Thrustmaster T248, the review of an exceptional wheel and pedal set for PC and PS5
Thrustmaster T248
Motor racing has historically always been an expensive passion. Starting from karting up to the first amateur competitions, to compete you need an amount of money that is not accessible to anyone. In history there have been several famous drivers such as Niki Lauda, who had to ask for a bank loan to be able to continue with their career.Today the racing environment has not changed, indeed, from year to year access to higher categories is increasingly linked to the pilot's budget. At the same time, however, another sector is developing with considerable popularity, that of sim racing and eSports. The COVID-19 pandemic has locked several famous drivers of Formula 1, WRC, WEC and other car categories in their homes, suspending their official competitions.
To combat boredom, these drivers have organized events, challenges and numerous competing with each other, promoting this fantastic sport in a healthy and genuine way. There has also been huge investments in the field of eSports, often linked to virtual car competitions, which have given a further boost to this passion both among young people and long-time enthusiasts.
About a year after the launch of PlayStation 5, in this very lush historical period for the sim racing world, we were able to get our hands on the new Thrustmaster T248 wheel. Made specifically for Sony consoles (without neglecting the ubiquitous PC support), this device from Thrustmaster is a perfect starting point for anyone wishing to enter the world of sim racing. So if you have always dreamed of pursuing a career as a racing driver, but without having the budget to sign a contract with a team, this wheel could be an excellent initial investment. We have tested it thoroughly in the most popular games of the current eSports scene and are finally ready to tell you everything in our review of the Thrustmaster T248.
Hardware features
Thrustmaster T248 steering wheel and pedal board Let's go from the raw hardware features of this Thrustmaster T248. It is a dynamic Force Feedback product with three different configuration profiles that can be adjusted directly from the multifunction display. This is all handled by the main motor, which uses the mixed belt and gear mechanism for a powerful, realistic and versatile feel.Thrustmaster claims that the motor is able to develop 70% more power than the previous one. generation of Thrustmaster T150 hybrid steering wheels. The gear levers are magnetic, made with patented HEART technology. The pedal board also uses the same magnetic technology with high 12-bit precision. There are four different ways of pressing the brake pedal, adjustable by means of the included spring.
The connection between the pedal and the steering wheel takes place via a low-latency cable. Subsequently, the whole device interfaces with the gaming machine via USB port. The Thrustmaster T248 racing wheel is compatible with PS5, PlayStation 4 and PC. On the personal computer it will be necessary to download a small package of drivers, while on Sony consoles it will be enough to connect it to a free USB port.
Technical sheet
Amazon Offer Thrustmaster T248, Magnetic Steering Wheel and Pedals, PS5, PS4, PC, Hybrid Drive € 349.99
View Offer : mixed belt and gear mechanism Force Feedback: 3 levels Gearbox: sequential with magnetic levers Buttons: 25 freely configurable, 2 double position encoders Rotation angles: 270 °, 360 °, 540 °, 720 °, 900 °, auto Display : multifunction for configuration and real-time driving parameters Pedal: included with three pedals, adjustable brake Connection: USB cable Compatible devices: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC Price: 350 € on Amazon
Design
Thrustmaster T248 steering wheel grip Touching the Thrustmaster T248 steering wheel with our fingers for the first time we immediately noticed the excellent build quality of the product. The materials chosen combine very well with the elegant lines of the device, immediately giving a feeling of holding a steering wheel of a modern car in your hands and not a simple accessory to play. The leather upholstery guarantees a good grip with overall dimensions suitable for different driving models.In the neutral position the wheel is 28 cm long and 26 cm high. On the steering wheel there are 25 action buttons that can be configured at will. Being a product linked to the Sony brand, we find the classic Dualsense buttons complete with a PlayStation button for better management of the functions related to PS5. Two double-position encoders have been implemented on the left and right extremities, which allow us to quickly change some parameters during our competitions with surgical precision.
In the back instead we find two rather rigid magnetic shift levers with good shutter feedback, which also generate pronounced noise. Their vertical extension did not fully convince us. In fact, we would have preferred a few more centimeters in length to have easier access to the sequential gearbox.
In the upper part we find a multifunction display which is also completely configurable. By pressing the appropriate buttons, the screen allows us to configure the steering wheel, for example by choosing the gaming platform used and the various levels of Force Feedback. During the game sessions, on the other hand, we can view numerous information on the races and the status of the car on the display. The engine rpm, the gear engaged, the position on the track or the delta time with respect to the best lap are just some of the parameters visible on the display in real time.
Multifunction display with real-time engine revolutions The device's engine is enclosed in a rigid plastic cube measuring approximately 20 x 20 x 20 centimeters. The dissipation system with holes on the top is able to guarantee operating temperatures that do not bother the user in the slightest. The dimensions, on the other hand, can be bulky, especially in height, depending on the driving position used. We would have preferred a lower and wider device to have a greater viewing angle in our driving position.
The anchoring system is not the best and consists of a single vertical pin that tightens on two points a support in a semicircle. It takes a little effort to fix the Thrustmaster T248 solidly on the support used, so it does not suit those who want to place it from time to time perhaps on a desk.
