A Direct Drive wheel base is unrivalled when it comes to having a greater feel and responsiveness when racing. If you have been using other instalments of wheel bases. Despite providing you with an enjoyable experience and the capabillty to still be highly competitive. it doesn’t quite provide the immersive experience, that a direct drive wheel base has to offer.
If you’re totally new to sim racing then you’re in for a treat. In particular if you’re aiming to start out with a direct drive wheel. Searching for a wheel base can be somewhat of a minefield. Especially when trying to decipher the technical data and intricacies of what to look out for.
In this article we will be giving you the lowdown on the best Direct Drive Sim wheels on the market. Helping you in your attempts to clinch pole position.
Our top category picks
Best overall
Simucube 2 Pro 1240
Best runner up
VRS 799
Best budget
Fanatec CSL DD 349 5nm / 499 8nm
Others reviewed
Simagic alpha mini 545 – 620
Fanatic DD2 1499
Fanatec Podium Racing Wheel F1 1799
Leo bodnar Sim Steering 2 3234
What is direct drive wheel base?
A direct drive wheel uses a motor in which a steering wheel is attached directly to the shaft of the motor. Alternate to direct drive wheels are gear and belt drives. Belt drives benefit from the operation of a belt which provide gear smoothness and and power. Belt drives have a smaller motor but still offer a decent amount of force feedback. However the drawbacks are an increased level of noise and roughness. This option is usually geared (excuse the pun) towards the entry level markets. Direct drive wheels simply get you straight to the point. No gears or belts, you simply plant your steering wheel directly into the motor. And this is where you will find the strongest and fasted feedback out of the three types mentioned.
Is a direct wheel base worth it?
Subjective and depends on usage and how much you value your hobby
If you want complete unadulterated realism then in a nutshell yes.
Without the power of force feedback from your base into the wheel it’s a much more sterile experience. A point to make is that it also comes down to your driving style. Some sim racers like to have a some resistance in their wheel. Which provides more of a wrestle leading to somewhat of a work out. Whereas others may prefer a smoother, more refined navigation around the track.
With the software available from the within the game, as well as the direct drive wheel. You have the capability to make a number of adjustments to the feedback that you receive.
Purpose is to give the driver lots of information about how the car is behaving Weight of the steering and movement of the car, g forces and what the tyres are doing
What is the best direct drive wheel?
This is a widely subjective topic, as you may find that there are subtle nuances between the main brands. Performance wise there doesn’t appear to be a distinctive gap unless you’re dealing with the high end industrial applications. Alot of the decision making will come down to personal preference. The list below will detail some of the factors to consider and some of the distinctions between each brand of wheel base.
Simucube 2 pro
The Simucube 2 pro comes highly rated based on its overall performance. The wheel base is renowned for its smoothness, detail and immersive feel. With the increased slew rate it feels intuitively responsive. If you’re someone who likes customisation, then the Simucube 2 pro definitely delivers. There a number of different options that you can tailor to your unique driving style with the software on display. The Simucube 2 pro offers a solid quick release system with minimal flex which will appease many a sim racer. The simucube 2 pro also supports wireless wheels. You may find is that the wheels tend to be more on the expensive side.
VRS Direct Force pro
Although not as big as Fantatec and Simucube VRS have done an amazing Job to compete with the two giants. With 20 nw this puts this on par with the fanatic dd1. The VRS offers great detail that you’re able to feel through the. Force feed coming through the wheel, liking going over rumble strips.
Without much fuss the VRS is very easy to just plug in and play. Although not offering the depth in software that you may find with the other brands, this can feel quite refreshing to those who feel overwhelmed by multiple configurations. The actual unit is pretty simple in design and the technology used is older than its competitors. In addition he quick release system is less conventional than the others on the market. However despite these minor drawbacks the VRS delivers in performance, maybe just a notch down from Simucube Pro 2. It still offers incredible feedback suiting those racers who prefer a slightly more rugged style with the wheel.
Simagic alpha mini
Trying to take some shine away from it’s two big brothers is the Somatic alpha mini. The popularity of the Simagic 10 and the alpha have paved the way for a base geared towards the entry level segment of the market.If you’re a console only user then look away now as the Simagic alpha mini unfortunately does not support the console market.
With the name mini attached you can imagine that the alpha mini will be small than its big brother the alpha however it is only marginally smaller in size and of course with a smaller motor than the alpha. Entering the ring with 10 nm the mini still packs a small punch and is a good price point at…for entry level users. The quick release is good quality meaning minimal fumbling around.
Wheel rims are pretty good standard. The Simagic Alpha provides you with a very peasant and consistent driving experience with the ability to still receive great detail. The form of the alpha mini definitely provides a more attractive form factor and additionally has better mounting options. A thing to consider when purchasing the alpha mini is the options when it comes to the wheels, they can be on the slightly expensive side.
Fanatic CSL DD
With the Fanatec CSL DD what you will find is a wheel base with great value for money. The CSL DD is aimed towards the entry and mid level range, the motor comes with a 5 nm torque which can be upgraded to a 8nm (optional) power supply.
