In short: a direct drive wheelbase is a system in which the rim is mounted directly on the motor shaft, with no belts or gears in between: the force feedback therefore arrives stronger and more detailed. For most drivers, a wheelbase between 8 and 12 Nm already offers all the force they need; below that, it's a good start on a desk, above that you gain headroom for heavy cars, rally and long sessions. In this guide you'll find how it works, how many Nm to choose, how the rim attaches, where to mount the wheelbase and which software to adjust it with.

"Direct drive wheel" is the expression usually used for the combination of wheelbase and steering wheel, but the heart of the system is the wheelbase: that's where force, detail and compatibility with the rest of your equipment are decided. This guide is not a brand ranking: it gives you the elements to compare wheelbases on a like-for-like basis and choose the one that suits how and where you drive. If you're building your simulator from scratch, start with the home driving simulator guide.

In this guide

1. What a direct drive wheelbase is
2. How it works: direct drive, belt and gear
3. How many Nm a direct drive wheelbase needs
4. Quick release and ecosystems
5. Where to mount it: desk or cockpit
6. Wheelbase management software
7. Which direct drive wheelbase to choose
8. Frequently asked questions

What a direct drive wheelbase is

A direct drive wheel is made up of a wheelbase, which houses the motor, and a rim, the steering wheel itself, attached to the motor shaft. The game continuously calculates the forces acting on the virtual car's steering and the wheelbase reproduces them on the steering wheel: this is force feedback. Thanks to it, you feel the weight of the steering through corners, the kerbs under your wheels and the steering going light when the front loses grip.

The wheelbase and rim are often sold separately, so you can choose the rim best suited to the cars you drive and change it over time. Beginners will also find bundles with a wheelbase, rim and sometimes pedals, already compatible with each other.

What's inside a direct drive wheelbase

• The motor: an electric servo motor that directly turns the shaft the rim attaches to. Its peak torque, expressed in Nm, is the figure that most distinguishes one wheelbase from another.
• The encoder: the sensor that measures the steering wheel's position. Its resolution is expressed in bits: more bits mean more positions detected per revolution. On the product pages of the wheelbases in our catalogue you'll find, for example, 21-bit (Simagic Alpha EVO, MOZA R16 Ultra), 23-bit (Simucube 3) and 24-bit (PXN VD6 and VD10).
• Electronics and cooling: they translate the game's commands into current for the motor and keep the temperature in check, which rises during long, high-force sessions. Several wheelbases have active cooling, such as the Simagic Alpha EVO series.
• The quick release: the quick-attach mount the rim fits onto, which we'll cover further on.

Many manufacturers also mention the absence of cogging, the slight notchiness an electric motor can transmit when turning slowly: less cogging means a smoother steering wheel, especially around the centre.

How it works: direct drive, belt and gear

Sim racing wheelbases differ in the way the motor's force reaches the steering wheel. In a comparison of the three systems published by Fanatec, these are the differences:

All the wheelbases in the Direct Drive Wheelbases collection use direct transmission, from entry level to the professional range.

What you gain with direct drive

• Detail: with no belts or gears in between, even small changes in force reach your hands, such as the onset of understeer or a low kerb.
• Strength: direct drive wheelbases reach torque levels that belt and gear systems cannot offer.
• Consistency: the feel stays the same even over long sessions, with no parts that loosen or wear out.

What it asks in return

• A solid mounting: the wheelbase pushes hard in every direction and must be mounted on a support that doesn't move (see where to mount it).
• A little time on the settings: it's in the wheelbase software that you tailor the force feedback to your driving.
• Caution with the force: a direct drive wheelbase can deliver far more force than a traditional wheelbase. It's best to start with low values and increase them gradually.

How many Nm does a direct drive wheelbase need?

Torque, expressed in newton metres (Nm), is the maximum rotational force the wheelbase can apply to the steering wheel. More Nm doesn't automatically mean a better drive: the force you will actually use depends on the car, the rim and your own preferences.

