The 5 Best Thrustmaster Sim Racing Wheels (Ultimate Guide)

There are lots of different Thrustmaster sim racing wheels out there, so it can be tough to know which one is right for you. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the best Thrustmaster wheels for all budgets.

The 5 best Thrustmaster sim racing wheels are:

1. Thrustmaster T300RS
2. Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel: Leather Edition
3. Thrustmaster TMX Force Feedback Racing Wheel
4. Thrustmaster T150 Force Feedback Wheel
5. Thrustmaster Ferrari 458 Spider Racing Wheel

Below, we go into more detail about each of these wheels so that you can pick the right one for your sim racing setup. Then, we’ll discuss the kinds of things you should consider when choosing between all of Thrustmaster’s various sim racing wheels.

The 5 Best Thrustmaster Sim Racing Wheels

1. Thrustmaster T300RS

Compatibility: PC / PlayStation | Weight: 7.8 kg / 17.2 lbs | Max Rotation Angle: 1080 degrees | Pedals Included: Yes

The T300 series is a complete package of convincing realism and competitive flair, and it’s packed with excellent features to ensure you have an immersive and enjoyable sim racing experience.

The Force Feedback Is Great

This wheel’s force feedback really is something special. From the small bumps in the road to the loss of traction as your tires start to wear, the belt-drive system inside the T300’s base is exceptional. It’s a step above gear-driven feedback, and it’s great for beginners and more advanced racers alike.

This feedback also means that your inputs are effectively registered instantaneously, giving you the edge in reacting to changing track conditions or other people racing around you. Thrustmaster really succeeded in creating an immersive experience through this wheel in everything from the rapid input reactions to the weighty, solid feel of the wheel in your hands.

It Can Run Hot

One downside of this wheel is that the belt drive system can run a little hot on longer sessions. The vents releasing this heat are on the top of the wheel column, and after extended usage, it can start to smell a little like burnt toast! The fans will kick in, and they’re not too loud, but it’s something to be aware of.

Not only do you get the great wheel base and wheel rim, but you also receive a set of pedals for a fantastic price. The pedals are the T3PA model from Thrustmaster, and these are fine for beginners. However, you’ll soon want to upgrade to the T-LCM pedals.

The T300 RS is officially supported by Sony, meaning that it works well on PlayStation, but also with PC of course. Overall, it’s a decent choice for beginners, but it’s best suited to those with a little experience that want some of the best non-direct drive force feedback on the market.

PROS:

• Incredibly strong and responsive force feedback
• Official compatibility with Sony
• Great build quality

CONS:

• Can run a little hot

2. Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel: Leather Edition

Compatibility: PC / Xbox | Weight: 9 kg / 19.8 lbs | Max Rotation Angle: 900 degrees | Pedals Included: Yes

The TX racing wheel is the Xbox version of the previously mentioned T300, so you already know it’s an impressive choice! However, one difference with the T300 is that the TX offers slightly less rotation at only 900 degrees, compared to 1080 degrees offered by the T300’s wheelbase.

A Great Look & Feel

I’m recommending the leather edition of this TX bundle for the two pieces of amazing gear that it ships with: the reasonable three-pedal T3PA set and the amazing detachable leather wheel itself. The material that covers this wheel is nothing short of a luxury, and that couples with the amazing belt-driven force feedback that we saw on its PlayStation counterpart.

The pedals feel reasonably weighty, just like the wheel does, for accurate and nuanced control over accelerating, shifting and braking. However, as with the T300 RS, you’re likely going to be wanting more than the potentiometer brake can offer fairly quickly, and we recommend the T-LCM pedals as the ones to upgrade to.

Although the pedals come with 3 for the obvious purpose of shifting gears with the clutch, the bundle doesn’t come with a stick shifter. So, if you’re after that kind of functionality, you’d have to buy it separately.

Good Value For Money

The price of the TX Leather Edition isn’t bad when you consider the high-grade materials used to make these pieces of equipment. It’s easily the best quality Xbox compatible Thrustmaster wheel that I’ve tried out, and it’s one of the best options for console racers in general. So, if you’re an Xbox lover who’s serious about sim racing, this bundle is definitely the one for you!

