Drag Racing Steering Wheel Buying Guide: Size, Dish, Bolt Pattern & How Many Buttons You Need

Your drag wheel does more than steer. On a launch, it's where your transbrake, line lock, two-step and nitrous buttons live, and a bad layout costs you reaction time. This guide covers what actually matters when you buy a drag racing steering wheel: diameter, dish, bolt pattern, grip and how many buttons you really need. It also shows how the Granatelli 789465 drag wheel stacks up against a $369 MPI drag wheel.

Why Drag Cars Put the Buttons on the Wheel

On the starting line you're holding the transbrake, building boost or rpm on the two-step, and watching the tree. Reaching for a dash switch at that moment means a hand off the wheel when the car is about to leave hard. Wheel-mounted buttons keep both hands where they belong and let you hit each function with a thumb.

The common functions drag racers run from the wheel:

• Transbrake: hold the car on the line while you bring up rpm, then release to launch.
• Line lock: lock the front brakes for a burnout.
• Two-step / launch control: hold a set launch rpm.
• Nitrous: arm or activate the system.
• Extras: bump box, shifter or a data-logger marker.

How Many Buttons Do You Actually Need?

Count the functions you run today, then add one or two for what you might add next season. Most street/strip and bracket cars land at three or four buttons. A wheel with ten or more holes looks serious, but every extra hole you never use is money spent on nothing.

The Granatelli 789465 is drilled for six large 5/8" (0.63") push buttons. That covers transbrake, line lock, two-step and nitrous with two spares, and the large hole size works with mushroom-style buttons you can find with gloves on.

Diameter: Leverage vs. Space

A bigger wheel gives you more leverage and finer control at speed. A smaller wheel frees up room in a tight cage and makes it easier to get in and out. A 13" to 13.5" wheel is a common choice for full-size drag and street/strip cars. Tight cockpits often go smaller or to a flat-bottom D-shape.

• Granatelli 789465: 13.5" round wheel with button holes
• Granatelli 789464: 10" D-shape wheel for cramped cockpits, with add-on billet switch plates

Dish: Where the Wheel Sits

Dish is how far the grip sits from the mounting face. More dish brings the wheel closer to you; less dish keeps it flatter to the hub. Get it right and your arms sit comfortably bent with your shoulders against the seat. The 789465 has a 1.000" dish.

Bolt Pattern: Check Before You Buy

This is the most common ordering mistake. Your wheel has to match the bolt pattern on your hub or quick-release. The 789465 uses a 5 x 2.88" bolt pattern for aftermarket 5-bolt hubs and quick-releases. Running an MPI drag wheel now? The 789465 uses the same hub, so it bolts right onto your existing MPI hub. Not sure what you have? Call us at 1-805-486-6644 before you order.

Grip and Top Marker

Suede gives you grip even with gloves on and doesn't get slick the way smooth materials can. A colored top marker tells you instantly whether the wheel is straight, which matters when you're lining up in the beams. The 789465 has a black suede grip with red stitching and a sewn-in red center marker.

Granatelli 789465 vs. MPI DRG2-13

The MPI DRG2-13 from Max Papis Innovations is a well-known drag wheel. Here's how the two compare, using published specs and prices as of October 2026.

The bottom line: if you need more than six buttons, the MPI gives you more locations. If you run the usual transbrake, line lock, two-step and nitrous, the Granatelli 789465 covers all of it with two spares, bolts onto the same hub, gives you an extra half inch of diameter, and saves you $140.57 you can put toward tires, fuel or another pass.

Common Mistakes When Buying a Drag Wheel

• Not checking the bolt pattern. Match the wheel to your hub or quick-release first.
• Buying holes you won't use. Count your functions before paying for ten-plus button locations.
• Putting the transbrake in the wrong spot. Put it under the thumb you can hold steady without thinking, so you don't release early.
• Skipping the wiring plan. Plan how the button wires leave the wheel, especially with a quick-release, so nothing pulls when you turn.
• Expecting a horn. Competition wheels like the 789465 don't include a horn button.

Drag Racing Steering Wheel FAQ

What size steering wheel is best for drag racing?

Many full-size drag and street/strip cars run 13" to 13.5". Go smaller, or to a D-shape like the Granatelli 789464, if your cockpit is tight.

How many push buttons should a drag wheel have?

Most cars need three or four. The Granatelli 789465 has six 5/8" holes, so you have room to add a function later.

What bolt pattern is the Granatelli 789465?

5 x 2.88", for aftermarket 5-bolt hubs and quick-releases. It uses the same hub as MPI drag wheels, so you can swap it onto an existing MPI hub.

Does the 789465 include buttons or a horn?

No. Buttons are sold separately, and no horn button is included because it's built for competition use. No installation kit is required.

Is the Granatelli 789465 cheaper than an MPI drag wheel?

Yes. The 789465 is $228.43. The MPI DRG2-13 lists at $369.00 at Motion Raceworks as of October 2026.

Shop Granatelli Drag Wheels

Get the Granatelli 789465 13.5" Drag Steering Wheel drilled for six push buttons, or browse all Granatelli drag racing steering wheels and switch plates. Questions about fitment? Call Granatelli Motor Sports at 1-805-486-6644, Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm PST.