GROUP TEST
T 248
THRUSTMASTER £ 300
Budget wheel for serious driversThe Thrustmaster T24 8
is a far more budget-
friendly option to the
Fanatec GT DD, but it doesn’t let
up whereit counts. Theforce
feedback it delivers is a lot more
impressivethan youmight expect
and it’s exceptionally accurate.
Inside the T248you’llfind a
hybrid force feedback system
that utilises a gear alongside a
belt. Thatpretty much covers off
the downsides of the geared
system, which havebeen known
to feel clunky at times, but still
has all the benefits of a belt
system. Plus that keeps it cheap.
The T248’shybrid system has
appeared to comeat the expenseof some of the finer touches,
however. The build looksand feels
cheap. Similarly, it’sawfully loud,
especially the shifter paddles.
These are, however, incredibly
responsive, like nothing I’ve used
before. The T248 gets a lot
technicallyright, andwhen it
really comes down to it I’dtake
precision over aesthetics any day.
If you want to develop yourracing
ability and learn to corner
consistently,this is thebestwheel
to do it on a tighter budget.SPECSFORCE FEEDBACK:YES / DRIVE:HYBRID (BELT/GEAR) / PEDALS: 3, WITH 4 BRAKE TUNING MODES / TUNING:
VIA WHEEL
2
GT DD Pro
FANATEC £ 609
Direct-drive worldchamp
The Fanatec GT DD Pro
sets a high standard for
all racingwheels. With a
direct-drive motor it’s capable of
throwing the wheel aroundwith
so much force you’re holding on
for dearlife. Trust me, you want
that. Youfeel every bump or loss
of traction with the GT DD. I
noticed my own lap times started
improving once I could really
hone in on where I waslosing grip
and speedduring a lap. Granted, I
had a few meetings with the
barriers along theway,but I felt
like I wasreally able to developmy
race as a result.
The GT DD’sconstruction is
prettymuch immaculate. The
wheel baseis this solid metal,
passively-cooled monster,and
into that slots asimple and sturdy
clamp. Thewheel itself is one of
my favourites of all those I’ve
tested, delivering a banquet of
buttons that are easy to get
familiar with. TheincludedCSL
Pedals don’t come with a clutch
nor a load-cell brake. Though you
can upgrade to a load-cell kit sold
by Fanatec, which replaces the
brake and leaves the spare brake
to become a clutch pedal.SPECSFORCE FEEDBACK: YES / DRIVE:DIRECT / PEDALS: 2, UPGRADEABLE WITH LOAD-CELL + CLUTCH / TUNING:VIA
DESKTOP APP,WHEEL
1
I
n my opinion there’s no better peripheral for your PC than a
racing wheel. I enjoy VR headsets, though they’re pretty great
even without a PC at hand; and a flight stick really feels
crucial to a fun flight sim experience. But it’s the racing wheel
that I find myself using most often – so much so that one is a
permanent fixture on my desk nowadays.
There are many different racing wheels vying for your cash, however.
You’ll find multiple varying underlying technologies powering each
wheel available – each with their own positives and negatives, fans and
critics. I’ve tested and reviewed six of the best on the market to see
which is really going to deliver a true-to-life tyre-screeching experience
for avid and casual driver alike.
RACING
WHEELS
Wheels to stop you careening off the track
and start your virtual racing career off right
By Jacob Ridley
Accurate, powerfulforce feedback
Excellent build quality
Direct-drive for lessVERDICT
Technically impressive
Surprisingly powerful force feedback
Hybrid design feels great to use