Tuesday, August 31st 2021

Thrustmaster Announces T248 Force Feedback Racing Wheel

Thrustmaster is thrilled to finally lift the veil of secrecy surrounding its first next-generation hybrid racing wheel, the T248, specifically designed to master all types of tracks. The new optimized HYBRID DRIVE system combines belt and gear mechanisms for unrivaled Force Feedback at an affordable price. The T248 also boasts increased power: it is 70% more powerful, while offering cutting-edge new features including three Force Feedback presets that can conveniently be changed on the fly.

The T248 has been designed for racing gamers looking to upgrade from their gamepad and take advantage of industry leading performance and immersion, as well as those who want to take their racing game to the next level having started out with a wheel aimed at beginners. This brand-new racing wheel is officially licensed for PlayStation 5 consoles and PlayStation 4 consoles and is compatible with PC.
Thrustmaster Race Dashboard Display

Choose from more than 20 different displays available onscreen:
  • Manual adjustment of a range of settings: the wheel's rotation angle, Force Feedback type, etc.
  • The user's choice of telemetry displays: gear ratio, speed, number of laps, driver's position, best time, etc.
Dynamic Force Feedback

Users can easily adjust the level of Force Feedback on the fly, thanks to the screen as well. The T248 features three Force Feedback curves (presets included) compatible with all games:
  • FFB 1: linear Force Feedback, with the force felt by the user being 100% proportional to the force requested by the game.
  • FFB 2: enhanced Force Feedback, for better skid control.
  • FFB 3: boosted Force Feedback, allowing users to clearly feel all racing effects from the track (rumble strips, skidding off-track, etc.).
Next-generation Thrustmaster HYBRID DRIVE system

The T248 is currently the only racing wheel in its price range to feature a belt as an integral part of its unique, high-performance mechanism. Allowing gamers to enjoy increased power (up to 70% more powerful), T248 masters each track thanks to the outstanding level of drivability made possible by this hybrid system, avoiding counterintuitive sensations and friction problems commonly found in racing wheels without a belt drive component.

H.E.A.R.T magnetic technology (with Hall effect sensors)

Built into two key components directly linked to gameplay, this technology helps to enhance gamers' precision in all games, while eliminating any possible dead zones.
  • The magnetic paddle shifters included with T248 allow for super-fast gear shifting, with clear and precise activation feel (30 ms response time) to avoid driving errors. This contactless magnetic technology also maximizes the paddle shifters' lifespan, for problem-free gaming sessions over the long term.
  • The brand-new included T3PM pedal set also features the same proprietary, patented H.E.A.R.T magnetic technology.
Providing truly exceptional, thousandth-of-a-second precision, T3PM features 4 different spring configurations allowing gamers to race comfortably — and with the same level of precision — no matter what type of setup they're using (desk/table, cockpit, or Wheel Stands). With completely smooth motion and avoiding the loss of precision over time experienced by standard potentiometer-based pedal sets, T3PM represents a huge, striking leap forward both in terms of versatility and in-game responsiveness.

Pricing & Availability

The T248 (racing wheel and pedal set) is now available for pre-order at suggested retail prices of £299.99 / $399.99 / €349.99 with deliveries from October 21st.
Source: Thrustmaster
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12 Comments on Thrustmaster Announces T248 Force Feedback Racing Wheel

#1
Blue4130
Isn't fanatec's new direct drive wheel right around this price? Stiff competition...
Posted on Reply
#2
eidairaman1
The Exiled Airman
So is FF better or is it like the jerkiness of Cruisin' USA/World Games? I mean steering in my truck is fluid.
Posted on Reply
#3
junglist724
Blue4130Isn't fanatec's new direct drive wheel right around this price? Stiff competition...
That's only the wheelbase. You get no steering wheel or pedals with that. By the time you add their cheapest steering wheel and pedals w/clutch you're paying $670, or $800 if you add the more powerful power brick for the wheelbase.

Thrustmaster is a terrible company though. My Thrustmaster TX broke 2 times under warranty and once out of warranty. Their customer support takes a month to respond to email and they've banned enough people from reviewing them on amazon to raise their average review score on the T300 and TX from 3.5 stars to 4.5.
Posted on Reply
#4
MEC-777
eidairaman1So is FF better or is it like the jerkiness of Cruisin' USA/World Games? I mean steering in my truck is fluid.
Having raced cars IRL, I can tell you these wheels and others like it offer a very close proximity FFB of what it actually feels like IRL. And the better quality wheel, the better the FFB. It's nothing like those old arcade games with numb rubber-band like FFB. It also depends on the game. Sims like ACC/AC etc. have much more realistic behaviour and "feel" vs games like Forza Horizon, for example.
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#5
Blue4130
junglist724That's only the wheelbase. You get no steering wheel or pedals with that. By the time you add their cheapest steering wheel and pedals w/clutch you're paying $670, or $800 if you add the more powerful power brick for the wheelbase.

Thrustmaster is a terrible company though. My Thrustmaster TX broke 2 times under warranty and once out of warranty. Their customer support takes a month to respond to email and they've banned enough people from reviewing them on amazon to raise their average review score on the T300 and TX from 3.5 stars to 4.5.
Ah its a shame. I love the idea of a direct drive, but I don't play enough racing Sims to justify $800. $500 would be acceptable for me.
Posted on Reply
#6
Chomiq
Blue4130Isn't fanatec's new direct drive wheel right around this price? Stiff competition...
Fanatec? You must be thinking of the wheel base alone, not the whole wheel:
Posted on Reply
#7
VulkanBros
I think I'll stick to my Logitech G29.......:)

- could be, that ThrustMaster have stepped up, but I have had a ThrustMaster joystick (for Microsoft Flight Simulator) and that was flimsy and not a lot of fun
Posted on Reply
#8
SN2716057
I do need an upgrade for my Logitech Driving Force Pro but it still works..
Posted on Reply
#10
Punkenjoy
I don't know much about those things, but to me, feel weirds to have paddle shifter with a clutch and no stick?
Posted on Reply
#11
thestryker6
PunkenjoyI don't know much about those things, but to me, feel weirds to have paddle shifter with a clutch and no stick?
If they're anything like Logitech it's so they can sell you the stick separately.
Posted on Reply
#12
junglist724
PunkenjoyI don't know much about those things, but to me, feel weirds to have paddle shifter with a clutch and no stick?
There are cars with paddle actuated sequential gearboxes that require a clutch to get going from a standstill. Also useful for clutch kicking in drifting and rallying. Manual shifters can be purchased separately and are really only necessary for immersion, they're not necessary to get started and don't make you any faster.
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