Simcore STD-98:
premium controls, built around your rim.

Review disclosure: Simcore supplied the STD-98 button plate and a rim free of charge for review, and I retained the review unit. The opinions here are my own. The Simcore product link below is not an affiliate link.

The STD-98 was Simcore’s flagship wired wheel button plate when I reviewed it. Rather than being tied to one fixed rim, it offered a premium set of controls that I could pair with different compatible wheels. I tested a customised example on my Simucube 2 Pro, including Simcore’s FW310-UNI rim, and came away impressed with how solid and well finished the package felt.

A configurable plate, not one fixed package

My review unit had customised colours and labels, with the optional clutch and top paddles. Simcore also supplied its own rim for me to try.

That matters when comparing prices. A basic button plate and a complete wheel with a rim, extra paddles and connection upgrades are different purchases.

The configuration options let buyers leave out features they did not need. I liked having that choice, even though my example included the extras.

The current official listing still presents selectable options. Check the complete configuration rather than assuming the starting price includes the wheel in my video.

Construction that felt properly premium

The carbon-fibre front plate, machined aluminium rear housing and metal knobs gave the STD-98 a very high-quality feel.

The fit and finish ranked among the best I had used. The design was relatively simple, with the details and materials doing most of the work.

My customised knob colours, button surrounds and labels helped make it my own without changing the practical layout.

The supplied coiled cable and metal connector also felt substantial. Simcore described them in motorsport and military-spec terms; I assessed how they felt and worked in my setup, rather than independently certifying those claims.

While driving with the Simucube 2 Pro, the assembly felt solid. I did not notice flex or creaking during stronger force-feedback moments.

The FW310-UNI rim won me over in person

I had seen Simcore’s rims online before, and their appearance had not particularly appealed to me. The FW310-UNI looked better in person and paired well with this plate.

The matching carbon finish made the combination feel cohesive. More importantly, the grips had some give and were very comfortable in my hands.

I liked the rubber grip material as a practical alternative to suede or Alcantara. That was a preference about feel and care, not proof of long-term wear resistance.

I also tried the plate with a few other rims I had in the Den, and they fitted well. That does not establish compatibility with every rim; Simcore can confirm a particular choice before ordering.

Buttons and encoders I could reach easily

The eight illuminated halo buttons had a premium tactile feel. Their placement made it easy to adjust settings without disrupting my grip.

The four thumb encoders also pressed, adding more assignments. Their metal knobs had a shape and teeth that worked well with gloves.

I would have preferred slightly more rotational resistance. They were light enough for easy single-finger use, which other drivers may appreciate more than I did.

Two seven-way switches were another highlight. Having one on each side made navigating menus and car settings convenient.

The supplied labels were high quality and included options for the illuminated buttons, encoders and seven-way switches. This helped make the large number of assignments useful in practice.

Excellent paddles, with edges I would soften

The Gen8 shifters felt firm, solid and satisfying to operate. Their adjustment options helped me position them comfortably.

My main criticism was the edge of the carbon paddle plates. Against bare fingers, they felt a little sharp; I would have preferred a more rounded or bevelled finish.

The optional clutch paddles could be configured through Simcore Control Center, including the bite point and operating mode.

The extra top paddles gave me convenient assignments without taking my hands from the wheel. I liked using that style of control for iRacing pass-left and pass-right signals.

They were useful extras rather than a requirement. If they had not been fitted to my review unit, I probably would not have missed them enough to make them essential to the purchase.

Wired PC setup and mounting

This is a wired PC button plate. It was not a console wheel, and it needed a suitable mechanical connection to the wheelbase as well as its USB connection to the computer.

The rear hub used the familiar 70 mm bolt pattern. I attached a Simucube quick release without difficulty.

There was already an extension hub fitted behind the plate. Its added depth is worth considering if you are trying to match the reach of several wheels on one rig.

The threaded rim-mounting holes made changing compatible rims straightforward, even with the plate still attached to the base.

Simcore offered an optional USB dock and matching cable arrangement. I preferred the idea of securing that connection neatly on the rig, though it added to the configuration cost.

The normal coiled-cable setup worked during my test. I did not experience connection dropouts or failed inputs in those sessions.

Lighting and software fitted my workflow

Native SimHub support was welcome because I already used it with other hardware. It let me customise the button lighting and the eight rev LEDs.

The backlit buttons were particularly useful when I raced with the room lights low. I would choose illuminated buttons when the rest of the wheel suited my needs.

The rev strip was less essential on my setup because I already had a dash display. It was still useful to have, and I could turn it off if I did not want duplicate information.

I would have liked lighting behind the labels for the other controls too, although I recognised that this could increase the cost.

Simcore Control Center handled functions such as the clutch settings, while SimHub supported the lighting. This matched the kind of setup process I expected from a premium PC wheel.

My verdict after the original test

The STD-98 was an easy recommendation for me from a hardware perspective. The build quality, shifters and well-positioned controls made it enjoyable to drive.

Among the comparable plates I had tried from Ascher Racing, Cube Controls and SimRacingBay, it stood out as my preferred package at the time. That is my original preference, rather than a new comparison against their current ranges.

The FW310-UNI rim made a particularly good pairing, and the lighting fitted comfortably into my existing SimHub workflow.

This was a relatively short review period. The reliable operation I experienced is useful evidence from those sessions, but it is not a long-term durability assessment.

For buyers outside Australia, the full delivered cost mattered. Include the selected rim and options, shipping, taxes and any import charges when comparing alternatives.

I would still weigh the small ergonomic criticisms, especially the paddle edges and light encoders. They did not outweigh the strengths for me, but they could matter differently to someone else.

About this article: Adapted from my original review script and video review. Driving impressions refer to the original review period. The official STD-98 Fire Red listing was checked as a current product destination. It is an example configuration; my original review unit had customised colours, labels and optional equipment.