The wheelbase determines force feedback; the steering wheel determines how easily you can act on it. The Asetek Forte GT Button Box (Black, Aluminum) is a modular control centre for an Asetek sim racing setup. This guide explains how to choose a rim, check base compatibility, assemble the wheel and map the controls without paying for a combination that does not fit your driving style.
What the button box gives you
Asetek lists eight push buttons, two two-way toggle switches, two seven-way switches, three 12-position rotary encoders, four thumb encoders and two contactless magnetic shifter paddles. There are 32 configurable aRGB LEDs across the control system. The chassis uses a reinforced composite structure with forged-carbon styling, a woven-carbon faceplate and a metal interface for the interchangeable rim. These are hardware details rather than a promise that every game will support every lighting effect; game telemetry and profiles still need to be configured.
The standalone button-box variant is not a complete steering wheel: a rim is sold separately unless you choose a Shopify variant that explicitly includes one. Our listing offers several button-box-plus-rim options. Read the variant name at checkout and verify the photos against it; a picture of a complete wheel does not change the contents of the standalone variant. Asetek's official product specifications confirm the core controls and PC compatibility.
Choose the rim for the cars you actually drive
Closed D for a focused GT setup
The GT Closed D Black Leather Rim gives you a fixed-feeling hand position and a familiar GT profile. It suits drivers who spend most of their time in GT and touring cars and want a leather grip. The button box is also sold as a variant paired with this rim, so compare that option with buying the two pieces separately before ordering.
Open D or round for a different reach and grip
An Open D Black Suede Rim changes the shape around the top and the feel of the hand contact. Round and dished options are useful for driving styles that involve more wheel rotation, but the correct choice still depends on diameter, grip material and how the rim clears your screen and chassis. Asetek says the Forte GT Button Box accepts its wheel-rim family, not the brand's separate wheel handles. Use the accessory compatibility label and the exact product page to confirm a less common rim.
Build a compatible Asetek wheel system
The manufacturer lists compatibility with Asetek Racing wheelbases and Windows 10/11 PCs. If you already have a Forte 18 Nm wheelbase, the button box and an appropriate rim make a straightforward same-ecosystem combination. If you are building from zero, compare the cost and contents of the Forte base and GT wheel bundle with separate parts. A bundle can reduce ordering mistakes, but only if its specified button-box finish and rim are the ones you want.
Asetek's quick release carries both power and data without a separate wheel battery or external USB lead in its supported configuration. That does not make the wheel a universal wireless device for another manufacturer's base. Cross-brand use requires a specifically supported interface or hub; do not assume that a mechanically similar quick release is electronically compatible. The manufacturer's platform listing is PC, so console compatibility should not be inferred from the wheel's physical fit.
Install the rim and set the wheel up
- Verify the parts. Check that your order contains the button box, your selected rim if purchased, the supplied shifter paddles and the listed small accessories. Keep the quick guide to hand.
- Work on a protected surface. Power down the wheelbase and place the button box face-down on a clean soft surface. Keep the rim and fasteners together so no hardware gets lost inside the grip.
- Align before tightening. Match the rim's mounting holes to the button-box interface, start every fastener by hand, and tighten evenly according to Asetek's rim guide. Do not force an off-centre rim or substitute a bolt of unverified length.
- Attach the assembled wheel. Inspect the mating faces, connect the Asetek quick release as directed, and check that it locks positively before enabling force feedback.
- Configure RaceHub. Update firmware where recommended, then map essential driving controls first: pit limiter, radio, headlights, traction control and brake bias. Add lighting or telemetry effects after you know the basic inputs work in your game.
Asetek publishes an official rim installation guide; follow its hardware and tightening sequence over any generic instructions in this article. If a paddle or button fails to register, test it in RaceHub before changing game mappings. That separates a hardware/configuration issue from a simulation profile issue.
A useful control layout for GT racing
Assign safety-critical actions to controls you can find without looking down. For example, put pit limiter on a distinct push button; use a seven-way switch for menu navigation; reserve one rotary encoder for brake bias and another for traction control; and use thumb encoders for functions you adjust while turning. This is a suggested mapping, not a fixed wiring scheme. Save one baseline profile, drive a short session, then change only the controls you actually reach incorrectly.
For endurance races, consider how the wheel looks under dim lighting. The configurable LEDs can make state changes more legible, but strong colours are only helpful if each one has a consistent meaning. Label a small set of high-value controls and leave rarely used functions on the keyboard rather than filling every input on day one.
Common buying and setup mistakes
The first mistake is ordering the button box alone when you need a finished wheel. The second is assuming all Asetek front controls or lighting behaviors work identically in every title. The third is choosing a rim only by appearance while ignoring diameter, grip, shifter reach and available space around the cockpit. Finally, a rim or paddle upgrade should be fitted only using hardware approved for that component; loose or overly long fasteners can undermine the connection.
Frequently asked questions
Is a steering rim included?
Only when the selected Shopify variant explicitly includes one. The standalone Forte GT Button Box does not include a rim.
Will it work on a non-Asetek wheelbase?
The official compatibility list is for Asetek Racing wheelbases. Do not assume another base works without a separately documented interface.
Can I swap rims later?
Yes. The modular design supports Asetek Racing wheel rims. Confirm the exact rim and follow the maker's mounting guide.
Is it compatible with consoles?
Asetek lists PC compatibility for this button box. Plan on a Windows PC unless an official source confirms your full console setup.
Recommended starting combination: Forte GT Button Box plus the Closed D Black Leather Rim on an Asetek wheelbase. Source for specifications and official detail photography: Asetek Racing.
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