There is enough in the force feedback to feel the responsiveness and nuance detail. The CSL DD comes with a quick release with a stem attached. With such a mechanism you may potentially find a bit of flex on some wheels but not enough to be a hindrance when getting into the flow of racing. The CSL DD is not compatible with PS4 however is suitable for xbox. Flexible mounting. The Wheel base size is small which is a positive for those sim racers who like to be close to the monitor.
Fanatec DD2
The DD2 packs all the punch and power you would want from your direct drive. Potentially just falling short when it comes to the immersive experience in comparison to other titles in it’s category range but still an excellent wheel base all the same. Bit of flex with fanatic but nothing noticeable
What separates the DD2 from its earlier iteration the DD1 is the Dynamic range on offer offering a well rounded balance of effects which aid the immersion experience.
Traditionally with the Fantaec ecosystem you will find an abundance of features and the display on the base which also comes through the wheels feels like a nice addition.in addition to this a wide range of affordable wheels are available. If you like wrestling with the car and detailed of road texture20 and 25 torque respectively see underneath, more cost
The quick release is not the best and you may encounter some flex but nothing noticeable. In addition, if you want to use other brand wheels there is no podium hub supplied, this will have to be purchased separately.
Fanatec Podium Racing Wheel F1
More or less the Fanatec DD1 specification but software designed for PS4
At 20 Newton Meter Force Feedback this is pretty high specification for consoles and a welcome addition for th non PC range.
The podium F1 is a high quality build the quick release is solid with very good stability. As usual with Fanatec software there is a wonderful array of configurations which can feel overwhelming for those with limited technical ability.
Starting off with a few tweaks here and there initially may suffice and over time you can become more accustomed. The base is compatible with xbox, however you will need a compatible xbox rim rig.
Leo Bodnar Sim Steering V2
The Leo Bodnar Sim Steering 2 is Known for being the top of the range wheel and for good reason. With is industrial design this base is normally used for F1 teams, race teams, industrial applications, super high end simulators. Race teams, training simulators, military and trade show usage.
The Steering 2 is renowned for its power and the ability to extract more from the wheel than any other wheel base on the market. The configurations can be dialled up considerably and the performance does not lose any of the detail. There a 3 different versions of the sim steering 2 52 – 16 NM 53 and 54 26nm and 20.5 respectively. With the 52 version you’ll have an incredible immersive experience alone wtih plenty head room left and no issues with clipping.
You will find a simplistic non complicated software with the wheel which will appease the Plug and play users who just want to get straight into the game. The sim steering 2 is definitely not the most ascetically pleasing wheel base that you’ll find, but given it’s normal environmental home it’s some what forgiven. The base comes with a controller which is actually bigger than the motor itself. However where it loses in the looks department certainly is made up and more with its performance.
When it comes to the driving experience the Sim Steering 2 is perfectly smooth on the wheel and you’ll find no cogging whatsoever. You get the feeling of almost literally being on a real life track feel crisp, natural and organic and in conjunction with the great resolution all the fine detail is realised.
When it comes to price will have to stump uo a good few grands which is the only real drawback for those compromised by a limited budget, there is also no wheel provided and a quick release will also need to one added to your basket.
Alternate 1
Alternte 2
Best under a certain price
FAQ
Will a direct drive wheel make you faster?
There can be a slight misconception when it comes to the thought that a direct drive wheel will makes a sim racer faster and this tends to be not factually true.
Some tests have shown that using a gear drive base and a set of relatively decent pedals can still be faster than a direct drive wheel with the same pedals.
Direct drives main purpose is to give you the immersive experience and additional realism v fastest lap times
Potentially offering faster Laps this wheel come from the occurrence of being consistent however beyond this you will feel greater enjoyment from the Physical aspect due to making it harder to drive depending on your preferred settings.
The ability to feel the car also means less sliding and the ability to prevent a potential crash.
For the newbies
Torque – Rotational force, which is applied perpendicular to the radius of the steering wheel
Newton metre – Unit meter of torque, one newton meter of torque is equal to the torque resulting from a force of one newton
Slew rate – The maximum rate at which a the applied torque can change
Clipping – The sim game is outputting a larger force to where your wheel is physically able to produce
Dynamic range – making details throughout the game consistent, a balanced scale of force
Other things to note
Due to the weight of wheel bases its best to consider purchasing an aluminium based rig to carry the strength and rigidity for torque of the wheel.
Also take into account the compatibility with your console as well as steering wheels you already have or are planning to purchase.
Force feedback can differentiate between gaming titles, some in game tweaks along with the direct drive software is liekly to may be required. Some titles may also have a less immersive feel due to the the way the game has been developed.
Ease of use is really dependant on the type of person you are, you may be a technical person who leikes to dabble with the settings and configurations or simply someone who likes minimal filters and wishes to simply plug in and play.
Some of you may be blessed with a bucket load of cash where as others maybe a tighter budget. So a wheel base that is competitively priced is a big consideration in particular if add ons are required.