Thrustmaster T248R Review: A Beginner’s First Steps into Sim Racing

We adopted a new young apprentice. He doesn’t know shit about sim racing, and maybe he isn’t interested either, but we offered him a chance to see what this hobby is like. We provided him with an entry bundle with some keys and games, and he wrote a little about his first sim racing experience. Let’s take a look at his words.

Introduction

I’m new to the world of sim racing, although I’ve always had an interest in racing games. So, when I got the chance to try the Thrustmaster T248R, I wanted to see what kind of experience a wheel could offer compared to the usual way I play with a controller.

I’ve spent two weeks using the Thrustmaster T248R, and these are my conclusions about Thrustmaster’s new sim racing hardware.

Unboxing

The Thrustmaster T248R box keeps the usual look and feel of the brand’s products, with clean colors and a fairly large size that made me assume this wasn’t a basic product. Inside, the packaging keeps everything well protected from bumps and, despite the size of the full set, it’s still easy to carry.

When I opened it, I found all the components well protected and neatly organized. Inside, it includes:

• 1 x T248R
• 1 x T3PM pedal set
• 1 x 48 W power supply + power cable
• 1 x mounting system + screw
• 1 x USB cable
• 1 x Allen key
• 1 x warranty leaflet
• 1 x instruction manual

Materials and design

As for the materials and overall design, the T248R has a sporty and carefully put-together look. The wheel rim now comes with a perforated leather wrap, which improves grip and gives it a more pleasant feel, a detail that wouldn’t stand out much in a spec sheet but definitely shows during long sessions.

The base is still mainly made of plastic, but the carbon-fiber-style details and the integrated LEDs help the set look more modern overall.

Feel and comfort

In hand, the wheel feels solid and well balanced. It doesn’t give the impression of being fragile, and overall the rim feels comfortable, the buttons respond properly, and the quieter paddles make the whole setup a very good experience.

Mounting

Mounting the T248R isn’t complicated. The clamp system lets you attach the base to a desk easily, tightening the screw until it feels properly secured and stable.

One detail I’d like to mention is the cable-routing system on the back of the base, which helps keep everything tidier and cleaner. It’s a simple touch, but it surprised me and it’s genuinely useful for keeping cables from hanging around or getting in the way.

The pedal set is also easy to connect. Before using it, though, it’s worth checking whether the default brake resistance feels comfortable and useful, or whether you want to switch between the 4 available resistance modes.

Software

Even without much experience with more advanced software, I used Thrustmaster’s My Thrustmaster Panel in order to get the most out of the T248R. It’s a companion tool that lets you adjust different wheel settings to fine-tune the behavior according to each user’s preferences, as well as keep the software updated.

I’ll say it again: it’s not the most advanced software on the market, but it’s clear enough for beginners like me or intermediate users who want to tweak their hardware without too much hassle.

Product specs

This time, Thrustmaster goes with a balanced setup for the entry-level segment with the T248R. It features a T-HD hybrid Force Feedback system with 3.1 Nm of torque and a 48 W power supply, plus 3 BOOST levels to adjust the intensity of the response.

It also includes a color LCD screen with different customizable views and 4 integrated LEDs. The screen is genuinely useful, since it provides real-time race data such as speed, engine RPM, and lap times, depending on the game and the settings being used.

To finish off the package, there’s the T3PM three-pedal set, which uses H.E.A.R.T. Hall Effect sensors, meaning there’s no internal contact or friction, helping maintain reliable and long-lasting precision. The brake pedal also offers 4 different pressure levels, allowing you to adjust its resistance.

T248 vs T248R comparison

This comparison is mainly based on both products’ technical specifications, with the goal of seeing what this new setup brings compared to its predecessor.

Overall, although the technical base is very similar, the T248R does add visible improvements in design and the interface. The color screen, the leather wrap, and the integrated LEDs make the whole set feel more modern, and with a lower launch price, it becomes an interesting option for people looking for their first wheel.

That said, if you already own a T248, it’s not worth upgrading, since this isn’t a complete platform change but rather an evolution focused on the aesthetic points of the T248.

On track

The specs are great, but I also had to put the wheel to the test. For that, I tried it in several racing sims, such as Assetto Corsa Competizione, Assetto Corsa Ultimate, and, of course, iRacing.

As I already mentioned, this was my first experience with a setup like this. The first thing I noticed was a completely different sense of immersion compared to what I was used to with my controller.

I drove on tracks like Virginia, Barcelona, and even Okayama, and the wheel worked properly in all three sims. The experience felt more immersive and much more controlled in every way: acceleration and braking through the pedals, steering through the wheel, and force feedback that really helped me feel corners, braking points, and loss of grip much better.

Pricing and availability

The Thrustmaster T248R arrives on the market with a launch price of €300, which is lower than the original launch price of the previous model. That makes it an interesting proposition for people looking for a complete entry-level wheel without driving the cost too high.

It can be found on Thrustmaster’s official store, Amazon, and other sim racing retailers. Considering everything it includes, the T248R offers a reasonable price-to-performance ratio for what it delivers within its category.

• Thrustmaster Store US
• Thrustmaster Store EU
• Thrustmaster Store UK
• Amazon
• T248R Shifter Pack (US)
• T248R Shifter Pack (EU)
• T248R Shifter Pack (UK)
• T248R Shifter Pack (Amazon)

Conclusions

This hardware doesn’t aim to be the ultimate wheel or compete with more advanced solutions, and that is precisely one of its strengths. Its goal is to offer a welcoming first step into sim racing with something serious, complete, and easy to use, without requiring a huge investment and with an experience that feels completely different from using a traditional controller.

As someone new to this world, my experience with the set has been positive, and it’s something I’d happily recommend to friends or colleagues who are interested in getting into everything sim racing has to offer.