Thrustmaster T248R review: solid mid-range bundle with dated tech

Thrustmaster's T248R refreshes the 2021 T248 with a few setup changes and a £50/$50 price cut, now starting at £249.99/$349.99. It keeps a familiar design and addresses some of the original wheel's most discussed issues, resulting in a decent mid-range bundle aimed at new sim racers.

The package still leans on what feels like increasingly outdated tech, but it does the fundamentals well. The wheelbase and most components are almost entirely plastic, though the outside of the 28cm rim is now clad in perforated leather while the inner half remains hard plastic, which caused thumb discomfort after several laps.

Paddle shifters use Mag-Shift magnetic sensors and have been reworked to be quieter, and the button layout—around 25 action buttons—is responsive. Thrustmaster also upgraded the onboard display to color and added brighter LEDs for revs and flags. Under the hood sits the T-HD Hybrid Force Feedback system, combining belts and gears to deliver 3.1Nm of torque.

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