PROS:

• Superb quality
• Smooth, responsive force feedback
• Great looking wheel

CONS:

• Pedals aren’t the best
• Quite pricey

3. Thrustmaster TMX Force Feedback Racing Wheel

Compatibility: PC / Xbox | Weight: 5.4 kg / 11.9 lbs | Max Rotation Angle: 900 degrees | Pedals Included: Yes

Thrustmaster created the TMX wheel with amazing drivability and impressive realism that can be purchased without breaking the bank. It offers some of the cheapest force feedback around, making it ideal for beginner sim racers.

Good For Beginners

The primary reason that this wheel is a little lower down on this list is because it’s great for entry-level racers who are wanting to try things out for the first time without spending a fortune for the privilege, but it’s not going to offer enough for more experienced racers.

Although the pedals that come included aren’t something to be desired due to their plasticky feel, you can easily upgrade to another set later down the line when you’ve spent some time getting into sim racing. Again, this really is aimed at beginners, so while it offers great value for money, don’t expect load cell braking and direct drive force feedback!

A Great Starting Point

This wheel allows for a lot of customization, making it a great base for building your very first rig. The force feedback on this wheel isn’t as phenomenal as on the T300 and TX wheels mentioned above, but you can definitely feel it and the wheel is highly responsive.

This is an incredibly lightweight choice, which helps make this a portable option for those without a permanent sim racing setup. Something that’s lighter will be immediately easier to begin, with but you’ll suffer from it not lasting as long as a more durable, weightier option.

Reasonable Value For Money

You can definitely feel the cheapness of this bundle in a lot of places, but if you look at it overall, you’ll be getting a great force feedback wheel plus a set of pedals for a budget friendly price. The TMX wheel is best for Xbox gamers who want immersive force feedback but don’t have money to drop on higher-end rigs. It’s a solid investment if you’re just getting started in the hobby!

PROS:

• Genuine force feedback
• Very affordable
• Nice build quality

CONS:

• Feels a little cheap

4. Thrustmaster T150 Force Feedback Wheel

Compatibility: PC / PlayStation | Weight: 5.4 kg / 11.9 lbs | Max Rotation Angle: 900 degrees | Pedals Included: Yes

As you can probably guess with the overall theme of this article and the best wheels that Thrustmaster offers, the T150 wheel is the PlayStation version of the Xbox TMX wheel. That means it’s another beginner friendly option, ideal for those on console looking for their first force feedback racing wheel.

Solid Grips

The design of this wheel isn’t simply for aesthetic purposes, or to offer a slick PlayStation color scheme. When looking at the wheel the first things you’ll notice are the blue rubber grips on the outsides of it, and these serve a further purpose as opposed to just looking cool.

The grips on the wheel make it easier to hold the wheel for longer periods of time, and they add extra comfort during longer race sessions too.

The included pedals are very thin-feeling and plasticky, like those that come with the TMX. There isn’t much resistance when you press on the pedals either, which makes it difficult to know how much throttle or brake to apply. However, for absolute beginners, they do the job.

A Budget Friendly Choice

The price tag on this setup means that you will probably have some more money to play with, so it isn’t too out of the realms to invest in a better pedal set to combat this bad point, and we recommend the T-LCM pedals for the best that Thrustmaster has to offer. They’re pricey, but they will boost your immersion levels significantly.

Even without doing this, the bundle is fine as it comes in the box, especially for those who are just looking to get started with sim racing. This bundle will set you back a relatively small amount, so it really is a no-brainer for your first rig and experience of using a force feedback steering wheel!

PROS:

• Very affordable
• True force feedback
• Nice aesthetic

CONS:

• It does feel a bit cheap

5. Thrustmaster Ferrari 458 Spider Racing Wheel

Compatibility: PC / Xbox | Weight: 3.5 kg / 7.7 lbs | Max Rotation Angle: 270 degrees | Pedals Included: Yes

Out of a lot of sim racing manufacturers, Thrustmaster works hard to try and offer varied budget and affordable options for those gamers out there who don’t want to compromise on quality without breaking the bank. The Ferrari 458 wheel is their ultimate budget choice, and in spite of coming in last on our list, it’s a solid wheel for Xbox racers out there.

