rec.autos.simulators

Wheel Size

Houndo

Wheel Size

by Houndo » Tue, 10 Jul 2001 04:40:44

Well I did it, went from the 12" to a 14"

Feels great, wish I had done it sooner!

GPL runs great, I thought I might lose some here but actually gained. N4
handles better than ever also.

Jeff


> As sensitive as the steering is in N4, even at 32:1, I have thought of
doing
> the same.

> To the point of nylon-strapping a bigger wheel to my current one :)

> If it weren't for the shift-paddle, I would have done it already.

> -Larry



> > Hi all,

> > I have a homemade wheel/pedal setup with a 12" Grant wheel.

> > More than once I have thought about going to a 14 or 15" wheel.

> > Any comments that might help me make my decision?

> > I mostly play N4 but drive a bit of GPL also.

> > Jeff

Raymond, ACT LAB

Wheel Size

by Raymond, ACT LAB » Thu, 12 Jul 2001 08:19:31

That's cool.  Do you think you could send me a digital picture of your
set-up?

Raymond
ACT LABS
www.act-labs.com



>Well I did it, went from the 12" to a 14"

>Feels great, wish I had done it sooner!

>GPL runs great, I thought I might lose some here but actually gained. N4
>handles better than ever also.

>Jeff



>> As sensitive as the steering is in N4, even at 32:1, I have thought of
>doing
>> the same.

>> To the point of nylon-strapping a bigger wheel to my current one :)

>> If it weren't for the shift-paddle, I would have done it already.

>> -Larry



>> > Hi all,

>> > I have a homemade wheel/pedal setup with a 12" Grant wheel.

>> > More than once I have thought about going to a 14 or 15" wheel.

>> > Any comments that might help me make my decision?

>> > I mostly play N4 but drive a bit of GPL also.

>> > Jeff

Houndo

Wheel Size

by Houndo » Thu, 12 Jul 2001 10:02:36

Will do Raymond , I just need to borrow a digital camera or take a few and
scan them myself. Hopefully toward the end of this week I can get them done.

I would like to point out that I had the Act Labs RS wheel and shifter
previous to my building a wheel, it was my third wheel and the best retail I
have used. Support was excellent!

Jeff



> That's cool.  Do you think you could send me a digital picture of your
> set-up?

> Raymond
> ACT LABS
> www.act-labs.com



> >Well I did it, went from the 12" to a 14"

> >Feels great, wish I had done it sooner!

> >GPL runs great, I thought I might lose some here but actually gained. N4
> >handles better than ever also.

> >Jeff



> >> As sensitive as the steering is in N4, even at 32:1, I have thought of
> >doing
> >> the same.

> >> To the point of nylon-strapping a bigger wheel to my current one :)

> >> If it weren't for the shift-paddle, I would have done it already.

> >> -Larry



> >> > Hi all,

> >> > I have a homemade wheel/pedal setup with a 12" Grant wheel.

> >> > More than once I have thought about going to a 14 or 15" wheel.

> >> > Any comments that might help me make my decision?

> >> > I mostly play N4 but drive a bit of GPL also.

> >> > Jeff

GTX_SlotCa

Wheel Size

by GTX_SlotCa » Fri, 13 Jul 2001 05:57:27

I wouldn't go larger than 10".  I've got a feeling that everyone who looking
for 14" will would be disappointed if they actually had one. It throws off
your steering precision. Your hand travels further for the same amount of
input, so you need quicker reflexes. You'd also need more points of
resolution for an equal amount of precision as a smaller wheel provides.
I've done some experimenting with this, and although it looks good, a larger
wheel generally translates into longer lap times. There's a reason modern
race cars don't use the same size wheels as their old, vintage predecessors.



> Just to get your opinion,

> Can I take a small litttle survey of what size wheel they think would
> be best for NASCAR type games?

> Raymond
> ACT LABS
> www.act-labs.com



> >Hi all,

> >I have a homemade wheel/pedal setup with a 12" Grant wheel.

> >More than once I have thought about going to a 14 or 15" wheel.

> >Any comments that might help me make my decision?

> >I mostly play N4 but drive a bit of GPL also.

