Racing Wheels: Which to Buy and Which to Skip

RBE top pick

Thrustmaster T598 (PlayStation / PC)

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The T598 gives PlayStation and PC racers direct drive, a removable rim and metal pedals in one box with the most usable stock torque of the bundles here. The MOZA R3 brings direct drive and pedals to Xbox and PC for less, with a smaller 3.9 Nm motor.

Racing wheels have shifted fast toward direct drive, where the wheel bolts straight to the motor, and that technology now shows up at mid-range prices. The catch is that almost every wheel is locked to one console family, so platform decides half the choice before torque does. We compared five direct drive options from Thrustmaster, MOZA, Logitech, Fanatec and Turtle Beach against a popular budget wheel from HORI. Every spec below comes from the maker's own product page.

RBE top pick

Thrustmaster

Thrustmaster T598 (PlayStation / PC)

Buy it

A direct drive wheel, rim and metal pedals in one box for PS5, PS4 and PC, with 5 Nm of constant torque and boosted peaks.

Best for: PlayStation and PC racers who want a direct drive setup with pedals included and room to upgrade.

$$$ · premium

Why we like it

• Thrustmaster states 5 Nm of constant torque with a +100% overshoot capability for short, boosted effects, plus a stated 5 ms latency.
• The box includes the base, a detachable 11.8-inch Sportcar rim with magnetic paddles, a 2-pedal metal set with H.E.A.R.T. magnetic sensors and a clamp.
• The Race Dash screen on the base adjusts more than 10 settings and saves profiles without a PC.

Know before buying

• It works with PS5, PS4 and PC only, so Xbox owners need a different wheel.
• Only two pedals come in the box; the third load cell pedal is a separate upgrade kit.
• Thrustmaster's product page does not state a maximum rotation angle.
• The My Thrustmaster Panel tuning software runs on PC only.

Check price on Amazon Read our detailed assessment ↓

MOZA Racing

MOZA R3 Racing Wheel and Pedals for Xbox & PC

Buy it

An Xbox-licensed direct drive bundle with a 3.9 Nm base, a 22-button wheel, Hall-sensor pedals and a table clamp.

Best for: Xbox Series X|S and PC players who want real direct drive feel at a mid-range price.

$$ · mid-range

Why we like it

• MOZA lists a 3.9 Nm peak torque direct drive base with a 15-bit encoder and a 1000 Hz USB refresh rate.
• The ESX wheel has 22 buttons, aluminum paddles, 10 RPM LEDs and MOZA's quick release, so it can be swapped later.
• Everything needed to start is in the box: base, wheel, SR-P Lite pedals and a table clamp.

Know before buying

• Its 3.9 Nm is less than the 5 Nm bases in this field, so heavy cars feel lighter.
• The SR-P Lite pedals are a 2-pedal set with no clutch.
• Detailed tuning through MOZA Pit House needs a Windows PC.
• MOZA describes the warranty as up to 24 months rather than a flat term.

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Logitech G

Logitech G PRO Racing Wheel

It depends

The strongest base here at 11 Nm, with TRUEFORCE haptics and a pro button layout, sold as wheel and base without pedals.

Best for: Committed racers on PlayStation or Xbox who want the most torque available and already own or plan to buy good pedals.

$$$$ · flagship

Why we like it

• Logitech states 11 Nm of direct drive torque and 1080 degrees of maximum rotation.
• TRUEFORCE adds high-frequency detail such as engine vibration on top of the main force feedback.
• Magnetic Hall-effect shift paddles, dual analog clutch paddles and 5 onboard profiles are built into the rim.

Know before buying

• Pedals are not in the box; the package lists the rim, base, table clamp, USB cable and power supply.
• It is the most expensive product here before you add pedals.
• You buy a PlayStation/PC or Xbox/PC version, so it does not move between consoles.
• The base alone weighs 7 kg, so a flimsy desk will flex.

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Fanatec

Fanatec CSL DD QR2 Ready2Race Bundle (5 Nm)

It depends

A PC direct drive bundle that starts at 5 Nm and can be raised to 8 Nm, inside the widest upgrade ecosystem here.

