The Best Steering Wheel Shape for Sim Racing

Choosing the right steering wheel for your sim racing setup is an important decision. It can not only enhance your performance but also improve the realism of your overall sim racing experience. Fanatec steering wheels come in all relevant shapes and sizes - from round to D-shaped to Formula-based.

Understanding the different types of steering wheels and their respective shapes will help you make the right choice that matches your preferences and racing style, and ideally gives you an edge in your favorite racing game.

Let´s have a look at the different shapes and the games they're best suited for:

Round wheels like the Podium Steering Wheel Monte Carlo Rally are based on real race car steering wheels, making them perfect for games which require frequent steering inputs. These all-rounders - no pun intended - are suitable for various types of racing, such as road racing, rally and drifting. Their circular shape allows for seamless and more extensive turning, which is especially important when it comes to rally racing, by letting you glide the wheel through your hands.

Finally, they can be turned 1080 degrees, leaving you flexible for all manner of racing tracks, thereby making this a great choice if you don´t want to commit to one racing style.

D-shaped steering wheels, like the ClubSport Steering Wheel GT Alcantara V2, enhance realism and immersion by replicating GT and sports car designs. The flat shape at the bottom of the steering wheel is why this wheel is sometimes also referred to as a flat-bottom steering wheel. Compared to round wheels, it provides greater leg clearance, helping drivers handle high-speed situations more easily by allowing for faster reaction times and turns. The ideal size for a D-shaped steering wheel is 30 cm.

Aside from these considerations, some drivers simply prefer the asethetic look and feel of the D-shaped wheel, which was designed with racing cars in mind, as opposed to the less sporty, purely functional wheels used in road cars.

If you enjoy Endurance Racing or GT Racing, a D-shaped steering wheel is the best option.

Fanatec's F1 wheels replicate the paddle shifter and button layouts of real-world F1 wheels, allowing for a more immersive experience in F1 simulations, as shown above with the ClubSport Steering Wheel Formula V2.5.

The shape and the size are ideal for quick accurate steering inputs where accuracy is critical, making it perfect for high-speed racing. It is common in Formula racing to use a smaller steering wheel with the dimensions 270mm to 280mm. The design allows for quicker hand movements, helping drivers respond faster to sharp turns and in technical sections on the track.

If you enjoy driving Formula 1 cars and the corresponding immersive experience, the Formula-shaped steering is the perfect match for you.

Aside from all the functional considerations, the most important aspect of choosing a good steering wheel is that you should feel comfortable using it for your individual racing style.

While many factors contribute to the different steering wheel shapes, whatever you use should contribute to an enjoyable sim racing experience. Integrating a new wheel shape into your setup can involve a small period of adjustment, but you may discover that swapping wheels - easily done in-game thanks to Fanatec's quick release system - can contribute to improved lap times.