I had great difficulty using the steering wheel in this game, and I write all the information I know here. I hope it will help you on your childhood journey.
My CSR wheel can use on most old racing games with this mapper.(nascar racing 3, midtown madness etc). But, most old racing games dont recognize multidevice, And NFS5 is can use 2 controller maximum.
If you do key mapping on nfs5 with more than 3 controllers connected, all axes will not work.
2. If the mapper doesn't working, here is another solution https://github.com/elishacloud/dinputto8/releases
(But in my case, this caused the game crash)
3. The biggest problem with NFS5 is that it lists all usb devices in the controller list in-game option, which seems to be causing the problem. In my case, the usb sound card was interfering with the controller recognition. (In my memory, there is no problem until Win7)
4. To solve this problem, use the Hidhide app
https://github.com/nefarius/HidHide/releases/tag/v1.5.212.0
In the Devices tab, uncheck 'Gaming devices only' specifically for NFS5, then tick everything except your controllers (up to 2).
*In particular, hiding USB devices other than gaming devices almost eliminates HUGE frame drops on the key binding page on NFS5*
Afterwards, run the game, set the keys, and enjoy the game.
In my case I used the GIMX converter, so I hide all controller for except the G27 wheel.
The tips below are outdated.
4. A USB hub and any USB devices connected to the hub will huge interfere with the game's wheelbase recognition. Before setting the wheel, disconnect all USB hub devices except the wheelbase.
5. Despite of If you've tried all of these and your wheel controllers doesn't working, You are have bad luck like me.
In this case, Search the 'device manager' on Windows search icon
On <universal serial bus controller>, you can find USB root hub (USB 3.0)
This causes NFS5's wheel recognition to not work properly.
Before deleting this, make sure you should unplug all USB hubs and connect no more than TWO controllers.
Wheelbase + Pedal or Wheelbase + Shifter, it doesn't matter which type.
As explained above, this game will definitely have problems when more than 3 controllers are connected.
When ready, delete the USB root hub.
If your keyboard/mouse doesn't work with a disconnect sound, you're done.
(If the keyboard/mouse still works, delete the other Root Hub)
In this state, hard reset the computer, and run NFS5 immediately when start the Windows, rebind, and enjoy.
It only takes a few seconds, but it's annoying. But it's a sure way.
6.About HEAVY FRAME DROPS on Controller setup page.
The more USB devices connected to your PC (USB hub, USB sound card, etc.), the more proportional the frame drops will be in the controller settings in-game. If the game only recognizes one steering wheel after you go through step <5>, there will be some frame drops but it will not interfere with Rebind.
*SO, DISCONNECT the UNNECESSARY USB DEVICE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE before launch the game.