> >Jeff

Steve Garrot

Wheel Size

by Steve Garrot » Fri, 13 Jul 2001 06:09:05

My brother-in-law's 15" home-made wheel is the BEST wheel I have ever
used. It is VERY precise, it blows away any thing I have ever used. He
used gears to over drive the pot, so small movements make the pot move
more than one would expect. He use a 15" Grant wheel. Now maybe
install a larger wheel on an existing production wheel may cause
problems.

SLG


>I wouldn't go larger than 10".  I've got a feeling that everyone who looking
>for 14" will would be disappointed if they actually had one. It throws off
>your steering precision. Your hand travels further for the same amount of
>input, so you need quicker reflexes. You'd also need more points of
>resolution for an equal amount of precision as a smaller wheel provides.
>I've done some experimenting with this, and although it looks good, a larger
>wheel generally translates into longer lap times. There's a reason modern
>race cars don't use the same size wheels as their old, vintage predecessors.



>> Just to get your opinion,

>> Can I take a small litttle survey of what size wheel they think would
>> be best for NASCAR type games?

>> Raymond
>> ACT LABS
>> www.act-labs.com



>> >Hi all,

>> >I have a homemade wheel/pedal setup with a 12" Grant wheel.

>> >More than once I have thought about going to a 14 or 15" wheel.

>> >Any comments that might help me make my decision?

>> >I mostly play N4 but drive a bit of GPL also.

>> >Jeff

(All spelling errors are intentional and are there to show new
and improved ways of spelling old words. Grammatical errors are
due to too many English classes/teachers)
Thom j

Wheel Size

by Thom j » Fri, 13 Jul 2001 07:26:40

Why not 20" Bus steering wheel then Or 22" 18-wheeler steering wheels?
Jason Mond

Wheel Size

by Jason Mond » Fri, 13 Jul 2001 07:49:50

Even MBTR uses small steering wheels.  You'd think a 22" wheel would be
right at home in a big rig :)

> Why not 20" Bus steering wheel then Or 22" 18-wheeler steering wheels?

Houndo

Wheel Size

by Houndo » Fri, 13 Jul 2001 09:20:16

Actually the larger the wheel the more precise the steering.

I have gone from a 10" retail to a home made 12" which I upgraded to a 14"

On a track like Daytona or even Watkins Glen I have more control. Can't
knock a bigger wheel until you have the opportunity to try one.

Jeff


> I wouldn't go larger than 10".  I've got a feeling that everyone who
looking
> for 14" will would be disappointed if they actually had one. It throws off
> your steering precision. Your hand travels further for the same amount of
> input, so you need quicker reflexes. You'd also need more points of
> resolution for an equal amount of precision as a smaller wheel provides.
> I've done some experimenting with this, and although it looks good, a
larger
> wheel generally translates into longer lap times. There's a reason modern
> race cars don't use the same size wheels as their old, vintage
predecessors.



> > Just to get your opinion,

> > Can I take a small litttle survey of what size wheel they think would
> > be best for NASCAR type games?

> > Raymond
> > ACT LABS
> > www.act-labs.com



> > >Hi all,

> > >I have a homemade wheel/pedal setup with a 12" Grant wheel.

> > >More than once I have thought about going to a 14 or 15" wheel.

> > >Any comments that might help me make my decision?

> > >I mostly play N4 but drive a bit of GPL also.

> > >Jeff

GTX_SlotCa

Wheel Size

by GTX_SlotCa » Sat, 14 Jul 2001 02:57:54

I can see where over driving the pot would make up for the difference in a
large wheel. The only problem you get into then, with mass produced, retail
wheels, is that you need to limit the arc (steering sweep) or you'll spin
the pot past it's limit. A 180 sweep with a 9.5 or 10" wheel is good.
Narrowing the sweep to 120 or so may not feel natural.

--
Slot

Tweaks & Reviews
www.slottweak.com


> My brother-in-law's 15" home-made wheel is the BEST wheel I have ever
> used. It is VERY precise, it blows away any thing I have ever used. He
> used gears to over drive the pot, so small movements make the pot move
> more than one would expect. He use a 15" Grant wheel. Now maybe
> install a larger wheel on an existing production wheel may cause
> problems.

> SLG


> >I wouldn't go larger than 10".  I've got a feeling that everyone who
looking
> >for 14" will would be disappointed if they actually had one. It throws
off
> >your steering precision. Your hand travels further for the same amount of
> >input, so you need quicker reflexes. You'd also need more points of
> >resolution for an equal amount of precision as a smaller wheel provides.
> >I've done some experimenting with this, and although it looks good, a
larger
> >wheel generally translates into longer lap times. There's a reason modern
> >race cars don't use the same size wheels as their old, vintage
predecessors.



