What Does Force (FOR) in Fanatec’s Tuning Menu Do?

The Force (FOR) setting in Fanatec’s tuning menu is one of the core parameters that directly affects the strength of force feedback (FFB) delivered by your Fanatec wheel base. Whether you're using a Fanatec CSL-, ClubSport-, or Podium-series base, FOR determines how strongly your wheel responds to the simulated forces coming from your racing game.

Simply put, the FOR setting acts as a master gain control for all force feedback effects. It scales the amplitude of the FFB signal sent from the game before it reaches the motor. A setting of 100% means you’re allowing the wheel base to output the full strength of the signal. Lowering the setting reduces the intensity, while increasing it above 100% (only available on certain models) amplifies the signal, which can cause clipping.

• Too Low (e.g., 50–70%): You’ll feel less resistance through the wheel, and subtle details like road texture, curb strikes, and tire grip loss may become harder to detect.
• Too High (e.g., >100%): You may experience force clipping, where the FFB signal exceeds what the wheel can physically output. This causes a loss of detail in high-load moments (e.g., heavy cornering), leading to a vague or “flat” feel.
• Just Right (100%): Allows you to preserve the full range of force feedback, assuming the game’s in-game FFB is calibrated properly.

The best practice is to set FOR to 100% and adjust the strength of FFB using the in-game settings. This ensures the wheel base is receiving a clean, unaltered signal and you retain the full fidelity of force effects.

Game-Specific Recommendations

• iRacing: Set FOR to 100%. Use the in-game “Max Force” setting to tune the strength so the heaviest cornering doesn’t clip.
• Assetto Corsa Competizione: Keep FOR at 100%, then adjust “Gain” in-game to balance strength vs. detail. Avoid in-game gain above 75–80% to prevent clipping.
• F1 23: Also benefits from FOR at 100%, but may require in-game “Vibration and FFB Strength” tweaking to suit personal preference.
• Dirt Rally 2.0: FOR at 100% generally works well. If the forces feel too strong in rally cars, reduce FFB strength in the game’s advanced settings.

Only constrain FOR (e.g., 80–90%) if:

• The game lacks proper FFB tuning tools.
• You’re experiencing strong jolts or harsh effects that can’t be addressed in-game.
• You have a lower-strength base (like CSL DD 5Nm) and want to avoid fatigue in long sessions.

The Force (FOR) setting should almost always be left at 100% on Fanatec wheel bases. It provides the most accurate and dynamic range of FFB when combined with proper in-game tuning. Only reduce it if absolutely necessary for comfort or game compatibility. Understanding this setting is key to maximizing realism, immersion, and control in your sim racing experience.