Thrustmaster T598 Review: Too Early To Kick Off A Revolution?

With the T598, Thrustmaster has put out an affordable Direct Drive bundle that is PlayStation-compatible - but have they been a bit too quick in releasing it? Here's our Thrustmaster T598 review.

Just in time for the holidays, Thrustmaster has released a new bundle that gives you all the peripherals you need to race on your PC and PlayStation for €/$499. But that is not all - the marketing is quite confident and promises that with the 5-Nm T598, we are driving into a new era of Direct Drive. Thrustmaster is also bringing an innovation to the market and rethinking the Direct Drive concept with a new type of motor.

In the run-up to this review, we asked you whether we should show or compare something specific and the question arose how the T598 compares to the TGT-II, which still costs about 200 dollars more and is basically one of the most advanced belt driven wheels of the 'old era'. So we included it and clarified the question of whether the T598 should be under the Christmas tree or whether Thrustmaster might have been a bit premature.

Thrustmaster T598: The Alternatives​

If this is your first wheel set, a little market overview of the alternatives is obviously important to make an informed purchase decision. What do other manufacturers have on offer? If you want it to be compatible with PS4 and PS5, the long-established brands Logitech and Thrustmaster also offer sets with the G923 or T248 that are around $150 cheaper, some of which are well under $300 or just over $200 in seasonal sales. This can also be an option for beginners and younger future racing drivers, and many of us more experienced sim racers started out with something like this - definitely better than no wheel at all!

However, a little more power and realism is desirable - a lot has happened in technology in recent years. So if you want a Direct Drive wheel base that works on PlayStation, the choice has been very limited in the lower price range, and $500 won't get you very far. Fanatec offers the DD Pro with either 5 or 8 Nm of torque.



The 11-Nm Logitech G Pro offers significantly more power and even finer details, as well as more effects thanks to its TrueForce protocol, but also costs twice as much - without pedals! If you are driving on PC or Xbox, you have much more choice, and Fanatec also offers more options for around €500, including wheel base, wheel and pedals.

The Moza R5 and Moza R3 are also very popular, the latter of which we also reviewed this year. Furthermore, Turtle Beach has also launched something this year, the 7.2 Nm peak torque VelocityOne, which is often discounted in the $500 range and comes with many extras. Another hidden gem could be the Cammus C5, a unique concept with motor and steering wheel as one unit, but in addition to the $329 for the bundle, there are sometimes very high shipping costs as well as customs duties and taxes.

Thrustmaster T598 Specs​

Thrustmaster makes the T598 a very attractive offer with 5 Nm of constant torque and will certainly make the competition sweat. One aspect that makes its low price possible is probably the new motor - instead of a direct drive radial flux motor, Thrustmaster uses an axial flux motor for the first time, so officially we are no longer talking about DD, but DaD. This requires less copper and, according to the manufacturer, runs more efficiently, meaning it can convert more mechanical power with less electrical power and less cooling capacity.



The biggest difference is the arrangement of the stator tubes, which means that the magnetic flux is generated parallel to the shaft. This completely eliminates the cogging you feel when you turn your Direct Drive steering wheel when it is switched off. In addition, there are more theoretical benefits of the technology and Thrustmaster is really serious about it.

There are two papers that you can have emailed to you, and these are full of diagrams and technical explanations that illustrate how superior DaD is supposed to be. The conclusion of these papers is basically: "It simply outperforms the first generation Direct Drive wheelbases in every category". Without giving too much away, in my experience this does not yet apply to the current version of the T598.

What's In The Box?​

But first, let's unpack the bundle. Right at the top is a large, illustrated manual that clearly explains what is in the box and what we need to do to get everything up and running. The table clamp, which allows us to use the unit on a desk, does not need to be ordered separately.

Wheel Base​

The wheel base is a little higher than the more block-shaped DDs we've seen so far because of the DaD motor. Somehow, I got the “bad guys' spaceship vibe” right away, partly because of the front structure, which is reminiscent of the new Axial Drive. The small screen at the top is an important element for controlling various functions of the steering wheel, carrying out calibrations and displaying telemetry. It takes up a whopping 40 pages of the manual to explain this screen, which is a good indication that you really need to get to grips with it.



Thankfully, Thrustmaster has also recently released a 13-minute video that walks you through the screen configuration, if you prefer.

Sportscar Wheel Rim​

The 11.8-inch / 30-centimeter diameter Sportscar Wheel Rim is very clearly designed and organized, with perforated rubber grips and a laminated carbon structure that looks quite nice. There are 17 buttons on the front that feature PlayStation branding, with the four on the bottom right acting as a sort of multi-switch. The 'S' button toggles between 4 pages, highlighted by a color-changing LED - in Gran Turismo 7, for example, this is used to directly control functions such as traction control or brake balance. This also works in Assetto Corsa Competizione, of course.

Instead of the classic 12 o'clock marker, there are four red rings, the placement of which reminds me a little of Drift Sport, and it is also fitting that it is round in shape. A positive surprise in this price range are the magnetic shift paddles, which feel great and are not too loud. This T598 Sportscar Wheel Rim is well ahead of the entry-level bundles and should be enough for most users for quite some time.

