INTRODUCTION

   One of the very first PC games i got on CD back in the mid 90's was Need for Speed and even though by todays graphics standards it looks like a very old arcade game back then it was considered a revolution in gaming (both in terms of graphics and handling). On top of that it had several short videos about the cars you could drive inside the game which many of us must have watched for hours (couldn't find them anywhere else - similar as with Jane's ATF title). Of course, Need for Speed was not the first racing game i had played, Test Drive for example was a title i had on both in my Amiga 500/Plus and my 30386/40486 computers. Still Need for Speed was clearly the pinnacle of racing games back then and in my honest opinion it was the game that took racing games into a whole new level. Unfortunately racing wheels weren't a thing back then and even though it took just over a decade for me to get my very first one since then I’ve used and reviewed a good number of them. Thrustmaster needs no introductions since they've been the leading manufacturer of flight sticks and racing wheels for as far back as i can remember and today with me i have their latest T248 Racing Wheel.

   Thrustmaster takes pride in its core values, “Passion, Quality and Innovation”, and constantly strives to improve the realism and immersiveness in legendary game worlds by offering thrilling and truly exceptional experiences. From video game enthusiasts to casual gamers, Thrustmaster accessories for PC and gaming consoles bring everyone’s dreams to life.

   The T248 is Thrustmasters latest mid/high-end racing wheel designed for the PS4/5, XBOX and PC (two versions available, one for PS4/5 & PC and one for XBOX & PC) and sports a revolutionary hybrid drive which according always to Thrustmaster can provide up to 70% more power compared to previous models (T150). This hybrid drive features three different force feedback presets/modes (100%, enhanced and boosted) aimed at providing the best possible user experience and realism to different types of gamers/audiences. The T248 also comes ready with a small LCD screen which can be used to quickly display 20 different types of information (these include the force feedback mode, RPM, speed, etc), a grand total of 25 action buttons, leather wheel cover (foam filled), H.E.A.R.T (HallEffect AccuRate Technology) magnetic paddle shifters and the T3PM magnetic pedals (clutch, brake and accelerator). Needless to say, that for people such as myself who still use a gear stick/shifter in our cars (and prefer doing so) Thrustmaster also makes the TH8A shifter extra/addon which I’ll also try to get my hands on later on to see how it behaves. So, let's see what Thrustmaster brings to the table with their latest T248 Racing Wheel.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

The wheel arrived inside a white and blue box that has a large product picture at the front along with the company logo, a smaller picture showcasing the small display screen and the PS4/5 compatibility logo.

The magnetic pedals are showcased on the left side of the box right over the system compatibility for this version.

Another product picture can be seen on the right side of the box which is used to showcase the main product features (right beneath it we find the bundle contents).

The main product features are listed at the rear in 11 different languages.

Several cardboard and foam pieces keep the bundle secure inside the box.

Along with the T248 racing wheel and T3PM pedals inside the box you’ll also find the desk mounting system, Allen key, extra spring, power supply with cord, USB-A cable, warranty information paper and the user manual.

THE T248

The T248 is neither the largest nor the smallest racing wheel I’ve used to date so it should be convenient to mount on most desks.

In terms of materials the when is made out of leather, foam and plastic (the rear paddle shifters seem to be made out of aluminum).

4 buttons a switch like button and 4 buttons placed like a D-pad are located on the left side of the wheel.

The LCD screen, activity LED and a button with the PlayStation logo on it are placed at the center.

On the right end of the wheel, we find 4 buttons, another switch like button and the usual PlayStation buttons.

As mentioned earlier the paddle shifters located on the other side of the wheel are probably made out of aluminum.

Numerous certifications are printed at the front of the wheel.

Turning the T248 we find the USB-C port (PS4/5 & PC), RJ11 port (pedals), power port and an extra port probably meant for the addon shifter (two mounts for cockpits are also present here along with grooves for routing of the cables).

