A Buyer's Guide to the Best Racing Wheels for Forza Horizon 4

Forza Horizon 4 on Xbox One and PC offers an expansive open-world racing experience. While fully playable with a standard controller, the game’s driving physics can be more deeply appreciated with a dedicated racing wheel and pedal set. A quality setup provides tactile feedback that simulates the feel of the road, the grip of the tires, and the forces of acceleration and braking. Several wheels, pedals, and cockpits are available, catering to different budgets and levels of enthusiasm.

Logitech G920 Driving Force

The Logitech G920 Driving Force is a popular choice for players entering the world of racing simulation hardware. It balances performance features with a more accessible price point compared to high-end modular systems. The wheel is constructed with steel ball bearings in the wheel shaft and is wrapped in hand-stitched leather, providing a durable and comfortable grip.

A key feature of the G920 is its dual-motor force feedback system. This mechanism uses helical gearing, modeled after gearing in automotive transmissions, to deliver smooth and quiet steering forces. Players can feel understeer, oversteer, and traction loss through the wheel, allowing for more precise car control. The wheel supports 900 degrees of rotation, lock-to-lock, which is the same degree of motion as a steering wheel in a real car. All necessary controls, including the D-pad, Xbox buttons, and stainless steel paddle shifters, are located directly on the wheel for easy access.

The G920 package includes a separate floor pedal unit with accelerator, brake, and clutch pedals. The pedal faces are made of stainless steel. The brake pedal is non-linear, designed to mimic the performance of a pressure-sensitive brake system for a more responsive and accurate braking feel.

For players who prefer a manual transmission experience, Logitech offers the G Driving Force Shifter as a separate add-on. This is a six-speed, “H” pattern shifter with a solid steel gear shaft. The knob and boot are covered in hand-stitched leather.

Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel Leather Edition

Thrustmaster offers a more modular and powerful ecosystem, with the TX Racing Wheel Leather Edition serving as a strong mid-range option. This bundle includes the TX Racing Wheel Servo Base, the TM Leather 28 GT wheel rim, and the T3PA three-pedal set.

The core of the system is the TX Servo Base, which houses a brushless servomotor. This industrial-class motor provides responsive and forceful feedback effects without latency. The base employs a dual-belt mechanism, which connects the motor to the steering axis. This design results in smooth, fluid feedback that eliminates the cogging sensation that can be felt in gear-driven systems. The base also incorporates Thrustmaster’s HallEffect AccuRate Technology (H.E.A.R.T), which uses a contactless magnetic sensor for steering position. This provides 16-bit resolution, ensuring high precision that won’t decrease over time.

The included TM Leather 28 GT wheel is a detachable, 11-inch (28 cm) diameter rim wrapped in hand-stitched leather. It features two large, wheel-mounted sequential paddle shifters made of metal. The wheel’s rotation angle is adjustable up to 900 degrees and is equipped with a D-pad, a rotary switch, and six action buttons.

The T3PA pedal set has a 100% metal internal structure for durability. The spacing and angle of the three pedals are adjustable. The brake pedal comes with a Conical Rubber Brake Mod, an industrial-grade rubber cone fitted beneath the pedal. This mod provides progressive resistance, meaning the force required to depress the pedal increases as it travels, simulating the feel of a real brake pedal.

The Thrustmaster ecosystem allows for significant upgrades. The TH8A Add-On Shifter is a popular accessory, built almost entirely of metal. It offers two distinct driving styles: a 7-speed “H” pattern and a sequential mode. For users seeking an even more advanced pedal setup, the T3PA-PRO 3-Pedal Add-On Set is available. This unit is fully metal and highly adjustable, allowing users to change the spacing, height, and inclination of each pedal. It can be configured in either a floor-mounted (GT-style) or suspended (F1-style) position and includes two different brake mods.

Thrustmaster also offers several add-on wheel rims that are compatible with the TX base, including:

• 599XX EVO 30 Wheel Add-On Alcantara Edition: A 30cm wheel that is an 8:10 scale replica of the real 599XX EVO wheel, wrapped in genuine Alcantara.
• Ferrari F1 Wheel Add-On: A full-size replica of the Formula 1 Ferrari 2011 racing wheel.
• Ferrari GTE Wheel Add-On: A replica of the wheel from the Ferrari 458 Challenge race car.

Fanatec Forza Motorsport Racing Wheel

At the premium end of the spectrum is the Fanatec Forza Motorsport Racing Wheel bundle. This setup is aimed at serious simulation racers and is built with high-quality materials and advanced technology. The bundle consists of the ClubSport Wheel Base V2.5, the official Forza Motorsport Steering Wheel, and the ClubSport Pedals V3.

The ClubSport Wheel Base V2.5 is constructed from CNC machined aluminum parts. It uses a powerful brushless servo motor and a dual-belt drive system with v-ribs and large ball bearings to eliminate drag and slippage, resulting in extremely detailed and strong force feedback. For precision, the base uses dual hall sensors on both the motor and directly on the steering axis, a design intended to provide unmatched accuracy.

The official Forza Motorsport Steering Wheel included in the bundle measures 13 inches (33 cm) in diameter. It is built with brushed and anodized aluminum and features a genuine leather rim. The wheel is highly customizable, allowing for buttons to be placed in multiple positions. It also includes options for using either large or small shifter paddles to suit driver preference.

The included ClubSport Pedals V3 are a standout feature. The entire construction is CNC-machined aluminum with strong steel axes. The brake pedal uses a custom 90 kg load cell sensor, which measures pressure rather than travel distance. This allows for much finer and more realistic brake modulation. The accelerator pedal is equipped with two rumble motors: one can be programmed to vibrate when the tires lose grip, and the other can indicate when the anti-lock braking system (ABS) engages. The pedals are highly adjustable, with options to change the stiffness of the brake and the angle of the pedal plates. Contactless hall sensors on the throttle and clutch ensure precision and long-term durability.

Fanatec also offers a range of high-end accessories. The ClubSport Shifter SQ V1.5 is a fully metal unit that can be switched between a 7-speed H-Pattern and a sequential mode. For rally or drift enthusiasts, the ClubSport Handbrake V1.5 is designed to be a one-to-one replica of a handbrake found in a real race car, providing an analog input for precise control.

Openwheeler Racing Wheel Stand Cockpit

A powerful wheel and pedal set requires a stable mounting solution. The Openwheeler Racing Wheel Stand Cockpit is a complete seat and frame designed to mount racing peripherals. It is compatible with all the wheel systems mentioned, including those from Logitech, Thrustmaster, and Fanatec.

Using a dedicated cockpit provides a rigid platform that prevents the wheel from shaking and the pedals from sliding, which are common issues when mounting to a desk or using a simple stand. The Openwheeler seat offers support for the back, shoulders, and legs, designed for comfort during extended play sessions. The seat itself can recline and glide forward or backward.

The frame is highly adjustable. The angle and spacing of the wheel and pedal mounts can be changed to achieve a comfortable driving position. A mount for a gearbox shifter is included and can be positioned on either the left or right side. The Openwheeler cockpit was available in several colors, including black, blue, green, orange, red, and yellow.