How do I "get good" with a wheel?

[iQuacks]

I recently bought a T300rs wheel and pedal set for my PS4 in anticipation of the release of Project CARS. I've been playing racing games longer than I can remember, so I do alright with a pad.
I was under the impression that playing with a wheel not only makes the experience more immersive but can improve my times.

At the moment I'm struggling a bit, to compare my times, I did a time trial using the pad and then tried to match it using the wheel. To start of with I was terrible!!! Going off on all the corners and spending a lot of the time facing the wrong way.

Then I started to get better control and eventually was able to smash the time I had set with the pad, so far so good. Next I started playing some events and couldn't get near the front of the pack and spent most of the time at the back in disappointment. I did all of the above on Driveclub and find it all a bit "cartoony".

My questions are as follows;
1) Shall I forget Driveclub and its cartoon physics altogether and wait for pCARS to start learning?
2) How do I control the car using a wheel when the back end starts to step out?
3) Are there any tips a n00b like me needs to know, or is it just practice practice practice?

Thanks.

 

[edawg456]

Like everyone says, it takes practice. That's how I did it when I had a wheel for my ps2.

 

[MatskiMonk]

Just practice, try to forget what you know about racing with a pad. I had the same problem, and in fact a year down the line I'm still not any quicker with a wheel.

1) Physics will change from game to game, what you need is to hone your responses to the feedback you are getting, not trying to predict what that feed back may be.
2) Get used to feeding opposite lock in, not just throwing in an armful.
3) Practice. Find an enjoyable combo and just work it, then start to branch out.

Just my two cents.

There are those that think a wheel is a 5 second advantage y'know

 

[Mayaman]

The same way you get to Carnegie Hall son, practice!

 

[12thgear]

I don't think there are any great PS4 racers yet. Perhaps fire up GT6 if you have a PS3. Or try out some PC sims if you have a computer.

I'd also suggest not death gripping the wheel. Keep a lighter touch so you can better feel what the car wants to do so you're not overpowering the feedback all the time. When the back end breaks away, you don't need to counter steer excessively either. You're not waiting for the car to swap directions. By then it's too late and you'll just get caught in a tank slapper. You're just trying to regain control so the wheels grip again.

I also think these iRacing videos are good for review: iRacing Driving School

 

[VBR]

2) How do I control the car using a wheel when the back end starts to step out?

That all depends why the back end is stepping out, & what drive train the car is.


1) If it's a FWD car, counter steer & then use full throttle to pull the car back in a straight line.

2) If it's a RWD car & the back end is stepping out due to power oversteer, counter steer & come off the throttle about 50-75%.

3) If it's a RWD car & you get lift off over steer, counter steer & then apply enough throttle to load the rear tyres again so as to get more grip (there's no lift off over steer in GT6).


The following video is quite helpful with regards to lift off over steer. They call it trailing throttle over steer, same thing though. And remember, sims are not 100% the same as reality.


Fast forward to 15 minutes in;



👍

 

[oqvist]

Practise there is no short cuts. I haven´t driven Drive Club it looks very arcade so possibly it´s important to get from lock to lock quickly. throttle and brake modulation is non important and you get tons of aid stabilizing the car. Then a gamepad should be faster then a wheel particularly if the game is designed around that.

 

[Sick Cylinder]

I recently bought a T300rs wheel and pedal set for my PS4 in anticipation of the release of Project CARS. I've been playing racing games longer than I can remember, so I do alright with a pad.
I was under the impression that playing with a wheel not only makes the experience more immersive but can improve my times.

At the moment I'm struggling a bit, to compare my times, I did a time trial using the pad and then tried to match it using the wheel. To start of with I was terrible!!! Going off on all the corners and spending a lot of the time facing the wrong way.

Then I started to get better control and eventually was able to smash the time I had set with the pad, so far so good. Next I started playing some events and couldn't get near the front of the pack and spent most of the time at the back in disappointment. I did all of the above on Driveclub and find it all a bit "cartoony".

My questions are as follows;
1) Shall I forget Driveclub and its cartoon physics altogether and wait for pCARS to start learning?
2) How do I control the car using a wheel when the back end starts to step out?
3) Are there any tips a n00b like me needs to know, or is it just practice practice practice?

Thanks.

I agree with everything else that has been said so far, however I think a lot of what has been said applies after you have mastered the basics with a wheel.