> >> Just to get your opinion,

> >> Can I take a small litttle survey of what size wheel they think would
> >> be best for NASCAR type games?

> >> Raymond
> >> ACT LABS
> >> www.act-labs.com



> >> >Hi all,

> >> >I have a homemade wheel/pedal setup with a 12" Grant wheel.

> >> >More than once I have thought about going to a 14 or 15" wheel.

> >> >Any comments that might help me make my decision?

> >> >I mostly play N4 but drive a bit of GPL also.

> >> >Jeff

> (All spelling errors are intentional and are there to show new
> and improved ways of spelling old words. Grammatical errors are
> due to too many English classes/teachers)

GTX_SlotCa

Wheel Size

by GTX_SlotCa » Sat, 14 Jul 2001 03:34:26

That just doesn't make any sense. In computer racing you're spreading out
the points of resolution so much that your hands need to cover a greater
distance just to reach the next point. Nothing is read  between the points.

In the real world, I'm sure a lot of F1 drivers would like to hear your
theory. They've been headed in the wrong direction all these years.

In Nascar, the cars are heavier and maybe a larger wheel is needed for
leverage. Or, maybe there's a Nascar rule for steering wheel size that I
haven't heard of yet. I'm not sure.

I've experimented with several sizes on a few different retail wheels. I
routed a disc out of 3/8" plywood and used a 1 1/2" flexible, plastic pipe
(well pipe from our construction sites) cut the full length so it would fit
over the plywood disc as the rim. Without getting into a lot of unnecessary
detail, after each driving experiment (several games on several tracks with
several settings)  I re-routed the disc to a 1" smaller diameter until I was
finally down to 11".  In each case, the smaller wheel performed better. I
also got better, more consistent lap times when I put the smaller LWFF wheel
on the Act Labs Force RS, and there isn't much difference in the diameter.

--
Slot

Tweaks & Reviews
www.slottweak.com


> Actually the larger the wheel the more precise the steering.

> I have gone from a 10" retail to a home made 12" which I upgraded to a 14"

> On a track like Daytona or even Watkins Glen I have more control. Can't
> knock a bigger wheel until you have the opportunity to try one.

> Jeff



> > I wouldn't go larger than 10".  I've got a feeling that everyone who
> looking
> > for 14" will would be disappointed if they actually had one. It throws
off
> > your steering precision. Your hand travels further for the same amount
of
> > input, so you need quicker reflexes. You'd also need more points of
> > resolution for an equal amount of precision as a smaller wheel provides.
> > I've done some experimenting with this, and although it looks good, a
> larger
> > wheel generally translates into longer lap times. There's a reason
modern
> > race cars don't use the same size wheels as their old, vintage
> predecessors.



> > > Just to get your opinion,

> > > Can I take a small litttle survey of what size wheel they think would
> > > be best for NASCAR type games?

> > > Raymond
> > > ACT LABS
> > > www.act-labs.com



> > > >Hi all,

> > > >I have a homemade wheel/pedal setup with a 12" Grant wheel.

> > > >More than once I have thought about going to a 14 or 15" wheel.

> > > >Any comments that might help me make my decision?

> > > >I mostly play N4 but drive a bit of GPL also.

> > > >Jeff

Houndo

Wheel Size

by Houndo » Sat, 14 Jul 2001 08:34:36

My wheel (home made) has 270 egress of rotation, no room to overdrive the
poentiometer.

You have to look at it this way... with your hand on the outside of the
wheel your hand moves further on a bigger wheel. Because your hand will move
further on a bigger wheel and the pot moves the same for any size wheel on
the same setup the steering is more precise. The 'dead' points in between
are what helps limit tire squeal and leads to faster laps.

Some people like smaller wheels and tight steering locks, I find I can
manage my tires better with a bigger wheel and higher lock.

I recognize the url in your sig, I guess I owe you alot of thanks for the
Act-Labs pedal tweak. I went for the 2nd stage... very noticeable
difference. On the wheel itself I had a mild steel sleeve made and a brass
bushing to fit inside. The 'pot holder' fits snuggly inside the brass
bushing which really stiffened up the wheel (RS not FF).

