Thrustmaster T-GT II: One-minute review
The mid-range of the best racing wheels is a tricky field, with rival technologies vying for space, but Thrustmaster makes a compelling argument with a wheel, wheelbase and pedals package for $799.99/£699.99.
While that’s significantly more expensive than Logitech’s all-conquering G923 package, the benefits are clear: a quick-release system that lets you install new wheels, and a particularly refined force feedback feel that feels somewhere between traditional belt-driven and direct-drive servos. The underlying technology is still belt-driven, but it’s been carefully engineered to deliver its considerable power smoothly and convincingly, with fewer of those jerky, snappy moments you usually get with belt-driven motors.
The controls on the steering wheel feel high quality and durable, especially the four dials with notches, which are very handy for mapping traction control, brake balance, engine modes and fuel maps. As a licensed steering wheel for Gran Turismo 7 and touted as one of the best PS5 racing wheels, the giant “GT” logo in 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 – doesn’t do this package justice. Despite the high plastic content and a slightly “wild” look, this is suitable for serious sim racers who will appreciate the ability to fit different wheels for different disciplines.
Thrustmaster T-GT II: Price and availability
- $799.99 / £699.99 (approx.) AU$1,221.99
- Located between entry-level force feedback and direct drive steering wheels
- More expensive, but with more features than a G923
At first glance, that might seem like a lot of money for a non-direct drive wheel, but after a few quick laps, it all makes sense. The money would be better spent on a Fanatec Ready2Race McLaren package for the same price, but ongoing issues with stock availability make that purchase a dicey proposition from summer 2024.
Thrustmaster T-GT II: Technical data
| Price | $799.99 / £699.99 |
| Weight | 29 pounds / 13,150 g |
| Maximum torque | Approx. 6Nm |
| Features | Quick release wheel, three-pedal base |
| Connection type | USB A |
| compatibility | PlayStation 5, PC |
| software | Thrustmaster control panel |
Thrustmaster T-GT II: Design and features
- Looks inspired by Gran Turismo
- Bulky servo
- Feels better than it looks
There’s a clear line when it comes to sim racing gear. On the one hand, Moza and Fanatec have decided to take their visual cues directly from motorsports rather than gaming peripherals. Their steering wheels and pedals look like they’ve been crowbarred out of a racing car and attached to your desk. On the other hand, Logitech and Thrustmaster – which makes a wide range of gaming peripherals in addition to steering wheels – have a design philosophy that’s more reminiscent of gaming mice, gaming keyboards and gaming headsets.
Who’s right? This is of course entirely subjective. To me, the less automotive appearance of the T-GT II makes it seem a little less premium than this package really is, particularly the plastic casing around the servo and at the pedal base, which really doesn’t look like it should be part of an $800/£700 racing package.
However, these aesthetic missteps have no impact on the performance of the wheels or pedals, and since the steering wheel is removable, you can replace it with a more motorsport-inspired option like Thrustmaster’s Ferrari SF100 if you need to.
The steering wheel itself is covered in beautifully stitched synthetic leather, which provides a grippy surface when racing without the need for racing gloves. Unlike more expensive steering wheel models with Alcantara coating, these can get a little crunchy over time if you expose them to the sweat of your palms.
As this is a PlayStation and PC compatible wheel, all inputs from the DualSense controller are mapped to input buttons on the wheel itself, including two tiny analogue sticks. Four rotary dials complete the input array on the wheel’s surface, and there are satisfyingly chunky paddle shifters with magnetic actuation at the rear. All of the buttons feel solid, and the rotary dials in particular are a joy to use. They’re notched and made from aluminium, which gives a nice, weighty feel. The analogue sticks and D-pad feel flimsy in comparison, but I didn’t use them – there are plenty of other buttons that can be mapped to important inputs.
These four knobs are the stars of the show. They are conveniently placed within thumb reach and four of them are particularly useful in games like Racing Competizione Asset (ACC), where I frequently adjust traction control and brake force distribution from lap to lap, depending on how track conditions and tire wear change. It’s rare to find more than two adjustment dials on wheels at this price, and I miss four now when using other wheels.