The T598 base is also compatible with the Thrustmaster ecosystem, so a variety of wheels and accessories can be used. One recommendation would be to stick with lighter and thinner wheels as the Sportscar Wheel Rim weighs just 811 grams, which is well suited to the power of the wheelbase. The 488 GT3 wheel also fits well in that sense.



Since the T818, Thrustmaster has a new - much better - quick release system. If you still have old steering wheels, there is also a QR adapter or, even better, a QR upgrade that screws directly onto the wheel. The flagship SF1000 wheel will also be released this year with the new QR style, as it is the only one that cannot be converted yet and can only be used with the adapter.

Raceline Pedals LTE​

There are also pedals included in the kit, which require a bit of assembly and screwing, but this is no different from Fanatec or Moza. The Raceline Pedals LTE are hall sensor pedals with springs and, in the case of the brake, an elastomer. There are also different spring rates and angles to choose from. The package includes small floor mat stoppers for the desk racers, too, which work quite well, even with the harder spring on the brake.

Mounting Compatibility​

We'll find out how well the pedals work in practice, even against the T-LCM loadcell, when we go out for a drive and there was a surprise waiting for me! But first, we fitted everything to our Trak Racer cockpit for our console setup and had some difficulty with the bolt patterns. For example, the bolt spacing of the LTE pedals differs from that of the TCLM - it should be 21.5 cm on the new ones, if you want to check the pattern on your pedal decks.

Other pedals of this type usually have a mounting hole in the heel rests for a long screw, which is missing here. The cabling is a little odd, with 3.5-inch cables that plug directly into the base's RJ port. USB standalone is therefore not possible. That said, even though we could not always use all the screw points, everything was stable in the end.

Connection & Setup​

The first thing we did was to connect the T598 to the PC. Setting up and updating the wheel revealed some of the weaknesses already mentioned in the Hypercar Wheel review. The software - My Thrustmaster Panel - is not ready at the time of this review and for the launch. In the settings area, you are greeted with the phrase 'Coming soon', which is rather questionable.

This means that we have to do all the settings for the T598 via the dash screen on the wheel base. The My Thrustmaster panel is currently only a firmware update tool, and unfortunately it does a rather poor job of that. For example, to update the firmware on the 488 GT3 wheel, it is not enough to simply connect the wheel to the base. We have to download the old Thrustmaster software with the firmware update tool, reboot the PC and, to make matters worse, completely unscrew the QR to connect it directly via USB - this is extremely user-unfriendly and pretty much all manufacturers do it better nowadays. Hopefully, it is just a matter of time until this is improved.

Thrustmaster T598: Driving Experience​

Gran Turismo 7​

But has the revolution been a success? Let's start with the driving experience in Gran Turismo 7, where the T598 is still recognised as the T-GT II. We asked Thrustmaster directly about this and received the following answer: "This is in Polyphony's hands. For now, T598 is still recognized as T-GT II, and that is why it does not reach its full potential on GT7 yet. We’ll do our best to move forward with this.”

As was the case with Fanatec's GT DD Extreme earlier this year, Thrustmaster does not seem to have been able to coordinate the product launch with Sony and Polyphony. We'll have to live with that for now, but the wheel itself works well. It is basically like all the wheels in GT7 - some cars, especially street cars, have a less detailed Force Feedback, some curbs have no feel at all. If you overdrive the front wheels, you'll eventually get some rubbing, but it is not really organic or smooth, and the oversteer feeling does not really kick in either.

We drove with Preset 3, which is rather strong. I experimented with the friction setting, but apart from a constant grain, there is no additional detail or communication from the wheel. The Gear Jolt function is a nice gimmick that gives you a little FFB jolt when you change gears - RaceRoom also offers a similar effect.

The Gr. 3 and Gr. 4 cars, for example, feel good, as do the rally scenarios in terms of the road surface, and now I know why Thrustmaster chose them to present the T598 at the 2024 SimRacing Expo.

Assetto Corsa Competizione (PS5)​

The second big title on the PS5, Assetto Corsa Competizione, also has its problems with the T598. The force feedback feels a little numb and you get the feeling that some effects are still missing. An update from game developer Kunos Simulazioni would probably be needed to take proper account of the new Axial Drive, but it is hard to say whether this will happen in the near future. The belt-driven TGT II was much richer, but we will come back to that comparison towards the end.

Le Mans Ultimate (PC)​

Things look better on the PC. For me, the best experience was with Le Mans Ultimate. As with the T818, this title makes good use of Thrustmaster's hardware and shows what is possible without having to spend a lot of time tweaking the setup. Fine details, reproducable effects, and the biggest strength of the T598 is really the smooth steering feel. The 'no cogging' marketing really comes into its own here.

iRacing​

iRacing was also decent, you get a good feel for the car and the Axial Drive allows Thrustmaster to use steering forces for an overshoot that briefly exceeds 5 Nm without hardware clipping. This makes the wheelbase feel stronger at times and more like an 8Nm base. It is only when the car loses grip and starts to rotate around the yaw axis that the feeling disappears. The tyre and suspension feel is also a little more composed on the stronger and more responsive wheelbases, but of course we always have to keep the price of this package in mind.

