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Best racing wheel for Gran Turismo 7: Budget, manual shifters, premium

Need the best racing wheel for Gran Turismo 7? Look no further

Updated: Oct 19, 2023 11:50 am
Best racing wheel for Gran Turismo 7: Budget, manual shifters, premium

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The newest installment of the titular racing sim series was released back in June of 2022 and was received very well. So, let’s make it even better by finding the best racing wheel for Gran Turismo 7 to help break those lap time those records.

When it comes to racing sims, the Gran Turismo franchise is one of the most beloved out there, with a history of well-received games stretching all the way back to the original PlayStation.

Best racing wheel deals right now

Since then the series has only grown in scope, with better graphics, a bigger choice of cars, and more tracks being added every installment. Let’s have a look at the best racing wheels for Gran Turismo 7 that you can buy right now.

Hungry for more wheel content?? We’ve almost made lists of the best racing wheel for PS5 and, more specifically, the best racing wheel for Forza Horizon 5

The best racing wheel for Gran Turismo 7

Thrustmaster T300RS Gran Turismo Edition

Thrustmaster T300RS Gran Turismo Edition

Wheel rotation

1080 degrees lock-to-lock

Wheel size (HxWxD)

280mm x 280mm x 280mm

Pedals

1x clutch, 1x brake, 1x accelerator

Materials

steel, aluminum, plastic

Pros
  • Officially licensed for Gran Turismo 7
  • 1080-degree rotation is the gold standard for lock-to-lock
Cons
  • Pedal base is too plasticy

Of course, we had to pick an officially licensed wheel to take the top spot. Aside from the pleasing design integration, you also get addressable buttons that are guaranteed to work out of the box.

We are naming the best racing wheel for Gran Turismo 7 as the Thrustmaster T300 RS. We picked this one for its robust mounting system, adjustable pedals, and premium fit and finish.

Additionally, we love the full steel construction of the pedals as they give the entire system a more premium flair, and if you’re uninterested in using a clutch like some kind of 20th-century fool, you’ve got flappy paddles instead.

When it comes to the internals, we find an industrial brushless DC motor that will torque the wheel to better emulate the experience of crashing into a tree, which is as joyous as it sounds.

It also has a quick-release system for the wheel. While this might not have any gameplay benefits, it certainly adds a touch of realism to the wheel and it makes it more portable for those of you who compete at LAN tournaments.

The second best racing wheel for Gran Turismo 7

Logitech G923 Racing wheel & pedals (PlayStation)

Logitech G923 Racing wheel pedals

Wheel rotation

900 degrees lock-to-lock

Wheel size (HxWxD)

270mm x 260mm x 278 mm

Pedals

1x clutch, 1x brake, 1x accelerator

Materials

steel, leather, aluminum, plastic

Pros
  • Dual motor feedback is awesome
  • Genuine leather upholstery on wheel
  • Available in PC/PlayStation and & PC/Xbox variants
Cons
  • Very expensive

Next up in our quest to find the best racing wheel for Gran Turismo, we find a familiar friend, Logitech.

The Logitech G923 racing wheel is pricy as hell, but the features, design, and legendary Logitech reliability make it totally worth it.

As with our first choice, you get full metal pedals and a whole suite of programmable inputs.

READ MORE: The best racing wheel for Xbox

However, what sets the Logitech G923 apart from the competition is the full 900-degree lock-to-lock range of motion and the overall attention to detail too.

The wheel is bound and in real leather, which is an unthinkable luxury for a videogame steering wheel. Yes, it doesn’t make any difference gameplay-wise, but the additional build quality is appreciated nonetheless.

