Thrustmaster T818 Direct Drive Wheel Base Review

Introduction

It has been a long time in coming, but it is finally here. Thrustmaster has been producing gaming/simulation controllers since 1990, and never in that time have they released a Direct Drive wheel. The company has been on the cutting edge of simulation controllers that stretch from aircraft, handheld controllers, audio products, and most famously for sim racing. In late 2022 Thrustmaster revealed that it would in fact release their first Direct Drive wheel base as well as introduce a new ecosystem around this part.

For those unfamiliar with Direct Drive bases, let’s go over some of the basics. Traditionally force feedback wheel bases relied on a motor attached to belts and pulleys. In the case of Logitech, they used two smaller motors attached to a helical gear system. There are benefits and tradeoffs with such setups, but these were the default configurations for decades.

Eventually, engineers started looking at removing the belt and gear driven units by implementing a large motor attached directly to the drive shaft of the base. The motor had to be stronger and pull more power than previous base units, and were also more expensive. Smaller, more specialized companies at first offered these direct drive units at far higher prices than the more mainstream wheel bases. There had been rumors for years that the big three (Logitech, Fanatec, and Thrustmaster) would be introducing their own Direct Drive units. Fanatec was first out of the block with their DD unit, but by the end of 2022 Logitech and Thrustmaster joined the fray with their own offerings.

Thrustmaster was a US based company, but was purchased by Guillemot in 2000 along with the then graphics card manufacturer Hercules. This has allowed Thrustmaster to approach a much larger audience with worldwide connections and marketing. The company has cemented itself as one of the largest sim controller companies out there, but the primary focus is the budget and midrange markets. Competitors like Fanatec and Asetek approach the midrange and high end markets while Logitech has been a budget and midrange stalwart as well. The market is far more crowded these days with others like Simcube and Moza offering very compelling and competitive parts at a variety of price points.

The amount of competition in this market provided a lot of impetus for Thrustmaster to finally design and engineer a Direct Drive unit that was competitive in both price and performance. Thrustmaster has a very strong ecosystem of interchangeable parts that include wheels, hubs, pedal sets, and shifters/e-brakes. The new DD design did necessitate some changes to this landscape, but we will address that later. The T818 is the culmination of 30+ years of experience in the sim market, and it provides a very strong entry into the midrange DD market.

The Design

I was actually pretty impressed with the packaging that the T818 came in. It seems like boxing tech and design has really taken a step forward. It is actually quite reminiscent of the Xbox Series X packaging. The box opens nicely and everything is well packed and easy to access. It feels like a premium product that is not simply surrounded by styrofoam.

Thrustmaster decided to make a stylistic change with their latest wheels. The newer T128, T248, and the T818 embrace the hexagon as the shape of things to come. This is a step away from the traditional design that Thrustmaster implemented for their array of wheel bases, and it certainly is a fresh way of looking at things. The shape does not affect the performance of the unit, but eliminating pulleys and gears does make the housing much more compact.

The overall design is pleasant to look at, but does take some getting used to after having used more traditional looking bases for years. The front of the unit features a ring of programmable RGB lights. In the control panel users can select what colors and (limited) effects that can be applied to this ring. Thrustmaster is also working with developers to utilize the programmable LEDs to give useful information. F1 24 allows the display of revs, flags, and safety information. More titles are expected to utilize this functionality. On the right side of the unit are the settings buttons and emergency force feedback stop button.

The rear of the unit features all of the necessary ports. It has the dedicated pedal connection, a 4 pin power connection, a USB C (finally!) connection to the PC- allowing the user to change or replace the cable easily, and finally a multi-IO port that in the future will connect other products to the base. The 4 pin power cable locks into place quite firmly and I actually appreciate this design vs. previous power plugs that Thrustmaster has employed.

