The Thrustmaster T248 enhance upon the traditional T150 entry-level racing wheel with a a lot better pedal set. It presents stable drive suggestions and a big improve on immersion ranges over utilizing a pad. However, Logitech wheels beat it for construct high quality, and the marginally dearer Thrustmaster fashions provide smoother drive suggestions.
Pros
Better pedals than older entry-level wheelsOn-wheel show for menus and telemetry dataLow weight wheel base is ideal for informal setups
Cons
Slightly granular or notchy really feel to wheel rotationWheel construct doesn’t match that of LogitechLow cost-feeling paddle shifters
Hybrid drive suggestionsThe Thrustmaster T248 makes use of a part-belt, part-gear system for drive suggestions, which results in fairly a direct really feel, however less-smooth wheel rotation
Built-in displayA small LED show on the wheel’s centre shows the T248’s helpful menu system and can present telemetry knowledge in supported video games
Three-pedal boardThe T248 contains the most effective pedal board we’ve seen in an entry-level Thrustmaster racing wheel to this point. It’s sturdy and has adjustable brake resistance, which is a big improve
Introduction
The Thrustmaster T248 is an entry-level racing wheel. To take a look at its value you may suppose it’s excessive finish, however the actuality is that good drive suggestions wheels comparable to this mannequin merely don’t come low cost.
The Thrustmaster T248’s hybrid motor system delivers a smoother really feel – and this issues. However, issues turn into murkier whenever you examine it to a different Thrustmaster wheel such because the T300 RS.
Those barely higher-end wheels have all-belt-driven suggestions that feels far smoother than the Thrustmaster T248. What we’ve here’s a wheel that replaces the as soon as bottom-end Thrustmaster T150, elevating the worth flooring for the corporate’s drive suggestions wheels.
This is disappointing, and there’s an argument Thrustmaster may have put extra of the price range into the basics moderately than fluff options comparable to an in-wheel show. However, one factor is obvious: if the Thrustmaster T248 is to be your first correct racing wheel, you’ll adore it.
Price and Compatibility
The Thrustmaster T248 prices £299 and contains the whole lot it’s essential get began. Its wheel base and rim come as one linked piece, and there’s a stable three-pedal set within the field. A mount adapter screws into the bottom.
There are separate variations for Xbox and PlayStation consoles; ensure you choose up the suitable one, since there’s extra occurring right here than merely the icons on the buttons. Sony console wheels require a particular compatibility chip. The Xbox mannequin merely received’t work along with your PS5, and vice versa. Both work with a PC, although.
Design
Light wheel baseSomewhat unimpressive constructBuilt-in show
The Thrustmaster T248 is a really approachable wheel, even when it does price greater than an Xbox Series S. Its base and the rim aren’t modular. No development is required so that you can get began, and the wheel base is gentle.
You could like the thought of a hefty, heavy wheel that feels prefer it’s been wrenched proper off a sports activities automobile. But in the event you’re going to mount the Thrustmaster T248 to a espresso desk or a transportable wheel stand, its decrease weight is an enormous constructive. Setting it up and packing it away isn’t too onerous, and it received’t threaten to topple a stand – as some Fanatec wheels can.
Thrustmaster appears to have had its Logitech rivals in thoughts when designing the T248. The rim right here isn’t simply plastic with some rubberised sections. Its outer half is topped in artificial leather-based, and there seems to be a skinny layer of froth beneath to ship some “give”.
Image Credit (TechSwitch)
Does it outclass the Logitech G923? It doesn’t come shut. That wheel has a steel core and a leather-wrapped rim. And having talked about the advantages of a lighter weight, a extra stable development helps to ship parts of the drive suggestions to your palms extra confidently.
As you’ll be able to see from the photographs of the Thrustmaster T248 right here, I’ve the PlayStation model. It has nearly all of the inputs of a Dualshock 4, minus the analogue sticks.
There’s additionally a show on the wheel’s centre. This is utilized in just a few video games to relay “telemetry” knowledge, together with favourites comparable to American Truck Simulator, Gran Turismo 7, iRacing and Asset Corsa Competizione.
Image Credit (TechSwitch)
It’s a enjoyable function, with the display additionally offering entry to the wheel’s on-menu system, which helps you to alter a bunch of vital parameters. But is it the most effective place to allocate a part of the price range when areas of the construct are clearly a bit compromised? Of course, it might be simpler to make that calculation in the event you knew how a lot price that show provides.
Force Feedback
Hybrid drive suggestions results in barely granular wheel rotationModerate FF power
The Thrustmaster T248 options hybrid drive suggestions. This is the system used to transmit the texture of the highway, and the way in which the automobile pulls towards your turns, by way of to your palms and arms.
Force suggestions wheels use both a direct drive motor, belts or geared mechanisms to make this occur. The Thrustmaster T248 has hybrid drive suggestions, which means a part of the motor system makes use of the gears; the opposite half a belt.
Gears generate much less warmth, however lead to less-smooth wheel rotation than a pure belt-driven system. “Notchy” is the time period racing wheel followers usually use – and, certain sufficient, the Thrustmaster T248 does have a slight notchy really feel. This is the rationale a few of you’ll favor a wheel such because the Thrustmaster T300 RS to this unit.
It additionally nonetheless wants a fan, which normally kicks in after a few races.
Image Credit (TechSwitch)
However, Thrustmaster says the T248’s drive suggestions is considerably extra highly effective than the previous Thrustmater T150’s, “up to 70%” extra highly effective in line with Thrustmaster.