My advice is put GT6 on (I presume you have a PS3). Forget about the pad altogether and never touch it again - if you need to get a good wheelstand like a wheelstand pro get one so that there is no excuse for not using the wheel everytime. Forget all about times and trying to be faster with a wheel and start the game at the very beginning - by the time you get to the end of the game you will have learnt the basics with a wheel naturally and will almost certainly be faster than when you used a pad.

Once using the wheel has become completely natural, then try the more advanced techniques detailed by the posters in this thread and other threads on GTPlanet.

Enjoy - don't rush - you have years ahead of you in which to hone your skills and enjoy your hobby.

 

[iQuacks]

WOW! That is some really helpful information there so far from everyone. Thanks!!


I think what was said regarding driveclub being about getting from lock to lock is true, it would certainly explain why i was finding it easier to control any oversteer with a pad.

 

[oqvist]

When I run pure arcade titles I often run less then 90 degree steering lock lol.

 

[Bluntified]

The best advice is to practice! When I first started out I only drove about 80%, not full on. This way you'll learn where your wheel should be and how much you'll need to turn.

Do a lap very slow/casual, just drive not race. On the next lap pick things up a little bit, then push harder and harder each lap you do. This will not only teach you how to be smooth with your inputs (which is very important) but will teach you proper race lines awell - win/win.

I'm not sure how Drive Club drives with a wheel, yet, but it'll still be a good starting point plus it'll help break your wheel in (if it's such a thing lol).

 

[Blkout]

Just to reinforce what has been said many times already. Practice.

 

[RReed43]

I recommend as have others going to GT6 (or GT5) and only using the wheel. There are lots of excellent and challenging driving tests. This will force you to use the wheel and not even think of a pad.

I got interested in "sim" racing on Need for Speed Carbon. I bought a wheel and GT4 prologue and started using it. I went back to Need for Speed occasionally with the wheel and was rubbish. I never tried to master the wheel on Need for Speed, once you learn a specific game/controller it is a bitch to relearn with a different controller.

I kept getting better and better and ended up with a Platinum Trophy in GT5 which is not trivial as well as on GT6 (easier).

I have since moved to higher end wheels and PC sims and would never think about going back.

 

[Johnnypenso]

I recently bought a T300rs wheel and pedal set for my PS4 in anticipation of the release of Project CARS. I've been playing racing games longer than I can remember, so I do alright with a pad.
I was under the impression that playing with a wheel not only makes the experience more immersive but can improve my times.

At the moment I'm struggling a bit, to compare my times, I did a time trial using the pad and then tried to match it using the wheel. To start of with I was terrible!!! Going off on all the corners and spending a lot of the time facing the wrong way.

Then I started to get better control and eventually was able to smash the time I had set with the pad, so far so good. Next I started playing some events and couldn't get near the front of the pack and spent most of the time at the back in disappointment. I did all of the above on Driveclub and find it all a bit "cartoony".

My questions are as follows;
1) Shall I forget Driveclub and its cartoon physics altogether and wait for pCARS to start learning?
2) How do I control the car using a wheel when the back end starts to step out?
3) Are there any tips a n00b like me needs to know, or is it just practice practice practice?

Thanks.

First, if you are awaiting the release of PCars then go back to a pad with DriveClub and save the wheel for PCars. Even if you learn how to drive in DC I guarantee you will have to unlearn a lot of bad habits you pick up in an arcade game. I also wouldn't recommend going to GT6 either since it's just a few weeks out until PCars for the same reason, you'll have to unlearn a bunch of bad habits when trying to learn sim physics. This is coming from someone that also recently took up sim racing and also played GT6 and Grid Autosport with it's more simcade physics.

What I would do is take that six weeks and study and learn about driving fast because sim racing tends to very closely emulate what works in the real world. If you intend to play PCars as a full simulation you're going to want to be intimately familiar with all aspects of racing physics and real race car tuning because they will work in the game.

When it comes to controlling a car when the back end steps out see above. This will become much, much, much more intuitive in a racing sim because the amount of information from the FFB, the sound and the visual will tell you what's happening with the car far better than you'll get in any available console game. You'll be able to clearly hear and feel the back end begin to step out and as you repeat each lap you adjust your braking, throttle and steering inputs to shift the tire load and maintain the optimum slip angle for your best cornering speed and exit position. When you spin or miss your marks you will know why.

So yes, practice, practice, practice, but I'd wait for PCars myself.

There are those that think a wheel is a 5 second advantage y'know

Because it is a 5 second advantage at the Nurb
Or would you prefer an 11 second advantage?

