Thrustmaster’s latest T248R wheel is so good, you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s more expensive

• Thrustmaster replaces its T248 racing wheel with the upgraded T248R
• Compatible for PC, PS4 and PS5 – the older model continues for Xbox
• A belt and gear-driven wheel base (3.1Nm) paired with quieter paddle shifters, a clearer screen and pleasing wheel rim material
• Subtle, but worthy, upgrade, and the launch list price is lower, too – £269.99 / €299.99 / $349.99
• Includes solid and adjustable T-3PM pedals – throttle, brake and clutch
• Pre-orders now live, shipments from 17th September, full review below

Sometimes, a product is so exemplary that it doesn’t need drastic changes to remain competitive. Take the Porsche 911 – it has slowly, but surely, evolved bit by bit over seven decades. Never revolutionary, always the paragon sports car.

While the rest of the German brand’s range evolves, with hybrid SUVs and electric saloons, the 911 remains constant.

For Thrustmaster, its 911 is the T248. It went all-out with the PC-only direct drive T818, then the mid-range T598, with a distinctive direct axial drive system. It made the T248 seem old hat, and for 2025, it has been replaced.

But, not with an all-new model. Instead, the T248R is a subtle evolution that addresses some of the critiques, keeps the device within a modest price range and at the top of its class.

Worthwhile tweaks

As expected, then, with a modest facelift, the basics remain the same. This is a racing wheel for PC, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5, aimed primarily at those looking for their first sim racing peripheral or an upgrade from an existing device.

Inside the base is what’s touted as a ‘T-HD’ hybrid drive system – a combination of belts and gears that delivers force feedback to the driver. It’s a sensation that can change based on the game or car driven and increase and decrease depending on the scenario, simulating steering weight.

The peak output here is a modest 3.1Nm of force, so unlike more advanced (and expensive) direct drive units, don’t expect it to rip your arms off or deliver a Luther Vandross-smooth experience.

But it comes close, very close, on that latter point. Thrustmaster doesn’t claim any mechanical changes, but this latest R feels less notchy than I recall its 2021 progenitor.

With PlayStation owners as a primary target, this unit equips itself well as a Gran Turismo 7 wheel. The model is not listed specifically in the game’s setup menus, but rather it thinks it’s an older TGT, which is listed, so I found everything I needed was mapped from the off, other than the boost/DRS button. You can use the two silver rocker switches to alter GT7’s multi-function display.

There is an ideal weight to steering inputs for those wanting a first-time wheel experience, and sometimes the really high-end direct drive units feel a bit like overkill for Gran Turismo.

Certainly, the T598 remains my favourite GT7 device. Its extra detail and some of the best shifters on the market are worth it if you have the budget. But I was still able to set competitive Sport Mode times with the more affordable T248R. The further upgrade is a want, but not necessarily a need.

Perhaps the different wheel rim material assists here. Now perforated, this new faux-leather is a dramatic improvement over the predecessor. It’s soft, slightly squishy and, so says the company, less likely to see a build-up of sweat during endurance tests. I prefer it to any other competitor in this price range.

Detailed information

Another change is the screen, with the same unit and control options filtering down from the pricer T598. It allows the driver to tweak settings without the need for PC software – essential on PS4 and PS5, plus another one-up on something like a Logitech G923.

It was also a useful feature in the prior model, although the viewing angle was poor for the black-and-white graphics, especially for taller people, who found it difficult to read while driving.

Not any more, as the new telemetry-displaying colour setup is crisp from any angle. While there is no LED strip to act as a tachometer, there are two individual lights on either side of the panel that change colour as you rise through the engine revs.

Meanwhile, the brushed metal look to the front facia’s plastic trim has been altered to a more subtle ‘carbon-ish’ effect.

Perhaps a more significant difference is the magnetic gearshift paddles mounted around the rear of the rim. Still plastic, unlike some metal finishes seen in rivals, they are noticeably quieter. Certainly still audible, especially if someone is in the room next door, but the original T248’s were like sitting next to a machine gun.

The base itself still makes some pretty boisterous noises under max load, for instance, some punishing understeer, and in our testing, after around half an hour of use, a cooling fan kicks in – but it’s never obtusely loud.

Inside the bundle is a set of T-3PM pedals, and these are completely unchanged. That means you get a throttle, brake and clutch, plus the ability to have the connecting cable protrude from either side. Each of the three pedal plates is lined in metal, too, even if the base is plastic.

Considering its hall-effect build, the brake feels especially easy to modulate and delivers a greater sense of control than the cheaper Thrustmaster T-2PMs included with the entry-level T128 wheel or a rival’s, such as the aforementioned Logitech.

There’s also a firmer spring and an elastomer included for the brake pedal, which are easy to install (tool-less) and work well if you plan to move up from the likes of EA SPORTS F1 25 and onto something like iRacing. Those brake lock-ups are real on that sim, so the firmer setup may assist.

An option to upgrade this specific set to a load cell, however, is not available, so that would require the purchase of a different set altogether from Thrustmaster.

Improved performance and a lower price

Then we get to the price, which, despite the improvements, has been lowered. Excluding any discounts over the past four years, the original T248 launched at £299.99 / €349.99 / $399.99, while the T248R initially retails at £269.99 / €299.99 / $349.99. Pre-orders are live at the time this review is published, with first shipments from 17th September.

For Xbox users, however, there are no plans currently for the R upgrade to become compatible. The existing non-R will continue in the lineup for Microsoft console users.

Recently, Traxion created a list of the best ‘cheap’ racing wheels for 2025, and we plumped for the more affordable T128 over the T248, feeling like the extra outlay wasn’t necessarily worth it. But with the T248R, there is now a worthy difference. It shoots straight to the top of our recommended list for those with ~$350 for a racing wheel.

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