Best for: PC sim racers who expect to keep upgrading parts over several years.

$$$ · premium

Why we like it

• Fanatec lists 5 Nm of peak torque out of the box and 8 Nm with the optional Boost Kit 180.
• The bundle includes the CSL DD base, CSL steel pedals with Hall sensors, the P1 V2 wheel and a table clamp.
• QR2 quick release and a long list of compatible Fanatec wheels, pedals, shifters and handbrakes make upgrades simple.

Know before buying

• Fanatec states the CSL DD is not compatible with any PlayStation console and cannot be upgraded to be.
• Xbox use needs a separate Xbox-licensed Fanatec wheel; this bundle is sold as a PC bundle.
• The Boost Kit that unlocks 8 Nm costs extra.
• It costs about as much as the T598 while shipping with less torque at stock settings.

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Turtle Beach

Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race KD3 Racing Wheel & Pedals

It depends

A compact Xbox and PC direct drive set with a color display and expansion ports, but the lowest torque of the direct drive picks.

Best for: Xbox players who want an all-in-one direct drive set with on-wheel settings and a tidy desk footprint.

$$ · mid-range

Why we like it

• Turtle Beach lists a K: Drive direct drive motor with 3.2 Nm of peak torque and up to 2,160 degrees of rotation.
• The full-color Race Management Display stores up to five onboard profiles, and the Tuner app runs on Xbox, PC, iOS and Android.
• The base has four USB-C expansion ports and a quick-release wheel, and the box includes Hall-effect aluminum pedals and a table clamp.

Know before buying

• At 3.2 Nm it is the weakest direct drive base in this comparison.
• The included pedal set is throttle and brake only.
• It is Xbox and PC only, with no PlayStation support.
• Its add-on range is far smaller than the Thrustmaster, Fanatec or MOZA lineups.

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We'd skip it

HORI

HORI Racing Wheel APEX (SPF-004U)

Skip it

A licensed PlayStation wheel and pedal set at a low price, but its maker page lists no force feedback and only 270 degrees of turn.

Best for: Only young kids or casual arcade racers on PlayStation who will never want force feedback.

$ · budget

Why we like it

• It is officially licensed by Sony and works with PS5, PS4 and Windows 11/10.
• HORI includes full-size pedals and a clamp system in the box.
• The HORI Device Manager app adjusts dead zone and pedal sensitivity and stores up to 4 custom profiles.

Know before buying

• HORI's product page lists no force feedback, so the wheel cannot push back when the tires lose grip.
• The turn radius is 270 degrees, switchable to 180, far less than the 1,080 degrees or more on the other wheels here.
• Without force feedback it gives up the main reason to buy a wheel over a controller.
• Its features are mostly software tweaks rather than hardware a racer can feel.

See our pick instead See it at Amazon anyway Read our detailed assessment ↓

How we judged the field

Five things decide whether a racing wheel is a good buy. Platform comes first, because wheels are licensed for PlayStation or Xbox and rarely both. Drive type comes second: direct drive puts the wheel on the motor shaft, while gear and belt designs add parts between you and the force feedback. Third is torque, read carefully, since makers quote peak, constant and boosted figures differently. Fourth is what is in the box, because a wheel without pedals is only half a setup. Fifth is the upgrade path, meaning quick release rims, add-on pedals and shifters.

The field splits into all-in-one direct drive bundles in the mid-range and premium tiers, flagship bases sold without pedals, and budget wheels that drop force feedback to hit a low price. We picked the strongest bundle for PlayStation, the strongest value for Xbox, one flagship, one ecosystem-led PC bundle, one compact Xbox alternative and one popular budget wheel that shows what you lose at the bottom of the market.