 

[Punknoodle]

The best advice is to practice! When I first started out I only drove about 80%, not full on. This way you'll learn where your wheel should be and how much you'll need to turn.

Do a lap very slow/casual, just drive not race. On the next lap pick things up a little bit, then push harder and harder each lap you do. This will not only teach you how to be smooth with your inputs (which is very important) but will teach you proper race lines awell - win/win.

I'm not sure how Drive Club drives with a wheel, yet, but it'll still be a good starting point plus it'll help break your wheel in (if it's such a thing lol).

Spot on. Treat it like you are a learner driver, because, effectively, you are. Also make sure the seating position feels natural - like you are actually driving. This makes a huge difference.

 

[skazz]

If you run cars in GT6 on the right tyres it's really not bad.
Running all of the sports and super cars on Comfort Soft tyres (which equate very closely to semislicks in Assetto Corsa in my opinion) with ABS and Traction Control turned off requires you to drive very similarly to any PC simulator. It will teach you to be precise and smooth with the pedals and steering, the importance of hitting the apex, slow in fast out, etc, etc...

 

[iQuacks]

First, if you are awaiting the release of PCars then go back to a pad with DriveClub and save the wheel for PCars. Even if you learn how to drive in DC I guarantee you will have to unlearn a lot of bad habits you pick up in an arcade game. I also wouldn't recommend going to GT6 either since it's just a few weeks out until PCars for the same reason, you'll have to unlearn a bunch of bad habits when trying to learn sim physics. This is coming from someone that also recently took up sim racing and also played GT6 and Grid Autosport with it's more simcade physics.

What I would do is take that six weeks and study and learn about driving fast because sim racing tends to very closely emulate what works in the real world. If you intend to play PCars as a full simulation you're going to want to be intimately familiar with all aspects of racing physics and real race car tuning because they will work in the game.

When it comes to controlling a car when the back end steps out see above. This will become much, much, much more intuitive in a racing sim because the amount of information from the FFB, the sound and the visual will tell you what's happening with the car far better than you'll get in any available console game. You'll be able to clearly hear and feel the back end begin to step out and as you repeat each lap you adjust your braking, throttle and steering inputs to shift the tire load and maintain the optimum slip angle for your best cornering speed and exit position. When you spin or miss your marks you will know why.

So yes, practice, practice, practice, but I'd wait for PCars myself.


Because it is a 5 second advantage at the Nurb
Or would you prefer an 11 second advantage?

Thanks for taking the time to post all that johnny. That is partly what I was trying to ask (if I may as well wait for pCARS before using the wheel).

 

[BarryB]

I played a lot of forza 3 and 4 setting a few wr times and a LOT of top 100 or better. Everyone said a wheel is better and faster. Im niw on OS4 and in the same exact situation as you with my new T300. I can tell you this one thing that I dont think has been mentioned so far and is my own opinion on things....Driveclub will help you get used to steering and throttle control. But NOT the kind of driving Pcars is likely to reward. Here is my thoughts....

In Driveclub you tend to find a lot more time by slightly sliding the cars in order to get right to the ragged edge or beyond. This is its more arcadey nature. Pcars or other sims are far more likely to reward smoothness, both in terms of steering lock applied and throttle usage. Less slide/wheelspin will be better, both for laptime and perhaps more importantly for race pace, especially if you have tyre wear on. This is particularly going to apply when you are in GT3 for example, with downforce, as opposed to Driveclubs road cars.

This means that you may want to take the approach I am. Pick a car (I use the amg merc sls) and stick with that car. Do time trials and stick to race circuits. Get used to minimising slide and wheelspin and learn how to "feel" the car via ffb. Dont worry too much about laptimes. This should help breed a driving style more beneficial to Pcars and help prepare for that. If nothing else, you will go into the game with more familiarity with the wheel setup itself and shouldn't have picked up too many bad habits.

You may well find you set some decent times anyway, just by virtue of being smooth in such a torquey car. But trying to compete on DC and NOT get very bad habits for Pcars is highly unlikely imo.

Im more than happy for anyone more experienced to correct me on any of this and, indeed, to offer me helpful advice! In particular, how to tell what is ffb, what is vibration and how to tell what I should do if I feel certain things. For example, how do I know when some ffb indicates a bit if wheelspin OR a bit if over/understeer?

For an added tip, I found it very helpful to set vibration to low and the ffb to around 60%. Otherwise the vibration seems to "override" everything else due to the nature of the game/tracks. Hence suggesting you stick to circuits at first such as the new Japanese one with 3 cpvariations.