Thrustmaster T598 + Hypercar Wheel review: a great value PC/PS5 sim racing wheel and pedals built on novel tech

We’ve seen an explosion in the number of affordable direct drive (DD) racing wheels over the past couple of years, with Fanatec and Moza offering increasingly inexpensive options that still deliver the precise, quick and long-lasting force feedback that cheaper gear- or belt-driven wheels can’t match.

Now, Thrustmaster is intruding on that territory with the T598, a PlayStation/PC direct drive wheel, wheel base and pedals that costs just £449/$499. That’s on a similar level to the PC-only £459/$599 Moza R5 bundle and the €399/$569 Fanatec CSL DD bundle, so how does the newcomer compare? And what’s changed from the more expensive T818 we reviewed before?

We’ve been testing the T598 – and the fancy upgraded HyperCar wheel that’s available as an upgrade option – for weeks to find out. Our full review follows, so read on – or check out the quick links below to jump to what you’re most interested in.

To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Thrustmaster T598 wheel base review: direct axial drive vs traditional direct drive

Interestingly, the T598 arguably comes with a more advanced DD motor than the more expensive T818 does. It uses a “direct axial drive” versus the standard “direct radial drive”, where the magnets are aligned parallel to the wheel shaft rather than perpendicular (see the diagram below). This ought to allow for more efficient torque generation, producing less waste heat, minimising precision-sapping magnetic interference and requiring less copper to produce. It also means the T598 can “overshoot” to deliver more than its rated 5nm of constant torque for short periods.