The 3 Best Thrustmaster Sim Racing Pedal Sets

One of the most important components of any sim racing rig is the pedal setup, and these are often the second purchase beginners make. There are bundles out there you can go for, but this article is going to focus on the best Thrustmaster sim racing pedal sets that you can buy.

The 3 best Thrustmaster sim racing pedal sets are the:

1. Thrustmaster T-LCM Pedals
2. Thrustmaster T3PM Pedals
3. Thrustmaster T3PA Pedals

These three pedal sets are similar in some ways, but each brings something unique to the table as well. We will look at each set in more detail below, and then we’ll outline what you should be looking for in a good set of sim racing pedals before you buy your next set.

The 3 Best Thrustmaster Sim Racing Pedal Sets

1. Thrustmaster T-LCM Pedals

Max Braking Pressure: 100 kg | Compatibility: PC / PlayStation / Xbox

First up we have the T-LCM pedals. This is a highly compatible set of pedals, being usable with your PlayStation, Xbox, and your PC. This makes it an ideal set for the wider market, but it still has a lot to offer in terms of value and features. This set of pedals is the only one with a load cell brake on this list, and this makes it attractive for more advanced sim racers.

No Potentiometers Here

It utilizes magnetic load cell technology, which essentially means there are some very efficient sensors within the pedals. This makes the feedback from each one highly realistic, and when you combine that with the 100kg of pressure on the brake pedal, you have a really versatile set.

The T-LCM pedals are made of 100% metal. This means there is no cheap feel to them, and they are built to last a lifetime. Also contributing to the lifespan of these pedals, aside from providing a lot of accuracy, the magnetic sensors remove the need for contact or potentiometers. This means there are less parts that could become damaged over time.

Lots Of Grip

The non-slip materials make this set brilliant for those that do a lot of racing, and the accuracy makes them excellent for more advanced sim racers. Aside from being very compatible, they are also highly customizable. The dead zones and electronic brake force can both be altered very easily with intuitive software, giving you more control over your sim racing experience.

Plenty Of Customization

In terms of physical customization, you can change the height, spacing and the inclination of each pedal. This makes it very easy to find a setup that suits your playstyle. For example, if you do a lot of heel-toe shifting, you might want to have your brake pedal closer to the gas pedal. You can also use this adjustability to make your driving experience more comfortable.

The last area of the pedals that benefits from customizability is the brake pedal itself. There are various springs within the pedal mechanism, which are all fully adjustable. This gives you an excellent range of braking force, with up to 100 kg of pressure there if you need it. If you are a beginner however, you don’t need to mess around with these and you can still enjoy these pedals as they come out the box.

Very Realistic

One of the more technical aspects worth mentioning about the T-LCM pedals is the 16-bit resolution. This essentially means that a lot of detailed information is relayed between the pedals and your game, and when combined with the HEART (Hall Effect Accurate Technology) feature, you can experience some truly immersive racing.

Best Option For Advanced Sim Racers

The T-LCM pedals come in at the higher end of the budget range, but they are definitely worth the price if you want a truly realistic sim racing experience.

PROS:

• Excellent realism
• A lot of braking force
• Plenty of customization

CONS:

• A bit expensive

2. Thrustmaster T3PM Pedals

Max Braking Pressure: 200 kg | Compatibility: PC / PlayStation / Xbox

Next, we have the T3PM pedals, and these are the next step up from the standard T3PAs, but still a step down from the T-LCMs. They are compatible with the same platforms as the T3PA pedals, so you can even use this set with your favourite games from the older generation PlayStations, along with all of the latest games too.

Solid Construction

The T3PM pedals are made out of solid construction materials, with the non-slip textured footrest providing plenty of grip. They do have a slightly better racing aesthetic than the standard T3PA pedals, and they’re a bit heavier and more stable.

Once again you will be able to customize the positions of the individual pedals. In terms of the spacing, you can choose between three individual positions for each pedal, and the same goes for the height of both the clutch and the brake pedals. The height of the accelerator can be moved too, while each pedal also has 2 different possible inclinations – either along the floor, or perpendicular to it.

Control Over The Braking Load

Aside from the physical adjustability, you also have more customization with the brake pedal compared to the T3PA pedals. You can make use of 4 different pressure modes, making these pedals suitable for all kinds of racing setups. This high range of customizability and the durable construction make the T3PM pedals great for beginner and intermediate sim racers. These pedals are a great choice for those that want solid value for money.

PROS:

• Several different customization options
• Highly compatible
• Strong and durable

CONS:

• Quite bulky
• Not as accurate as load cell pedals

3. Thrustmaster T3PA Pedals

Max Braking Pressure: 25 kg | Compatibility: PC / PlayStation / Xbox

Finally, we have the T3PA pedals. These are cheap, but that definitely does not mean that these pedals are anything but high quality. Thrustmaster has gone for total compatibility with the T3PAs, with the pedals being compatible with PC and the latest generation of consoles, and even the PS3. This makes these pedals an ideal set for those with an older console.

Built To Last

Once again Thrustmaster has put a lot of effort into the construction of these pedals, with the metal internals making for a solid set of pedals and a long lifespan. These pedals will be able to last your entire sim racing career if you take care of them properly. Aside from that, their simple but effective aesthetic means they will fit in nicely with any sim racing setup.

Simple Setup

Setup is fairly easy with these pedals, and they are quite lightweight as well. This makes the T3PA pedals ideal for smaller or temporary sim racing setups. They come with built-in screw holes for an even sturdier setup, so you can enjoy zero slippage when you are racing. Aside from that, the textured footrest is also conducive to a lot of grip as well.