Respectful of your preference.. but still prefer a larger wheel, Jeff


> > Actually the larger the wheel the more precise the steering.

> That just doesn't make any sense. In computer racing you're spreading out
> the points of resolution so much that your hands need to cover a greater
> distance just to reach the next point. Nothing is read  between the
points.

> In the real world, I'm sure a lot of F1 drivers would like to hear your
> theory. They've been headed in the wrong direction all these years.

> In Nascar, the cars are heavier and maybe a larger wheel is needed for
> leverage. Or, maybe there's a Nascar rule for steering wheel size that I
> haven't heard of yet. I'm not sure.

> >Can't knock a bigger wheel until you have the opportunity to try one.

> I've experimented with several sizes on a few different retail wheels. I
> routed a disc out of 3/8" plywood and used a 1 1/2" flexible, plastic pipe
> (well pipe from our construction sites) cut the full length so it would
fit
> over the plywood disc as the rim. Without getting into a lot of
unnecessary
> detail, after each driving experiment (several games on several tracks
with
> several settings)  I re-routed the disc to a 1" smaller diameter until I
was
> finally down to 11".  In each case, the smaller wheel performed better. I
> also got better, more consistent lap times when I put the smaller LWFF
wheel
> on the Act Labs Force RS, and there isn't much difference in the diameter.

> --
> Slot

> Tweaks & Reviews
> www.slottweak.com



> > Actually the larger the wheel the more precise the steering.

> > I have gone from a 10" retail to a home made 12" which I upgraded to a
14"

> > On a track like Daytona or even Watkins Glen I have more control. Can't
> > knock a bigger wheel until you have the opportunity to try one.

> > Jeff



> > > I wouldn't go larger than 10".  I've got a feeling that everyone who
> > looking
> > > for 14" will would be disappointed if they actually had one. It throws
> off
> > > your steering precision. Your hand travels further for the same amount
> of
> > > input, so you need quicker reflexes. You'd also need more points of
> > > resolution for an equal amount of precision as a smaller wheel
provides.
> > > I've done some experimenting with this, and although it looks good, a
> > larger
> > > wheel generally translates into longer lap times. There's a reason
> modern
> > > race cars don't use the same size wheels as their old, vintage
> > predecessors.



> > > > Just to get your opinion,

> > > > Can I take a small litttle survey of what size wheel they think
would
> > > > be best for NASCAR type games?

> > > > Raymond
> > > > ACT LABS
> > > > www.act-labs.com



> > > > >Hi all,

> > > > >I have a homemade wheel/pedal setup with a 12" Grant wheel.

> > > > >More than once I have thought about going to a 14 or 15" wheel.

> > > > >Any comments that might help me make my decision?

> > > > >I mostly play N4 but drive a bit of GPL also.

> > > > >Jeff

Larr

Wheel Size

by Larr » Wed, 18 Jul 2001 12:12:09

That's what I want!

-Larry


> I wouldn't go larger than 10".  I've got a feeling that everyone who
looking
> for 14" will would be disappointed if they actually had one. It throws off
> your steering precision. Your hand travels further for the same amount of
> input, so you need quicker reflexes. You'd also need more points of
> resolution for an equal amount of precision as a smaller wheel provides.
> I've done some experimenting with this, and although it looks good, a
larger
> wheel generally translates into longer lap times. There's a reason modern
> race cars don't use the same size wheels as their old, vintage
predecessors.



> > Just to get your opinion,

> > Can I take a small litttle survey of what size wheel they think would
> > be best for NASCAR type games?

> > Raymond
> > ACT LABS
> > www.act-labs.com



> > >Hi all,

> > >I have a homemade wheel/pedal setup with a 12" Grant wheel.

> > >More than once I have thought about going to a 14 or 15" wheel.

> > >Any comments that might help me make my decision?

> > >I mostly play N4 but drive a bit of GPL also.

> > >Jeff


rec.autos.simulators is a usenet newsgroup formed in December, 1993. As this group was always unmoderated there may be some spam or off topic articles included. Some links do point back to racesimcentral.net as we could not validate the original address. Please report any pages that you believe warrant deletion from this archive (include the link in your email). RaceSimCentral.net is in no way responsible and does not endorse any of the content herein.