Thrustmaster T818 Direct Drive Wheelbase Revealed

Thrustmaster T818 Revealed 01.jpg
Thrustmaster’s first direct drive wheelbase has been revealed on a Twitch stream after a long marketing campaign.

After a long marketing campaign which gave sim racers only a trickle of teaser images, Thrustmaster’s first direct drive wheelbase, the T818, has now been revealed.

Thrustmaster’s Twitch channel was host to a reveal showcase hosted by marketing manager Tim Gorham. Viewers got their first look at the hexagonal wheelbase, which houses a motor rated for 10Nm of constant torque.

The T818 has a new quick release, which allows fast and easy switching between various wheels in the Thrustmaster’s ecosystem. The wheelbase is designed for PC only at this time, but future editions are planned for console. Thrustmaster also teased future products by mentioning an RJ45 port on the base which will not be used yet, but gives connectivity options for upcoming products.

And speaking of upcoming products, there are four new wheel rims expected from Thrustmaster in 2023. These wheels may be included with the T818 in future bundles.

The wheelbase includes a customizable light strip at the front of the base, which can be customized or disabled depending on user preference. Another customization option offered by the T818 are exchangeable metal plates for the side.

For pricing, the T818 wheelbase alone will cost $649.99/€649.99, and pre-orders are now open on the Thrustmaster EU e-shop. If and when the T818 sells out, a second wave will be available at the end of December. The first wave of orders for the US market should be ready for order in March of 2023.

What are your thoughts on this wheelbase? Would you order one for yourself? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments below.
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Mike Smith
Mike Smith
I have been obsessed with sim racing and racing games since the 1980's. My first taste of live auto racing was in 1988, and I couldn't get enough ever since. Lead writer for RaceDepartment, and owner of SimRacing604 and its YouTube channel. Favourite sims include Assetto Corsa Competizione, Assetto Corsa, rFactor 2, Automobilista 2, DiRT Rally 2 - On Twitter as @simracing604

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Comments

nullpointer
GP20 said:
It shows that Thrustmaster knows what they are talking about because everybody talk about the peak Nm when it's the constant number that is important.
I have a Mige solution with a 10Nm peak motor but only 3.5 Nm constant force and that's the constant number which matters.


10Nm constant is huuuuuuuuuuuuuge the T818 could be as strong as the Fanatec DD2 or the Simucube Pro and for sure it will be stronger than the Moza R16 or the SIMAGIC Alpha.

Having no filters is again a good thing that's how i set up all my DD.(and i have 3 DD)

We need a confirmation but it looks like a good surprise.

(it's sold out ...damned)
Click to expand...
Regarding the Mige, the motor's max constant torque is 10nm, it's your controller that's limiting the torque(that is current)
 
R
It seems that Thrudtmaster took the time to make a really strong product. Let's wait for the reviews.

Overpriced? Not sure. When comparing to fanatec everyine forgot to mention the rims price. The difference is huge between the 2 brands. Fanatec rims are currently on sale at at least 400€! 500€ when not.on sale. TM wheels are less than 250€ (some models less than 200€) and are regularly cheaper on other websites (I assume TM is not willing to manage online sales so the price on its website are often higher than those of.its resellers).

If you need multiple rims, fanatec become really expansive. I've even bought a TM wheel at 30€ (new, not second hand) on the bay. This back compatibility, and the insurance they won't break, is a really competitive feature, even for non TM users.

About reliability, we'll see, even if it's a French product, I assume it has been mainly made in China. Having switched to the TM ecosystem, after years of Logitech wheels ended by the awful unreliable G29 (still use the pedals though), I must admit that I've never had any issue and it feels solid.

It has more torque than mid market DD wheels, and at the end you can get a full rig (wheel, rim, pedals) for around 1000€. That's the price of a fanatec 8nm peak torque (not constant, so absolutely not comparable) base and a rim, no pedals. The T818 is more than heavily competitive.

I won't buy one as I'm pleased.with my TS PC and don't have a lot of time anymore to dedicate to simracing, but when it dies, if it dies, for sure thz T818 will be the first option I'll consider.
 
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Skinny McLean
GP20 said:
No in their twitch video they clearly said that it's constant and not peak torque.
The VRS and the SW20 have 10Nm constant torque and probably the Simucube Pro and the DD1 DD2 too.

By the way the motor is a custom one built in France with a light rotor in order to improve the angular speed.

This DD could be a great surprise.
Click to expand...
I just had a look at their video. At 15:47 there is a text-box saying: "T818 is 2x more powerful and 4x more faster than the TS-PC." So its peak torque is probably around 12.5 Nm then. Its 168 W power supply is another hint that this isn't going to be as strong as the the bases you listed (an expectation I find highly unreasonable, by the way.)

Also, you can't determine the maximum continuous torque of an electrical motor simply by multiplying its peak torque rating number by ~0.5.
 
