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There is no single best graphics preset or control value for every American Truck Simulator (ATS) player. For car gameplay, start with graphics your PC can run smoothly at your display’s resolution, then tune the input device in ATS’s Controls menu. SCS has not published validated numerical control settings or hardware-specific graphics benchmarks for Road Trip cars, so treat any numbers you encounter elsewhere as personal starting points, not official presets.
This guidance reflects the game context announced through October 7, 2026: SCS said ATS 1.61 was released on September 15, 2026, with map and asset preparation for Road Trip, and announced the Ford Car Pack for September 29, 2026. Check the current build and DLC availability in your region before following version-specific advice. SCS’s 1.61 announcement and Ford Car Pack announcement provide those release details.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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American Truck Simulator Game | $3.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Truck Driver: The American Dream - PlayStation 5 | $27.14 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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On the Road - Truck Simulator (PS5) | $32.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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US American Truck Simulator 3D | $16.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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American Truck Simulator Gold (New Mexico DLC/Wheel Turning/Steering Creations) (PC DVD) | $49.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Best graphics settings for ATS: start with smooth performance
The ATS manual describes the Graphics section as a place to change resolution and balance image quality against performance. That means the best setting is the highest quality your system can sustain smoothly at the resolution you actually play—not necessarily the maximum preset. The manual does not name a universal preset or hardware-specific target. ATS manual
- Choose your display resolution. Use the resolution you intend to play at; changing it affects both image clarity and the work your system must do.
- Set a stable baseline. Begin with a quality preset that runs smoothly during ordinary driving. If performance is uneven, reduce visual quality before adding more demanding options.
- Raise quality gradually. Once driving feels consistently smooth, increase image quality in small steps. Recheck performance after each change rather than changing several options at once.
- Adjust for a specific problem. If vegetation or distant traffic looks distracting, consider the related graphics options only after the baseline is stable. The SCS Modding Wiki documents variables such as grass density and traffic vehicle LOD distance, but does not establish that raising every value improves play on every PC. SCS Modding Wiki graphics variables
There are no independently published, repeatable graphics benchmarks in the cited sources for particular PC hardware, resolutions or Road Trip settings. Use your own system’s smoothness and image quality as the test; do not treat an “ultra” recommendation as measured advice.
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How to set up controls for car gameplay
Configure your device in ATS’s Controls menu before driving. The manual identifies gamepad and steering-wheel configuration as supported setup paths. For any device, test steering, throttle and braking somewhere with little traffic, then change one control value at a time. ATS manual
Start near the game’s current defaults. If steering is difficult to correct, or pedal and trigger travel feels uncomfortable, make a small adjustment to the relevant setting and test again. Steering range or wheel rotation, sensitivity, non-linearity, deadzone and brake intensity depend on the device and the player; the sources do not give validated Road Trip car values for them. Keep a note of changes that improve control so you can undo a change that makes driving worse.
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Keyboard
Map steering and essential actions to keys you can reach comfortably, then check how quickly the car responds in a quiet area. ATS 1.58 added an optional double-tap throttle system for keyboard input: holding the key applies partial throttle for cruising, while double-tapping provides full acceleration. It is an available input feature, not a universally recommended setting; enable it if that behavior suits you. SCS’s 1.58 update article
Gamepad
Select and configure the gamepad in Controls, then verify that steering, throttle and brake inputs register as expected before entering traffic. If a stick or trigger feels too sensitive, change its relevant response setting slightly and retest rather than copying a value intended for a different controller.
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Steering wheel and pedals
Configure and calibrate the wheel and pedals in Controls. If you use ATS force feedback, SCS advises turning off spring-centering effects set through the wheel’s hardware profile; otherwise, the hardware effect can work against the game’s force feedback. In Windows, the FAQ points to the Game Controllers/joy.cpl menu as one place to check the hardware profile. SCS does not identify a best wheel model or force-feedback strength for Road Trip cars. SCS Software Force Feedback FAQ
Should you install graphics or physics mods?
Mods are optional, and compatibility claims should be treated as claims from their authors rather than independent test results. The Realistic Brutal Graphics & Weather forum listing claims ATS 1.61.x compatibility and describes a broad visual and weather overhaul. Its author warns against combining it with mods that replace overlapping weather, rain, climate, skybox or graphics systems. Check the listing’s current version and avoid stacking overhauls that change the same systems. Realistic Brutal Graphics & Weather listing
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The Ultra Realistic Truck Physics & Cabin Motion listing concerns truck physics, not evidence of improved car handling. Its author warns against combining mods that modify the same steering, suspension, braking or truck-physics parameters. Do not install it as a car-control fix. Ultra Realistic Truck Physics & Cabin Motion listing
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A simple tuning routine
- Establish a baseline: choose a graphics level that is smooth at your target resolution, and confirm that the chosen input device works in Controls.
- Test safely: drive on a quiet stretch and pay attention to one issue—such as uneven performance, abrupt steering, or a brake input that is hard to modulate.
- Change one thing: adjust the relevant graphics or control option by a small amount, then repeat the same kind of driving test.
- Keep or revert: retain the change only if it improves the problem without creating a new one. Record useful values so you can restore them after further experimentation.
This process is more reliable than copying truck-oriented values from an old mod readme or treating a control number as universal. Vehicle response, device behavior and PC performance vary, and the cited sources do not provide a tested Road Trip car preset.
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