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GameCuki VerdictRecommended
What Our Verdicts Mean
GameCuki Top PickThe best option in its class, with no serious, repeated problems.
RecommendedA good buy for most people. Weaknesses are minor or only matter to some players.
Buy With CaveatsRight for a specific kind of player only, because of a significant drawback.
Skip ItNot recommended. A better option exists at a similar price.
The Bottom LineA fast, strong 5 Nm wheelbase and a decent pedal set make this the easiest step up from belt-driven wheels, as long as you can live with a tall base and a plain rim.
Fast, clear force feedback with strong overshoot peaks
Direct drive feel in an all-in-one bundle
Metal pedal frame with adjustable springs and Hall effect sensors
Bright Race Dash screen shows gear and revs in games that support it
Metal magnetic paddle shifters feel crisp
Quick release works with other Thrustmaster rims
Table clamp and mounting bracket included
Cons
Tall, wide base can block the lower part of the screen
Sportcar rim feels plastic, with cramped buttons and a confusing layout
No load cell brake in the box
Thrustmaster T598 Direct Drive Racing Wheel and Pedal Set (PS5 and PC) Specs
Platforms
PS5, PS4, PC
Motor
Direct Axial Drive
Torque
5 Nm constant, up to +100% overshoot
Latency
5 ms
Wheel rim
11.8 in (30 cm), 1.8 lb
Pedals
Raceline Pedals LTE, 2 pedals, Hall effect sensors
Base size
11.8 x 11.0 x 12.6 in (W x D x H)
Base weight
about 14.1 lb
Screen
Race Dash display on the base
Power supply
98 W
This Thrustmaster T598 review looks at the PlayStation and PC bundle that brings a “direct axial drive” motor to a price tier that used to belong to belt-driven wheels. It pairs a 5 Nm wheelbase with a 30 cm rim and a two-pedal metal set, and it plugs into Thrustmaster’s long-running quick release ecosystem. The motor is the star. The oversized base and the plain rim are where the compromises show, and rivals from Moza, Fanatec and Logitech each answer those problems differently.
Direct Axial Drive: What the Motor Actually Changes
Most budget wheels move the shaft through belts or gears, which smooths out fine detail. Most direct drive wheels use a radial flux motor attached straight to the shaft. The T598 uses an axial flux motor, where the magnets sit on the same axis as the shaft. The design generates torque more efficiently, which cuts heat, and Thrustmaster claims it reduces cogging by over 99 percent.
The result is a wheel that spins freely with a clean signal. The motor holds 5 Nm of constant torque and can add short peaks of up to +100 percent on top of that, which Thrustmaster calls overshoot. Thrustmaster lists latency at 5 ms. The catch is physical: a large stator is what makes the torque possible, so the housing grows with it.
The direct axial drive motor in exploded view. (Image: Thrustmaster)
The base stands about 12.6 inches tall and sits wide and thin, unlike the long boxy housings of most direct drive rivals. On a desk or a compact rig it can block the lower middle of the screen, and that matters most when you are driving close to a TV or monitor. The housing can also get in the way on a small setup.
Mounting needs a check before you buy. The bolt pattern on the underside may not match every cockpit. A metal bracket ships in the box and works with the table clamps, and it also serves as an adapter for rigs with a different pattern. The bracket adds a little height and may limit how many bolts you can use, so measure your rig first.
The T598 base is wide and tall, with a built-in screen and four control buttons. (Image: Thrustmaster)
Race Dash Screen: Small, but Useful on This Base
A small color screen sits on top of the base. You can use it to switch profiles, change settings and check firmware while driving. In supported games it shows gear, revs, speed, position and race flags. Thrustmaster says more than 10 settings are adjustable from the base, including Gear Jolt.
The screen earns its place because of the base height. In games like Gran Turismo 7, where engine revs and gear sit low on the TV, the Race Dash can be easier to read than the game’s own display. Check the compatible game list on Thrustmaster’s site before counting on it.
