As an avid sim racing enthusiast, I’ve tested my fair share of racing wheels over the years. The latest entry-level wheel I’ve had the chance to thoroughly review is the Thrustmaster T248, retailing for around $400. In the world of racing wheels, it sits just below higher-end wheels like the Thrustmaster T300RS and competes directly with models like the Logitech G923. After extensively testing and racing with the T248 across a wide variety of racing titles, here is my in-depth review.

Overview

The Thrustmaster T248 is an all-in-one racing wheel package aimed at casual and beginner sim racers, as well as more seasoned enthusiasts on a budget. Priced at $399, it includes the hybrid belt/gear-driven wheel base, 28cm diameter wheel rim, and a 3-pedal set of Thrustmaster’s T3PM pedals. Out of the box, it provides everything you need to upgrade from a controller to basic racing wheel setup without breaking the bank.

Design and Build Quality

Let’s start by looking at the physical construction and design of the T248 wheel. Right off the bat, the materials used give it a cheaper feel than competitor wheels in the same price bracket. The wheel base and rim are fairly lightweight, being made entirely of plastic rather than a metal core and more premium materials. This does make the unit very portable and easy to move around, but reduces the sense of stability and premium quality.

The rim itself measures 28cm in diameter, on the smaller side for racing wheels. The outer part uses a leather-like padding which is comfortable to grip, but the inside maintains a hard plastic feel. An obvious seam runs along the inner rim under your palms during driving. While an attempt was made to improve the feel over past Thrustmaster wheels, the rim still can’t match the quality materials like the leather-wrapped G923 from Logitech.

The overall styling is also very “gamer” focused with bright accents rather than trying to emulate a real-life race car wheel. For the target audience of gaming enthusiasts I doubt this will be a huge issue, but it does make the wheel seem toy-ish at times.

Force Feedback and Performance

Of course the most important aspect of any racing wheel is how it feels to drive. This is defined by the force feedback system that translates in-game physics and surface details into rotational resistance and vibration effects in the wheel itself. This is where the T248 implements a “hybrid” drive system using both a belt and gears to power the force feedback.

Overall this hybrid system provides smooth and detailed force feedback, although not quite as smooth as a high-end belt driven wheel. The gear mechanisms introduce a slight notchiness and granularity to the rotation, especially at high speeds. However the hybrid system does provide strong dynamic torque and resistance, allowing you to feel understeer and oversteer effects strongly through the wheel.

There are three force feedback modes that can be selected from the wheel’s onboard settings. These provide slightly different feedback curves, but don’t make a massive overall difference. Even on the strongest setting, the peak torque is not class-leading but perfectly adequate for enjoyable racing.

One weakness in the hybrid system is that the wheel is slower to recenter when exiting a corner compared to other wheels I’ve used. This lack of “snapback” sensation is most noticeable when counter-steering during rally races or when drifting.

The quality of the force feedback is also highly dependent on the game itself – some titles like Assetto Corsa provide extraordinarily detailed road feel, while others like Forza Horizon 5 required extensive tweaking of wheel settings to feel realistic. Overall the hybrid feedback system provides an excellent balance of detailed road sensations without introducing too much unwanted clunkiness into the rotation.

Wheel, Pedals and Shifters

Beyond the wheel itself, the other physical controls are hit and miss. On the positive side, the T248 comes bundled with Thrustmaster’s T3PM pedal set which is a massive improvement over previous entry-level sets.

The pedals use contactless magnetic sensors and have adjustable spacing caps. Helpfully, the brake pedal tension can also be adjusted by swapping between two included springs. This level of customization allows you to really dial in the perfect pedal feel and pressure for your driving style.

My main gripe with the pedals is that aggressive braking can cause the set to slide around or lift up if you don’t have a rig or mount. Adding a non-slip mat solves the issue well enough for casual use.

The flappy paddle shifters are excellent, using contactless magnetic sensors to provide lightning quick gear changes. They are by far the most responsive paddle shifters I’ve used in this price range. However, the harsh snap back of the paddles creates an extremely loud and distracting clicking sound. Using headphones is advised unless you want to annoy everyone around you!

Features and Customization

Thrustmaster packed some nice extra features into the T248 wheel rim itself. It has an onboard LCD display that can show telemetry information like RPM, speed and lap times in supported games. While not a huge screen, it adds to immersion in games where you aren’t focused on the main display.

The onboard settings menu also allows for quick tweaks to force feedback modes and rotation angle without needing external software or console menus. I found myself using this frequently to adjust settings per car or track.

In terms of expandability, the options are more limited than higher end wheels. The rim itself cannot be swapped out, and the only compatible shifter is Thrustmaster’s TH8A. So there is little room for incremental upgrades over time.

Setup and Mounting

One advantage of the lightweight plastic construction is that the T248 bundle is very easy to set up and tear down. The wheel base, rim, and pedals are all quick to attach. A table clamp is included for solid mounting to just about any desk or table. I had no issues securing it even to relatively light IKEA furniture.

The simplicity of setup makes this a great choice for those with limited space who need to pack away their rig in between sessions. The lighter weight also opens up more options for DIY rigs and seating positions. Just keep in mind that a wheel stand or rig is recommended if you plan on using the brake pedal’s stiffer settings.

Value and Comparison

At its $400 asking price, the Thrustmaster T248 brings a complete racing package with quality force feedback and pedals, providing an excellent step up from a standard controller. It doesn’t provide a massive leap over cheaper wheels like the Logitech G923, but does offer refinements in certain areas that contribute to smoother overall driving experience.

Compared to the similarly priced Thrustmaster T300RS, you sacrifice the ability to swap rims and some peak force feedback power. However, the T248’s excellent pedal set and integrated paddle shifters help offset this difference for more casual users who don’t plan on collecting multiple wheels and addons.

Considering its target audience, the T248 hits a sweet spot of balancing performance and price for gaming enthusiasts ready to upgrade their racing rigs without going overboard on expenditures.

The Bottom Line

After putting the Thrustmaster T248 through its paces, I can confidently recommend it for sim racing fans looking to enhance immersion without breaking the bank. The detailed force feedback adds critical road feel that no controller can match. And the well-designed pedals and paddle shifters complete the package for exciting virtual races.

The cheaper build quality means serious sim enthusiasts will still want higher-end options with more power and customization. But for the rest of us, the T248 provides an intuitive and fun upgrade path into the world of racing wheels. If you’re willing to overlook the noisy paddle shifters, it’s easy to recommend at this very reasonable mid-range pricing.

So strap in and feel those tires grip with the Thrustmaster T248!

Frequently Asked Questions

• What platforms is the T248 compatible with? The T248 works with PC and PlayStation 4/5. Xbox compatibility planned for a future update.
• Do I need a rig to use it? A rig or wheel stand is recommended but not absolutely necessary. Casual users can clamp it to a desk.
• How does it compare to the Logitech G923? The G923 has a superior wheel rim quality but the T248 provides smoother force feedback feel.
• Can I upgrade the wheel rim in the future? Unfortunately the rim is not swappable like higher end Thrustmaster wheels.
• Is it easy to store and move around?
  Yes, the all plastic construction makes the T248 wheel extremely portable and easy to pack away.
• Will the pedals work well on carpet?
  Potentially – use the softest