As one of the world’s most popular home gaming consoles, the PlayStation 4 has seen a long list of great titles, including plenty of racing sims. From Driveclub to the Gran Turismo series, and more, there’s a lot of driving excitement to be had on this console.
If you want to get the most out of your racing experience, you’re definitely going to want to pick up a compatible racing wheel. Below are what we consider the best racing wheels for PS4.
Best PS4 Wheels of 2022
- Top Pick – Thrustmaster T300RS GT
- Runner-Up – Logitech G923
- Budget Pick – Thrustmaster T150
- Luxury Pick – Fanatec Podium F1
- Honorable Mention – Thrustmaster T-GT
Breakdown of the Best Racing Wheels for PS4
Based on our extensive research, here are the best PS4 racing wheels:
Thrustmaster T300 RS GT Racing Wheel
The Thrustmaster T300 RS GT offers high-end performance at a decidedly mid-range price, and we think that it warrants the title of best racing wheel for PS4. Featuring a detachable GT-style wheel rim, 1080 degree force feedback motor, and a solid three pedal set, this set has everything you need to get going right out of the box.
Thrustmaster puts their name on the line with every feedback motor they release, and this one doesn’t disappoint: the brushless motor they implemented here provides a smooth yet powerful response curve that has to be felt to be believed. And that’s not to mention the dual-belt system which translates movement to the wheel rim with incredible consistency. For the price, it’s probably the best force feedback you can get.
In terms of build quality, the T300 RS GT looks great and feels solid. The base of the wheel is mostly plastic, which is made up for by the brushed metal wheel rim with leather stitching. If you want something just a little bit more exciting to the eye, the sister model that is the T300 Ferrari Integral RW Alcantara Edition features an awesome Ferrari 599XX EVO wheel rim on official license from the sports car manufacturer.
The Thrustmaster T300 RS GT comes with a great set of three adjustable pedals (clutch, throttle, and brake) allowing you to enjoy a manual gearbox right from the get-go. In fact, this is why we particularly reccomend the GT version of the T300 RS – the base model features just two pedals.
Logitech G923 Trueforce Racing Wheel
The G923 is an updated version of Logitech’s highly successful G29, which still finds itself in many steering wheel buyer’s guides. Like its predecessor, the Logitech G923 has a robust and attractive build, featuring both hand stitched leather and metal, and continues to be sold with a set of three great pedals.
As for performance, there’s not much too complain about. The Logitech G923 delivers the same strong and smooth force feedback that made previous models so popular, and even improves upon it by using a new technology called Trueforce to reduce deadzones. Its rotation range is a modest 900 degrees, although this is still enough to feel like the real thing.
There’s been lots of controversy over the G923 as it is considerably more expensive than the G29 was (and still is). Aside from the implementation of Trueforce and deadzones being addressed, the G923 also has a small improvement in the pedals in the form of a progressive brake spring.
Thrustmaster T150 Force Feedback Wheel
When it comes to value for money, the Thrustmaster T150 really is a steal. It’s definitely not a looker, but this affordable, PlayStation-friendly wheel comes with a whopping 1080 degree rotation range (you won’t find that in any other wheel at this price range) and even a set of pedals.
Aside from the rotation range, another thing that makes the T150 stand out is its combined use of a gear and belt-driven system. This combines the affordability of gears with the smoothness of a belt. Admittedly, the resulting effect is still a little notchy (as you’d expect from a gear-driven wheel), but it’s hard to complain for this money.
As for other factors that make this a “budget” wheel, there are a few. First, there’s build quality. Like any Thrustmaster product, the T150 is pretty solid. Unfortunately, the T150 is made almost entirely out of plastic. When compared to, say, the T300RS, some metal and leather is greatly missed.
Another dissapointment with this bundle are the pedals. It’s nice to see them included, but with just two plasticky pedals, you’re likely to be upgrading pretty quickly if you do enjoy racing (especially if you want to jump into a manual).
Fanatec Podium Racing Wheel F1
We’ve reccomended the DD1 — the wheel base used in the Fanatec Podium Racing F1 bundle — multiple times before. It offers top of the line force feedback thanks not only to the specially designed servo motor (which delivers up to 20 Nm of torque!), but more importantly, thanks to direct drive system which foregoes belts and gears for utmost smoothness and resolution.
Not only is the force feedback powerful, accurate and realistic, but you can also tailor it to your preferred playstyle. As a matter of fact, a vast array of options can be entirely set by you as you look for the settings that most engross you. Thanks to a relatively intuitive tuning menu you are able to adjust factors including ABS, drift mode, force, spring, damper, steering lock, force effect intensity and force feedback strength.
To end the discussion on the wheel base, there’s the (non-)issue of latency. The DD1 has an immediate exchange of information with the racing sim of your choice, meaning that you should never feel any latency in the slightest. All in all, the wheel base alone should have you sold.
