What Is Natural Inertia (NIN) in Fanatec’s Tuning Menu?

Natural Inertia (NIN) is a setting available on Fanatec’s direct drive wheel bases (like the Podium Wheel Bases or CSL DD) that simulates the rotational inertia of a real steering system. In a physical race car, the steering wheel has mass and resistance – not just from the wheel itself but from the column, rack, tires, and everything connected to it. NIN recreates that "weighty" feeling by adding artificial rotational inertia, making the wheel feel less twitchy and more natural in motion.

By default, direct drive wheel bases are extremely responsive and low-friction, which is great for accuracy but can sometimes feel too light or overly sensitive, especially in sims that don't model steering inertia realistically. NIN adds a damping-like effect that doesn’t dull force feedback but gives the setup more realistic weight and momentum.

Increasing the NIN value makes the setup feel heavier and more resistant to quick direction changes, similar to how a real race car’s steering wouldn’t immediately snap back or change direction without effort. This can enhance immersion, especially in titles that lack native steering inertia.

For example:

• Assetto Corsa Competizione (ACC) – Benefits from NIN, as it smooths out some of the abrupt steering forces and adds weight during fast transitions, making GT cars feel more authentic.
• iRacing – Already has detailed force feedback, but NIN can improve the sense of steering weight in cars like GTs or prototypes without harming detail.
• rFactor 2 – May benefit slightly, depending on the car, but too much NIN can reduce clarity in subtle feedback like tire scrub or slip.
• Dirt Rally 2.0 – Some added inertia can make rally cars feel more grounded, though too much can slow countersteering in oversteer situations.

No – Natural Inertia should not be maxed out. While it can make the setup feel more realistic, excessive values dull responsiveness and can introduce input lag. The goal is to enhance realism without sacrificing control.

Recommended settings

• 0–5: For open-wheel cars, rally cars, or titles like F1 25 where fast input is crucial.
• 5–10: For GT3/GT4 cars in ACC, iRacing, or Automobilista 2 – adds realistic weight without sacrificing agility.
• 10+: Use cautiously; could benefit heavy touring cars or non-competitive, immersive driving.

Natural Inertia is a valuable tool to tune the “feel” of your wheel for better realism. It's best used moderately, tailored to your car type and sim title. Always test across multiple corners and conditions – what feels great in a hairpin might feel sluggish in a chicane.