One of the main strengths of Fanatec sim racing gear is their huge selection of wheels. Spread over three tiers of price brackets and covering just about every style of driving you can think of, there is a lot to consider when choosing the best Fanatec steering wheel for your sim rig.
In this guide, we’ll take you through the different options from their entry-level CSL range, the mid-level ClubSport range and the high-end Podium range of sim racing wheels, to see what will bring you the best value and experience for your specific needs.
How it works:
Compatibility:
All current Fanatec wheels are compatible with all current Fanatec wheel bases provided you have the same generation of Quick Release on both your wheel and wheel base. Just keep in mind that if a wheel has the QR1 Simplified or QR2 Lite wheel side quick release, you will be limited to 8 Nm of torque on the ClubSport DD/DD+ and DD1/DD2 wheel bases.
All wheels are PC-compatible and PlayStation-compatible if you have a PlayStation-compatible wheel base such as the GT DD PRO or ClubSport DD+. For Xbox compatibility, you need to choose an Xbox-specific wheel, which will then give you Xbox compatibility on any wheel base.
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The Range of wheels:
Within the Fanatec steering wheel range, you’ll find a selection of All-in-one Wheels, Wheel Bundles, Wheel Rims, Button Modules, Shifter Modules, Hubs and Quick Releases. So what does all this mean, and what do you need to get on track?
All-In-One Wheels
CSL All-In-One Wheels
For the most simple and cost-effective way to get up and racing in the Fantec ecosystem you might like to consider some of these options for complete All-in-one wheels in the CSL range.
CSL p1 V2
Current Price
- Cheapest Fanatec wheel
- 300mm Diameter
- Versatile design for all driving styles
- Telemetry display on rim
- PC and PlayStation only
CSL Elite WRC
Current Price
- Officially licensed by the World Rally Championship
- 300mm diameter
- Xbox compatible
- Genuine Alcantara® grip
CSL Elite Porsche Vision GT
Current Price
- 310mm wheel diameter
- Cast aluminum internal structure
- Tactaris microfiber material
- QR2 Lite not torque limitated
ClubSport All-In-One Wheels
The current range of ClubSport wheels gives you a noticeable step up in quality and the option of Formula and GT style wheels. All these wheels come with nice snappy magnetic shifters and the option to upgrade to the Podium Advanced Paddle Module for “dual magnetic paddles” (i.e. two paddle switches on either side) and “dual-clutch” (i.e. one analog clutch on either side which can be used as separate inputs or in a bite point dual-clutch setup.)
ClubSport F1® Esports V2
Current Price
- Official wheel of the F1® Esports series
- CNC-machined front plate
- Genuine Alcantara® grips
- Blue LED display
- RGB RevLeds and FlagLEDs
ClubSport formula v2.5
Current Price
- 270mm Formula style wheel
- 5mm thick carbon fibre front plate
- Aluminium shifter module (upgradable)
- multi-colour LED rev strip and flag lights
- Up to 67 input functions
- 2 X thumb encoders!
- OLED display
ClubSport formula v2.5X
Current Price
- Same functionality as V2.5 with the addition of Xbox compatibility
- Unlocks Xbox compatibility for all Fanatec components connected through your wheel base.
Podium All-In-One Wheels
There is only one “All-in-one wheel” in the Podium range, the Podium Steering Wheel BMW M4 GT3. This is the much-hyped real-life race car wheel homologated for GT3 racing. The luxury of being able to move this wheel directly from your sim rig to your real-life BMW M4 GT3 comes with a hefty price tag but you are getting a very well-built wheel that looks and feels the part.
Beyond this, the Podium wheel range consists of bundles and individual components which we’ll go over now.
Podium Steering Wheel BMW M4 GT3
Current Price
- 308mm GT style wheel
- Ergonomic button layout
- Customisable button backlighting
- Well placed thumb encoders
- Forged carbon construction
- Push/pull magnetic shifters
- 1″ OLED display
Individual
Wheel Components
Fanatec’s modular system for steering wheels is a great way of being able to customise a complete wheel for your specific needs. This could even mean using a different brand rim if you wish to do so (provided it has the correct bolt pattern). So what are the different parts you need to get up and driving?
Rims:
Starting with the obvious, the wheel rim is the bit you hold on to. A standalone rim does not contain any electronics and has a standard bolt pattern to get you connected to a button module or wheel hub (which we will explain soon).