Due to the hexagon shape, the base of the wheel is quite narrow and does not feature a hole pattern that is supported by any current wheel stand. Users can drill their own holes to match, but this is certainly not optimal for most of us. Thrustmaster does sell separately two different base attachments for this product. The first is a desktop clamp that actually works really well for a Direct Drive unit. The second is a cockpit mounting kit that attaches to the bottom of the T818 and the resulting hole patterns of that unit do match up with most other wheel and chair stands. This is an extra cost for users and was initially only available via the Thrustmaster e-tail site.

There are two side panels that can be swapped out. The base shipping unit features blue panels, but other colors can be chosen for around $35. This allows some customization for users wishing to match other components in their racing gear. Four screws hold these panels on and can be swapped in very little time. Sadly, the Ferrari logo red panels are only offered on the Ferrari branded unit that comes with the SF1000 rim for $1100.

Thrustmaster has introduced a new quick release mechanism that is not compatible with the older quick release system. This one is much more of a “quick” release, as the old had to have a retaining screw removed and then a collar slowly unscrewed from the wheel. There was nothing really quick about it, and the old system certainly is not appropriate for a base as powerful as this one. The new system is a combination of a tough, nylon polymer combined with a aluminum locking segment. It is an asymmetrical design that can only be inserted one way.

Other solutions from Moza and Fanatec look more like what is found in actual racing cars, but the extra machining makes those solutions more expensive. There are now two options for owners of older wheels to affix those to the new T818. The first is a screw on adapter that adds about 3” of length to the shaft essentially, and has a bit of flex to it when installed. The second is a newer solution that replaces in full the screw-on system of the wheel. Each solution costs around the same, but I would suggest the replacement hub unit rather than the adapter.

The external power supply is a hefty unit at 168 watts. The power cable can be replaced with a typical 3 pin unit if a longer one is needed. The 4 pin cable side is permanently affixed. Thrustmaster gives plenty of cable length for most setups. The DD unit itself is rated for a constant 10 N-m of force, but it does peak higher. Some theorize that it could be marketed as a 12 to 13 N-m if peak force were measured, but Thrustmaster decided to be more conservative in how they rated this unit.

The T818 does not come with a wheel or a set of pedals. These must be purchased separately which is both good and bad. It would be nice to have an all-in-one solution for people interested in buying something with no extra hassle. However, when paying $700 for the base alone the user would like to be able to pick and choose those accessories according to their racing requirements. While Thrustmaster has a good stable of rims that can be swapped out, the choices in pedals are still a bit sparse. Those looking for load cell units will have to shop elsewhere for a standalone USB enabled pedal set.

Usage Impressions

My very first impression of the T818 was not positive in the least. The drivers and firmware were still very new and I was unaware of how different it would be than the previous TS-PC or the T300RS. Loaded up my first race in DiRT Rally 2.0 and the wheel was undrivable. I discovered quickly that “damping” is a very real thing that needs to be addressed. The wheel would shake uncontrollably, especially at lower speeds.

It took quite a while for me to start figuring out all the settings that would improve the experience. There were also driver and firmware updates that would help the situation and make the wheel settings easier to manage. Time, education, and some software improvements all came together to finally make this unit much more manageable and pleasant to use.

I bought this unit in the Spring of 2023 and my long term impression continues to improve. I was very, very frustrated at first. The wheel came with one adapter, so if I wanted to use the different rims on hand I had to swap out the one adapter I had. It was annoying to remove the adapter from one wheel to the other as more adapters were not available for sale until many months later. It is only within the last year that we have the native Fast Release rims readily available. The adapter induces a lot of flex in the design that can be easily seen, but luckily not as easily felt.

Time passed and things continued to improve. I bought a few more adapters for my older rims that could be used with the T818. I was able to fine tune both wheel settings in the control panel as well as having some good guides from Thrustmaster about in-game settings that benefit the setup. In mid 2024 the latest driver and firmware package were updated and I can safely say that this is the best version of what they had planned with this part. It was a bit of a long road to get to where it was truly usable for the majority of users.