EA Sports WRC (PC)​

With EA Sports WRC, my expectations were somewhat disappointed, as the title actually works well with many weaker bases and there is always a lot going on in the wheel. Even a Fanatec CSL DD, for example, leaves a great impression. However, the power slides and lateral movement of the car in particular are very dull with the T598 and you lose a bit of precision and feel for where the car is going.

Assetto Corsa Competizione (PC)​

ACC was no revelation on the PS5, but it wasn't much better on the PC either. Over the last few years I have gotten the feeling that you need a wheelbase of 12-15Nm or more in Assetto Corsa Competizione to really get valuable feedback from the tyres. Anything below that just falls flat. If you have found a good setting for the T598, please post it in the comments!

Vibration Issues​

One of the biggest problems during our test, however, was the vibration. On the PlayStation in particular, the steering wheel tends to wobble in almost every situation, even in the menus. There is also a constant humming or vibration that really disturbed me while using it. A few cars, the McLaren Vision GT being an extreme example, are completely unmanageable and the wheel bounces so much that it can even be dangerous for inexperienced drivers, even on the softer D setting.

We also asked Thrustmaster about this and received the following reply:

"Oscillations / vibrations in menu occur because of no friction/cogging DaD technology. However, we are about to release a new firmware update which will solve oscillations in menu. You’ll still get the subtle vibration. It will also add a new FFB setting called “Inertia”. This setting lets you adjust the wheel’s inertia proportionally to the car's speed (the faster the car goes, the greater the inertia), reducing oscillations on straight line with powerful car. So you can consider these 2 issues already solved as it will be with the new firmware."

They are aware of the problems and are working on them. It is also positive to note that the company responds very directly and actively to customer feedback, including being very active on the company Discord.

Since then, a firmware update for the T598 has been released that is supposed to fix some of these oscillation issues mentioned above, so a tip of the cap to Thrustmaster for reacting to this.

Not A Quiet Companion​

If you do not use headphones when driving, but instead use speakers from your TV, for example, I would like to warn you about the noise that this wheel base makes. It is a very low-frequency noise, like a kind of chirping, that I found very unpleasant, mostly when cornering.

Thrustmaster's explanation: "This is normal. The DaD motor produces a sound while using at the maximum setting. This is the sound of an electric motor, like in Formula E or an electric scooter, which is more common. The review units seem to be louder than the mass production ones. The sound will be slightly reduced with the new firmware update."

So it is fair to say that I have not yet experienced a revolution in force feedback, and that the new type of motor also has its drawbacks, apart from the fact that the tall design tends to cover more of the bottom of the screen in many setups. And be honest, did the cogging of your DD wheelbase really bother you? This is usually compensated for in the software, but if the updates improve things a lot for the T598 in the near future, I will be happy to be convinced and we will look into it.

Pedal Performance​

The Raceline LTE pedals performed all the better for this. They are very easy to modulate and the pedal travel is optimized to drive a wide range of cars. I drove a consistency test with the more expensive T-LCM loadcell pedals which you could upgrade to, and my delta over 10 laps in Tsukuba was better and tighter with the Raceline pedals - even though I drove with them first. But that could just be me, so do not read too much into it. However, I think that both the accelerator and brake are returned more linearly when you release the pedal. The characteristic curve is simply better, or suits my driving style better. Thrustmaster will be releasing a load cell upgrade kit and a clutch for these pedals in the future.

Verdict: No Revolution After All​

Contrary to the conclusion of other testers who said that the T598 is a huge leap from any belt driven wheel, I have to say that I found the T-GT II, which we took out again, no worse and in many areas even better, if we are now talking about GT7 and ACC on the PS5.

But even to this day it is still the more expensive product and probably the most developed wheel of the ‘old days’, a beefier version of the veteran T300. I have used the latter for a very long time as a daily driver as well, with an approximately 50% more powerful motor used for the T-GT II, it is said to have around 6 Nm. However, for the same amount of money you can also get the Fanatec GT DD Pro, with the option of a boost kit for up to 8 Nm. I fitted this as well and have to say that it surpasses the T598 in terms of driving feel and is absolutely quiet in operation.

Thrustmaster does not make it easy for me to rate the T598. I feel like they should have waited half a year to finalize the software on the PC and work more closely with the developers on updates for major titles like Assetto Corsa Competizione and Gran Turismo 7 to get everything out of the Axial Drive that makes it so strong in theory.

As the price is really good and the steering wheel does a lot of things right in other areas and makes it easy to get started with racing, we give it a 3.25/5, with a tendency to go up if feedback continues to be responded to and tweaked over the next few months. Complete newcomers might experience a few moments of frustration, but for 500 bucks, there is simply nothing better, it has to be said quite clearly. The fact that Thrustmaster is acting as an innovator here and breaking new ground to make the hobby accessible to more people is also a positive signal.

What are your impressions of the Thrustmaster T598? Let us know in the comments below and join the discussion in our hardware forum!