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Joytech Xbox 360 Nitro Racing Wheel

By Randolph Ramsay on 27 February 2006

If you're serious about clocking in the best times on Project Gotham Racing 3, then you'll need something more responsive than the 360's controller. Enter the Joytech Xbox 360 Nitro Racing Wheel.

User rating:8.3
Photo gallery: Joytech Xbox 360 Nitro Racing Wheel

Upside
Joytech's Xbox 360 Nitro Racing Wheel comes in the stock standard black finish most other racing wheels adopt, although it does feature some nice design touches that sets it apart from other products (such as a row of LED lights along the top of the wheel and an LCD screen on the bottom panel). The size of the wheel itself is compact without being too restrictive - it's easy to get a two handed grip on the unit, and it generally feels comfortable to steer.


As well as featuring all of the buttons of a normal 360 controller (including a glowing Xbox Guide button for instant access to the system dashboard), the Nitro Racing Wheel features dual vibration feedback, four wheel mounted paddles, an integrated headset port for Xbox Live, a sequential gear stick on the unit's right side, and a brake and pedal set.

CNET.com.au's initial tests with the Nitro Racing Wheel found the unit to be responsive and easy to use. High on our list of pluses is the Nitro's grip - both in regards to handling the wheel itself and to the unit's stability. The Nitro's full rubber wheel makes it easy to hold even during frenetic driving movements. The unit itself also has suction cups on the bottom which provides a solid grip on flat surfaces (the unit also comes with a table clamp) - in fact, once we had properly "installed" the Nitro onto a table's surface for a game of PGR3, it was hard to lift off the table!

Downside
It's a minor one, but a hardwire connection to the 360 makes the Nitro Racing Wheel seem a tad last generation.

Outlook
Responsive handling, great grip and a wealth of driving-specific buttons makes the Joytech Xbox 360 Nitro Racing Wheel tough to beat.

Topics: joytech, 360, nitro, racing, wheel, xbox, accessory, unit, grip

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Comments (21)

  • bigal gave 3/10 on 04/02/2009 07:57 Report abuse

    • Good: It's a wheel with lots of buttons
    • Bad: Most of th ebuttons don't do anything useful..including the sensetivity adjustment.

    Very difficult to use even for seasoned gamers.. cars drifts like youre being pushed or pulled..

  • PHilchew gave 8/10 on 06/07/2008 18:52 Report abuse

    I am missing the USB cable that connects to the steering wheel? Can anyone help me? Is this a standard USB cable? Can anyone help? Pls email : jacquelinechew@hotmail.com

  • godados gave 1/10 on 07/06/2008 09:32 Report abuse

    i have a issue, my wheel doesn't connect with my xbox 360, the led to indicate the number one player is ready doesn't turn on, what can I do? Seems it doesn't work, should I do something to run this stupid thing ? Thanks
    I appreciate you can help me, my email is godados@hotmail.com

  • erlir gave 10/10 on 04/03/2008 22:03 Report abuse

    hello.
    im missing the part of the usb cable whic connects the wheel whith the console.
    can please anyone help me?
    my e-mail adress is :erlir@hotmail.co.uk

  • ZEkmonSta gave 9/10 on 24/02/2008 18:49 Report abuse

    HOw do u use it on ur PC

  • mrvent gave 10/10 on 20/10/2007 13:00 Report abuse

    • Good: The Mad Catz Model has onboard sensitivity controls which allow you to adjust the long and the short end steering response. This in itself makes it a more comfortable choice. Its larger size also makes it more comfortable if you chose to play from your lap. However, if you prefer using a table, I feel the Joytech is better suited for this.

      The Joytech is however an excellent choice if you plan on pluging it in to your PC. Since you can then make sensitivity adjustments, using your Windows controller profile settings. I have used it in a real Rally simulator and it excels.
    • Bad: It really is a good wheel, but comes up short in some features (and gives you others that you don't need, like a chronograph built into the wheel). Add this to the fact that Joytech's website is lacking greatly in the way of support for their products, and you have a product that is really only useful if you have the time to learn how to drive differently on each game you own.

      I hope that Joytech will update this model and address some of these concerns in the future.

    The steering wheel is described on Joytech's website as having 'precise' control. They weren't kidding. It is a little too precise, and there seems to be no way of adjusting the sensitivity.

    This is not a huge issue when using the steering wheel with a racing simulator like Forza Motorsport(which is playable on the 360), since the quick response comes in handy especially when driving over 125mph. The steering wheel however requires very careful and gentle hands when taking PG3 for a test drive. Since Project Gotham's physics are a bit more arcade-like, the sensitivity tends to make the car oversteer at even the slightest turns, sending you headlong into a wall, when all you wanted to do was cut off the car in front of you. With this gadget I've learned how to kiss the race gaming world... This is even more exagerrated when using any rear wheel driven vehicles (which is just about all of them).

  • jimineha gave 3/10 on 28/12/2006 18:54 Report abuse

    i got this game for chirstmas..and somehow it got stuck in reverse camera angle....no matter what button i press or combination of buttons i press it wont change the camera angle it's **** stuck in reverse camera angle.....does anyone know how to change it back into normal camera angle and by pressing R8 does nothing by the way.

  • R gave 9/10 on 26/12/2006 03:59 Report abuse

    • Good: Just about everything is great, as a matter of fact I'd give it, 9 1/2 out of 10.
    • Bad: once again...the rubber grip !!!

    Seem's I jumped the gun a bit on the FFB not working...as I said "there wasn't ANY instructions/manual or software in the box", and with this type of wheel (or any wheel for that matter) if you're planning on using it in a flight sim. then you need a user interface, to make necessary control choices. In my case, it was lucky I had a copy of some Logitech software. So I have the much needed user interface. Now, to get back to the FFB problem...once the software was uninstalled/re-installed...the FFB began to work again. So I'm back to loving the 'Nitro' wheel (LOL) and seeing how I paid $150AUS for it am pretty happy, apart from the rubber starting to peel. Otherwise in the $100 to $200 price range...its possliby the best wheel around? Have FUN !!!

  • R gave 9/10 on 25/12/2006 14:18 Report abuse

    • Good: Just about everything
    • Bad: rubber grip peeled too easily.

    I did love the 'Nitro' s/wheel but...after 2 days the rubber grip started to peel off (where my thumbs go) and now after 10 days...the force feedback has stopped working, even though I only used the FFB for about 5% of the time. After all, when you pay $150AUS, you want something to last. On top of that, there wasn't any instructions/manual or software in the box and it was bought from a reputable dealer (LOL).

  • markfisk gave 2/10 on 28/10/2006 04:05 Report abuse

    • Good: It's a wheel. With a lot of imagination, you can pretend your driving.
    • Bad: No force-feedback....just buzzing.
      I found it more difficult than the standard controller.
      I returned it to wait for the release of the logitech and microsoft wheels.

    Low Tech Vibrating Wheel

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