The strength of the unit is very impressive. Going from either a Logitech dual helical drive base or a pulley and gear system is a night and day experience. Direct Drive provides instant response and very strong forces. One of the complaints of earlier DD bases is a certain notchiness due to the placement of magnets within the copper coils that power the shaft. This really is not all that apparent in this particular design. If a user takes off the rim and tries turning the hub with their fingers only, then they can start to feel a little bit of that notchiness.

Turning the shaft slowly without a rim one can feel a little bit of resistance and the notch sensation. Putting a rim on and attempting to feel that sensation is impossible. It just doesn’t register. In use there is no sensation at all. It just feels like real reactions to the wheel from the driving sim.

Turning the power up to Expert levels and 100% strength, the user will get a real workout in whatever sim they are exploring. The Argentina Rally in DiRT Rally 2.0 is exceptionally brutal, and at the end of a longer stage I found myself starting to sweat and my grip becoming uncomfortable.

10 N-m with peaks going to 12 and 13 is no joke, and a person could get hurt if they place their thumbs wrong inside the rim. This is still less than the advertised 25 N-m of the Asetek top end unit, but it is far more than the typical 3 N-m to 5 N-m of older pulley systems and the less expensive DD setups. I think it is a good compromise in power for the majority of users out there willing to shell out $699 for this particular piece of kit.

In the control panel Thrustmaster requires the user to unlock power settings above 75%. It defaults to a less extreme rating that will lower the chances of physical injury and strain. Happily users can make those changes to allow the base to provide a very strong and visceral experience for those willing to explore those limits. Having been in a wreck or two which have required me to take my hands off of the wheel, I fully understand why there is a button on the side of the base that will cut all feedback to the wheel.

I have three rims that I have been using with the T818. The Evo Racing 32R Leather rim is the only native Fast Release unit that I have on hand. The other two units are the TS-PC open wheel unit and the Ferrari 599XX Evo rim. These two required the use of the screw-on adapter which somewhat changes the geometry of those units as well as exhibiting the aforementioned flex. Thustmaster now has another adapter that allows users to remove the old quick release hub and use the new Fast Release mechanism in what is essentially a native configuration.

When actually driving I do not notice the flex in the older adapters with the original rims. The forces seem crisp and accurate. The strength of the base is very apparent in the variety of games that I have been playing. I enjoy a more visceral feedback experience that may not necessarily be accurate to real world situations. Actual rally racers who sim on the side usually run anywhere from 35% to 50% strength. They get the same feedback quality, but the forces are lower in a real car due to the power steering mechanisms and tuning to not exhaust the driver fighting the wheel all the time.

The unit is dead quiet in use. It has an integrated fan, but the cooling mechanism is so good that I never hear it spool up. The casing of the base does get a little warm, but it has plenty of venting and a lot of mass to soak up whatever heat is created. Hours of racing do not seem to have an effect on the forces being applied. Some less expensive models reportedly start to degrade force feedback strength after extended use with temperatures not being well controlled. In the two years that I have been using this base, I have never experienced a loss of strength or crispness of forces.

The fit and finish of the product seems good. I am not a huge fan of having to buy a separate base to mount in a cockpit, but that is a cost cutting measure to keep the price at the $700 US mark. Users looking to set this up immediately after unboxing will have to plan out their purchases to address this situation. From all indications the desk mount mechanism is remarkably strong and of high quality.

I personally would not recommend using this 10 N-m base on a desk, but not everyone has a standalone cockpit or wheel stand. For those living in tight quarters for no extra room to set up a dedicated sim cockpit, then the desk mount is probably their best option. Just be prepared for the desk to shake and move around a bit, depending on its build and weight.

The software and control panel are fine for what they do. It did take a while after release for Thrustmaster to fully support the T818 and work out all the bugs. Two years after release, the software side does not seem to be an issue. The control panel has all the necessary features to adjust all the settings of the wheel, as well as act as the LED lighting control unit. I typically set the power to 100%, Extreme mode, and 5% damper.