The Thrustmaster T248’s power is stable for an entry-level wheel, bringing the sense of realism and immersion that drive suggestions is all about. You can really feel the tyres begin to lose grip on turns, the heaviness of steering at low speeds, and the rumble of the highway underneath your car.
It doesn’t provide the overwhelming energy of the Fanatec ClubSport v2.5, for instance, nor the newer Fanatec DD line. In higher-end fashions comparable to these, the wheel turns into “the boss” at larger energy settings, and can all however wrench itself out of your grip at occasions.
Image Credit (TechSwitch)
The Thrustmaster T248 remains to be comparatively snug to make use of maxed-out, and so are different wheels at round this value. However, I favor the type of the older Thrustmaster T300 RS. Some say belt suggestions can appear extra imprecise than the geared sort, which may have an effect on your racing efficiency. However, I’d prioritise immersion each time, and the graceful really feel of Thrustmaster’s belt wheels is superior in that respect.
That stated, the Thrustmaster T248’s wheel rotation stays smoother than that of the Logitech options, such because the G923.
Pedals and Shifters
Excellent pedals with adjustable brake resistancePoor on-wheel shiftersIncludes two brake springs
Advice for racing wheel consumers on a reasonable price range has been pretty simple till this present era of fashions. You purchase a Thrustmaster for higher drive suggestions; a Logitech for the complete bundle together with good pedals, with no stress to improve sooner or later.
This is as a result of the cheaper Thrustmaster wheels have include fairly poor pedals; a lightweight two-pedal board would seem toy-like subsequent to the standard wheel base. The Thrustmaster T248 addresses this by beginning off with a three-pedal set, which I don’t suppose most folks might want to improve from except they get deep into sim racing.
Image Credit (TechSwitch)
It nonetheless isn’t something too fancy. The construction of the pedals is essentially fabricated from plastic, however they’ve good steel caps. You now additionally get a clutch for handbook transmission, and much better resistance for the brake.
Thrustmaster even contains two resistance springs, so you’ll be able to play with a decrease or larger stage of rigidity. You can take away a rubbery spacer, which delivers 4 attainable rigidity settings.
Racing wheel obsessives should discover the brake a bit gentle, however Thrustmaster has judged the extent effectively right here. If you’re not going to lock the pedal board in place you then solely need a lot rigidity, or the board is solely going to maneuver underneath the stress.
Image Credit (TechSwitch)
The clutch and accelerator even have their very own distinct depress character. Sure, these pedals can’t go up towards the Fanatec ClubSport V3, however they price 50 euros greater than your complete Thrustmaster T248 bundle.
Thrumaster has successfully zapped one of the crucial widespread items of recommendation given to potential reasonably priced racing wheel consumers: Thrustmaster wheels are nice, however keep in mind the pedals may suck.
Image Credit (TechSwitch)
It isn’t all constructive progress, thoughts. The Thrustmaster T248 additionally has paddle shifters that sit behind the rim. These have a really constructive click on, which is nice; however additionally they really feel low cost, are virtually excessively noisy, and require extra drive to depress than simply about any racing wheel I’ve used to this point.
The aluminium paddles of the Logitech G923 and G920/G29 collection really feel a lot better, and never simply because they’re steel. This is likely one of the weakest facets of the Thrustmaster T248.
Latest offers
Should you purchase it?
You need an entry-level steering wheel with nice drive suggestions:
The Thrustmaster T248 is a good starter drive suggestions racing wheel that solves the primary drawback of cheaper Thrustmaster wheel units of the previous by together with stable pedals that you simply received’t really feel the necessity to improve from in future.
You need top-notch construct high quality:
The wheel itself isn’t fairly a masterwork. It lacks the good construct high quality of the Logitech G923, G920 and G29, and in the event you’re extra keen on immersion than race efficiency, the belt-driven drive suggestions of older Thrustmaster wheels such because the T300 RS is best.
Final Thoughts
The Thrustmaster T248 is a good drive suggestions racing wheel, notably for many who haven’t tried such a unit earlier than. In addition, it additionally isn’t fairly what you may first assume it to be.
This is much less a followup to the T300 RS and TX strains; extra a substitute for the price range Thrustmaster T150. It additionally raises the associated fee flooring considerably, however there’s stable justification because of the Thrustmaster T248’s much-improved pedals.
However, construct high quality isn’t on the similar stage as Logitech rivals, and in the event you’re most keen on an involving race expertise you then must also think about the a lot older Thrustmaster T300 RS (PS4/PS5) and Thrustmaster TX (Xbox). Their belt-driven suggestions feels considerably smoother.
How we take a look at
We use each gaming wheel we take a look at for at the very least every week. During that point, we’ll verify it for ease of use and put it by way of its paces by taking part in a wide range of video games.
We additionally verify the controller’s software program help, in addition to the standard of bundled equipment comparable to pedals and shifters.
We used for at the very least every week.
Played a wide range of racing video games.
FAQs
Does the Thrustmaster T248 have drive suggestions? Yes, this can be a full force-feedback racing wheel that makes use of motors to emulate real-world driving forces. Can you modify the Thrustmaster T248 racing wheel rim? The wheel is mounted and may’t get replaced with one other mannequin. Can you utilize the Thrustmaster T248 with a PC? Both the Xbox and PlayStation variations of the wheel help PC, however they’re not cross-compatible with the opposite kind of console.
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UK RRP
Weight
Release Date
First Reviewed Date
Thrustmaster T248
£299.99
7.07 KG
2021
28/06/2022
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