrueForce feels insane+G Hub Software is brilliant
Reasons to avoid
-TrueForce only compatible with four games-No handbrake input and stick shift not included
Logitech has been in the steering wheel industry for around two decades now and as gaming technology has improved, so has the quality of their wheels. The G923 is a direct successor to both the Xbox-focused G920, and the PS version, the G29 – both of which were compatible with PC. Now we’ve just got one device sold in two variants – again both of which are compatible with PC – and boy oh boy is it a corker.
Steering wheels are typically aimed at either entry-level players looking to dip their toes in the water of sim racing, or hardcore racers who have been doing this for some time now and the G923 caters for both brilliantly. The G923 also offers perhaps the most immersion you’ll get from any wheel on the market thanks to the new TrueForce technology, while still keeping the price point below the upmarket costs. The price is steep if you’re new to the scene, but it’s less than its direct competitors and is one of the best when it comes to performance. It’s well-built with premium stitching around the leather, looks sleek with your set-up, and is the closest you can get to experience what it’s like to actually be behind the wheel of a supercar/F1 car/rally car without leaving the comfort of your desk – or forking out some serious money for a full sim-rig set-up. If you’ve got the cash, the G923 is a beautiful bit of kit, and a must-have if you don’t already own a similar product.
Read more: Logitech G923 Review
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4. Thrustmaster T300 RS
The best steering wheel and two-pedal set
Specifications
Compatible with: PS4/PS3/PCConnection type: USBWeight: 3kgForce Feedback: YesRumble: YesMaximum rotation angle: 1080 degreesPedals included: YesClutch pedal: NoExpandable: Yes
Reasons to buy
+Incredible responsive and strong force feedback+Official compatibility with Driveclub
Reasons to avoid
-Handbrake is always a compromise-Can smell a bit hot after a while
This is one of the best steering wheels on PC for the serious racing game enthusiast. It incorporates high-quality force feedback so powerful, hitting a wall at the wrong angle could potentially hurt your thumbs. There is a downside to all this motorised resistance, and that’s the fan that ejects hot air from the top of the unit, right out the top of the unit, so after a while you may smell the hot air which is a bit off-putting.
In track racers like GT Sport, F1 2018 or Project CARS 2, as you can really feel the sensation of grip via the superb motorised feedback, and the speed of response to your inputs is superb. It’s precise, weighty and really shakes when the game demands it, making a rally game like WRC 6 (opens in new tab) feel so much more involving.
The only real problem the wheel has is that the handbrake is inevitably mapped to a button you access with your thumb, making rally games fiddly. You can buy a separate stick shift and use that as the handbrake with the paddles for changing gear, but that isn’t ideal. The wheel is often upside-down during rally stages, so you’ll have to compromise between handbrake and stick shifting somewhere. Still, handbrake aside, this is arguably the perfect when for the serious gamer, and gets my recommendation.
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5. Logitech G920 Driving Force
A smooth, responsive wheel with great force feedback
Specifications
Compatible with: Xbox One/PCConnection type: USBWeight: 7.21kgForce Feedback: YesRumble: YesMaximum rotation angle: 1080 degreesPedals included: YesClutch pedal: NoExpandable: Yes
Reasons to buy
+Wonderfully smooth steering action+Powerful force feedback
Reasons to avoid
-Brake pedal may be too stiff for some tastes-Games that require the hand brake are fiddly
This Xbox One wheel is super-smooth and feels superb to drive as a PC steering wheel too. It’s ergonomic (though keep in mind that any wheel will make unaccustomed hands sore after a few hours) and pleasantly slimline, while retaining a good, solid feel.
Aside from the same handbrake-as-a-button problem as the Thrustmaster offerings, a unique area of consternation is the pedals. The unit we tried features an unusually stiff brake pedal, requiring immense pressure to get the brakes to engage. Reviews on Amazon suggest other people have the same criticism – something that isn’t true of the PS4 equivalent G29. You can usually reassign the brakes to the clutch pedal (which is included as standard on this wheel), but that’s not ideal if you’re a serious racing fan. Things are improved somewhat if you mount the pedals properly on a racing seat or on non-slip flooring like carpet, but it really shouldn’t be quite so stiff.
Brakes aside, this is an otherwise exemplary force feedback steering wheel and one that will make any racing game more enjoyable… if not necessarily easier to play.
Read more: Logitech G290 Review
How we test steering wheels
In brief, every steering wheel that we have had our hands on is used in a series of different video games to accommodate for most genres. This means that we’ll test the responsiveness of the sticks, face buttons, bumpers, triggers, pedals, and any other additional features found on the unit. If a wheel is wired or relies on rechargeable batteries, then the duration of the lifespan is tested, too. The same can be said for any specialist software, such as drivers, that may be included with the steering wheel as well.
For more on how we test controllers at GamesRadar+ check out our full article, and for something more representative of our holistic approach to the latest gear, check out our Hardware Policy.
For more accessories, don’t forget to check out the best gaming keyboard and the best gaming mouse.