The best budget racing wheel for Gran Turismo 7

Hori Racing Wheel Apex

hori racing wheel apex

Wheel rotation

270 degrees lock-to-lock

Wheel size

280mm x 280mm x 300mm

Pedals

1x accelerator, 1x brake (Paddle shift behind the wheel)

Materials

steel, aluminum, plastic

Pros
  • Very affordable
  • Officially licensed by PlayStation and Gran Turismo
  • Choose between 180 and 270-degrees wheel motion
Cons
  • No clutch pedal

For those of you on a budget, we have no choice but to recommend the Hori Racing Wheel Apex. You lose a few fancy features that you’d get with the most expensive guys, but the money saved might make it worth it.

Happily, our budget option is also licensed for PlayStation and Gran Turismo, so you don’t lose any of that good brand loyalty.

You lose the clutch pedal and full lock-to-lock rotation, and there is no genuine leather here, but as a pure value-for-money proposition, it’s a fantastic choice.

Additionally, as it’s officially licensed, you get a guaranteed plug-and-play experience too. This convenience can be worth far more to some people than fancy leather-bound steering wheels or heads-up displays.

If you’re short on cash, or just want to try a more realistic racing setup, we fully recommend the Hori racing wheel Apex. It might not be the absolute best racing wheel for Gran Turismo 7, but the price makes it a good investment anyway.

Best budget racing wheel with shifter for Gran Turismo 7

PXN V9 universal racing wheel

PXN V9 universal racing wheel

Wheel rotation

270/900 degrees lock-to-lock

Wheel size (HxWxD)

280mm x 280mm x 280mm

Pedals

1x accelerator, 1x brake, 1x clutch

Materials

Steel, plastic, aluminium

Pros
  • Included shifter
  • Linear, self-adjusting pedals
Cons
  • Only vibration, no torque motors

If you’re after functionality, ease of use, and a more focused, no-frills racing wheel for Gran Turismo 7, The PXN V9 is a very strong option.

It doesn’t quite have the same fit and finish that you’ll find in the $300-$500 price bracket, but it’s got it where it counts, and given the feature set and universal compatibility, The price is very reasonable too.

The PXN V9 has a 6+1 shifter, clutch, brake, and accelerator for those of you with a manual disposition, which is always appreciated, by Englishmen such as ourselves.

One of the most helpful features here is the mobile companion app, it allows access to a whole suite of functionality that helps with the setup and overall gameplay experience of the PXN V9.

It can change modes, sensitivity, push updates, and even help calibrate the wheel in the event that it goes a bit wonky.

Additional apps aren’t everyone’s favorite feature, but when it comes to racing wheels, which aren’t the most intuitive of devices for things other than driving, it really does make a good deal of difference

Best premium racing wheel for Gran Turismo 7

Thrustmaster T248 Racing wheel

Thrustmaster T248 Racing wheel

Wheel rotation

900 degrees lock-to-lock

Wheel size (HxWxD)

280mm x 280mm x 300mm

Pedals

1x clutch, 1x brake, 1x accelerator

Materials

steel, aluminum, plastic

Pros
  • Display is compatible with many games
  • 25 programmable inputs
Cons
  • The most expensive wheel out there

This racing wheel is fantastic, but it’ll cost you. At around $400 it’s about as expensive as it gets, without transitioning to a racing sim. However, we think it’s worth the money as it’s got a lot going for it.

Aside from the normal creature comforts like a clutch pedal, Tiptronic paddles, and robust mounting system, there are some extras here that are by no means necessary but do make a difference.

The most notable of which is the small seven-segment display right on the center of the wheel. This is can be used for several purposes, some of which are useful, some of which are just pure fun.

For the competitive racers out there, you can use it as a lap timer/counter to help keep on top of your performance. Additionally, it can be used to more easily calibrate the wheel if it starts misbehaving.


Gran Turismo 5 racing wheel frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Do you need a racing wheel for Gran Turismo 7?

No, you don’t. You’ll still be able to rip up the Nürburgring with a controller perfectly fine, or even a keyboard if you’re a true lunatic. However, if you’re really into racing games and have disposable income, there are benefits.

