TechRadar Verdict
Serious sim racers consider direct drive as the performance baseline, but this wheel for PS5 and PC shows just how refined traditional belt-driven force feedback can get. Fastidiously engineered for great sensation, and you can fit a new wheel onto the wheelbase. That’s great value, even at this higher price.
Smooth force feedback delivery
Powerful when it needs to be
Swappable wheel and wheelbase system
Great input array on the wheel
A lot of plastic parts
Not quite up to direct drive sensation levels
Slightly grainy rotation feel
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Thrustmaster T-GT II: One-minute review
The mid-range of thebest racing wheelsis a tricky space where competing technologies vie for space, but Thrustmaster makes a compelling argument with a wheel, wheelbase, and pedals bundled for $799.99 / £699.99.
That’s a lot pricier thanLogitech’s all-conquering G923 bundle, but the advantages are clear: a quick-release system that lets you install new wheels and a particularly refined force feedback sensation that feels somewhere between traditional belt-driven and direct-drive servos. The underlying tech is still belt-driven, but it’s been engineered so carefully to deliver its considerable power smoothly and convincingly, with fewer of those notchy, snappy moments you usually get with belt-driven motors.
The controls on the wheel feel premium and long-lasting, particularly the four notched dials, which are really handy for mapping traction control, brake balance, engine modes, and fuel maps. Being a licensed wheel forGran Turismo 7and pitched as one of thebest PS5 racing wheels, the giant ‘GT’ logo at the center of the wheel won’t be to everyone’s taste, and the overall look of the wheel - and particularly the plasticky pedal base - does this bundle a disservice. Despite the high volume of plastic and a slightly ‘gamey’ look this is up to the task for serious sim racers, who’ll appreciate the ability to fit different wheels for different disciplines.
Thrustmaster T-GT II: Price and availability
It might look like a lot of money for a non-direct drive wheel at first glance, but it all makes sense after a few hot laps. The wiser money would be spent investing in a Fanatec Ready2Race McLaren bundle for the same price, but ongoing stock availability issues make that a tricky purchase as of summer 2024.
Thrustmaster T-GT II: Specs
Thrustmaster T-GT II: Design and features
There’s a line in the sand in sim racing gear. On one side, Moza and Fanatec have decided to take their visual cues directly from motorsport, rather than gaming peripherals. Their wheels and pedals look like they’ve been crowbarred out of a racing car and attached to your desk. On the other, Logitech and Thrustmaster - who also make a broad range of gaming peripherals besides wheels - have a design philosophy that sits closer togaming mice,gaming keyboards, andgaming headsets.
Who’s right? That’s totally subjective, of course. To me the less automotive appearance of the T-GT II comes off as a bit less premium than this bundle really is, particularly the plastic casing around the servo and on the pedal base, which really doesn’t look like it should be part of an $800 / £700 racing bundle.
However, these aesthetic missteps have no bearing on the performance of either the wheels or pedals, and since the wheel’s detachable, you could replace it with a more motorsport-inspired option like Thrustmaster’s Ferrari SF100 if you like.
The wheel itself is finished in nicely stitched pleather which makes for a grippy surface while you’re racing, with no need for racing gloves, unlike pricier Alcantara-finished wheels which can get a bit crispy over time if you subject them to your palm sweat.
Being a PlayStation-compatible wheel as well as PC, all theDualSense controller’s inputs are mapped onto input buttons on the wheel itself, including two tiny analog sticks. Four dials complete the input array on the wheel face, and satisfyingly chunky paddle shifters with magnetic actuation sit at the rear. All the buttons feel substantial and the dials in particular are a joy to use, notched and manufactured from aluminum for a lovely weighty feel. The analog sticks and d-pad feel flimsy by comparison, but I didn’t find myself using them - there are plenty of other buttons to map important inputs to.
Those four dials are the stars of the show. They’re placed conveniently within thumb’s reach, and having four of them is especially useful in games likeAssetto Corsa Competizione(ACC), where I find myself adjusting traction control and brake bias frequently from lap to lap as track conditions and tire wear levels evolve. It’s rare to find more than two dials on wheels at this price, and I find myself missing having four now when I use other wheels.
The pedals don’t feature a load cell design, so you can’t swap out the cells to adjust the resistance, but they are built with convincing resistance per pedal. The brake is particularly well-judged for stiffness, and you can add an additional rubber stay for some increased resistance right at the end of its path of travel.