The pedals don’t have a load cell design, so you can’t swap out cells to adjust resistance, but they are engineered to provide compelling resistance per pedal. The brake is particularly stiff, and you can add an extra rubber brace to the end of its travel to increase resistance a little.
Thrustmaster T-GT II: Performance
- Powerful but gentle force feedback
- Easy to calibrate
- Recognized by most racing games
Let us quickly state the obvious: Although this bike was developed in collaboration with Gran Turismo Developed by developer Polyphony Digital, it carries PlayStation racing game branding and is compatible with virtually any racing game you play on PS5 or PC. Racing Competizione Asset And F1 24 had profiles ready to go as soon as I connected them to the T-GT II, and I had no problems setting it up in The Crew Motorfest or ForzaHorizon5. In 2024, you would expect near-universal support for all racing titles, and this steering wheel offers it.
What sets this wheel’s force feedback apart from the increasingly popular Logitech G923 and also from Thrustmaster’s cheaper wheel models is the smoothness and detail of the feedback. It’s a subtle difference, not quite comparable to the jump from belt-driven to direct-drive wheel models, but it is particularly noticeable in demanding simulations such as Racing Competizione Assetwhose force feedback implementation is absolutely exemplary. You can feel when your platform is at its limit, and instead of experiencing those jerky moments where it feels like something in the servo has gone slack, the T-GT II’s steering wheel remains smooth even when dishing out extremely strong feedback.
In some cases it feels too strong. In most games the strength of the centering spring had to be adjusted using a combination of game settings and Thrustmaster’s own Control Panel software, and in ACC Specifically, I ended up reducing it to just 20 percent to get a realistic feel, but once you get a convincing feel, the detail and fidelity you feel through your hands is extremely impressive.
How about Gran Turismo 7? As expected, it works great with this steering wheel. The Polyphony model is a particularly handy model anyway and is perfectly matched to this steering wheel when you connect it to your PS5.
The fact remains, however, that direct drive steering wheel packages are available for the same price, and that makes life difficult for this particular wheel. It is demonstrably better than its belt-driven contemporaries from other manufacturers and from Thrustmaster’s lower-end. But it’s no comparison to a setup based on Fanatec’s CSL direct drive servo. Cheaper Fanatec packages than the T-GT II generally feature an inferior two-pedal set, but the Ready2Race McLaren package uses a three-pedal base with load cells, and the McLaren GT-style steering wheel feels more luxurious and automotive than that model.
So the best argument for choosing this instead of a Fanatec package is that you mainly play on PS5, spend many hours with Gran Turismo 7and want to use the same setup for some PC sim racing.
Should I buy the Thrustmaster T-GT II?
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Also consider…
If the Thrustmaster T-GT II isn’t quite what you’re looking for, check out these other candidates.
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | Thrustmaster T-GT II | Thrustmaster T248 | Logitech G923 |
| Price | $799.99 / £699.99 (approx. AU$1,211.99) | $129.99 / £129.99 (approximately AU$249) | $99.99 / £89.99 (approx. AU$196) |
| Weight | 29 lb / 13,150 g | 2,700g | 3,100g |
| Maximum torque | Approx. 6Nm | 3.5Nm | 2.3Nm |
| Features | Removable wheel, three-pedal base | Three FF modes, steering wheel display, three-pedal base | Trueforce, LED tachometer, three-pedal base |
| Connection type | USB A | USB A | USB A |
| compatibility | PlayStation 5, PC | PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC | PC & Xbox or PC & PS5 |
This is how I tested the Thrustmaster T-GT II
- Over a month of regular use during testing
- Used with PC and PS5
- Racing simulations and arcade titles tested
We have installed the T-GT II in our Playseat and used it as our daily companion in Racing Competizione Asset, Gran Turismo 7, The Crew Motorfest, And ForzaHorizon5 for a month of virtual racing on PC and PlayStation 5. You don’t want to know how difficult it was to get the system down in front of the PS5…
Read more about how we test
First reviewed in August 2024.