One of the big advantages of the Fanatec ecosystem is the huge range of wheel rims to suit just about every style of driving you can think of. Most of the rims fall into the ClubSport tier, but you are really looking for the rim that suits the driving style you are doing rather than upgrading build quality. We have spent time with just about every rim in the Fanatec range and have found all of them to be perfectly adequate in build quality, they are rigid, well finished, and the different grip fabrics used are comfortable and durable.
Most Versatile Fanatec Rim
For maximum versatility, I am personally looking for something that is not too big for Formula cars (anything over 300mm is starting to get a bit too big and vague feeling for a snappy F1 car), not too small for street cars (anything under 300mm starts to feel too snappy for some cars), with a round shape so it’s also suited to Rally or Drifting.
Unfortunately, there is not a round 300mm wheel rim available, which actually makes the entry-level All-in-one CSL P1 V2 (or CSL BMW and WRC Wheels) the most versatile of all the Fanatec wheels for my preferences. But if you want the upgrade in rigidity and potential functionality of button modules and upgraded shifters, you’ll want to consider the ClubSport Wheel Rim 320 as the closest fit. The other option would be the ClubSport Wheel Rim Round 1 which is 270mm and is fantastic for older F1 cars like the Lotus 98t.
If you’re not likely to go drifting, it’s worth considering the new ClubSport Wheel Rim SPARCO® GT. This 310mm rim is a replica of the Sparco P310 and as with the rest of the new Sparco replica rims, is well contoured for a very comfortable grip. An alternative to this would be the Podium R300 which is more expensive than the Sparco but does not have any contour in the rim, which I personally find far less comfortable.
Fanatec Podium Steering Wheel Monte Carlo – REVIEW
The Fanatec Podium Steering Wheel Monte Carlo is no replica. It is the exact wheel used by Sebastien Loeb to win the 2022 Monte Carlo Rally. This is a modular system that in the Monte Carlo bundle comes with a genuine Sparco R383 Rim, Podium Button Module Rally, Podium Hub
ClubSport Wheel Rim 320
Current Price
- 320MM Round Wheel Rim
- Leather or Alcantara® Grip
- Large diameter offers an authentic experience for Street Cars, Rally and GT styles.
ClubSport Wheel Rim Round 1
Current Price
- 270mm Round Wheel Rim
- Leather Grip
- Smaller Rim is suited to formula style driving but still perfectly fine for Rally, Drift and GT
ClubSport Wheel Rim SPARCO® GT
Current Price
- 320MM Round Wheel Rim
- Leather or Alcantara® Grip
- Ergonomic grip shape increases comfort and authentic feel
Hubs:
What is a Hub? And do you need one?
Fanatec Hubs are the central component of Fanatec’s modular steering wheel system which connects the wheel Rim or button box to the quick release and houses the required electronics for the Fanatec software to recognise that there is a Fanatec wheel connected. So yes, you do need one, but there are some options.
Note: All hubs come with a wheel-side quick release which is upgradable.
CSL Universal Hub V2
The CSL Universal Hub V2 includes everything you need to get from your wheel rim to your base-side quick release. The Hub has an integrated button islands for a total of 8 push buttons, a 2-way rocker switch, two 2-way toggle switches, and a 7-way FunkySwitch™ with rotary encoder functionality. The hub includes spring-loaded shifter paddles and a three-digit LED display for Tuning Menu functions and telemetry data. The CSL Universal Hub V2 offers good ergonomics across a range of wheel rim sizes due to its adjustable width. It can be used with any rim with a 6 x 70 mm or 3 x 50 mm bolt pattern provided the rim does not block the buttons.
Beyond this, the Podium wheel range consists of bundles and individual components which we’ll go over now.
ClubSport Universal Hub V2
The ClubSport hub comes with adjustable button clusters and magnetic shifters which can be removed for a clean look, or upgraded to the Podium Button Endurance and Podium Advanced Paddle Module. While some people might not like this hub’s spider-like appearance with the button clusters installed, it is a very practical hub that will give you a huge amount of options for use with different rims and button configurations. The 3 Digit LED display can even be laid down flat so it it not in view if you’re after an ultra-clean look.
The ClubSport Universal Hub V2 also comes in an Xbox-compatible version.