The Thrustmaster T598 is the wheel to buy if you race on PlayStation or PC and want one box that covers everything. Its Direct Axial Drive motor is Thrustmaster’s take on direct drive, with 5 Nm of constant torque and a stated +100% overshoot for short, punchy effects such as curb strikes, plus a stated 5 ms latency. The box includes the base, an 11.8-inch Sportcar rim with magnetic paddles, a two-pedal metal set with H.E.A.R.T. magnetic sensors, a clamp and a 98 W power supply. The Race Dash screen lets you change more than 10 settings and save profiles without touching a PC, which matters on console. The trade-offs are platform and pedals: there is no Xbox support, the third pedal is a separate upgrade kit, and the product page does not state a maximum rotation angle. The rim detaches, and Thrustmaster’s range of wheel add-ons gives you somewhere to go later. For PlayStation racers, this is the best balance of torque, contents and upgrade room here.

The MOZA R3 Racing Wheel and Pedals for Xbox & PC brings direct drive to Xbox at a mid-range price, and it comes with everything you need. MOZA lists 3.9 Nm of peak torque, a 15-bit encoder, a 1000 Hz USB refresh rate and an aluminum housing. The ESX wheel has 22 buttons, aluminum paddles and 10 RPM LEDs, and it uses MOZA’s quick release, so you can change wheels later. The SR-P Lite pedals use a Hall sensor on the throttle and adjustable spacing, and a table clamp is in the box. The compromise is strength: 3.9 Nm is noticeably less than the 5 Nm bases here, and heavy cars will feel lighter in your hands. The pedals are also a two-pedal set with no clutch, and the deepest tuning happens in MOZA Pit House on a Windows PC. MOZA describes the warranty as up to 24 months. For Xbox Series X|S and PC players who want real direct drive without a premium spend, this is the pick.

The Logitech G PRO Racing Wheel is the most powerful wheel here and the hardest to justify for casual players. Logitech states 11 Nm of direct drive torque and 1080 degrees of rotation, and adds TRUEFORCE, its high-frequency haptic layer for detail like engine vibration and road texture. The rim has magnetic Hall-effect shift paddles, two analog clutch paddles that can also act as handbrake or extra axes, and five onboard profiles with an LED display. The package lists the rim, base, table clamp, USB cable and power supply, and no pedals, so the full cost climbs well beyond what the sticker suggests. You also choose a PlayStation/PC or Xbox/PC version at purchase. At 7 kg the base needs a solid desk or a stand. If you are serious about sim racing on console and want the most torque Logitech offers, it is a strong choice. If you are still deciding whether you like wheel racing, start lower.

The Fanatec CSL DD QR2 Ready2Race Bundle (5 Nm) is the choice for PC racers who think in terms of years, not a single purchase. The base delivers 5 Nm of peak torque out of the box, and Fanatec’s optional Boost Kit 180 raises that to 8 Nm. The bundle includes the CSL DD base, steel CSL Pedals with Hall sensors on both throttle and brake, the 300 mm P1 V2 wheel with a small telemetry display, and a table clamp. The QR2 quick release and Fanatec’s catalog of compatible wheels, pedals, shifters and handbrakes give it the broadest upgrade path in this group. The limits are clear on Fanatec’s own page: the base is not compatible with any PlayStation console and cannot be made so, and Xbox use needs a separate Xbox-licensed Fanatec wheel. It also sits in the same tier as the T598 while giving less stock torque. Buy it if you race on PC and expect to keep adding parts.

The Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race KD3 Racing Wheel & Pedals is a tidy, all-in-one direct drive set for Xbox and PC. Turtle Beach lists a K: Drive motor with 3.2 Nm of peak torque and up to 2,160 degrees of rotation. Its full-color Race Management Display stores five onboard profiles, and the Tuner app runs on Xbox, PC, iOS and Android, so you can tune it without a Windows machine. The base has a quick-release wheel and four USB-C expansion ports for the Multi-Shift and a three-pedal set, and the box includes Hall-effect aluminum pedals for throttle and brake plus a table clamp. The trade-off against the MOZA R3 is torque: 3.2 Nm is the lowest of the direct drive bases here, and the add-on range is much smaller than Thrustmaster’s, Fanatec’s or MOZA’s. It is a sensible pick for Xbox players who value the display and app over raw strength.

