Thrustmaster T248 vs T300RS GT: Which to Buy in 2026?
Take the T300RS GT if you choose on feel: its belt drive delivers smoother force feedback than the T248 hybrid gear and belt system, at roughly 3.9 Nm against roughly 3.5 Nm, with 1080 degrees of rotation against 900. Take the T248 if you want a built in display, magnetic paddles and a lower price, about 306 dollars against about 400.
At a glance
| Thrustmaster T248P (PS5, PS4, PC) | Thrustmaster T300RS GT (PS5, PS4, PC) | |
|---|---|---|
| Drive type | Hybrid gear and belt | Belt driven with brushless motor |
| Peak torque | Roughly 3.5 Nm | Roughly 3.9 Nm |
| Price (Amazon, 2026) | Under $500 | Under $500 |
| Display | Built in LCD with telemetry | None |
| Paddles | Magnetic | Standard mechanical |
| Pedals supplied | T3PM magnetic pedal set | T3PA three pedal set |
| Rotation | 900 degrees | 1080 degrees |
Choose the Thrustmaster T248P (PS5, PS4, PC) if…
Buy the T248 if you value the fittings and the price. The magnetic paddles are genuinely good, the built in screen is useful for reading fuel and lap delta without a phone or a second monitor, and the magnetic throttle and brake avoid the potentiometer wear that eventually affects every sliding contact pedal. It is also usually cheaper. The hybrid drive is not bad, it simply carries a little more mechanical texture through the rim than a pure belt system does.
Check Thrustmaster T248P (PS5, PS4, PC) on Amazon
Choose the Thrustmaster T300RS GT (PS5, PS4, PC) if…
Buy the T300RS GT if the feel of the wheel matters more to you than the feature list. A belt driven brushless system transmits force with less notchiness, and on a long stint that shows up as a wheel that reports small changes in grip more clearly. It also turns further, at 1080 degrees, which suits rally and road cars. Against that, the pedals are potentiometer based, there is no display, and the design is several years older than the T248.
Check Thrustmaster T300RS GT (PS5, PS4, PC) on Amazon
Stretching to about 466 dollars gets you direct drive instead: see T598 vs T300RS GT. The wheelbase torque chart lists every current base by published Nm.
We also have full reviews of each: Thrustmaster T248P review and Thrustmaster T300RS GT review.
Related
Sources: Thrustmaster published specifications and the current Amazon listings (prices checked 2026). Comparison based on published manufacturer specifications and the general consensus of owner reports. We have not tested these products side by side. Confirm current specifications and prices before buying. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
How much torque does the Thrustmaster T248 have?
The T248 is commonly quoted at roughly 3.5 Nm peak, a little under the T300RS GT at roughly 3.9 Nm. Neither figure is the reason to choose between them: the drive type is. The T248 uses a hybrid of gears and a belt, the T300RS GT a belt only, which is why the T300RS feels smoother at the same settings.
T248 vs T300RS GT: is the T300 worth about 95 dollars more?
Yes if you mostly care about how the wheel feels while driving, since the belt drive is smoother and the rotation is 1080 degrees against 900. No if you want the built in display and magnetic paddles, or if that money would otherwise go toward load cell pedals, which change lap times more than either wheel.
Is hybrid drive a marketing term?
It describes a real arrangement: gears and a belt working together rather than one or the other. The intent is to get more torque from a smaller motor than a pure belt system would give at the same price. It works, and the T248 is stronger than the belt driven wheels Thrustmaster sold below it. What it does not do is match the smoothness of a pure belt drive, because gear teeth introduce texture the belt would absorb.
Do the pedal sets swap between them?
Yes, Thrustmaster pedal sets share a connector across this generation, so a T3PA or T3PM set will work on either base and a load cell upgrade later is not wasted. That is worth knowing, because pedals outlast wheelbases in most rigs and are usually the first upgrade people regret not planning for.
Which one survives being clamped to a desk?
Both clamp, and both will move a light desk under hard cornering. Neither wheel is strong enough to need a full cockpit, but both benefit from a rigid surface. If the desk flexes, the feedback you feel is partly the desk rather than the car, which quietly undoes the reason you bought a feedback wheel.
Will either wheel work on Xbox and PlayStation?
No, and this catches people out. The T248 comes in separate Xbox and PlayStation versions, and the T300RS is PlayStation and PC only. Console authentication is licensed per platform, so no consumer wheel spans both Sony and Microsoft. Check which version you are adding to the basket, because the model names differ by a single letter.
How we choose: we compare published manufacturer specifications, documented torque and travel figures, and verified owner reviews. We do not test gear in person. Everything here is researched guidance, not professional installation advice. Direct drive wheelbases produce enough torque to injure a wrist, and rig hardware carries real weight, so follow the manufacturer's mounting and torque limits.