Podium Hub:
The Podium Hub despite being the top tier of quality, is the cheapest of the Fanatec Hubs because it does not include any buttons or paddles like the ClubSport and CSL Hubs. This makes it a perfect choice if you’re building a wheel that doesn’t need any buttons or paddles. Such as rally, drift, or classic street cars. It can also be paired with the Podium Button Module Endurance and Podium Advanced Paddle Module for ultimate functionality and build quality, or with the ClubSport Button Cluster and ClubSport Magnetic Shifters.
You could also use this hub to mount a complete third-party wheel, provided they have their own connectivity back to your PC (USB, Bluetooth etc.).
Button Modules
A button module is an additional unit that mounts onto your Hub, it does not replace a hub. For anyone looking to maximise the functionality of their Fanatec wheel, you’ve got a few options for adding buttons to your Hub and Rim combo.
Podium Button Module Endurance
Current Price
This full-scale Replica GT3 endurance button module is built with a carbon fibre faceplate and metal internals for a solid a sturdy construction.
It can be used with the Podium Hub or ClubSport Universal Hub and is ideally suited for the 300mm and 320mm GT-style wheels. The 2.7″ OLED Screen does a great job at displaying telemetry information beyond what any of the other Fanatec wheels can do. You also have LED lighting for revs and flag alerts which are easily customisable.
While it has a solid offering of inputs, without thumb encoders I wouldn’t say it has everything you’ll ever need.
Podium Button Module Rally
Current Price
This button module was designed for the 2022 and 2023 Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1 WRC cars and hence offers fantastic ergonomics for Rally driving along with some really handy features for Sim Racing.
It mounts to the front of wheels with a 6 X 70mm Bolt pattern which means it is compatible with all sorts of shapes and sizes. It connects to your Podium Hub or ClubSport Universal Hub V2 via a DataPort-C connector.
The stand-out feature for me is the 9 high-quality push buttons with customizable RGB Backlighting.
Shifter Paddles
If you’re looking at the CSL Universal Hub you do not have the option to upgrade shifter paddles. The ClubSport Universal Hub V2 comes with Magnetic shifters which can be upgraded to the Advanced Paddle Module, and if you go with the Podium Hub, you have the choice of the ClubSport Magnetic Paddle Module or the Podium Advanced Paddle Module.
There is also the ClubSport Static Shifter Paddle Module which attaches to the wheel base rather than the Hub. This keeps the paddles in a fixed position as the wheel spins, as found in some Rally and Drift situations.
The Podium Advanced Paddle Module is also an optional upgrade for some ClubSport All-In-One wheels as discussed earlier.
ClubSport Magnetic Paddle Module
Current Price
Aluminium construction with strong magnets for solid and purposeful gear shifts. Adjustments are made through extension plates and spacers which makes quick position adjustments difficult.
Compatible with a range of ClubSport Wheels (paddles come with the wheel anyway) and the Podium Hub which does not come with paddles.
Podium Advanced Paddle Module
Current Price
Can be used as an upgrade for ClubSport Wheels (check specific wheel compatibility), ClubSport Hub, or for the Podium Hub.
Improved build quality over ClubSport Paddles but the main benefit is for those who want the additional pair of magnetic paddles and analog clutch paddles. Clutch paddles can be used as individual analog inputs or configured as a bite-point dual clutch.
ClubSport Static Shifter Paddles
Current Price
If you want to try out paddle shifters for rallying or drifting with a round wheel, this is a handy shifter option. Paddles mount to the wheel base rather than the wheel hub keeping them static as the wheel rotates.
Compatible with all wheels and bases and can be used in conjunction with shifter paddles mounted to your wheel hub. Note: I have not used these myself.
Steering Wheel Bundles
Here are our top picks from the CSL, ClubSport and Podium ranges:
CSL Steering Wheel Round 1 V2
Current Price
- CSL Universal Hub V2
- ClubSport Wheel Rim Round 1
- QR2 Wheel Side
ClubSport Steering Wheel 320
Current Price
- ClubSport Universal Hub V2
- ClubSport Wheel Rim 320 Alcantara®
- QR2 Wheel Side
Podium Steering Wheel Porsche 911 GT3 R
Current Price
- Podium Wheel Rim Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
- Podium Button Module Endurance
- Podium Advanced Paddle Module
- Podium Hub
- QR2 Wheel Side
Have our Fanatec reviews helped you decide what the best sim racing gear is for you?
Please consider using the links on this page to make your purchase.
By doing so you’ll be supporting Boosted Media at no additional cost to you! This option is available for a huge range of Sim Racing gear.