The HORI Racing Wheel APEX is a popular, low-cost PlayStation wheel, and it is the one to skip. It is officially licensed by Sony, works with PS5, PS4 and Windows 11/10, includes full-size pedals and a clamp, and the HORI Device Manager app adjusts dead zone and pedal sensitivity across four custom profiles. The problem is what HORI’s product page leaves out: it lists no force feedback. Force feedback is how a wheel tells you the front tires are losing grip, and without it you are steering a large analog stick. The turn radius is also 270 degrees, switchable to 180, far less than the 1,080 degrees or more on the other wheels here, so steering inputs are compressed into a small arc. For a young child playing arcade racers it is fine. For anyone hoping to improve at racing games, a good controller, or saving toward a force feedback wheel, is the better spend.

Thrustmaster T598 (PlayStation / PC) vs MOZA Racing MOZA R3 Racing Wheel and Pedals for Xbox & PC: which should you buy?

The Thrustmaster T598 and the MOZA R3 are both complete direct drive bundles, and the first question is which console you own. The T598 works with PS5, PS4 and PC; the MOZA R3 in this version works with Xbox Series X|S and PC. If you are on PlayStation, the choice is made for you. If you are on PC only, both work, and the decision comes down to torque and budget.

On PC, the T598 gives you more strength, with 5 Nm of constant torque and boosted peaks against the R3’s 3.9 Nm peak, plus metal pedals and a base-mounted screen for settings. The R3 costs a tier less, has a 22-button wheel and a 15-bit encoder, and joins MOZA’s large range of add-on wheels. Pick the T598 if you want stronger feedback now; pick the R3 if you want direct drive at the lowest sensible price and might upgrade the base later.

Who should buy which

• PlayStation racers: the Thrustmaster T598 (PlayStation / PC). It is direct drive with pedals and a detachable rim, licensed for PS5 and PS4.
• Xbox players on a budget: the MOZA Racing MOZA R3 Racing Wheel and Pedals for Xbox & PC. It brings a 3.9 Nm direct drive base, a 22-button wheel and pedals to Xbox at a mid-range price.
• Serious racers who want maximum torque: the Logitech G PRO Racing Wheel. Its 11 Nm base and TRUEFORCE haptics are the strongest here, if you add your own pedals.
• PC racers planning long-term upgrades: the Fanatec CSL DD QR2 Ready2Race Bundle (5 Nm). QR2, the optional 8 Nm Boost Kit and a large parts catalog give it the widest upgrade path.
• Xbox players who want on-wheel tuning: the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race KD3 Racing Wheel & Pedals. Its color display stores five profiles and its app runs on Xbox and phones.

What to look for

• Platform license: Check that the exact version you buy is licensed for your console, since PlayStation and Xbox versions are separate products.
• Drive type: Direct drive mounts the wheel on the motor shaft for the clearest feedback, while gear and belt drives add parts in between.
• How torque is quoted: Compare peak with peak and constant with constant, because makers present torque figures differently.
• Pedals in the box: Flagship bases often ship without pedals, which can add a large second purchase.
• Pedal sensors: Hall-effect or magnetic sensors are contactless and avoid the wear of older potentiometer pedals.
• Upgrade path: A quick release rim and add-on pedals, shifters and handbrakes let the setup grow without replacing the base.

Our final take

Platform decides most of this choice. On PlayStation, the Thrustmaster T598 is the wheel to buy, with strong direct drive, a detachable rim and metal pedals in one box. On Xbox, the MOZA R3 is the best value, and the Turtle Beach KD3 is a reasonable alternative if you want its display and app. The Logitech G PRO is for committed racers with a pedal budget, and the Fanatec CSL DD bundle is for PC players who plan to keep upgrading. Avoid wheels without force feedback, such as the HORI Racing Wheel APEX, because force feedback is the reason to buy a wheel at all.

Deciding between the top two? See our head-to-head: Thrustmaster T598 (PlayStation / PC) vs MOZA Racing MOZA R3 Racing Wheel and Pedals for Xbox & PC.

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