We should also briefly mention the included wheel rim. If you’re looking for a versatile steering wheel then maybe this isn’t quite what you’re looking for but, instead, if you’re looking for an incredible F1 wheel then look no further. First and foremost, it’s officially licensed by the real-life F1, and this license doesn’t come willy-nilly. The wheel has a set of 11 buttons, 12-way multi-position switches, thumb encoders and rocker switches, packing an incredible amount of customizable options in a single product. It also has the most realistic paddle system available on the market, as you can pre-define the clutch bite point like a real-life F1 pilot. See our full review of the Podium F1 here.
The Thrustmaster T-GT was built with the Gran Turismo game in mind, but it will work fabulously with any racing sim of your choosing. Let’s start off with the non-Gran Turismo exclusive boons. It has a fantastic rotation range of 1080°, giving you more than enough real estate to abandon what feels like an arcade and enter the true to life racing sim world. The T-GT is elegant, made of real genuine leather and looks absolutely stunning. If ever you could get immersed from simply looking at a product, this would be it. As if this weren’t enough, the T-GT strives to have a 1:1 force feedback output when you play, taking all the data from the game and reproducing it back to you exactly as the racing sim intended you to feel it. These details alone make it a worthy purchase.
But if you plan on playing Gran Turismo, the fun is just getting started. The T-GT makes used of the T-DFB technology to make an accurate 3D map of the racing world and environment around you. This means that every little grain of sand, every blade of grass, every little bit of moisture on the track, the T-GT wheel registers it, and reproduced it for you. In terms of realism and immersion the only thing you’ll rue is that too few racing wheels make use of such intelligent tech.
As if that wasn’t enough, the Thrustmaster T-GT comes with a set of three adjustable metal pedals. Although the pedals are branded as unique (called the “T3PGT”), they look and feel like the fantastic pedals included with our Top Pick, the T300RS GT, which is definitely not a bad thing.
What to Look for in a PS4 Steering Wheel
With so many racing wheels out there, it can be hard to determine which is best to suit your needs; these are the keys to focus on:
Compatibility with PlayStation
It goes without saying but the first thing to check is always compatibility. Some very similar products might not be compatible even if you assume they are. We made sure that all the steering wheels in this list would work with your PS4. Should you decide to go looking for more that’s ok, just make sure that they’re actually compatible. If you’re looking for something that will be future-proof, also check out our guide to the best PS5 wheels.
Force Feedback System
Buying a racing wheel without force feedback is like shooting yourself in the foot. The entire point of simulating races is to feel as though you’re in the cockpit, and that simply doesn’t happen unless your steering wheel is responsive with what is happening in the game. Force feedback can be delivered in a few ways:
Direct Drive
Direct drive wheels are the most realistic but also the most expensive. The wheel is attached directly to a servo motor, outputting what is essentially a 1:1 replica of what real-life would feel like. These types of wheels are very rarely made for consoles.
Gear Drive
Gear-driven mechanisms connect the motor to the wheel via a series of cogs, which in turn can feel notchy when turning. However, they are the most affordable.
Belt Drive
Belt-driven systems connect the motor to the wheel via a belt (or multiple belts, as in the case of the T300 RS’ dual belt system), which feels much smoother and frictionless, making the entire experience more realistic.
Force feedback can produce massive amounts of torque, so we advise against allowing kids to use these wheels unsupervised; for everyone else, it’s an all but essential aspect of the sim racing experience that you should take care to appreciate.
Rotation Range
A good rotation range will have you simulating what it feels like to drive a real-life race car. A poor rotation range will have you feeling as though you spent multiple hundreds of dollars on something, you’d find at an amusement park or an arcade. As a general rule of thumb, you should never buy a wheel that rotates less than 900°. If it rotates more, then that’s great, but it’s not strictly speaking necessary. All the racing wheels on the list above will rotate at least 900°.
Wheel Rim Size
The best racing wheels for PS4 have a wheel rim that is 28 centimeters or larger. Any smaller and the wheel can start to feel unrealistic.
Typically, more expensive wheels have larger wheel rims. This is mainly because larger wheel rims require stronger force feedback motors to create the same torque.
Price/Value
The steering wheels on this list vary in price quite dramatically, as do to the contents of each setup. Costs account for many factors including accessories, features and even build quality – so it’s best to determine what you require from your racing setup before trying to find gear to fit your budget.
While it’s rather hard to find a good, full setup in the budget price range, there are tons of simple setups available at cheap prices – and these are sufficient if you want a bare-bones wheel. Good pedals are nearly essential for sim racing, but they come at a premium; shifters and paddles add a lot of value in addition to cost.
Just because something is cheap, that doesn’t mean it’s a good deal. The inverse is true as well; many of these products simply have more to offer than many users will find necessary and as such don’t give a lot of bang-for-buck.
What Does a PS4 Steering Wheel Include?
You may be wondering what you can expect to get with a PS4 racing wheel. Well, the most basic expectation is that each setup contains a quality race wheel, which comprises both a wheel base and a rim – with this, you are technically ready to hit the track. However, you may receive more or less depending on the exact product you buy.
