Round, GT, or Formula Rim: Which Shape for You?

What a Wheel Rim Is

The rim is the part of a racing wheel you hold. It carries the grips, the paddle shifters and, on many wheels, the buttons, rotary dials and a small display. The rim attaches to the wheel base through a hub, and on some bases you can release it and mount another rim. A listing may name the rim style in the title, with words such as 'round', 'GT' or 'Formula'.

When a rim is sold separately, the listing usually says 'add-on' or 'rim' and names the style. Some wheels ship with a fixed rim, others ship as a base with a rim included, and some as a base only. Read the listing to know which case you are looking at, and compare wheels on stated details such as drive type, torque and platform. The racing wheel guide on this site compares complete wheels that way.

On a base that accepts several rims, the hub matters more than the rim itself. The rim dish depth guide and the quick release guide explain the parts you check before planning a second rim.

Round Rims: A Full Circle

A round rim is a full circle, like the steering wheel of a road car. Because the circle is closed, your hands can move to any point of the wheel during a large steering angle. That pattern matters for cars that need big rotations, such as rally cars, drift cars, street cars and trucks. Listings use 'round' as a title word to describe this shape.

For drifting, a round rim gives you a continuous surface through the top of the wheel, so a hand can reposition across the wheel during large angles. That is a property of the shape, not a measure of the base. The D-shape versus round rim guide and the round rim for drifting guide explain the geometry further.

GT Rims: Flat-Bottom Track Style

A GT rim has a flat bottom, sometimes called a D-shape because the rim outline looks like the letter D. The flat bottom copies the look of GT3, touring and modern race cars. Thrustmaster sells a GT Wheel Add-On in its catalog, described as the official Gran Turismo wheel rim, so the GT style is tied to the Gran Turismo series.

On a GT rim, the controls sit on a center hub with buttons, rotary dials and paddle shifters. The flat bottom gives the wheel a race-car face and keeps the hands at the side grips, which is how circuit cars are typically driven. The GT-style wheel guide covers the shape in more detail.

Formula Rims: Cockpit-Style Controls

A Formula rim is small, wide and rectangular, shaped after the steering wheel of a single-seater race car. The rim has a flat top and bottom, and the face is filled with buttons, rotary encoders and sometimes a display, because a single-seater cockpit puts all controls on the wheel.

Makers sell Formula rims as add-ons. Thrustmaster lists a Formula Wheel Add-On in its catalog, and Fanatec is the official hardware partner of Formula One esports, with F1-licensed wheels in its lineup. The shape places your hands at a fixed position close to the controls. The Formula-style wheel guide looks at the layout in depth.

Which Shape for Which Discipline

The common approach is to match the rim to the cars you drive most. Fanatec describes its quick release as letting you switch wheels in seconds to match every car and circuit, and it names four disciplines: Formula, GT, Rally and Drift. Each discipline has a wheel shape that suits the steering style.

Round rims fit rally, drift, street and truck driving because those cars use large steering angles. GT rims fit circuit racing with GT cars. Formula rims fit open-wheel cars. If you do a bit of everything, a round rim is a common starting point, because the full circle keeps a familiar hand position across different cars.

Rally and drift setups are covered in the rally wheel guide and the truck simulator wheel guide.

One Base, Several Rims

Some racing wheels have a fixed rim that cannot be removed. Others use a quick release or a mounting hub that lets you swap rims. Fanatec sells its bases with a motorsport-derived quick release, and Logitech lists Quick Release as a feature among its wheel products.

If you plan to race different disciplines, a base that accepts several rims lets you add the right shape later. Mounting standards differ by maker, so check the maker's compatibility list and product pages to see which rims fit which bases. The interchangeable rims guide explains the idea further.

Direct drive bases often ship with a quick release, while gear and belt driven wheels may have a fixed rim. The direct drive wheel guide lists bases by stated torque and drive type.

What a Rim Shape Does Not Promise

Rim shape is about hand position, button access and cockpit style. It does not promise stronger force feedback, more rotation or better console support. Those come from the base and from the maker's compatibility list. A round rim on a gear-driven wheel will not behave like a Formula rim on a direct drive base.

The guides on this site compare wheels on stated details: drive type, torque, rotation, pedals and platform. Use them to narrow the base, then pick the rim shape that matches the cars you drive. The force feedback wheel guide is a good place to compare base types.

What to pick for your situation

Questions

Can I change the rim on my racing wheel?

Only if the base and rim share a mounting system, usually a quick release or a hub. Fanatec describes switching wheels in seconds, and Logitech lists Quick Release as a feature. Check the maker's manual and compatibility list before you buy a separate rim.

Which rim is best for drifting?

A round rim is the shape used for drifting wheels, because the full circle lets your hands move to any point during large steering angles. The shape suits opposite lock and hand repositioning. Drifting wheel features are covered in a separate guide.

Does the rim shape change the force feedback?

No. The rim carries your hands and the controls; the force feedback comes from the base motor. A round, GT or Formula rim does not change the stated torque of the base. Compare bases on torque and drive type instead.

Is a GT rim the same as a round rim?

No. A round rim is a full circle, while a GT rim has a flat bottom and sometimes a D-shape. The flat bottom is a style cue from GT and touring cars; the two shapes place the wheel face differently in front of you.

What does 'add-on rim' mean in a listing?

An add-on rim is sold separately from the base. Thrustmaster lists a GT Wheel Add-On and a Formula Wheel Add-On in its catalog. The listing should tell you which base the rim fits; otherwise ask the maker for the compatibility list.