Lots Of Customization

When it comes to customizability, the T3PAs do have a bit less than the other pedals. However, you will be able to use the conical rubber brake mod that comes with the pedals to adjust the braking force to your liking. This means you can benefit from 10 kg of pressure without the mod, and between 15-25 kg with the conical brake mod, depending on how you position it.

The customization doesn’t end there, as you will also be able to move the pedals around like you can with the other sets. You can adjust each pedal with several possible positions, which again is ideal for suiting specific racing styles and for the overall comfort factor of your sim racing experience. You can change the pedal height, spacing and inclination (although not in that many ways).

Note: The GT edition T3PAs, which come with the T300RS GT wheel, actually feature slightly less adjustability on the brake pedal than the standard T3PAs. However, the GT brake pedal is much wider than the brake on the standard version of the pedal set.

Ideal For Beginners

The ability to customize the load on the brake pedal makes for some very realistic sim racing, and the overall finish of the set makes it an ideal addition to any sim racing rig. Coming in at the low end of the budget range, the T3PA pedals serve as the ideal choice for beginners and intermediates.

PROS:

• Very cheap for the customizability available
• Strong and sturdy construction
• Compatible with a lot of platforms

CONS:

• Compatible with most, but not all Thrustmaster wheels

Summary Of The Best Thrustmaster Pedals

Pedals	Pros	Cons
Thrustmaster T-LCM Pedals	Immersive load cell brake Solid overall construction	A bit on the expensive side
Thrustmaster T3PM Pedals	Very beginner friendly Durable Hall effect sensors	A bit bulky Cheap overall feel
Thrustmaster T3PA Pedals	Very cheap and beginner friendly Adjustable braking resistance	Not the most realistic feel

What To Consider For Your Set Of Sim Racing Pedals

Strong & Sturdy Construction

The first, and perhaps most important thing to consider when choosing a set of sim racing pedals is the build quality of the set. You will be applying a lot of pressure on the pedals and so you want them to be able to withstand this without showing signs of wear and tear. A high-quality set of pedals will last many years of even the most aggressive sim racing.

Reliability

Aside from just having a long lifetime in physical terms, you will also need to go for a set of pedals that will be reliable over time as well. This means they won’t become faulty internally, and you won’t notice any drop off in the feedback from the pedals in the game. Good quality pedals will perform just as well on their last use as they did on their first.

Realism

Next up is the realism factor. If realism is your number one goal with sim racing, a good set of pedals can make it or break it for you. There are several sub factors that will affect how realistic the set of pedals you go for is, and the first of these is the way that they look. Although this won’t affect your performance, you will probably want to opt for pedals with a realistic racing aesthetic.

In terms of performance however, there are a few different options to consider. Although we won’t feature any on this list, there are sim racing pedal sets out there that utilize a hydraulic system within them for the brake pedal. This provides some extremely realistic force feedback when you apply pressure to the brake, but they are among some of the most expensive options.

Price (Not That Important)

Although price should never be the defining factor of your sim racing purchases, it can be a good way to distinguish between two individual options. The choices we list below are not the most expensive options by any means, so you don’t need to worry too much about your budget. The higher end options are really only for those with a lot of experience.

Your Experience Level

That brings us onto the level of experience that you have with sim racing. If you are fairly experienced, you may want to go for a load cell option. This will make the brake pedal feel more realistic, and it can help you perform better in-game as well. The clutch and accelerator will probably just be down to personal preference, and they don’t need to be load cell.

Customizability

The customization of the pedal set may also be important to you, and all of the options on this list come with customizable brake pedal loads. Aside from that, they also come with adjustable pedal positions. This means that you can actually change the way that the pedals sit to a certain extent, giving you more control over your racing experience.

The compatibility of your sim racing pedals will also be important. If you are playing on a specific console, you will need to pay attention to whether or not your chosen pedal set will actually work with it.

Further, when console gaming, most pedals tend to only be compatible with wheels made by the same brand. If you are on PC you will have less to worry about, as almost every set of sim racing pedals on the market is compatible with PC, and you also won’t have to worry about having matching pedal and wheel brands.

Size & Weight

Finally, you might want to pay attention to the overall size and weight of the set of pedals. If you have a small sim racing rig, then a bulky set of pedals might not even fit in. If your rig is only temporary, you will have to consider how easy it will be to store your pedals when you are not using them. If your rig is large and permanent, you usually won’t need to worry about size and weight.

So, now that you know what to look for in a good set of sim racing pedals, let’s look at the best ones that Thrustmaster have to offer.

A Note On Some Other Options

Go For Versatility

These are not the only options when it comes to buying a set of Thrustmaster pedals of course. There are the sets that come bundled with steering wheels, and although these can present decent value for money, they are often just two-pedal sets. These are not useless by any means, but rather they are just not as versatile as the three-pedal sets listed here.

Not only are the pedals we listed useful for those that like to experience the full manual driving experience in their favourite racing sims, the clutch pedal can even be mapped to a specific function if you are driving an automatic car or using paddle shifters. This usually means that three-pedal setups are the better option to go for, regardless of your experience level.

The Exception To The Rule

However, there is one exception to note, and that is the T150 Pro bundle. This bundle comes with the T150 wheel, along with the T3PA pedal set. So if you can get your hands on it you can get a lot of realism along with a very decent beginner force feedback wheel.

Final Thoughts

If you want the most realistic sim racing experience with the highest amount of customizability, the T-LCM pedals are definitely the ones to go for. If you are a beginner on a tight budget, the T3PA pedals may be the best option for you. However, for an in-between choice, the T3PM pedals are the ones to buy.