Do You Change Wheels for Different Cars?

Porsche 919 and 917 at Brands Hatch Indy in Assetto Corsa.jpg

Do you use different wheels for different cars?

  • Yes

    Votes: 242 58.0%
  • No

    Votes: 175 42.0%

  • Total voters
    417
The amount of choice when it comes to circuits and cars is one of the elements that makes sim racing amazing. Similarly, hardware is not limited to just a few options anymore, unlike a decade ago, and as a result, it is possible to match steering while size and shape to what you are driving – do you strive for maximum authenticity for each car or are you fine with one type of wheel?

Most modern wheels come in a Formula-style shape – F1 cars, prototypes, GT3 racers and even some Touring Cars have moved to a somewhat rectangular shape of wheel in recent years. Hardware manufacturers have followed suit, and almost all that produce wheels have some sort of Formula wheel on offer, some even incorporating big dash displays and more buttons than most sim racers could ever assign.

Screenshot_ks_porsche_919_hybrid_2016_ks_brands_hatch_5-4-123-15-11-17.jpg


While it is possible to drive older cars with these wheels, of course, this does not feel quite right for some (including the author of this article). As a result, GT-style or even completely round wheels are a nice option for them to have and switch to whenever it is appropriate for the car they are driving.

Cockpit and Steering Wheel of a Lotus 49 in Assetto Corsa.jpg


This is entirely subjective, as some prefer wheel rims with a small diameter, while others are more comfortable with bigger wheels. Others want to go the route of full immersion and match the wheel of the car they are driving as accurately as possible, even building their own versions including LED warning lights and functional buttons.

To Change or Not to Change?​

Which side do you take regarding this question? Do own multiple wheels and change them regularly, or are you fine with one multi-purpose rim that you are simply the most comfortable with? Let us know in the comments and show your collections!
About author
Yannik Haustein
Lifelong motorsport enthusiast and sim racing aficionado, walking racing history encyclopedia.

Sim racing editor, streamer and one half of the SimRacing Buddies podcast (warning, German!).

Heel & Toe Gang 4 life :D

Comments

Premium
CSL P1 V2 (round, mid-size) and CSL McLaren GT3 V2.
P1 for Dirt Rally 2.0 and Forza Horizon 4.
GT3 V2 for Formula and GT Racing in AC, ACC, AM2. I would change the wheels more often in AC and AM2, but I'm too lazy to manage the different key-bindings (although it's not a great thing in AC with Content Manager).
 
Staff
Premium
Some impressive collections in here, I gotta say! Thanks for sharing :)

Makes me wonder if we should do a DIY spotlight at some point - would you be interested in that?
 
Good to know I'm not the only one who does this, I use the sf1000 Ferrari wheel for GT3 and F1 style cars and my oval wheels for America Truck Simulator Ride 4 and MotoGP.
I'm similar but I use the formula wheel for the bike games. Unless you hold the wheel spokes like handlebars... :p
 
I use a non display formula type rim for GT3 stuff, a formula rim with display for formula and prototype stuff and I've got a small diameter (280mm) round Momo rim mounted to a button box for rally and street stuff.

I've got other wheels as well but they don't really get used.
 
Premium
I have two Fanatec wheels and it’s such a hassle to change that I don’t bother. Where’s QR2???
 
Premium
I answered no, but would like to one day answer yes. I've never been able to justify buying additional wheels for my wheel base.

I use the default Accuforce round wired wheel that came with it. It works well, but isn't the prettiest. It would be nice to have a very barebone, no paddles, minimal buttons wheel for Rally and Drifting, and a formula wheel of some type for immersion someday though.
 
we only got the g29 and g923 in our shitty country, so its only round wheel for me, even tho i absolutely hate it...
The G29 being round is normal as it offers the H shifter which makes this format kind of mandatory. Round wheels work on all cars, modern open cars wheels are specific to a few categories. Yeah, this modern format looks cool but it's not the more useful one.
 
