What Is The Fanatec Wheel Hub?
The Fanatec Wheel Hub is a QR2-based adapter for fitting third-party steering wheels to Fanatec wheel bases.
It does three things:
– Provides the QR2 Wheel-Side connection
– Gives you common steering wheel mounting patterns
– Includes the electronics needed to enable force feedback on Fanatec bases
It supports 6 x 70 mm M5 and 6 x 50.8 mm M5 mounting patterns, with front and rear mounting options. In practical terms, that should cover all common aftermarket wheels.
This is not a full data/power connectivity solution for third-party wheels. If your wheel has its own electronics, buttons, display, or USB connection, those still work through that wheel’s own system such as a USB cable back to your PC or bluetooth and battery power etc. The Wheel Hub handles the physical connection and Fanatec force feedback handshake.
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Why It Matters
Fanatec has always had a strong wheel ecosystem, but the third-party wheel market is much bigger now than it used to be. There are plenty of excellent USB wheels, button plates, GT wheels, formula wheels, rally wheels, and display-equipped wheels that would be great to use with a Fanatec wheelbase.
With most brands, If you can physicaly bolt the wheel on, the wheel base still outputs force feedback without any further handshakes needed.
With Fanatec, you need more than just the mechanical connection. The base also needs to detect a compatible Fanatec wheel. That is why products like the Podium Hub, SRM adapters, Simube adapters, and now the Fanatec Wheel Hub exist.
Fanatec Wheel Hub vs Podium Hub
The Podium Hub was previously the most straightforward Fanatec solution. It worked, but it was overkill if all you wanted was to run a third-party wheel.
The Podium Hub is part of Fanatec’s modular wheel system, so it is designed to work with Fanatec button modules, paddle modules, wheel rims, and other accessories. If your third-party wheel already has its own buttons and paddles, much of that functionality is unnecessary.
The other issue is thickness. The Podium Hub setup adds just under 50 mm between the steering wheel and quick release. That can affect seating position to the point where you may require moving your wheel base when switching between different wheels.
The Wheel Hub is much slimmer. The adaptor section itself is around 10 mm thick, making it a much neater solution for this specific job.
Price also favours the Wheel Hub. The Podium Hub is US$209.99, while the Wheel Hub is US$99.99, only US$10 more than buying the QR2 quick release on its own.
What About SRM And Simube?
Fanatec is not the first company to offer this kind of solution.
SRM and Simube already sell adapters or emulator-style products that let Fanatec users run third-party wheels. The SRM option is similar in purpose and slightly cheaper depender on where you live. Simube also offers a cheaper alternative, although it does not have the 50.8 mm bolt pattern.
So the Fanatec Wheel Hub is not the cheapest option.
Its advantage is that it is genuine Fanatec hardware, which could be important if firmware updates on your Fanatec Wheelbase impact the use of third party adaptors.
Is It Good Value?
Compared with the Podium Hub, yes.
If you need to buy another QR2 anyway, yes.
The Wheel Hub is cheaper, slimmer, and better suited to the job of fitting third-party wheels to Fanatec wheel bases than any other Fanatec option. If you want a genuine Fanatec solution and do not already have a spare QR2, it makes sense, and is essentially only US$10 when taking in to account the cost of a QR2.
The value is less clear if you already own QR2s, or if you are happy using third-party adapters. In that case, SRM or Simube may still be more appealing.
Verdict
The Fanatec Wheel Hub is a good solution to an annoying problem.
It is slimmer and more focused than the Podium Hub, supports common wheel mounting patterns, includes QR2 hardware, and gives Fanatec users a simple first-party way to run third-party wheels with force feedback.
For existing Fanatec users, it is a welcome addition. If you already own a Fanatec wheel base and want to unlock third-party wheels without relying on a third-party adapter, this is the most straightforward official path.
It is less convincing as a reason to move to Fanatec for the first time. If you know you are likely to expand beyond the wheel ecosystem of your chosen wheel base, other brands handle this more elegantly. Simagic, for example, offers the QR-A adapter for Alpha EVO wheel bases, which supports USB third-party wheels through the quick release. That means you can run a short cable from the wheel to the QR-A, rather than a longer cable back to the PC that can get tangled or limit you to wireless wheels. Compatibility can still vary depending on the wheel, but the concept is cleaner.
The Fanatec Wheel Hub works nicely, and for many existing Fanatec users it will be the best official option. It just should not be this complicated to use the steering wheel you want.
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