A Reasonable Overall Feel

In spite of this wheel being the cheapest of the bunch, it really doesn’t feel as such. The 458 is officially licensed for use on the Xbox and it has linear resistance controlled by a bungee system within the wheel itself. It also comes with a solid clamp as standard, which makes it far more attractive than many other budget wheels on the market.

In essence, the linear resistance is like a compromise for force feedback, so you get a little bit of push and pull from the car you’re driving in game, but nothing to the level of higher-end wheels. It’s fine for beginners though, and at the price it’s hard to argue with that.

Note: We'd not normally recommend a wheel without force feedback, but for absolute beginners on a tight budget, or kids looking to play their favorite arcade games with a wheel, this is a good choice.

Only Ideal For Beginners & Casual Racers

Its lacking range of rotation does make the rig feel a lot more like an arcade setup than something competitive, and it’s simply that – a great wheel for a casual sim racer who wants to have their own setup for the first time.

It may not be considered competitive, but it’s a real blast to drive with, and is well suited to arcade racing games. Its cool Ferrari design helps make the wheel feel a bit more premium too, even with the thin, flimsy pedals that come with this rig. At such a low price, it’s the ideal starting point for any casual sim racing enthusiast or young racer, but I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone who wants a lot of immersion.

PROS:

• Decent quality wheel
• Good first wheel choice
• Ideal for kids

CONS:

• No force feedback
• Very cheap quality compared to the rest of our list

Summary Of The Best Thrustmaster Wheels

Wheel	Pros	Cons
Thrustmaster T300RS	Immersive force feedback Superior build quality	Can run hot during long racing sessions
Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel: Leather Edition	Very well made Smooth, immersive force feedback	A pricey choice
Thrustmaster TMX Force Feedback Racing Wheel	Great force feedback Good value for money	Does feel a bit cheap compared to other choices
Thrustmaster T150 Force Feedback Wheel	Very cheap force feedback wheel Nice racing aesthetic	Cheaper feel Included pedals are quite poor
Thrustmaster Ferrari 458 Spider Racing Wheel	Great Ferrari aesthetic Ideal choice for kids	No force feedback Poor range of rotation

What To Look For In A Good Sim Racing Wheel

Force Feedback

Simply put, this is the factor that replicates driving a car in real-life. A wheel without force feedback or with weak force feedback won’t feel satisfying to drive, and you’ll actually be at a disadvantage when feeling how much wheel input is required. For full immersion, force feedback is a must!

Materials

Whether you prefer leather or suede is primarily down to personal preference and experience, but no matter your preferences, you should be looking for a wheel made of solid materials. A bit of plastic is okay, but you want the functional parts to be made of durable metal and offer anything but a cheap feel.

Design

Again, this is something very much based on personal preference. You might prefer to buy a formula-style racing wheel, or perhaps you’re into wide rally-style wheels. For Thrustmaster specifically, most of your options are going to be standard round wheel rims.

Range Of Rotation

Anything less than 900 degrees will usually not allow you to match up your in-game steering wheel realistically with your physical wheel in most games. This usually isn’t a problem with non-entry-level racing wheels, and only the last option on our list doesn’t offer this.

Price

Price should never be the driving force behind your decisions above all else. Use it as more of a tie-breaker if there are two wheels that provide everything above in good measure. We always recommend going for the best quality you can afford when choosing sim racing products. If you want the absolute cheapest choice, check out the Thrustmaster Ferrari 458 Spider wheel.

Final Thoughts

The best Thrustmaster wheel on offer is the T300RS, as it offers an incredibly immersive experience at a reasonable price point. If you’re looking for a more budget friendly option, the T150 for PlayStation users or the TMX for those on Xbox are also good choices.