We last spoke about how pros and beginners can both improve with new gear, now, let’s get into which wheel works best! For many new sim racers, upgrading their setup starts with a simple question: GT wheel or round wheel?
It’s a choice often made blindly, and more often than not, it leads to frustration. The wrong wheel doesn’t just feel different – it actively limits your performance, immersion, and progression.
Choosing the right steering wheel isn’t about price either, especially thanks to PXN’s recent quality production on the VD Series and GT One, so the question becomes understanding how each type is built, and what kind of racing experience it’s designed to deliver.
Core Differences: GT Wheel vs Round Wheel At a glance, both wheel types may seem similar. In practice, they are built for entirely different driving styles. Let’s take a deep dive into what makes these wheels different, and what you need to know to decide:
Shape & Handling:
GT wheels, typically around 300mm, are optimized for small, precise, high-frequency steering inputs-perfect for track racing where control and consistency matter most.
Round wheels, on the other hand, are designed for larger steering angles, making them ideal for rally stages, drifting, and more dynamic driving styles.
Control Layout:
GT wheels feature a dense layout of buttons, encoders, and paddle shifters, allowing drivers to adjust settings instantly without removing their hands.
Round wheels tend to offer simpler layouts, prioritizing freedom of movement over competitive efficiency.
Realism:
GT wheels replicate the design of GT and formula race cars, delivering an authentic motorsport experience.
Round wheels mirror road cars and rally vehicles, making them more suitable for casual or mixed driving scenarios.
Usage:
GT wheels are built for hardcore competition, lap chasing, and precision driving.
Round wheels are better suited for casual play, drifting, rally driving, and open-world exploration.
Which Wheel Fits Your Game Type?
Choosing the right wheel becomes much easier when you match it to the games you play most.
- Choose a GT Wheel if you play F1 Series, Assetto Corsa Competizione, iRacing, or any competitive track-focused title.
- Choose a Round Wheel if you prefer DiRT Rally, WRC, Forza Horizon, or drift-heavy, open-world experiences.
- Versatile players may benefit from both: a GT wheel for competitive racing, and a round wheel for more relaxed driving sessions.
PXN GT ONE, Built for Hardcore Track Racing
For racers focused on performance, precision, and progression, the PXN GT ONE is purpose-built for track dominance.
Its 300mm professional GT size replicates the feel of GT3 and GT4 racing, delivering the control and responsiveness needed for competitive lap times.
With 78 inputs, including four carbon fiber paddles, twelve programmable buttons, multiple encoders, and dual seven-way switches, every critical adjustment is always within reach. Brake bias, traction control, and telemetry can all be fine-tuned without ever lifting your hands from the wheel.
Immersion is taken further with 15 RGB RPM LEDs and fully backlit buttons, all supporting 8-bit color customization. Through PXN SimRacing software and SimHub, drivers can create game-specific lighting profiles and control mappings tailored to their racing style.
And thanks to its open ecosystem compatibility, the GT ONE integrates seamlessly with PXN’s VD Series direct drive bases and a wide range of other setups, making it a flexible and future-ready choice.
PXN Round Wheels – Built for Rally, Drift & Casual Driving
For those who prefer versatility, PXN’s round wheels offer a different kind of driving experience-one focused on freedom, movement, and adaptability.
The PXN W AS features a compact 280mm round design, ideal for quick transitions and agile control, while the PXN W CS R2 offers a larger 330mm wheel, better suited for wide steering angles and immersive driving.
Both models maintain PXN’s commitment to quality and functionality:
- W AS: 19 programmable buttons, 2 knobs, and 4 magnetic paddle shifters
- W CS R2: 13 buttons, 2 pressable rotary encoders, and 10 customizable LEDs
Designed for rally, drifting, and casual gameplay, these wheels also benefit from open ecosystem compatibility, working seamlessly with PXN VD Series bases.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right steering wheel isn’t about chasing the most expensive option-it’s about choosing the right tool for your driving style.
For competitive track racers, the PXN GT ONE delivers the precision, control, and immersion needed to push lap times and break personal bests.
Make the right choice, and you won’t just improve your setup. You’ll transform your entire sim racing experience.
Take a look at all of PXN’s Steering Wheels on the company’s store