Two manufacturers say so explicitly. Fanatec writes that 8 Nm is generally more than enough for most racing situations and that some drivers with an 8 Nm wheelbase still reduce the force to 6-7 Nm. MOZA notes that experienced sim racers rarely use all the available torque, describes the 12 Nm of the R12 as a suitable force for almost every discipline, and points to the 21 Nm of the R21 Ultra for those seeking the maximum in fast rallying and endurance racing.

The torque bands

• Up to 6 Nm, entry level: compact wheelbases and complete bundles, suited to a desk. They are enough to learn racing lines and car control, and they are the most affordable way to try direct drive.
• From 8 to 12 Nm, the most balanced band: this is the range manufacturers describe as sufficient for most racing. It works well both on a sturdy desk and on a cockpit.
• From 15 to 21 Nm, headroom: reproduces heavy cars, rallying and sudden force peaks more realistically, and leaves room when you use large rims. Here a cockpit becomes the recommended choice.
• 25 Nm and above, professional level: the greatest force reserve, for those seeking the highest realism or training on professional simulators. Requires a rigid cockpit.

Why more torque can help even if you don't use it all

When the game asks the wheelbase for more force than it can deliver, the motor reaches its limit and any detail beyond that limit is lost. A wheelbase with more torque, set below its maximum, works with more in reserve: according to MOZA, it is precisely this headroom that allows the motor to convey detail without saturating. The rim matters too: Fanatec points out that a smaller, lighter steering wheel makes force feedback feel more intense, which is why with a compact formula rim you might prefer a lower force than with a large-diameter round one.

Continuous torque and peak torque

Not all manufacturers state torque in the same way: some declare the torque the motor sustains over time, others the peak it reaches for brief moments. The PXN VD6 product page, for example, lists 6 Nm of constant torque and 7 Nm peak, while the MOZA R25 Ultra page quotes 25 Nm continuous. When comparing two wheelbases, check that the values are of the same type.

Some wheelbases can also be upgraded: the Fanatec CSL DD (5 Nm) and the 5 Nm Gran Turismo DD Pro reach 8 Nm with the Fanatec Boost Kit 180 (€99), already included in the 8 Nm versions.

Wheelbases in our catalogue, sorted by torque

Torque is as stated in the product name or on the product page. Price doesn't follow Nm alone: it also depends on the encoder, motor, materials and ecosystem, which is why wheelbases with the same torque can have very different prices.

Quick release and ecosystems

The quick release is the fast-coupling mount between wheelbase and rim: one half is fitted to the wheelbase, the other to the rim, and it lets you swap steering wheels in a few seconds. In many systems the mount also carries power and data to the rim, so buttons and displays work without external cables.

Each brand has its own system, and your choice of wheelbase steers the rims and peripherals you will buy later: this is what is meant by ecosystem.

How to choose an ecosystem

• If you already own rims or peripherals from one brand, staying in the same ecosystem is the simplest route: they mount without adapters.
• If you're starting from scratch, look at the brand's range of rims (round, D-shaped, formula) and check that it has the ones suited to the cars you drive.
• If you want to mix brands, it's often possible with a 70 mm adapter, but what works changes: on the Simucube 3, for example, wireless transmission is not supported with a third-party quick release. If in doubt, ask before you buy.

Where to mount it: desk or cockpit

A direct drive wheelbase must be fixed to something that doesn't move. Force feedback pushes the steering wheel in every direction: if the support flexes or slides, part of the force is lost and the driving becomes less precise.

On a desk

Many wheelbases can be mounted on a sturdy table with dedicated brackets, and some bundles already include the clamp, such as the MOZA R5 Bundle and the Gran Turismo DD Pro (5 Nm) Bundle. A few examples from our catalogue:

A desk is a valid solution to get started, especially with the more modest torque levels, if you're short on space or want to dismantle everything at the end of a session. The limits emerge as the force increases: the desktop can flex, the chair slides back when you push on the pedals, and the driving position changes every time you set up.