The Race Dash screen with the Gear Jolt setting open. (Image: Thrustmaster)
Sportcar Wheel Rim: The Weakest Part of the Bundle
The included 11.8 inch rim is a plastic design with rubber grips and a carbon-look faceplate. It weighs 1.8 lb, which keeps the motor’s response quick. It also feels like a budget part. The sides use a soft-touch material, the grips could be thicker, and the shell can flex a little if you pull on the edges. Some fingers rest on screw holes behind the rim at nine and three, and a parting line runs around the edge.
The controls are mixed. The magnetic metal paddle shifters feel crisp and click firmly. The face buttons have little tactile feedback, the D-pad is cramped, and the layout may confuse you at first because the PlayStation face buttons sit along the top and encoder buttons sit on the right. The encoder can map 12 extra game actions, which helps in Gran Turismo 7 for traction control and brake bias.
The good news is that the rim is replaceable. Any Thrustmaster rim that uses the Direct Drive quick release fits, and an adapter covers some older rims, so the weak point can be fixed later.
The Sportcar rim has rubber grips, a carbon-look faceplate and paddle shifters. (Image: Thrustmaster)
Raceline Pedals LTE: A Better Pedal Set Than the Price Suggests
The two pedals sit on a sturdy metal frame, and they are better than many bundled sets. Both use Hall effect sensors, which avoid the wear of older potentiometer pedals. You can slide the pedal faces side to side, raise or lower them slightly, and move the springs into one of three notches behind each pedal to change travel and resistance. Extra springs are included for the brake, and carpet spikes and non-slip pads keep the set in place.
The brake is still spring-based, so it is softer than a load cell. Most beginners will adjust to it quickly, while drivers who rely on pressure-based braking may find it vague. The frame has room for a third pedal, and Thrustmaster sells a Load Cell upgrade kit separately that adds a load cell brake and frees the stock brake to work as a clutch.
The Raceline Pedals LTE are a two-pedal metal set that can take a third pedal later. (Image: Thrustmaster)
Force Feedback: Fast and Strong at the Extremes
Speed is the defining trait. The wheel snaps back quickly, direction changes feel sharp, and oversteer corrections come naturally. Response is very quick, and countersteering feels intuitive without overpowering your arms. For a driver coming from a gear-driven or belt-driven wheel, this is a big step up.
The strengths sit at both ends of the range. Fine high-frequency vibration, which Thrustmaster calls HARMONY, comes through clearly, and short overshoot peaks hit much harder than the 5 Nm baseline. The weak spot is the middle. Mid-range effects can feel thinner than the extremes, and curb and small texture effects can feel muted in some games, partly because some settings may have little effect. Overshoot can feel a bit exaggerated depending on how you set it.
Gear Jolt, which adds a kick through the rim on shifts, is configurable. It can still feel heavy, even on its lowest level, especially in slower road cars. The My Thrustmaster Panel on PC lets you adjust settings and update firmware, and Thrustmaster publishes force feedback profiles for the wheel and for Gran Turismo 7.
Compatibility and Upgrade Path: Where the T598 Fits
This bundle works with PS5, PS4 and PC, and a separate Xbox and PC version exists. Check the box before you buy, because the two are not interchangeable on console. The quick release works with other Thrustmaster rims in Formula, GT and rally styles, and a shifter or handbrake plugs into the base. The box also includes a clamp, a 98 W power supply, a USB cable and a Torx wrench for the pedals.
The Thrustmaster T598 is worth considering if you race on PlayStation or PC and want a real step up from a gear-driven or belt-driven wheel in one box. Its force feedback is fast and strong, and the pedals are better than they need to be. Skip it if your desk or cockpit is tight, if you care about a premium rim out of the box, or if you want the most fine detail and the deepest upgrade path on PC.
I'm Fraser, and I write the reviews on GameCuki. That covers consoles and handhelds, PC gaming hardware, controllers, headsets and accessories, from big purchases like gaming laptops to small add-ons like screen protectors and grips. I build each review from the manufacturer's specs, professional reviews and verified owner feedback, and I check long-term issues like comfort, battery life and durability against several sources before they make it into the pros and cons. Every review ends with who the product is for and who should skip it. I don't accept free products or paid placements, and what I write comes from research, not my own use of the products. You can read my full process on our How We Review page.
