With 29 programmable inputs and an RPM LED strip, the PXN W AS racing steering wheel places a wide range of racing controls directly at your fingertips. This guide shows you how to attach it to a PXN VD4 or VD6 sim wheel base, configure its key features in PXN SimRacing, and create a practical control layout in Le Mans Ultimate that keeps essential functions within easy reach.
Get Familiar with the PXN W AS Controls
Different controls serve different purposes while racing. Standard buttons suit immediate actions, rotary encoders make incremental adjustments easier, and the paddles keep shifting and clutch control within reach.
| Control | Recommended purpose |
| Standard buttons | One-press functions such as headlights, flash, wipers, ignition, and the pit limiter |
| D-pad | MFD navigation and pit-stop menu selection |
| Rotary encoders | Brake bias, traction control, ABS, Engine Map |
| Encoder presses | Occasional controls such as pausing or skipping the formation lap |
| Upper magnetic paddles | Shifting up and down |
| Lower paddles | Clutch control and race starts |
| RPM LED strip | Engine-speed and shift indication |
Each rotary encoder effectively provides three controls: rotate left, rotate right, and press. With this three-way operation, you can increase or decrease adjustable settings while assigning the press action to a related secondary command.
Attach the W AS Wheel to the Wheel Base
The PXN W AS steering wheel must be connected to a compatible PXN wheel base before use.
1. Align the 6/4 steel beads on the quick-release hub with the matching grooves on the wheel base.
2. Press the orange locking mechanism toward the steering wheel.
3. Push the wheel fully onto the base, then release the orange mechanism so the quick release locks automatically.
4. Pull the wheel firmly backward to confirm that it's securely attached.
To remove the wheel: Press the orange locking mechanism toward the steering wheel and pull the wheel outward from the base.
Configure the W AS Wheel in PXN SimRacing
Adjust the Steering Rotation
Steering rotation determines how far the W AS wheel can turn from one side to the other. In PXN SimRacing, select the steering wheel from the connected devices and adjust the rotation to suit the type of car you plan to drive.
| Racing category | Example setting |
| Formula racing | 360° |
| GT3 racing | 900° |
| General road-car racing | 900° |
These settings are practical starting points rather than fixed requirements. The ideal steering range will vary by game and vehicle, as well as how closely you want the physical wheel rotation to mirror the in-game steering.
Check Firmware and Test the Inputs
Before opening a game, complete these checks in PXN SimRacing:
1. Check the firmware: Open the Update page and review the firmware status of the wheel base, W AS wheel, and pedals. An available update will highlight the corresponding update button.
2. Select the wheel: Choose the W AS wheel under Connected Devices and open the input-testing screen.
3. Test every input: Press each button, test the four-way D-pad, rotate and press both encoders, and operate the shift and clutch paddles.
4. Confirm the response: Make sure every input registers correctly on the screen.
D-pad not recognized in-game? Open the button-mapping page in PXN SimRacing and assign each D-pad direction to the matching keyboard arrow key. It may allow the D-pad to navigate menus in games that don’t detect it directly.
Set the RPM LED Strip
Open the RPM Light Settings page to configure how the LED strip responds to engine speed and game telemetry.
- Choose a display mode: Select Standard, Racing, Focused, or Custom. Standard provides a conventional progressive display, while Focus illuminates from the outer edges toward the center. Custom mode allows more detailed color adjustment.
- Set the RPM thresholds: Choose the RPM percentage at which each LED stage illuminates.
- Adjust the shift flash: Set the RPM percentage at which the LEDs flash to signal a gear change.
- Customize the appearance: Adjust the LED brightness and use Custom mode to change the display colors.
- Select the telemetry source: Set the RPM lights to read telemetry from the game. If PXN SimRacing doesn’t support the game’s telemetry directly, select SimHub.
Configure and Calibrate the Paddle Shifters
Open the paddle settings to choose how the two lower clutch paddles operate:
Linked mode: Both paddles control the same clutch input, making this mode useful for manual starts and dual-clutch launches.
Independent mode: Each clutch paddle functions as a separate input and can be assigned individually.
If a clutch or shift paddle isn’t responding properly, start the calibration and fully press each paddle when prompted. Then return to the input-testing screen to verify the results.
Apply or Save a Game Preset
Open the Games page to browse the presets available for your racing title. Select the appropriate preset, click Apply, and confirm that it has loaded successfully.
To create a custom profile, adjust the controls, select Save, give the preset a recognizable name, and link it to one or more games. It preserves your preferred configuration when switching between racing titles.
Set Up the W AS Wheel in Le Mans Ultimate
The following layout is designed for drivers who use the W AS wheel as their primary control interface without a separate button box. In Le Mans Ultimate, open Settings > Controls to begin assigning the inputs.
Assign the Driving and Pit Controls
Start with the functions needed to operate the car and manage a pit stop:
| Function | W AS input |
| Steering left/right | Wheel rotation |
| Shift up/down | Upper shift paddles |
| Clutch | Linked lower clutch paddles |
| Shift to neutral | N button |
| Request pit stop | BOX button |
| Pit speed limiter | Upper-right button |
| Move between MFD pages | D-pad left/right |
| Navigate MFD options | D-pad up/down |
| Increase MFD value | S1 |
| Decrease MFD value | S2 |
With linked mode enabled, the two lower paddles operate as one clutch control, so only one in-game assignment is required. Press both paddles fully to reach 100% clutch input.
Assign the Car Controls
Map the remaining frequently used car controls and display functions to buttons that are easy to reach:
| Function | W AS input |
| Headlights | Left-side button |
| Headlight pulse | DRS-labeled button |
| Wipers | D button |
| Ignition | TR button |
| Starter | Home button |
| Toggle HUD | PL button |
The label printed on a button doesn’t restrict its in-game assignment. For example, the DRS-labeled button can control the headlight flash when the selected car doesn’t use DRS.
Assign the Electronic Adjustments
Use the rotary encoders and paired face buttons for settings that move progressively up or down:
| Function | W AS input |
| Traction control | Traction-control encoder |
| Brake bias | Brake-bias encoder |
| Increase/decrease ABS | B/Y buttons |
| Increase/decrease regeneration | A/X buttons |
| Skip formation lap | Brake-bias encoder press |
| Pause | Traction-control encoder press |
Camera controls, track maps, standings, and other infrequently used functions can remain on the keyboard, keeping the wheel focused on adjustments you may need while driving.
Test the W AS Controls on Track
Enter a practice session and confirm that the assignments work under real driving conditions:
1. Use the TR button for ignition and the Home button to start the car.
2. Activate the pit limiter before leaving the pit lane, then disengage it once permitted.
3. Test the wipers, headlights, headlight flash, and HUD controls.
4. Use the BOX button to request or cancel a pit stop.
5. Navigate the MFD with the D-pad, select the required tires, and adjust the available pit-stop options.
6. Change the traction-control level while driving and confirm that the value moves in the expected direction.
A practice session reveals whether the layout feels intuitive when your attention is on the track, where accessibility matters more than filling every available input.
Finalize Your W AS Configuration
The best layout keeps essential controls intuitive and accessible when the race gets busy, without trying to assign a function to every available input. Leave occasional commands on the keyboard, refine anything that disrupts your rhythm during practice, and save the finished preset. Then head back on track or explore more PXN gaming steering wheels and setup guides to refine your sim racing experience.