Ez Sim Racer is audience-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Drifting is the art of letting your vehicle intentionally oversteer. This way, you lose traction without giving up control of the car even when turning a tight corner. For fans of sim racing games with a lot of drifting involved, you need a reliable racing wheel that’s responsive and can manage to throw your car into a slide during an intense turn. As such, we’re reviewing 10 of the best racing wheels available right now for drifting so that you achieve the speed, angle, showmanship, and fame associated with being able to perform difficult maneuvers against your competition.
Fanatec ClubSport Steering Wheel Drift V2
Check Price and More Details on Fanatec
If you’re looking for a perfect racing wheel for drifting and rally driving, then the ClubSport Steering Wheel Drift V2 by Fanatec is the one for you. The deep dish and round shape of the wheel provide sim racers with the necessary peripheral to always stay ahead of the competition without losing control, especially during tight turns. The wheel rim is 320mm in diameter and made from brushed and anodized aluminum covered with genuine leather for a smooth look and finish. The leather provides exceptional grip so you don’t lose control even during intense racing situations.
The Drift V2 is packed with features such as magnetic shifters, adjustable button boxes, integrated buttons on the wheel itself, as well as a FunkySwitch to adjust everything with just the press of a button. The only real drawback of this steering wheel is Xbox gamers will not be able to use this peripheral as it’s not compatible with their console. PC and PlayStation sim racers, meanwhile, will get the full functionality of this steering wheel to always stay ahead of the pack.
Fanatec CSL Elite Steering Wheel WRC
Check Price and More Details on Fanatec
The CSL Elite steering wheel WRC by Fanatec is the perfect companion for Rally fans who want to conquer the most demanding Rally stages even when faced with the toughest of conditions. This is because the CSL Elite WRC steering wheel is made from durable metal constructions fitted with genuine Alcantara leather for extra strength and eye-catching appeal at the same time. The leather is complemented with orange stitching as well as a RevStripe with an integrated 3-digit LED screen to show useful data across compatible games. The design meanwhile takes its inspiration from Rally driving and adds a bold statement to your peripheral due to its tire tread graphic and bright orange accents on the paddles and stitching.
The paddles that fit the CSL Elite WRC steering wheel can actually be removed to allow for clearance on optional ClubSport Static shifter paddles. They’re more comfortable to use when Rally driving. The pre-installed Xbox button caps, on the other hand, can also be replaced with included Racing style caps depending on your preference. This steering wheel is fully compatible with Xbox One, as well as Xbox Series X|S. The full functionality also works for PC as well but PlayStation gamers need a PlayStation-licensed wheelbase if PS4 and PS5 gamers want to use this peripheral on the console.
Fanatec Podium Racing Wheel F1
Check Price and More Details on Fanatec
It’s not surprising that the first-ever Direct Drive Force Feedback technology on the PlayStation works perfectly fine for drifting games because of the realistic effects that come with it. The Podium Racing Wheel F1 is officially licensed by Sony and Formula 1 to provide sim racing fans with the best gameplay experience ever on a console to define the new standard for competitive racing games on the PlayStation. It supports not only Formula 1 games but also all the important racing games currently available as well.
The Podium racing wheel F1 uses wireless data and power to free yourself from cable clutter that can easily get damaged and actually interfere with the wheel when you’re spinning in a drift. It’s fully certified for plug-and-play because the Direct Drive motor provides a unique solution to transferring the wheel inputs and displays wirelessly. The drift mode can be completely adjusted depending on your driving style making this one of the best picks for drifting games today. However, be prepared to spend big on this racing wheel as it’s one of the most expensive peripherals today due to the Force Feedback effects being utilized by the Podium Racing Wheel F1.
Podium Steering Wheel Fanatec GT World Challenge
Check Price and More Details on Fanatec
This steering wheel from Fanatec utilizes the same equipment as the pros, which means this esports proven peripheral will definitely be able to deliver the high-performance requirements needed for sim racing fans that do a lot of drifting in their gameplay. The Podium Fanatec GT World Challenge was even used in the 2021 Fanatec Esports GT Pro Series thanks to the extensive functionality the steering wheel is fitted with to enhance your capabilities during competitive races. It’s now available on Fanatec’s website so you can increase your skills in being the best driver in the comforts of your own home.