The T3PM magnetic pedals may not be the top model by Thrustmaster but they work exceptionally well.

All three pedals feature aluminum covers and as you can all see the front rest has enough surface for your feet.

The spring at the rear of the brake pedal is there to increase resistance (just like a real brake pedal).

Taking a look at the base of the pedals we find 5 rubber feet and several cockpit mounts.

USING THE T248

Prior to playing any game i recommend heading into the control panel (after you install the drivers from the Thrustmaster support page - this wheel featured firmware 2.0 so an update was not needed) to check the status of the wheel and get familiarized with its buttons and axis (you can also download mapping pictures for games from the Thrustmaster support page).

The T-RDD racing screen looks nice but it’s not very practical, especially since you can’t easily see what it displays most of the time (not when mounted on your desk). That being said when used with a console and/or certain cockpits (primarily for the PC) it should be easier to read the display so it’s not a bad addition to the T248.

To sufficiently test the T248 Racing Wheel by Thrustmaster i used it for just over a full month with numerous titles like Forza Horizon 4/5, Forza Motorsport 7, Dirt Rally 2.0, Dirt 5, Need for Speed Heat, Assetto Corsa Competizione, Nascar 21 Ignition and F1 2022 (some screenshots you can see above - will be providing a video soon from another project which also includes the T248). Unfortunately, not every game behaved the same way, some really liked the T248 (increased compatibility obviously) while others would play better with the keyboard or a joypad. For example, Forza Horizon 4/5, Need for Speed Heat, Dirt 5 and F1 2022 were amazing with the T248. Force feedback is great, handling is very accurate (without even having to touch any of the various settings both in and out of each game), the pedals require just enough pressure to work (still not quite as stiff as those of a sports car but close) and overall, it just felt great using it at all times. Assetto Corsa Competizione, Dirt Rally 2.0 and Nascar 21 Ignition play quite well from the get go but you may need to spend a bit of time tweaking the various in-game settings of the wheel (not quite as responsive and accurate as the other games). When it comes to Forza Motorsport 7 however i really had a much better time using my keyboard. I don't know why that is, perhaps because the T248 is not listed in the game’s available wheel presets? I honestly don't know (and i even used a custom preset without luck), what i do know is that one of the best games i tried was not compatible with the T248 (still this game is known to not like wheels much), something which i hope Thrustmaster helps get fixed soon, if up to them that is (although Forza Motorsport 8 is just months away at this point).

CONCLUSION

   The last racing wheel I’ve used prior to getting the T248 by Thrustmaster was the previous generation of Logitech’s very popular G29 model which excelled at everything really, at least for when it was released well over a decade ago. I’ve yet to test the new generation G29 wheel (will do my best to get one to the lab) so I can’t really compare that to the T248 but when it comes to the first generation the T248 is clearly better both in terms of accuracy/responsiveness and force feedback (it’s also more compact). The lack of a gear shifter although expected and understandable is not something I really liked, I do drive for real with one after all. Still the fact that Thrustmaster does offer both the very realistic TH8A shifter and TSS handbrake addons is a plus for anyone looking to further enrich their overall experience.

   As I type these lines the T248 Racing Wheel by Thrustmaster sells for USD391.99 inside the USA (Amazon.com) and for just 269.99 inside the EU (Amazon.de) a price which is quite balanced, at least on this side of the Atlantic. Overall, I really can’t think of anything bad to say about the T248, build quality is very good, accuracy/responsiveness is excellent (at least in games that really support it), force feedback works very well (as do the pedals) and as for the LCD screen and available buttons well I don’t think anyone could had asked for more. Yes, the T248 may not be quite perfect but it does deliver on everything i was hoping it would and for that it deserves the Golden Award.

PROS

- Build Quality
- Force Feedback
- Responsiveness
- Game Compatibility
- Compact Size
- Shifter & Handbrake Addons Available
- LCD Screen
- 25 Buttons

CONS

- Price (USA)