Thrustmaster T-GT II: Performance
Let’s quickly state the obvious: although this wheel was designed in collaboration withGran Turismodeveloper Polyphony Digital and bears the PlayStation racer’s branding, it’s compatible across pretty much every racing game you throw at it onPS5or PC.Assetto Corsa CompetizioneandF1 24had profiles ready to go as soon as I loaded them up with the T-GT II connected, and I had no problems setting it up inThe Crew MotorfestorForza Horizon 5. You’d expect pretty much universal support across racing titles in 2024, and this wheel delivers it.
What discerns the force feedback on this wheel from the perennially popularLogitech G923, and indeed Thrustmaster’s own cheaper wheels, is the smoothness and detail of its feedback. It’s a subtle difference, not quite akin to the jump from belt-driven to direct-drive wheels, but it’s particularly noticeable in demanding sims likeAssetto Corsa Competizione, whose force feedback implementation is absolutely exemplary. You can feel when your platform’s on the very limit, and rather than getting those snappy moments that feel like something inside the servo has let go, the T-GT II’s wheel stays smooth even when it’s doling out extremely forceful feedback.
In some instances, it feels too strong. In most games, the centering spring strength needed some adjustment using a combination of in-game settings and Thrustmaster’s own Control Panel software, and inACCin particular I ended up reducing it down to as little as 20 per cent in order to find a realistic feel. However, once you do get a convincing feel dialed in, the detail and fidelity you feel through your hands is extremely impressive.
What aboutGran Turismo 7? As you’d expect, it’s excellent with this wheel. Polyphony’s is a particularly weighty handling model in the first place, and it’s perfectly tuned to this wheel when you connect it to your PS5.
However, the fact remains that direct-drive wheel bundles are available at the same price point, and that makes life difficult for this particular wheel. It’s demonstrably better than its belt-driven contemporaries from other manufacturers, and lower down the Thrustmaster range. But it’s no match for a setup built around Fanatec’s CSL direct drive servo. Cheaper Fanatec bundles than the T-GT II generally feature an inferior two-pedal set, but the Ready2Race McLaren bundle uses a three-pedal base with load cells, and the McLaren GT-style wheel feels more luxurious and automotive than this model.
The best mandate for opting for this instead of a Fanatec bundle, then, is that you play primarily on PS5, put in a lot of hours withGran Turismo 7, and want to use the same setup for some PC sim racing.
Should I buy the Thrustmaster T-GT II?
Buy it if…
Gran Turismo 7is your go-to racing simThis wheel’s PS5 and PC compatible, and designed in partnership with Polyphony to work especially well inGT7. Drifting a Demio never felt better.
You like a powerful force feedback sensationThe centering spring is set heavy by default, and there’s a lot of power behind the feedback going into your hands.
You plan to swap between multiple wheelsLike to race rally titles as well as F1 games and GT? Thrustmaster’s add-on wheels are a solid option for making your rig more customizable, all using the T-GT II wheelbase.
Don’t buy it if…
You race on XboxIt’s not Xbox-compatible, simple as that. Fanatec and Logitech offer better PC/Xbox bundles for the money.
Direct drive bundles are within your budgetAs impressive as the sensation is for a belt-driven motor, DD is a superior feel and it’s available for roughly the same outlay.
You’re new to sim racingIt’s a lot of money for a racing bundle, and the benefits to its feel are subtle. Logitech’s G923 is better suited to beginners, and comes in PC/Xbox and PC/PlayStation varieties.
Also consider…
If the Thrustmaster T-GT II isn’t quite what you’re after, alert yourself to these other candidates.
Thrustmaster T248A cheaper, less powerful option that’s great for newcomers, if lacking centering spring snap. Surprisingly good pedals for the price, too.
For more information, check out our fullThrustmaster T248 review
Logitech G923It’s ubiquitous for a reason. Well-built, a smart button layout, and Trueforce feedback add something extra to supported games when it comes to detailed articulation.
For more information, check out our fullLogitech G923 review
How I tested the Thrustmaster T-GT II
We installed the T-GT II into our Playseat and used it as our daily driver inAssetto Corsa Competizione,Gran Turismo 7,The Crew Motorfest,andForza Horizon 5for a month of virtual racing on both PC and PlayStation 5. You don’t want to know how much of a hassle it was to get the rig downstairs in front of the PS5…
Read more about how we test
First reviewed August 2024.
Ad creative by day, wandering mystic of 90s gaming folklore by moonlight, freelance contributor Phil started writing about games during the late Byzantine Empire era. Since then he’s picked up bylines for The Guardian, Rolling Stone, IGN, USA Today, Eurogamer, PC Gamer, VG247, Edge, Gazetta Dello Sport, Computerbild, Rock Paper Shotgun, Official PlayStation Magazine, Official Xbox Magaine, CVG, Games Master, TrustedReviews, Green Man Gaming, and a few others but he doesn’t want to bore you with too many. Won a GMA once.
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