After seeing the Thrustmaster T248 steering wheel, it's time to dedicate ourselves to the pedal set included in the classic three-pedal configuration. This part of the device consists of a 34 x 39 cm base made of a sturdy plastic. The grip in the lower part is sufficient to guarantee a good grip on different types of floors or on the platforms of the driving position. The three pedals are made of aluminum and give a feeling of solidity. The central one linked to the brake has a rather evident spring on the back, to be able to configure different pressure levels. Overall, even the pedal board amazed us for its design and build quality, being a product with the right sturdiness for constant use over time.
Experience of use
Pedalboard with Thrustmaster T248 three pedals When we finished admiring the design of the Thrustmaster T248, we jumped right into the action. Once fixed on our driving position, with some small uncertainty due to a less than excellent anchoring system, we put on our gloves, the inevitable headphones and went out on the track.Experience and feedback of the steering wheel do not change by connecting it to the PlayStation 5 or to the PC. Once you have chosen the gaming machine used via the handy display of the Thrustmaster T248, the wheel will adapt perfectly to the respective control and button system. During our tests we wanted to try out a wide variety of automotive titles to experience the device with numerous driving patterns and more or less realistic physics engines.
As the first video game we tried F1 2021, where the feedback of the steering wheel is essential to hear any slight loss of the rear or some slight hint of understeer. For this reason, we immediately set the steering wheel force feedback to the highest level available, so that we can clearly perceive the grip of the tires on the asphalt and the thickness of each curb. The feeling seemed to us absolutely positive, using the default settings within F1 2021.
The difference in downforce at high and low speeds is noticeable, without however compromising the control of the car in slower corners . The precision with which we were able to set the entry of a corner and the control over traction and oversteer at the exit is absolutely of a high level. In fact, there are no moments of uncertainty (typical of cheaper steering wheels) where for a few fractions of a second we completely lose the sensation of grip on the asphalt.
Steering wheel controls with WRC 10 With such a sophisticated steering wheel, we couldn't avoid trying a simulation title like Assetto Corsa Competizione, created by the Italian team Kunos Simulations. Here the realism and the physics engine are undoubtedly at the forefront, which allowed us to experience the benefits of this wheel. In Assetto Corsa Competizione, the combination of belt and gears present inside the body of the Thrustmaster T248 are able to give both excellent force feedback in the steering phases and a good perception of the track.
In this case it was enough for us set the steering wheel force feedback to the intermediate level, where we felt most comfortable without exaggerating the vibration effects due to the uneven surface of the asphalt. Using the Thrustmaster T248 display directly, we went from the 360 ° steering angle that is excellent for F1 2021 to that of 540-720 °, much more suitable for GT3 cars.
Finally we tried WRC 10 and DIRT 2, two video games dedicated to rally competitions. Here the feeling with the steering wheel always seemed good to us with the intermediate level of force feedback, where we were able to better control the numerous oversteer on the different slippery surfaces of the WRC tracks. Unfortunately we didn't have the opportunity to try the H gearbox (sold separately), but the sequential gear through the steering wheel levers seemed more than valid even for this car genre. The sensation of drifting on snow or dirt is clearly perceptible directly from the steering wheel, thus allowing you to have almost total control over our car. However, there have been moments of greater uncertainty than in other video games on a paved track, where the feeling of the steering wheel is certainly superior and more constant.
Side view of the engine body and gearshift levers Up to now we have only talked about the feeling perceived by our hands on the steering wheel. Without the good pedals, however, it would still have been difficult to drive and that is why Thrustmaster has created a truly excellent pedal set. The throttle, brake and clutch are well spaced for a comfortable driving experience in any racing video game. All three have well-balanced and linear travel to simulate a car pedal set as realistically as possible.
While they don't provide the same precision as a pair of load cell pedals, the new HEART magnetic technology manages to make a difference, especially in the center pedal. The spring behind the brake makes it the stiffest pedal of all. This stiffness can be changed in four different pressure levels to suit a particular video game or directly to your driving style. The precision with which we are going to brake is really of a high level, difficult to reach from other so cheap pedalboards. Obviously you have to practice with all the pedals and configurations if you want to get the best performance on the track, trying to understand how much pressure to give to the brake pedal when braking or the accelerator when exiting corners.
The sensation that this component of the peripheral has given us is really excellent, above all for its precision and the right excursion length. We also want to give you a little advice on its configuration: if you can't find the right brake setup, set it in the game on the clutch pedal to get a lighter and more controlled pressure while sacrificing some realism in titles that do not require the third pedal. .
Comment
Price 350 € Buy it here sportsgaming.win9.3
The steering wheel and pedal of the Thrustmaster T248 are two exceptional devices for those who want to enjoy the driving simulation starting from a certain level. It is a product that we can consider economical with its list price of 350 €. The quality / price ratio is really excellent compared to other steering wheels with a similar cost. In addition to the numerous features already mentioned in our review, we want to highlight two particular advantages of this Thrustmaster T248: the high build quality of both the steering wheel and the pedal board and the three selectable force feedback levels to always get the best simulation experience. There's no question: Thrustmaster has packed into one package what will likely be the best entry-level sim racing device for years to come.