On the same page that Thrustmaster supports the T818 in terms of manuals, drivers, and firmware, they also include FFB settings for a variety of popular sims. This is a very good starting place for people who may not be as familiar with setting up FFB settings in a game. Most games feature settings that are incredibly generic and users may not get the full experience of racing high performance cars on challenging tracks and stages. Thrustmaster offers a nice baseline of settings to implement, and the user can then experiment with the forces to finally get a setup they are happy with.

Conclusion

I would like to reiterate that I personally bought this unit in March, 2023. I did not contact Thrustmaster about this part. Thrustmaster did not have an editorial say in this review. I received no compensation from Thrustmaster.

Buying your own units for review may not always be sustainable due to the prices of parts. What it does allow is much more flexibility in meeting timelines and conducting tests for far longer than most companies will tolerate. I think 2 years is a pretty extreme example of this, but sadly the first year of this product was frustrating. The second year the product was in much better shape, but I simply did not have the time to address this review with real life issues and workloads.

So here we are with two years of experience with the Thrustmaster T818. After a rough start it has turned into a very solid direct drive base. Software, firmware, ecosystem support, and additional parts available to improve the overall experience have made it a quality part that addresses an important market for sim racers. $699 US is not cheap, but it does provide a very strong 10 N-m plus experience. Competing parts in that power range are all around that area, if not a little bit more. The Fanatec Clubsport DD is a 12 N-m unit that is $100 more expensive. Thrustmaster offers a little less power (remember, it is theorized that it could be categorized as a 12 or 13 N-m part in terms of peak torque) for a lower price.

While this does not reflect on the T818, I am disappointed that Thrustmaster has not introduced a load cell based pedal system beyond the T-LCM pedals. It does look like Thrustmaster may be moving in that direction with their recent Raceline Pedals LTE (Long Term Evolution). This $99 US set looks like the units from Moza and Fanatec that can be adjusted, as well as adding on a load cell kit. There is no official announcement that this is in fact where Thrustmaster is going with their LTE pedals, but it certainly looks like it does to me. I tested the T818 with the now discontinued T3PA-Pro pedals. These did fine, but for racing purists who prefer a progressive brake pedal it is not a good comparison to a real load cell kit that features 70+ pounds of force.

I have been very happy with my purchase once Thrustmaster ironed out all the issues I had with this wheel base. The T818 is a good balance of price and performance, and the Thrustmaster ecosystem of rims, accessories, and pedal bases allow the user to mix and match products to their own style of racing. The Fast Release mechanism certainly won’t be found in any real cars, but this implementation is easy to use and exceptionally firm considering that it is not a 100% machined aluminum construction. Swapping out wheels is simple and snapping the mechanism back in place is satisfying.

This is a huge upgrade from previous geared and pulley systems. The experience of a strong direct drive unit is a whole new world compared to the older bases. There is no lag or softness to the force feedback, and it is just instant power delivered to the user’s hands. It seems that older pulley based systems are becoming more and more rare. Thrustmaster still sells options like the TS-PC and T248, but they also recently introduced a very interesting looking direct drive product in the T598. That unit features a different configuration with a direct axial drive motor. That particular unit is $200 less expensive than the T818, but it features a wheel and pedals. It is a weaker solution at 5 N-m.

It took Thrustmaster a few decades to develop a direct drive base, and it seems like it was time well spent. The T818 is a great piece of engineering that provides hours and hours of consistent and solid performance. I have abused it nicely for the past two years and it has not missed a beat. Thrustmaster offers a 2 year warranty on their parts and their support responds quickly to issues.

I would highly recommend the T818 for a user looking to get more serious with their sim driving. It is a great experience and Thrustmaster continually is improving their entire racing ecosystem with new and high quality parts. They also tend to hit lower price points than competitors like Fanatec and Asetek. These parts are readily available direct from Thrustmaster as well as retailers around the world. Currently, it is PC only. There is no console support as of yet, and it is unclear if there ever will be.