Tips for a Steering Wheel Newbie...?

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bhamhawker
Huge GT fan, but this will be my first foray into sim racing wheels. I ordered a Fanatec wheel (one of the basic sets for under $200) and it will arrive today.

I have done reasonably well in the game with the DS3 - completed all A-Spec races but the FGT in Extreme (have not unlocked endurance yet, as I've been out on holiday vacation for 2 weeks), completed Sebastian Loeb w\Gold, Nascar School w\Golds, etc.

I want to get all golds in the licenses and start faring better in the Seasonal and Online events, though, so I decided to take the plunge and get a wheel.

I know a "rig" is important, but I just don't have the space, nor the time\tools to build something. I'll probably get something cheap from Walmart\Target\KMart to mount the wheel, so you don't have to worry about giving me tips on building a rig.

What I would like to ask is for your advice on transitioning from a DS3 to a Wheel. I know there will be a learning curve, especially so for clutch\shifter use because I've driven an AT all my life.

Are there any tips to smoothing out my transition? Any do's or don'ts with the wheel this evening when it arrives? Anything in particular a wheel n00b like myself would need to know?

Appreciate the help, guys. TIA
 
I'm there with you. I got my wheel(G27) 2 days again with a playseat and that **** is hard. I drive stick in real life and racing in the game stick is tough. Its a lot to do at once if your not used to it and I keep trying to drive with one hand on the wheel and one on the shifter like I drive in real life in the streets. Hard habit to break. :( I too finished A spec up until enfurance and completed the licenses and some of the special events with the controller. But using the wheel its tough even going back and racing professional races. Only advice to myself I could come up with was that I need to use less powerful cars and stay away RWD cars for now. I was so excited to race my camaro in the game with the wheel and shifter but I can't keep it on the road for the life of me. It spins out all the time. I'm gonna try tuning it when I get home. I feel that u can't use the same tune for the wheel that you use with the controller. But any advice from the pros out there that remember their transition would be much appreciated!
 
I figure I'll spend a fair portion of my time going back through the different licenses to "learn how to drive". Also, I'll probably pick up GT4 (I never had the chance to play that, last I played was GT3) in order to get some more use\practice with the wheel.

Hopefully by GT6, I'll be good to go.
 
The clutch/shifter implementation in GT5 is a bit wonky with the overly strict clutch/gas timing and missing it mean means you spend a lot of time in neutral. I didn't particularly like it. Its fine when just puddling around but anything spirited its hard to push.

Aside from that, just be smooth on everything, if needed use driving aids to start. I remember when I first play racing game on PC with wheel it took a while to drive even with TCS and ABS. But you can slowly back yourself out of using them one by one. Still learning new things now as I am starting to play GT5 without ABS...its like a different game to me compare to a few weeks ago...
 
the biggest learning curve is the weight of the pedals, then the lack of g-forces. Learning how to modulate braking and throttle with very little feedback is difficult. Its just seat time really. You will learn it.
 
Seat time is right...................................start MT shifting on sequential before going clutch and stick. I will never go back.

My son (6) just recieved a custom built seat and wheel setup compliments of me and he went from screaming in frustration playing with me to winning 2nd, 1st and 1st in the 10 minutes he raced last night on level 0 clubmans cup. AT and assists on but he's only 6..............................

You'll love it.

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can anyone recomend for me a reasonable priced good quality wheel i was thinking of buying one. sorry as this is offtopic :)
 
rocky123
can anyone recomend for me a reasonable priced good quality wheel i was thinking of buying one. sorry as this is offtopic :)
Click to expand...

Hi mate, I would definately recommend the DFGT (Logitech Dual Force GT) as I've had one for a couple of months & now that i've used it, I'll never use the DS3 for GT5 again.
You'll need something solid to attach it to (e.g. small heavy table) but trust me, if you do get a DFGT you won't regret it :)
BTW....cheapest i've seen it in UK was £80 from Argos 👍
 
Remember to go to settings and choose which option is best for you , simulated, amateur , professional etc .. in the options on GT5 (the first wheel option before the make of the wheel, experiment which is best for you).. I had a wheel for ages and it felt very heavy i never knew i could change it to "sim" now it is perfect plus i put Forced feedback low so it turns sweetly now no hassle and improved game play..
 
Ive had mine just under a week now and loving it. I'm only just getting to the stage where I am as quick as my controller times, but it's a lot more fun.

To me the hardest thing has been adapting my style to eliminate oversteer. It's very difficult to catch oversteer with a wheel i found, but careful throttle control through a corner means you can learn to drive without initiating oversteer, but when you can drive a car without getting into that situation you can bring a bit of oversteer into your driving to make the transition through corners quicker.

If you want to get the hang of avoiding getting oversteer, get a RM Elise, all aids off except ABS=1, and try to drive clean laps, slowly at first and work up to your pace gradually. Helped me a lot.
 
Firstly Ive been playing GT since GT1....Secondly Ive tried lots of wheels...Back in the early days there was no force feed back...They had a spring return to center. Ive only really been driving wheel since GT5 Prologue. I got set up with a rig and a G25....Well my first advice is stick at it....The Joypad makes things a little too easy but I found that with practice I was actually faster with the wheel! There are lots of reasons for this...Ill try and list some and see if you can pick up on any of my "tips" (Im not the greatest).

Well on the pad I couldnt drive MT very well...On the wheel its easier..Once you get used to it you can save over a second a lap! I though mainly use paddle shift since the clutch in GT is poor....It has to be all the way down to work....You cant just blip it and change...I think they should make the biting point half way....I dont think it would be that hard.

Throwing cars about is harder on the wheel....lets say I was going into the first / second (i say this because with a wheel they become a set not A corner) corner on Grand Valley...I could blast up, brake and then catch the oversteer with a flick of the pad stick!. With the wheel I have to be much faster to do this and mostly spin out. So this is bad for wheel users? NO!...I did a test with a freind at my house...We used to play GT4 together we were pretty equal on Grand Valley on the Pad! So he does it the old way and I do it mine and we time to a fixed point...I find I cant go hot and catch so I have to ease off first, then brake, blip down a couple of gears and power through the corner making an up change on the exit.. I was always behind on the entry and always infront on the exit!

Its a much smoother way of driving and it gives rewards you can only imagine...I know GT5 has its faults but FFB and physics is not one of them IMO.

Stick at it and you will smile at how much of a buzz wheel driving is!
 
Here are my three tips :

1) Use low-powered cars to begin with (200-250hp). Don't aim for the Lambo's just yet.. they're way too hard to handle if you're new with a wheel.
2) Turn on some aids, and slowly turn them down until you can handle the car's raw power. However this shouldn't be an issue if you're using a low powered car.
3) Always be smooth on the pedals and steering wheel. An important racing tip is to never do any sudden movements or else you will lose the car.

Once you get used to it, it's so much more satisfying. :)
 
I'm just starting to get better with my wheel(DFGT)It is a much more rewarding experience,though a bit frustrating to begin with.As i was told when i asked the same question the real tip is practise,especially with lower powered cars.If you jump straight into the supercars you might get a bit dissalusioned and want to give up.I made the jump to wheel and MT at the same time,i wish i'd put the effort in to learn MT earlier.Wouldn't swap my wheel for a contoller now,and its not like i'm amazing with the wheel i just enjoy so much more(except when you spin out its nearly impossible to catch,well for me anyway)
 
thnx for all the tips ill check for the dfgt wheel and ill use all your tips. i think i have a perfect car for start 300bhp lotus motorsport elise. great handling but good for learning in. thnx for all the tips and ill try to use them all. :)
 

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