Steering Wheel and Pedals
Most beginner wheels come bundled with a pedal set. Some pedal sets consist of just a brake pedal and throttle, whereas others also toss in a clutch pedal. Typically, if you’re going to buy a wheel and pedals, we suggest you look for a three pedal set that will allow you to drive manual vehicles.
If your set only has two pedals, that can be overlooked, especially if the wheel you are buying has paddle shifters – but this is really down to your personal preferences for shifting.
Steering Wheel
As racing wheels get more advanced, they tend not to come with pedals. In this case, all you’re buying is a complete steering wheel, with both the wheel base and rim.
You do need pedals to enjoy sim racing fully, so if you opt for a standalone steering wheel, know that you’ll need a separate set of PS4-compatible pedals. You’re likely to get them from a manufacturer like Thrustmaster or Fanatec (usually the same manufacturer as your wheel).
Wheel Base Only
Last but not least, there are some products which consist solely of a wheel base. This means there’s no wheel rim for you to hold onto, so you will need to buy (or perhaps make) one.
It’s worth mentioning that some kits also feature a dedicated shifter, but most simply allow you to purchase a shifter add-on at an additional cost. There are a lot of add-ons for that matter, such as handbrakes and swappable wheel rims, but we recommend ensuring you enjoy the product for a while before committing additional funds to extras.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are some of the most common questions users ask when choosing a PS4 racing setup:
For casual racing games, absolutely not – your DualShock 4 will do a fine enough job of playing pretty much any arcadey racers in addition to allowing you to play the more serious affairs. If you intend to race competitively only or if you simply appreciate deeper immersion, it’s all but essential that you take the plunge into a racing setup.
Thankfully, the answer is a resounding “yes” – for the most part. The only exceptions we’re aware of are those that are strictly wireless – and therefore unable to be plugged-into the PS5 in order to download the new firmware.
Other PlayStation 4 Racing Setups We Reviewed
We looked at some other PS4 racing setups. Even though they didn’t make our top 5 list, they’re still some of the market’s best.
Logitech G29/920 Driving Force Racing Wheel
Before we start the review, make sure that you’re looking at the G29 and not the G920. The sole difference between the two is that the G29 is a PlayStation wheel, while the G920 is an Xbox wheel.
Now, on to the meat of the review. The Logitech G29 is a wheel that’s built to deliver a consistently good drive, but rarely becoming a great drive. The design is quite beautiful, and it’s coupled with really solid build quality, making this feel like a true to life steering wheel. The reason why we’re not crazy over the G29 is because of the force feedback. Don’t get us wrong, it’s still very strong and it will have you fighting like never before if this is your first purchase. Having said that, the G29 delivers it via a gear system, which is known to be much less smooth compared to the alternative, belt-driven force feedback. When taking turns at high speeds you might thus feel your wheel get a bit notchy.
A big advantage of the G29 is that it comes with a pretty solid pedal set, so it’s easy to get two birds with one stone. We recommend this wheel especially to those who are just now entering the racing sim world, as you’ll have a product that will last you a long time. A product that delivers all that it promises to, and a product that’s coupled with a good set of pedals for a reasonable price.
Thrustmaster T80 Force Feedback Wheel
The Thrustmaster T80 is something of a “budget pick” runner-up, as it is extremely affordable while managing to offer a respectable feature set. The big caveat here is that this wheel does not have force feedback of any sort.
What you do get is a decent two-pedal set in addition to shifter paddles, a rubber-coated wheel with adjustable sensitivity and for a few bucks more, you can get sleek Ferrari styling in a special edition T80 Ferrari 488 GTB set. If you’ve made it this far into the list without settling on a racing wheel, this one is worth a look.
Hori Racing Wheel Apex
Yet another rung cheaper than the T80 is the Hori Racing Wheel Apex. Once again, the wheel has no force feedback, with just vibration to provide additional realism. The rotation range is a meagre 270 degrees, which also leaves a lot to be desired.
What works in the Apex’s favor is its design. The wheel is very attractive and the materials don’t feel too shabby. There’s also a whole host of built-in buttons for additional input while you race.
PXN V900 Racing Wheel
The PXN V900 is a highly-rated budget wheel that has a uniquely broad range of compatibility with just about every game console on the market today – PS3, PS4, PS4 and PC are all supported, as well as Nintendo Switch and Xbox One/Series X/Series S.
Like most of the budget racing setups out there, this one doesn’t have force feedback of any sort – but it does at least have vibration motors to give a sense of what you’re missing out on. Also included are built in table clamps, a pair of basic pedals and great rotation range of 900 degrees for realistic steering on a shoestring budget.
Fanatec CSL Elite Wheel Base (Used)
Fanatec previously offered a quality racing wheel base called the CSL Elite. Unfortunately, they recently discontinued this wheel in favor of the new CSL DD, which does not support PlayStation.
However, you can still pick up CSL Elites (we would highly reccomend the WRC bundle) on the used market, and at great prices. The wheel base is belt-driven like other mid-range offerings, but it’s still considered more immersive than Thrustmaster’s T300 RS.
Last Updated on May 4, 2022