How Moza Makes the Best Sim Racing Wheels

In today’s article, we’re going to take a detailed look at the defining features of a premium sim racing wheel, focusing on the engineering and design principles that make the difference between simple gaming peripherals to fully fledged, motorsport grade sim racing wheels.

We’ll delve into the science of material selection, exploring the advantages of high-grade carbon fibre composites, stiffness and the importance of weight reduction.

We’ll examine the crucial role of ergonomic wheel design, particularly on grip materials, button placement, and wheel geometry to understand how these elements contribute to driver comfort and improved control.

Beyond the Basics: The Pursuit of Sim Racing Perfection

For our dedicated sim racers, pursuing perfection is a relentless endeavour. It’s not just about refining lap times; it’s about that endless pursuit of improving your sim racing setup, FFB configurations, your pedal setup – everything! Naturally, your steering wheel stands as a critical interface, a direct link to the simulated vehicle’s dynamics.

While entry-level wheels offer an introduction into sim racing, serious enthusiasts know that there’s a crucial and very measurable difference between “entry level” and “high end” equipment.

This article delves into the defining features that elevate a sim racing wheel from good to exceptional, focusing on the engineering and design principles behind MOZA Racing’s premium offerings, such as the Vision GS, Lamborghini Essenza SCV12, MOZA Porsche Mission R Steering Wheel and the favourite of most of our customers, the FSR2.

The Science of Stiffness and Weight Reduction

At the heart of any high-performance sim racing wheel lies the material choice.

When we’re thinking about premium wheels, carbon fibre composite reigns supreme, but not all carbon fibre is created equal. MOZA Racing uses high-grade carbon fibre, featuring advanced weaves such as Toray fibres, renowned for strength and ultra stiffness. The manufacturing process plays a crucial role in getting the maximum from our materials. too. 

Autoclave curing, for example, ensures a void-free laminate, resulting in a significantly stronger and more rigid structure.

Stiffness in a wheel is unbelievably important. The stiffer the material choice, the better the wheel can communicate fine detail from your wheelbase’s FFB (force feedback). It’s really quite amazing when you first feel the difference. Some wheels lose entire frequency ranges (meaning: they lose feel). Doing little justice to the investment you’ve made in your wheelbase!

Stiffness is not a subjective idea. In fact, it’s measurable. We can look at Young’s modulus, a measure of a material’s resistance to elastic deformation.

High-quality carbon fibre composites exhibit a significantly higher Young’s modulus compared to aluminium or lower-grade composites, meaning, it deflects less under load. Put simply, composites are stiffer than aluminium!

A stiffer material translates to a more direct and responsive feel, allowing you to perceive the subtlest detail in your force feedback. In contrast, aluminium, while cost-effective, lack the stiffness and strength of layered carbon fibre, resulting in a less precise and more dampened feel. And you really can feel it!

The direction of the carbon fibre weave is also important to enhance strength in specific areas. By aligning the fibres along the primary stress lines, we can optimise the wheel’s structural integrity, ensuring it can withstand the intense forces generated by high-end force feedback systems.

This attention to detail in the weave pattern contributes to a wheel that feels remarkably solid and responsive.

Furthermore, the weight difference between carbon fibre and aluminium is substantial. A carbon fibre wheel can be significantly lighter, reducing rotational inertia and allowing for quicker changes in direction and more immediate force feedback responses. This reduced weight not only improves the wheel’s handling but also reduces driver fatigue during extended racing sessions.

In some advanced carbon fibre layups, manufacturers may incorporate foam cores within the layers. This technique increases the overall stiffness of the structure without adding excessive weight. The foam acts as a spacer, increasing the distance between the outer layers of carbon fibre and effectively boosting the wheel’s resistance to bending. This is the type of approach a Formula One team might take.

Beyond the carbon fibre structure, MOZA Racing strategically incorporates lightweight alloys and other premium materials to further reduce rotational inertia. Our meticulous attention to material selection and manufacturing processes ensure that our wheels deliver unparalleled stiffness, responsiveness, and durability.

Our latest wheels match and improve upon the very best the sim racing industry has to offer.

Ergonomic Precision: Designing for Optimal Control and Comfort

A sim racing wheel’s design must integrate with the driver’s natural movements, minimising fatigue and maximising control.

Our high-end wheels, like the Porsche Mission R Wheel, the Lamborghini Essenza SCV12 Wheel, the FSR2, the Vision GS exemplify this philosophy with our meticulous attention to grip design, button placement, and overall form factor.

Grip Design and Materials:

The grips are the primary point of contact between the driver and the wheel, and their design can significantly impact comfort and control. We talk a lot about grip ergonomics. Put simply we care what a steering wheel will feel like after a significant period of use. You certainly don’t want to feel hand fatigue especially not a brief time into a 4-hour endurance race.

We offer a variety of grip materials, including premium Alcantara and genuine leather, each providing their own unique tactile experience.

Alcantara, as seen on the FSR2 and the Porsche Mission R Wheel, offers a suede-like feel with excellent grip, even with sweaty hands. Gloves, of course, are always recommended.

Leather, featured on the Lamborghini Essenza SCV12 Wheel, provides a more luxurious and traditional feel, ageing gracefully over time, as an Italian sports car should! 

The shape and thickness of the grips are also carefully considered. For instance, the Vision GS features ergonomically sculpted grips that fit naturally in the hands, reducing fatigue during long racing sessions. The GT series wheels provide a more traditional grip shape, that is suited to a wide range of racing styles.   

Button and Control Layout:

Accessibility and intuitive placement of buttons, rotary encoders, and paddles are crucial for quick adjustments and faultless control. Our wheels boast well-organized layouts, allowing drivers to easily reach essential controls without taking their hands off the grips.

The FSR2’s button layout, for example, is set up for formula-style racing, with easily accessible thumb encoders and paddles. The Vision GS, with its customisable button caps, allows for personalised control schemes, ensuring that frequently used functions are always within reach. The KS wheel has a very intuitive layout, that makes it easy for newer sim racers to use.

Wheel Diameter and Shape:

The diameter and shape of the wheel also play a significant role in ergonomics. Smaller diameter wheels, like the FSR2, offer quicker steering response, ideal for open-wheel and formula cars. Rapid inputs to catch slides are far easier with smaller diameter wheels.

Larger diameter wheels, such as the GT series, provide more leverage and control, suitable for GT and touring cars. The Porsche Mission R Wheel’s unique shape, inspired by the real Mission R concept car, provides a blend of both, offering a balance of responsiveness and control.

Paddle Shifters and Encoders:

The feel and responsiveness of the paddle shifters and rotary encoders are equally important. Our wheels feature high-quality paddle shifters with a crisp, tactile click, ensuring precise gear changes. The rotary encoders, like those found on the Vision GS and FSR2, offer smooth and precise adjustments, allowing drivers to fine-tune settings without becoming too distracted while on track.

In essence, MOZA Racing’s commitment to ergonomic precision ensures that our wheels not only look impressive but also provide a comfortable and intuitive driving experience, allowing sim racers to focus on what matters most: the race.

Check out our entire wheel range here.