As my name already shows, if I did have the financial recourses, this is the only wheel I would like to use https://www.thrustmaster.com/en-us/products/ferrari-250-gto-wheel-add-on/
It's not the same for sure, but the Sparco Rally rim is less expensive and providees the same size (33cm). I use it for the vintage cars. For sure, it won't have the same effect showing it to your friends than this beautiful wood wheel, but it will get the job perfectly done.
 
Old OSW owner here. Two active wheels atm: a vintage type barebones leather steering wheel from a local builder, called Collino Goodwood; and a cheap imitation of Aston Martin GTE wheel with a coiled USB cable, which I'm revamping atm. The vintage wheel is in use for cars that I have to H shift, or rally with a sequential. For the rest, track racing types with more modern racecars, it's with the modern rim.
 
My TS PC Racer came with the 28mm open wheel rim, I like it, the handle is thick and imo it is important (the new F1 Ferrari wheel is thiner). I got the Sparco Rally wheel replica and use it for vintage cars and GTs, and for rally obviously. The difference between 33cm and 28mm is really noticeable and you really get the balance between precision and reactivity. I used to drive GTR2's GTs with a Wingman Force and a Driving Force Pro, small rims, and with a 33cm this is another (better) experience. You can't know that until you make the change.

I wanted to have something better for the vintage Formula 1 cars, without spending a lot of money, and found a basic TM rim, the Ferrari GTE wheel (got it new for 40euros), a 28cm round wheel, basic plastic, and not as thick as the open wheel one. I prioritize functionnality over esthetics, so it is a really useful rim as I like to drive vintage open wheel cars.

Some 80's F1 used 27cm rims, some modern GT3s use 32cm ones, there is no perfect match but with these 2 sizes, I feel I'm ok with most categories. Vintage categories (the Ferrari 250 GTO TM is only a 8:10 replica) and Nascar have bigger rims but it seems they do not get enough consideration to get bigger official wheels. With these 2 sizes, I think I'm ok, but you never know before trying other sizes ;).

I admit the 28cm open wheel rim is kind of redundant with the 28cm round rim but its thickness adds something, it may be psychological though...

Important notes :
- as a VR user, the look of my wheel is not my number 1 criteria, usability and price are my priorities ;
- I use gloves so my feeling between wheels is less affected by the material used (that's why I don't really care the plastic material of the Ferrari GTE rim).
 
Premium
I have two Fanatec wheels and it’s such a hassle to change that I don’t bother. Where’s QR2???
One of the reasons I switched to Simucube was the ease of changing wheels. Plenty of other reasons, but that was one of the main ones, and it takes me around 30 seconds to switch wheels. I really didn't like the QR1 solution. Just seems to invite wear and tear damage.
 
As my name already shows, if I did have the financial recourses, this is the only wheel I would like to use https://www.thrustmaster.com/en-us/products/ferrari-250-gto-wheel-add-on/
I've stopped myself from ordering several times during recent years when it then hits me that it's only 80% of real deal size. If the T818 was followed by a 100% size replica, count me in.
I think even 100% size for my T300 ecosystem would do it for me, at least in AC levels of FFB torque.
 
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Couldn't imagine driving a rally car or a NASCAR stock car with my Formula v2.5x, and by the same token, I would never drive an open wheel or modern GT(GT3,GT4,GTE) car with my CSL P1 V2. Especially rallying with an open steering wheel. Good lord that'd be awful.
"Especially rallying with an open steering wheel" That was me for a year before I got a proper rim and it was, in fact, awful.
 
I switch between a Fanatac GT3 for ACC and sometimes RR, and a "rounder" Clubsport R300 for AC, DR2, ETS2 and often RR again. So mostly I switch wheels with sim title, not with cars, but with sims I do it since my choice of cars in sims is usually specialised on cars with F1 style wheels or rounder wheels. For example I do not drive GT3 or GT4 cars in AC, why would I if ACC does that so much better, in AC I stick to road cars. RR is a mixed bag, but mostly I use the R300.
 
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we only got the g29 and g923 in our shitty country, so its only round wheel for me, even tho i absolutely hate it...


not sure if they can ship to your country, but there's lots of 3rd party rims out there. Or you can get an adapter, and attach many different wheels.
 

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