N
Staff
Premium
Skinny McLean said:
From the wording of TM's PR material I think the "constant 10 Nm" is referring to how the base is designed to deliver 10 Nm (peak, probably) no matter what TM wheel rim you use - IIRC TM wheel rims all have a model number they transmit to the base as part of the button activation-state data packet, so the base could know the weight of the mounted rim (and rim diameter?) by a table look-up.
Click to expand...
Why would the wheel rim make any difference? Torque is torque is torque, regardless of wheel diameter or mass...
 
R
roadyroad said:
It seems that Thrudtmaster took the time to make a really strong product. Let's wait for the reviews.

Overpriced? Not sure. Xhen comparing to fanatec everyine forgot to mention the rims price. The difference is huge between the 2 brands. Fanatec rims are currently on sale at at least 400€! 500€ when not.on sale. TM wheels are less than 250€ (some models less than 200€) and are regularly cheaper on other websites (I assume TM is not willing to manage online sales so the price on its website are often higher than those of.its resellers).

If you need multiple rims, fanatec become really expansive. I've even bought a TM wheel at 30€ (new, not second hand) on the bay. This back compatibility, and the insurance they won't break, is a really competitive feature, even for non TM users.
Click to expand...
What you state about Fanatec rims is not entirely true. You can have the CSL P1 for 120 eur, the CSL BMW for 140 eur, the WRC for 200 eur and the McLaren GT3 for 200 eur to name a few. You can buy wheels in several different price classes from Fanatec. You can even buy a CSL DD with CSL P1 rim for 350 + 120 = 470 eur. Way cheaper than the Logitec DD if you are starting simracing.
 
RayTruant
Premium
Many comments. Firstly, early adopters will pay 650, but we all know the price will drop. Secondly, it's really cool right now to release a peripheral and have it SOLD OUT for a year on a website -must be good! So at least Thrustmaster is honest about the rollouts to Europe and NA. When the are avaliable, you can buy one at a retailer, not through your third cousin in lower Mongolia.
 
Skinny McLean
Neilski said:
Why would the wheel rim make any difference? Torque is torque is torque, regardless of wheel diameter or mass...
Click to expand...
I understood it as users would get the same perceived strength regardless of what rim is attached - otherwise they might as well have said "the ocean is wet" in their PR material.
 
N
Staff
Premium
Skinny McLean said:
I understood it as users would get the same perceived strength regardless of what rim is attached - otherwise they might as well have said "the ocean is wet" in their PR material.
Click to expand...
Not sure which bit of their PR you are thinking of, but "constant 10 N⋅m of torque" (from their product page) seems OK to me.
 
P
Premium
Seems to me as though wheel size alters the feel of the torque

if the motor outputs a steady 10Nm of torque, then although the Torque strength is the same,

using a smaller diameter wheel the force need to steer would be higher than a large diameter wheel.

always easier to turn a bolt with a long spanner then a short spanner ?
 
Last edited:
P
Bigger diameter means more leverage for you to fight against the torque. Same torque on a very compact formula wheel with a diameter of 250-260 mm feels much more harsh that a bigger, touring/rally/stock car rim of 350 mm.

Bigger mass means more inertia and mechanical dampening of the system. The algorithm of a wheelbase is one of both position and torque, and more mass slows down the system in search of those targets.

Both things means that when finetuning a DD wheelbase, different rims may require different settings, specially when there are extreme differences in size and weight.
 
azaralamouri
Rusty911 said:
What you state about Fanatec rims is not entirely true. You can have the CSL P1 for 120 eur, the CSL BMW for 140 eur, the WRC for 200 eur and the McLaren GT3 for 200 eur to name a few. You can buy wheels in several different price classes from Fanatec. You can even buy a CSL DD with CSL P1 rim for 350 + 120 = 470 eur. Way cheaper than the Logitec DD if you are starting simracing.
Click to expand...
I agree with a small part of what's said, I was able to grab a TH8A from Media Markt at 99€ and gor a check with 30€ to spend on something else while it is still priced at 199€ years later (today). But "a brand new Thrustmaster rim at 30€" and "the cheapest Fanatec rim is 400-500 €" all are NOT accurate at all.

Also, Logitech G line is "awful unreliable" is the opposite of everything I've heard since I knew about sim racing.
 
R
Rusty911 said:
What you state about Fanatec rims is not entirely true. You can have the CSL P1 for 120 eur, the CSL BMW for 140 eur, the WRC for 200 eur and the McLaren GT3 for 200 eur to name a few. You can buy wheels in several different price classes from Fanatec. You can even buy a CSL DD with CSL P1 rim for 350 + 120 = 470 eur. Way cheaper than the Logitec DD if you are starting simracing.
Click to expand...
Well, I just opened fanatec's page after reading comments. If they can be found much cheaper, it's good to know. On Fanatec's website the cheapest PC rims are on sale at 260€ instead of 280€.
 
D
I'm excited for it's release in North America. I can't wait!
 
R
azaralamouri said:
I agree with a small part of what's said, I was able to grab a TH8A from Media Markt at 99€ and gor a check with 30€ to spend on something else while it is still priced at 199€ years later (today). But "a brand new Thrustmaster rim at 30€" and "the cheapest Fanatec rim is 400-500 €" all are NOT accurate at all.