On a cockpit

A cockpit keeps the wheelbase, pedals and seat always in the same position and stays stable even at the highest torque levels. Wheelbases are mounted on the cockpit's wheel deck from below or with front brackets, such as the Alpha EVO front mounting brackets (€59) for cockpits with a front mount. ARC SIM cockpits, our own aluminium profile line, start at €599 with the ARC SIM GT-M (80 mm profiles, seat included); the ARC SIM GT-X, with 135×45 profiles, starts at €909.

The wheelbase management software

Every direct drive wheelbase is adjusted with the manufacturer's software, installed on your PC. There you set the maximum force, the rotation angle, the force feedback filters and the profiles for different games; the same software also installs firmware updates.

Three tips for your first adjustments

1. Start from the recommended settings from the manufacturer or the game, rather than from scratch.
2. Keep the force low at first. MOZA Pit House, for example, lets you limit the output torque and suggests a lower value for those with less strength in their hands.
3. Change one parameter at a time: it's the only way to understand what is improving or worsening the feel.

Which direct drive wheelbase to choose

There is no single best wheelbase: there is the one that suits your platform, your space and the way you drive. This is the order in which it makes sense to decide:

1. Platform: PC offers the widest choice. On console you need wheelbases with official support, such as the Fanatec Gran Turismo DD Pro, the official wheelbase for PlayStation 5 and PS4, or the MOZA R3 Bundle Xbox (€359), officially licensed for Xbox.
2. Ecosystem: choose the brand by also looking at the rims, pedals and accessories you will want to add in future.
3. Torque: for most drivers the 8 to 12 Nm band is the sweet spot; below it you save money, above it you gain headroom.
4. Mounting: decide whether you will use a desk or a cockpit, and choose brackets or a cockpit accordingly.
5. Budget: a bundle brings together a wheelbase, rim and sometimes pedals that are already compatible; individual components make sense when you already know which rim you want.

At the time of writing, the most affordable direct drive set in our catalogue is the MOZA R3 Bundle PC (€299, with steering wheel and pedals); as a standalone wheelbase, the cheapest is the MOZA R9 (V3) (€319). You'll find every combination in the Direct drive bundles collection.

Frequently asked questions

What is a direct drive wheelbase?

It's a sim racing wheelbase in which the rim is mounted directly on the motor shaft, with no belts or gears. Force feedback reaches the steering wheel stronger and more detailed than with belt or gear systems.

How many Nm do you need to get started?

A few Nm are enough to get started: the entry-level bundles in our catalogue start at 3.9 Nm. According to Fanatec, 8 Nm is generally more than enough for most racing situations.

Is a direct drive or a belt-driven wheelbase better?

Direct drive offers higher forces, more detail and a feel that doesn't change over long sessions. In return it costs more, requires solid mounting and a few minutes on the settings.

What is the cheapest direct drive wheelbase?

At the time of writing, in our catalogue it's the MOZA R3 Bundle PC at €299, with a 3.9 Nm wheelbase, steering wheel and pedals. As a standalone wheelbase, the cheapest is the MOZA R9 (V3) at €319.

Does a direct drive wheelbase work on PS5 or Xbox?

Yes, but only with wheelbases and steering wheels compatible with the console, such as the Fanatec Gran Turismo DD Pro for PlayStation 5 and PS4 or the MOZA R3 Bundle Xbox. Always check compatibility on the product page.

Can I mount a direct drive wheelbase on my desk?

Yes, with the manufacturer's table clamps, provided the desk is sturdy. With high torque, or if you want to find the same driving position every time, a cockpit is the more stable choice.

What's the difference between continuous and peak torque?

Continuous torque is what the motor sustains over time; peak torque is the maximum it reaches for brief moments. Always compare values of the same type: the PXN VD6, for example, declares 6 Nm continuous and 7 Nm peak.

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Ready to choose your wheelbase? Browse the Direct Drive Wheelbases collection or the direct drive bundles. If you have any doubts about torque, coupling or compatibility, contact our support team: when you buy from Direct Drive Italia you get technical support and a 2-year warranty, both based in Italy.