Customization
WheelMates car customization: pick your base color, find every hidden wheel, antenna, and horn part scattered around the lab, and mix-and-match for the perfect RC car look.
Introduction
Customization covers every cosmetic option for your RC car. WheelMates' garage-style customization lets you pick a base color at the start of the game and then mix and match wheels, antennas, and horns as you find them. None of these parts affect gameplay — they're pure cosmetic. The articles below walk through where every part is hidden, which base colors are available, and how the customization menu works in the pause screen. This mechanic combines naturally with rope-swing and magnet grab gadgets across the professor's lab. Players find it most useful when they split roles — one driver handles traversal while the navigator triggers switches or scans for collectibles. Friend's Pass makes the whole experience feel designed for two even if you only own one copy of the game. Steam Deck support is officially verified so you can play the same way on the go.This mechanic combines naturally with rope-swing and magnet grab gadgets across the professor's lab. Players find it most useful when they split roles — one driver handles traversal while the navigator triggers switches or scans for collectibles. Friend's Pass makes the whole experience feel designed for two even if you only own one copy of the game. Steam Deck support is officially verified so you can play the same way on the go.
WheelMates Customization Slots
| Entry | Type | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Base Color | Set at Start | Always |
| Wheels | 4–6 Variants | Hidden Parts |
| Antenna | 4–6 Variants | Hidden Parts |
| Horn | 4–6 Variants | Rare Drops |
| Bonus Skins | 100% Reward | Late Game |
Customization Spotlight
Core
Essential Customization entry — start here. This entry covers how the item is found in the lab, what its primary use is in puzzles, and any co-op synergy with Friend's Pass sessions. Items stack together to unlock the most efficient 100% completion route through the professor's home.
Advanced
Advanced Customization topic for experienced players. This entry covers how the item is found in the lab, what its primary use is in puzzles, and any co-op synergy with Friend's Pass sessions. Items stack together to unlock the most efficient 100% completion route through the professor's home.
Deep Dive with the full library of cosmetic options available at launch.
Detailed Customization reference and lookup. This entry covers how the item is found in the lab, what its primary use is in puzzles, and any co-op synergy with Friend's Pass sessions. Items stack together to unlock the most efficient 100% completion route through the professor's home with the full library of cosmetic options available at launch.
Pro Strategy
Pro tips for experienced players looking to optimize their runs. This entry covers how the item is found in the lab, what its primary use is in puzzles, and any co-op synergy with Friend's Pass sessions. Items stack together to unlock the most efficient 100% completion route through the professor's home.
Reference
Quick lookup tables and lookup data for in-game situations. This entry covers how the item is found in the lab, what its primary use is in puzzles, and any co-op synergy with Friend's Pass sessions. Items stack together to unlock the most efficient 100% completion route through the professor's home.
Core Mechanics
Customization uses four slots: Base Color (set at game start, changeable in any chapter), Wheels (found as hidden parts), Antenna (found as hidden parts), and Horn (found as hidden parts). Each slot has 4–6 variants. The parts are scattered across the lab in obvious spots (a wheel by the garage door) and hidden spots (a horn inside a kitchen cabinet). Equipping a part is purely cosmetic — your RC car drives the same regardless of which wheels or antennas are attached. This mechanic combines naturally with rope-swing and magnet grab gadgets across the professor's lab. Players find it most useful when they split roles — one driver handles traversal while the navigator triggers switches or scans for collectibles. Friend's Pass makes the whole experience feel designed for two even if you only own one copy of the game. Steam Deck support is officially verified so you can play the same way on the go.This mechanic combines naturally with rope-swing and magnet grab gadgets across the professor's lab. Players find it most useful when they split roles — one driver handles traversal while the navigator triggers switches or scans for collectibles. Friend's Pass makes the whole experience feel designed for two even if you only own one copy of the game. Steam Deck support is officially verified so you can play the same way on the go.
Advantages
Customization is the easiest 100% chase in the game. Since the parts are scattered around the lab, you'll find most of them naturally on a thorough playthrough. The hidden parts are also a great excuse to revisit rooms you finished in Chapter 1 once you have the Chapter 2 gadgets. Mixing parts is also a fun way to identify yourself to your co-op partner in a crowded room — a green car with a tall yellow antenna is much easier to spot than two default blue cars. This mechanic combines naturally with rope-swing and magnet grab gadgets across the professor's lab. Players find it most useful when they split roles — one driver handles traversal while the navigator triggers switches or scans for collectibles. Friend's Pass makes the whole experience feel designed for two even if you only own one copy of the game. Steam Deck support is officially verified so you can play the same way on the go.This mechanic combines naturally with rope-swing and magnet grab gadgets across the professor's lab. Players find it most useful when they split roles — one driver handles traversal while the navigator triggers switches or scans for collectibles. Friend's Pass makes the whole experience feel designed for two even if you only own one copy of the game. Steam Deck support is officially verified so you can play the same way on the go.
Challenges
There's no preview system, so equipping a part means going back into the customization menu to swap it. Some hidden parts are in spots that are very tight to reach with a single gadget. The base color is set once per save, and there's no way to dye a car mid-run without starting a new save. None of this affects gameplay, but if you're a perfectionist about car looks, expect some back-and-forth through the menus. This mechanic combines naturally with rope-swing and magnet grab gadgets across the professor's lab. Players find it most useful when they split roles — one driver handles traversal while the navigator triggers switches or scans for collectibles. Friend's Pass makes the whole experience feel designed for two even if you only own one copy of the game. Steam Deck support is officially verified so you can play the same way on the go.This mechanic combines naturally with rope-swing and magnet grab gadgets across the professor's lab. Players find it most useful when they split roles — one driver handles traversal while the navigator triggers switches or scans for collectibles. Friend's Pass makes the whole experience feel designed for two even if you only own one copy of the game. Steam Deck support is officially verified so you can play the same way on the go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do customization parts affect gameplay?+
Can I change my base color mid-game?+
Where do I find hidden parts?+
Quick Tips
Pick your base color in the first 30 seconds of the game. You can change it later but the default is hard to reset if you forget. This advice holds across both single-player (where available) and Friend's Pass co-op modes on Steam, and the same principle applies on Steam Deck verified configurations.
Hidden parts glow faintly when you're close. If you see a faint sparkle on a shelf, drive the car over and inspect — it's usually a customization part or an SD card. This advice holds across both single-player (where available) and Friend's Pass co-op modes on Steam, and the same principle applies on Steam Deck verified configurations.
Horn parts are the rarest customization drop. Plan a sweep of the kitchen and garage on your second playthrough. This advice holds across both single-player (where available) and Friend's Pass co-op modes on Steam, and the same principle applies on Steam Deck verified configurations The same principle applies whether you play solo or with a co-op partner via Friend's Pass, and it works identically on Steam Deck since the game is officially verified for that hardware.
If two players are racing for the same part, the player who physically drives over it first picks it up. There's no shared inventory. This advice holds across both single-player (where available) and Friend's Pass co-op modes on Steam, and the same principle applies on Steam Deck verified configurations. Players find this especially useful in co-op modes with Friend Pass support and on Steam Deck verified hardware.
Save your favorite look before starting the Backyard chapter — the finale has a long autosave sequence and you'll want your car looking good in the ending cutscene. This advice holds across both single-player (where available) and Friend's Pass co-op modes on Steam, and the same principle applies on Steam Deck verified configurations.
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