We like wheels for the extra feedback and additional challenging aspect. Trying to wrestle the car back into line after losing traction or a collision with an opponent just feels cooler with a racing wheel.

So, no you don’t need a racing wheel to play Gran Turismo 7, but once you try one out, you won’t go back.

How to use a racing wheel with Gran Turismo 7?

Luckily, a racing wheel for Gran Turismo is generally very easy to set up. Most of them will take just a couple of minutes, but there are still a few things to consider.

If you’ve gone with a more fanciful offering, with a separate shifter or a more powerful motor, it can be more complex than simply plugging a USB cable into the PS5.

You’ll usually have to connect the pedals and shifter to the wheel, the wheel to a separate power outlet, then the wheel to the PS4/5.

Once this has been achieved, power it all on and load up Gran Turismo 7. From here go to the setting menu, then to the controls tab.

Here you should see the wheel automatically recognized. It might have already defaulted to a racing wheel setup. If not, just select the wheel and you’re good to go. It’s worth keeping a normal controller handy here as wheels were never good at navigating menus.

What to look for in a racing wheel for Gran Turismo 7

In terms of features, you should be looking for the usual suspects. This includes wheel rotation range, materials, and mounting system.

The most important aspect at play here is rotation range. Real car steering wheels can spin a total of around 1000 degrees lock-to-lock. The closer the racing wheel can get to this, the better, however, this can lead to additional costs for the wheel.

When it comes to a racing wheel for Gran Turismo specifically, native integration is a big deal too. This means automatic compatibility with GT7, and any other game-specific features or functions.

Branded and licensed options like the Hori Apex, are guaranteed to work due to the branding, so they are a safe choice, but not the only choice.

Will any racing wheel work with Gran Turismo 7?

Most of them will. But not all, so you’re best off doing the research first. However, because we aren’t monsters here at WePC every wheel on this page has been verified as compatible, so if these ones tickle your fancy, you’ll be ok.

Luckily, Sony is far less prone to proprietary technology than Microsoft. This means that any Wheel that works with PC, will probably work with Gran Turismo 7. However, we urge you to double-check as returning big racing wheels is a huge pain in the ass.

Are racing wheels realistic?

It all depends – and you get what you pay for. Even so, the budget options have improved massively, just take the Hori Racing Wheel Apex, for example.

If you want the full experience, you may want to add a sim rig to your setup and – if you really want to push the boat out – go for one with hydraulics, like the one we have at BGFG HQ.

One thing to note is that while racing wheels provide plenty of feedback, it’s not quite like the real thing. Still, you’ll get bags of feedback that makes you feel far more connected than if you were using just a controller.

Are racing wheels worth it?

For the majority of people, a controller is fine for the most part. However, if you’re looking for more exciting gameplay and perhaps more of a competitive edge, a racing wheel is the way to go.

Luckily, the cost issue can be mitigated as there are enough budget-focused products out there to choose from.

Going for a cheaper option is a great way of testing the waters of racing sims. If you don’t like it, you’ve only dropped $50, if you love it, you’ve paid a relatively paltry entry fee for the privilege of getting into this great hobby.

Can you use a Gran Turismo racing wheel with a stand?

Generally speaking, yes. Most racing wheels regardless of game, price, or intended skill level have a standard cluster of threaded holes on the bottom of the base.

This marries up with an identical cluster of holes around the main mounting plate on a racing sim frame, allowing for the most secure mounting solution you can get, for better than clamps or VHB tape.

The best racing wheel for Gran Turismo 7: Final word

Generally speaking, any racing wheel will work with Gran Turismo 7, even if you have to mess around with some settings. So the options we’ve picked here have covered the bases including the best of the best, officially licensed, and budget-friendly.

Regardless of your final choice, a racing wheel will not only add a fresh new experience to your racing game repertoire, but you’ll be more familiar with the control when you finally get to try a full-on simulator.

Trust us, you won’t regret adding a racing wheel to your gaming setup.


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