ORIGIN OF FWD.
Foundation Wheel Development is a youth steering wheel company founded in 2025 by racer Kyle Heckman in Fort Dodge, IA. A father to three young drivers — Grant, William, and Landon — Kyle discovered a void in the market when it came to driver comfort and fitment for small racers. Whether racing dirt or pavement karts, nearly everything — from the seat to the pedals — requires custom fitting and fabrication to make the driver comfortable. At the end of the process, he repeatedly encountered three major issues: visibility over the wheel, elbow clearance caused by bulky steering wheels, and most importantly grip diameter not matching a child’s hand size. At that point, the steering wheel became a compromise. That realization sparked Kyle’s mission to create a steering wheel designed specifically for young racers, matching the precision and attention to detail required to build a winning kart and driver. With the release of the flagship products — Combat (Hybrid), Commander (Dirt), Navigator (Asphalt), and Pilot (Asphalt) — Foundation Wheel Development plans to expand its niche catalog. With three young racers and a strong community of competitors, the goal is to continually develop the product line and support youth drivers with one objective: winning.
ORIGIN OF FWD.
Foundation Wheel Development is a youth steering wheel company founded in 2025 by racer Kyle Heckman in Fort Dodge, IA. A father to three young drivers — Grant, William, and Landon — Kyle discovered a void in the market when it came to driver comfort and fitment for small racers. Whether racing dirt or pavement karts, nearly everything — from the seat to the pedals — requires custom fitting and fabrication to make the driver comfortable. At the end of the process, he repeatedly encountered three major issues: visibility over the wheel, elbow clearance caused by bulky steering wheels, and most importantly grip diameter not matching a child’s hand size. At that point, the steering wheel became a compromise. That realization sparked Kyle’s mission to create a steering wheel designed specifically for young racers, matching the precision and attention to detail required to build a winning kart and driver. With the release of the flagship products — Combat (Hybrid), Commander (Dirt), Navigator (Asphalt), and Pilot (Asphalt) — Foundation Wheel Development plans to expand its niche catalog. With three young racers and a strong community of competitors, the goal is to continually develop the product line and support youth drivers with one objective: winning.
WHY FWD?
The steering wheel is the direct link that merges the child and the machine. Our slogan, “Comfort = Confidence” encompasses our initiative which helps drivers maintain a firm grip on their kart. This gives them the ability to blast over a curb or enter a rough cushion while having the confidence to do so.
WHY FWD?
The steering wheel is the direct link that merges the child and the machine. Our slogan, “Comfort = Confidence” encompasses our initiative which helps drivers maintain a firm grip on their kart. This gives them the ability to blast over a curb or enter a rough cushion while having the confidence to do so.
TESTIMONIALS.
TESTIMONIALS.
The thinner design is perfect for my hands, I can fully wrap around the wheel for a much better grip. The result was more comfort, better control, and more confidence on track. This is exactly the kind of upgrade that makes a real difference for young drivers. Honestly, this steering wheel should be on every Kid Kart and Cadet kart out there.
I like the FWD Wheel compared to other wheels because I like the size of the wheel, and the FWD Wheel was much easier to turn and I had better control.
I like these wheels because others I’ve used are bigger and the grip is too thick. I can’t hold onto them as well, so I prefer the FWD because it’s thinner and helps me race better while getting less tired.
I want the FWD wheel because I like being able to choose a smaller size that feels comfortable in my go-kart.
TESTIMONIALS.
The smaller grip profile made an immediate difference. I was able to hold the wheel more naturally, which gave me better grip, better control, and a lot more confidence behind the wheel. For young racers, this is one of those upgrades that actually matters. It’s simple, but it makes a huge difference — and it should be on every Kid Kart and Cadet kart.
I like the FWD Wheel compared to other wheels because I like the size of the wheel, and the FWD Wheel was much easier to turn and I had better control.
I like these wheels because others I’ve used are bigger and the grip is too thick. I can’t hold onto them as well, so I prefer the FWD because it’s thinner and helps me race better while getting less tired.
I want the FWD wheel because I like being able to choose a smaller size that feels comfortable in my go-kart.
