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XBOX controller suggested settings
By Dmny
Video showing the gamepad settings

As most other people participating in the Project CARS alpha, I was never pleased with the way the game handles on the gamepad. Until further changes/improvements from the devs, I wanted to share my configuration, which I found to be the only one that makes the game enjoyable to drive without using a wheel. This is subject to change in future builds, as expected (I'm currently using Build 717). These settings should have the same effect on any controller you happen to be using, but the guide is based on the x360 one.

I might edit this guide over time. You can post your own suggestions, based on your experience. I hope it's going to help some of you.

06.08.2014 (Build 781) EDIT. The values written in bold are the ones that work best at the moment. The ones that are striked are obsolete, as well as step 3. So only follow step 1 and 2, using the new values.

08.09.2014 (Build 804) EDIT. Although there are many new settings to be tinkered with, the guide is still quite relevant.

   
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Created by
Dmny
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Category: Modding or Configuration
Languages: English
Posted
Updated
12 May, 2014 @ 7:50am
8 May, 2015 @ 4:58am
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Guide Index
Overview
Sensitivity/Deadzone Settings 
[REMOVED] Wheel Calibration (rotation lock) 
[REMOVED] Disable Circular Deadzone 
Comments
Sensitivity/Deadzone Settings
Video guide

Throttle Deadzone: 0%
Throttle Sensitivity: 30%
Brake Deadzone: 10%
Brake Sensitivity: 15%
Controller Filtering Sensitivity: 50% (you should try different values to see what you like best). A higher value means smoother (less twitchy) steering but it can cause input lag.
Steering Deadzone: 5-10% (it depends on how worn your left stick is, 5% seems fine to me)
Steering Sensitivity: 0
Speed Sensitivity: 60-65% (this setting allows for small corrections, it basically makes the wheel less sensitive, especially on the straights)
[REMOVED] Wheel Calibration (rotation lock)
Calibrate Wheel
1. Push the LS (left stick) up (North, 12 o'clock) and make a 180 move (clockwise or anti-clockwise, it doesn't matter), so you reach the South point (6 o'clock). Click Next.
2. Move the LS (left stick) until you reach a rotation lock of approx. 720 (Build 781: 520) degrees (you can experiment with this, I found this value to be working fine). Click Finish.

The reason why this helps is that while you only have 360 degrees rotation on your analogue stick, the game gives you twice as much room for steering, so it makes it less twitchy and more precise. Assetto Corsa handles the wheel rotation when using a gamepad in a very similar way.

[REMOVED] Disable Circular Deadzone
While on track, press F1 to open up the Debug Menu (navigate using the arrow keys, Enter and Backspace).

Go to Input - Deadzone/Sensitivity - set Circular Deadzone to disabled.

As of Build 781, I find this setting is better left enabled (as default) and should not be altered anymore.

88 Comments
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Dmny  [author] 25 Nov, 2019 @ 5:35pm 
This is what I'd used for dozens of hours in this game, so I'd say yeah. You could use them as a baseline and start tweaking from there. Enjoy!
jack_the_beast 1 Feb, 2017 @ 6:58am 
tried several configurations but nothing changed, also the triggers works perfectly on other games like assetto corsa. the strangest thing is that it does not do that with low-power cars.
Dmny  [author] 1 Feb, 2017 @ 6:39am 
Well, that's definitely your input device not being properly configurated/recognized by the game. I would first try resetting the settings to default.
jack_the_beast 1 Feb, 2017 @ 5:31am 
I post my other problem here too: Just bought the game from humble bundle and tried to race without worrying too much about controller settings, I set every driving assistance to off and started a single race with the Audi A1 just to get a taste of the game, everything went normal and I decided to spice things up trying a formula A, but with this car when I hit full throttle the car stopped accellerating. this happen for every gear, if i'm not moving rpm just go all the way up but the wheel are not spinning if I am moving (by not going full throttle) the car swich the gears down until the car stops. If I keep the throttle low (like 75% of the right trigger) the car seems to work normally. I also tried with the BAC and the RUF RGT-8 and got the same problem. it looks a bit strange that it hadles that way. is there something I should know about controller configuration? Itried this configuration but I have the same problem
jack_the_beast 1 Feb, 2017 @ 5:30am 
oh, ok ok. so the wheel calibration section is no longer valid
jack_the_beast 1 Feb, 2017 @ 5:29am 
no wait I'm a bit confused. in the wheel calibration section you say to use the stick to calibrate it, so you're actually using a controller. problem is I don't have the option to calibrate the wheel when using the x360 controller
Dmny  [author] 1 Feb, 2017 @ 5:29am 
It is entirely for a controller, yes, but they made some changes to the controls menu since I made this.
jack_the_beast 1 Feb, 2017 @ 5:28am 
oh wait, is your guide referred to a wheel? I thought it was entirely for a controller. sorry
Dmny  [author] 1 Feb, 2017 @ 4:51am 
Is your wheel one of the officially supported ones? I don't know what to tell you, as I don't own a wheel.
jack_the_beast 1 Feb, 2017 @ 4:25am 
why the game does not allow me to calibrate the wheel?