Also, Logitech G line is "awful unreliable" is the opposite of everything I've heard since I knew about sim racing.
Click to expand...
My mistake, 260€ / 280€ the cheapest wheels on fanatec's website. They are the last ones listed... others are at least 380€ on sale, 480€ without sales.

The brand new TM at 30€ was just the plastic ferrari 458 rim, not fancy at all, I needed a 28 cm full circle rim for classic open wheelers. Some TM rims are really old models and some resellers may propose very good deals, which won't happen with Fanatec's one. It's pretty logic.

You should check your facts about the G29. Previous G25 and G27 wheels had the exact same reliablility issue but could be fixed, whereas the G29 can't be. Gear stick of the G29 is a piece of crap (potentiometers issues), although I like its small size. Opening this little plastic thing just gives an idea of the quality of the manufacturing : awful. I had new pedals (same than pevious wheels) and experienced an issue when starting an online race. By chance, a WD40 spray solved the problem (a player told me it was a well known issue and a well known solution). These are common and well known problems with the G29. There's a bunch of litterature about them all over the Internet, the "everything" you heard must be one or two positive experiences (and after how much time and at which intensity?).
And let's speak about the drivers issue, I still can read people struggling to make this wheel (and the G920) working on recent games, same issues I had few years ago when I had this wheel. I don't know how reliable are Logitech's latest wheels but i hope they have raised the bar.
 
Tormentor
I am a die hard Thrustmaster user since 2017. I own a (modified) T300, T3PA-Pro with loadcell mod, TH8A with mod and 12 different steering wheels.

All of my steering wheels are either self build or modded Thrustmaster wheels, all of them are equiped with "Peter makes things" QR adapter.

Many months ago i was excited to hear TM will enter the DD-wheel market. I knew it long before it was enounced to public. It was always said all wheels will be compatible with the ne DD wheel, but thats only half the thruth. Every wheel you have will need a single TM QR adapter for ~35 each, or you have to keep the QR adapter mounted to the base and change every wheel the "old" way with the big plastik nut and a screwdriver.
That means, i will need extra ~400€ just for QR adapter. Next problem, compared to the Moza R9 or Simucube she is a little "fatty" and i don't like the fact you have a LED stripe shining in your face. No racing car looks like that, i think thats nonsens and don't need the kind of toy.

So, what is my solution? I've spend 30€ in a RJ12 adapter, to make my T3PA-Pro USB standalone, and ordered a Moza R9, which will arrive next week. I can still use Peter's QR system and just have to mod the R9 slightly to get all my wheels work.
Sorry TM, we're not going together this time.
 
Wilko Jones
Premium
roadyroad said:
My mistake, 260€ / 280€ the cheapest wheels on fanatec's website. They are the last ones listed... others are at least 380€ on sale, 480€ without sales.
Click to expand...

You're going to have to name, names on this one because; Fanatec's lowest priced wheelrim is the P1 for 120 Euros. It works on PC. In fact, it works with all of Fanatec's current wheelbases. I have no idea of where you are getting Fanatec's lowest priced wheel being 260 Euros on sale.

So what wheel are you talking about, and why do you think it is their lowest cost wheel?
 
David Faraday
Tormentor said:
I am a die hard Thrustmaster user since 2017. I own a (modified) T300, T3PA-Pro with loadcell mod, TH8A with mod and 12 different steering wheels.

All of my steering wheels are either self build or modded Thrustmaster wheels, all of them are equiped with "Peter makes things" QR adapter.

Many months ago i was excited to hear TM will enter the DD-wheel market. I knew it long before it was enounced to public. It was always said all wheels will be compatible with the ne DD wheel, but thats only half the thruth. Every wheel you have will need a single TM QR adapter for ~35 each, or you have to keep the QR adapter mounted to the base and change every wheel the "old" way with the big plastik nut and a screwdriver.
That means, i will need extra ~400€ just for QR adapter. Next problem, compared to the Moza R9 or Simucube she is a little "fatty" and i don't like the fact you have a LED stripe shining in your face. No racing car looks like that, i think thats nonsens and don't need the kind of toy.

So, what is my solution? I've spend 30€ in a RJ12 adapter, to make my T3PA-Pro USB standalone, and ordered a Moza R9, which will arrive next week. I can still use Peter's QR system and just have to mod the R9 slightly to get all my wheels work.
Sorry TM, we're not going together this time.
Click to expand...

I don't think you can hold TM to account just because you modded your equipment with some 3rd party QR. It's easy to change the standard QR wheels onto the adaptor. You don't ever need that little screw. I threw it away years ago.
 
Tormentor
I don't blame Thrustmaster, all i say is you have 2 options here if you have multiple TM wheels.
1. Buy a new TM QR adapter for every wheel you have and use the new "QR" on the 818 or
2. put the new QR on your 818 base and use the big plastic nut everytime you have to change your wheel.
And if you have to use a plastik adapter for the new QR, they simply could had keep the old system. The new QR makes absolutly no sense to me, especially since it is also not compatible with anything else in this world.
 

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