This steering wheel is equipped with a customizable 2.7” OLED display that can switch between 5 different game telemetry data layouts manually or as triggered by the game. It’s also fitted with magnetic paddle shifters that generate a solid and positive feel for your every shift. In addition, there are 9 high-intensity RGB LEDs, 6 high-intensity RGB FlagLEDs, and multiple input types arranged all within your reach for instant access to everything you need when playing your favorite sim racing games. You can also instantly adjust the Force Feedback using the Tuning Menu button depending on your preference.
Fanatec ClubSport Steering Wheel GT Forza Motorsport V2 for Xbox
Check Price and More Details on Fanatec
The GT Forza Motorsport V2 steering wheel for Xbox is Fanatec’s official racing wheel for the popular sim racing franchise to unleash your racing and drifting skills at their highest. This gaming peripheral, like other Fanatec accessories, is made from brushed and anodized aluminum while being fitted with genuine smooth leather with white stitching for better grip and durability. It’s 330mm in diameter and drives like a real race car when playing your favorite sim racing games. In addition, it’s packed with all the innovation we all know and love with the brand from the shifters, button boxes, multitude of buttons, and more.
The magnetic paddle shifters are pre-installed providing crisp and rapid shifting. It produces a satisfying “click” feeling to your every shift which is a plus. Buying this steering wheel includes both small and large paddles so that you can change it to suit different wheel sizes as you see fit. In addition, the button clusters can be placed wherever you want them. You can also remove them if you want a minimalistic appearance by using the integrated buttons on top of the hub instead. While specifically made for Xbox consoles, this racing wheel works just fine on PC and PlayStation as well, provided you have a PlayStation-licensed wheelbase.
Fanatec ClubSport Steering Wheel Flat 2 V2
Check Price and More Details on Fanatec
The compact size and shape of the ClubSport Flat 2 V2 steering wheel make it an ideal peripheral for open-wheel racing and drifting requiring fast steering inputs. The high-quality suede material fitting this wheel provides exceptional grip even when playing for long hours so you won’t lose control of your in-game vehicle even during tight racing situations. Not only that but the Flat 2 V2 is also made from the same anodized and brushed aluminum metal Fanatec products are popular with. This means that this 275mm steering wheel is as durable as actual race car wheels due to the authentic and fine materials it’s constructed from.
This steering wheel is part of a bundle including the ClubSport Universal Hub V2 as well as the ClubSport Wheel Rim Flat 2. Combined, you’ll have a steering wheel packed with features such as magnetic shifters, adjustable button boxes, and a wide array of buttons integrated into the wheel hub itself so you can mix and match the programmable buttons you need in order to stay ahead of the pack. This racing wheel can be upgraded easily to the next-generation QR2 system once Fanatec releases its new adapters, making it essentially ready for the future.
Fanatec Podium Steering Wheel Classic 2
Check Price and More Details on Fanatec
Drifting on your favorite sim racing games is such a joy when you’re using a stripped-back steering wheel without all the bells and whistles that can sometimes take you out of the action. The Podium Classic 2 steering wheel by Fanatec achieves this feat because it doesn’t have any button clusters and shifter modules connected to the wheel rim. The bare peripheral showcases the wheel in its purest form making it the perfect companion for drifting using vintage road cars and even historic racing cars across all your favorite sim racing games.
The thin wheel rim has a large diameter giving it an even more authentic feeling whenever you’re driving and drifting your in-game vehicle. The entirety is covered with genuine leather for a smooth finish further enhancing its classic style. The design of the steering wheel’s frame meanwhile surrounds the electronic components inside for the lightest possible weight. This design choice Fanatec used did not sacrifice the durability of the Classic 2 as the central hub was created from a single piece of anodized aluminum for maximum strength.
Thrustmaster T80 Ferrari 488 GTB Racing Wheel
Another interesting racing wheel for drifting is this peripheral from Thrustmaster for PS4, PS5, and PC. The T80 Ferrari 488 GTB Edition is an 8:10 scale replica of the actual Ferrari racecar wheel and is officially licensed by both Sony and Ferrari. It features official buttons for PlayStation for easy navigation within the console’s interface and is compatible across all games on the platform and on PC as well. The wheelbase utilizes Thrustmaster’s “Bungee Cord” system for automatic re-centering, delivering linear resistance regardless of the rotation angle during gameplay, ensuring intuitive controls even after long hours of play.
