Thrustmaster Wheel Recomendations

AMB73 · 25 Aug 2020 at 14:35

Hi all, just after some advice from any Thrustmaster Wheel owners and their thoughts and experiences please.

I currently have the TMX - its a great entry level and i feel much better than my old G29, less clunky and more responsive.

Anyway, i received a HMRC letter today and was expecting to have to pay a load of underpaid tax back and it was the opposite. I never thought id see the heading HMRC OWES YOU but there it was...

So, Thrustmaster. Looking at the T300 which i guess is the real starting point, then theres the TX which i am led to believe is the same a the T300?

Up a level in cost and i am at the TS-PC or TS-XW....

i am a casual sim racer but do want a good experience, i hear the T300 can overheat and rolls back its FFB when it does? Can also clip over 75%?

Then the TS-PC has non of these issues, can run at 100% FFB, no overheating and no roll back...

Are the T300 issues that bad? or for my casualness will i not really suffer?

TS-PC - over £500, is the extra cash worth the experience??

Thanks in advance for any responses.

MikeTheNative · 25 Aug 2020 at 15:07

All wheels can clip if you set FFB too high.

I went from a T500rs to a TS-PC. I really like it, I thought it was worth the upgrade however I'm quite an avid sim racer so it really depends on how much the money is worth to you.
What pedals do you have? IMO upgrading to a TSPC wheel is not worth it if your still using the pedals that come with the TMX.

Dan_P · 25 Aug 2020 at 15:09

Subscribing because i am in the market for a wheel and pedal solution at the moment.

Any reason it needs to be Thrust Master is it because of the pedals? If not, is the G923 an upgrade?

I wanted a T500RS but i just cant seem to find one anywhere now

MikeTheNative · 25 Aug 2020 at 15:15

Dan_P said:
Subscribing because i am in the market for a wheel and pedal solution at the moment.

Any reason it needs to be Thrust Master is it because of the pedals? If not, is the G923 an upgrade?

I wanted a T500RS but i just cant seem to find one anywhere now

A G923 would be a bit of a side grade from a TMX. Plus you don't have that potential upgrade path to more high end stuff like TM.

Toothy1911 · 25 Aug 2020 at 15:17

Consider taking a look at Fanatec too. On the more expensive side but better wheel again. I have a Clubsport V2. But the CSL ones can be had for cheaper and are mostly the same.

MikeTheNative · 25 Aug 2020 at 15:18

Toothy1911 said:
Consider taking a look at Fanatec too. On the more expensive side but better wheel again. I have a Clubsport V2. But the CSL ones can be had for cheaper and are mostly the same.

I have a TS-PC with clubsport V3 pedal, it's a good combo.
If OP has got £500 to spend. I would go with fanatec pedals and a TM wheel.

AMB73 · 25 Aug 2020 at 15:23

MikeTheNative said:
If OP has got £500 to spend. I would go with fanatec pedals and a TM wheel.

Cheers for the responses so far - Do you have a link to the above, i was under the impression Fanatec were seriously expensive?

AMB73 · 25 Aug 2020 at 15:25

Dan_P said:
I wanted a T500RS but i just cant seem to find one anywhere now

One on FB Market place at the mo - in Stevenage. £400 with an F1 wheel and shifter. I have arranged a viewing tonight but am sceptical about 2nd hand to be honest

MikeTheNative · 25 Aug 2020 at 15:33

AMB73 said:
Cheers for the responses so far - Do you have a link to the above, i was under the impression Fanatec were seriously expensive?

Their wheels are crazy prices at the moment, pedals a bit less, although starting to creep up.
I don't have these personally but know a few that do and like them.

https://fanatec.com/eu-en/pedals/csl-elite-pedals-lc

Toothy1911 · 25 Aug 2020 at 15:35

All my Fanatec gear is second hand. No issues.
Fanatec supply spare parts if you contact them.

These are the V3 pedals.
https://fanatec.com/eu-en/pedals/clubsport-pedals-v3

There are other pedal manufacturers too. Heusinkveld make some great ones. The ones Jimmy Broadbent uses and is sponsored by.
https://heusinkveld.com/products/sim-pedals/?q=/products/sim-pedals/&v=79cba1185463

lokiss · 25 Aug 2020 at 18:30

TS-PC owner. The wheel wants for nothing the feedback strength is totally on it, it's lightyears ahead of the old g25 it replaced. I've had mine over 3 years with probably around 800hrs usage, and not a blip wrong so far.

Having looked at the price range of the direct drives, i just can't bring myself to plunk up in to the eco system without a try before i buy option. I would buy another TS-PC tomorrow if mine packed up though, i don't feel at any disadvantage in using one.

Using the t3pa pro's though i do at some point want to upgrade, i feel the weakness in using them the more adept i become. I can't decide if the inverted pedals is a disadvantage or something i am that used to that going flat with the more precise fanatec, heusinkvelds, or indeed the new thrustmasters would kill my game. The major killer with all of this is the outlay on highend racing gear is that much, that i just don't have the stones to spend thousands on the unknown.

danoliver1 · 25 Aug 2020 at 21:38

Direct drive wont make you faster but it will make your smile wider.

danoliver1 · 25 Aug 2020 at 21:40

I had the csl elite pedals with the load cell and I can highly recommend them, best budget pedals you can get imho. As for wheels its usually a toss up between the tspc and the csl elite. If you have the money i would go for the fanatec mainly for their great rim selection.

weyland yutani · 25 Aug 2020 at 21:51

I've had a TS-PC 488 Edition for about 5 months. Its a nice piece of kit but not sure its worth the full retail of £500 though. The 320mm 488 rim still feels abut too large for me and if you don't wear gloves the suede will ruin quickly. I'm still using the crappy pedals from my old G27. Ideally Id get a set of Heusinkveld sprints but cant justify the cost yet having bought the wheelbase and a sim lab GT1 cockpit.

Has anyone found the start up calibration procedure when the usb connects is overly strong? I fear it will wreck the wheelbase over time. I connect the base each time I use it rather than keep it connected because if I boot up my pc with the wheelbase connected I lose the advanced mode and have to change the wheel settings all over again.

lokiss · 25 Aug 2020 at 23:29

weyland yutani said:
Has anyone found the start up calibration procedure when the usb connects is overly strong? I fear it will wreck the wheelbase over time. I connect the base each time I use it rather than keep it connected because if I boot up my pc with the wheelbase connected I lose the advanced mode and have to change the wheel settings all over again.

I plug mine in the same, each time i bangs one way and back with no issues. I hear you about the wheel, i picked up a 599xx evo and rarely use it. I recommend the face plate that comes stock with the TS, it's great. If diameter is the problem i believe the Ferrari 458 rim is smaller.

Dup · 26 Aug 2020 at 00:01

I would put budget towards better pedals and mounting before wheel upgrade imo.

~>Dg<~ · 26 Aug 2020 at 00:37

tbh the wheel you have is no better than a G29 setting them up right is the key.

depends what you want from your wheels. thrustmaster are okay...nothing special peddles are **** . bit over priced for what they are but you either buy mainstream logitech or thrustmaster.

fanatec are well made but lack a lot of general feel. many people recommend them but tbh they arent great. i was sponsered by them. i know. generally over priced well made okayish gear.

right now id just get a g29 wheel or something simular and get some really good peddles. https://heusinkveld.com/?v=79cba1185463 they are totally different levels.

deciding what you want from sim racing or just messing about really will point you in the right direction.

just keep your wheel get better peddles.