Here is the RaceDepartment review of the Thrustmaster T248 Hybrid Drive wheel and T3PM pedal set.
Thrustmaster is set to release their latest wheel, wheelbase and pedal set to consumers on October 21st. Using a single USB connection, the wheel and pedal set is compatible with PC, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. The T248 bundle is aimed at the intro to mid-tier sim hardware market, and the MSRP is set at £300, or €350, or $400 USD. At that price, I believe this is the best all-in-one hardware bundle on the market.
Buy now from Amazon.com for USD 399,99
Much of Thrustmaster’s marketing of the T248 bundle has centred around the evolution from the T150 and TMX wheelbases. The Hybrid Drive system utilizes belts and pulleys within the wheelbase to generate the force feedback and steering forces and can produce peak torque forces 70% higher than the T150/TMX.
The difference between the Thrustmaster TMX and the T248 is astounding. Whilst just over 1NM of torque difference, it feels way more than that. For an entry level wheel the T248 feels punchy, providing a great level of information to the driver. Cosmetically, I believe Thrustmaster have taken a giant step back - as the T150 and TMX look far more "serious", whilst the T248 has a "toy like" feeling to it. Although nearly all the visible components and surfaces in the T248 are plastic, the quantity and placement of the buttons is very well done.
The steering wheel itself has a firm but spongy surface, which feels nice on the hands over longer racing sessions. But perhaps the best part of the T248 is the screen mounted about the centre of the wheel. Not only does this allow you to display live data like speed, RPMs, and lap times in compatible games, but also to adjust FFB flavours, set wheel rotation degrees on console, and to switch between PC, PS4 and PS5 modes.
The pedals are another highlight of this hardware bundle for me. These pedals feel great, both the throttle and clutch feel incredibly smooth and accurate, the brake pedal is a gigantic step forward in the right direction over the T3PA pedals that came with the T150 pro and TMX pro. I used the T3PA pedals for a while and I had to modify the brake pedal to get any feel of resistance, so that I could brake consistently. The brake on the T248 is adjustable, coming with two springs and a rubber bung, which allows you to stiffen the brake pedal. Whilst it'll never be as stiff as a load cell, slapping on the stiffest spring with the rubber bung (hardest option), provides you with a fantastic brake pedal.
I would go as far to say that these pedals felt better than the new Fanatec CSL pedals, though the build quality of the Fanatec pedals are far superior and they come with an optional load cell.
Positioning these pedals is key, as they tend to slide on both hard and carpeted surfaces, so plan to mount the T3PM pedals onto a cockpit or against a wall. It's also worth noting that when the hardest brake option has been fitted, they are almost impossible to use on the floor.