This racing wheel has up to 240-degrees of turn ratio, which, while not as huge as other racing wheels on the list, is still enough to generate considerable drift when playing games that require a lot of drifting on your in-game vehicle. The racing wheel is equipped with 11 action buttons, a D-Pad, as well 2 metal sequential paddle shifters. A large pedal set is included as well with an option to adjust the angle of inclination and is fitted with a wide footrest for comfortable acceleration and braking across all your favorite games.
Logitech G920 Driving Force Racing Wheel
The G920 Driving Force racing wheel by Logitech, like other peripherals we’ve listed earlier, ticks all the boxes for gamers who do considerable amounts of drifting. The G920 is equipped with a dual-motor Force Feedback system designed to simulate the feeling of driving an actual car, essentially bringing the thrills to the comforts of your own home. Because of the Force Feedback system, you’ll be able to sense everything in-game like under or oversteer, the tires of your car, the terrain, drifting, and more. It’s capable of up to 900-degrees of lock-to-lock rotation to maximize your control during gameplay.
The wheel shaft and the paddle shifters have solid steel ball bearings internally for durability and precision when you’re playing for hours on end. The G920 is also fitted with a D-Pad, console buttons, along with the aforementioned semi-automatic paddle shifters conveniently located within your reach for seamless controls and easy access. In addition, this racing wheel has built-in clamps and bolt points if you want to mount it to a table or a dedicated cockpit to minimize shifting and wobbling during tight turns. Lastly, buying this product already includes a pedal unit so you can start racing right away. The G920 Driving Force racing wheel works for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, as well as PC.
HORI Racing Wheel APEX
Last on our list of the best racing wheels for drifting is the Apex gaming peripheral by HORI. It’s a full-sized racing wheel for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC that’s optimized for an authentic sim racing experience so you can enjoy your favorite games for hours and hours of fun. You can easily change between 180-degrees or 270-degrees steering output turn ratio depending on your driving style making this a great option for sim racers who play on different styles depending on the game at hand.
This racing wheel is equipped with all the necessary buttons so you can play right away such as the D-Pad, paddle shifters, as well as buttons attuned to PlayStation controllers that can be adjusted with the companion application. Buying this racing wheel also includes a pedal set with precise and accurate acceleration and braking function that you can easily adjust depending on your preference as well.
Buying Guide
Price
The price of your steering wheel is certainly a factor when looking for the right peripheral for your favorite sim racing games. Since drifting requires considerable amounts of control and stability when performing the move, you’ll want a racing wheel that can withstand sudden turns or violent maneuvers especially during tight racing situations. This means that you should properly invest in a durable steering wheel with good grip as well so you’re always in control even when the in-game vehicle is spinning.
Durability
Seasoned and veteran sim racers should know by now that drifting takes a considerable toll on your racing wheel, especially when performing the maneuver a lot of times. You also want to secure your peripheral when drifting with built-in clamps and bolts so that your racing wheel won’t accidentally fly when you make a sudden move. Therefore, it is important to get a racing wheel that can withstand the sudden twist and turns during actual gameplay so that you’re always ahead of the pack without breaking your peripheral at the same time.
Ease of Use
When looking for the best racing wheel not just for drifting but for overall gameplay in general, you need a reliable steering wheel with a degree of rotation capable of turning with what the in-game vehicle requires. This means that anything less than 900-degrees will require you to turn the physical wheel more than what you need to. This can be turned into an advantage some of the time but it’s better to look for a racing wheel that works as an actual wheel than one that works like an arcade peripheral.
Design
Ultimately, the design of the steering wheel will entirely depend on your personal preference. Most high-end racing wheels already look sleek so choosing the right one for you will be easy. However, it’s best to choose one that has genuine fabric and leather for a more tactile feel and grip for comfort and stability as you play even for long hours.
What is drifting?
The art of drifting is to intentionally oversteer with loss of traction without losing control of your car when turning a corner. Proper drifting gives you the advantage of speed, angle, as well as incredible showmanship a lot of viewers will definitely love when performed right. This is true with sim racing games as well, making drifting a highly popular technique on a lot of racing games.
