This is what you call the most finest example of "a truly honest review" and how it should be. Great work and I totally agree with your final thoughts.
I know I'm late but I used to have one of those sucky wheels that you could get for under $50. I could have probably outrun myself on a controller, but I liked the feel of the wheel better. Edit: I just had to get used to the good wheel. Now I just prefer the feel of the better outright:
Even as someone whose last steering wheel was some kind of late '90s or early 2000s cheapo deal, I can back that up. - I've tried using gamepads like the DualShock 3, using the analogue sticks obviously. And while that is of course a more accurate way than keys, it's still too tedious because the movement is so limited. It's just so little travel compared to even the steering wheels with the least travel out there, so with those little sticks it gets really tedious, and thus, risky within the games. - So even the very basic wheel and pedal sets I had in the past were much better for controlling the virtual vehicles. It's just more logical, as it mimics what you're supposed to do.
Would strongly suggest to save up a bit longer and look at the second hand sites. I would not go cheaper then this or a T150/G29. Then you're just trowing money away. Everything is offcourse better then a keyboard but you'll need a controler for other games anyway so thats a no brainer to get one of those. If you're talking wheel. Don't buy to cheap or you'll just get scammed with a plastic lump of crap.
Shaun Cole. U do some of the best and most informative sim hardware reviews on the internet. Keep it up man. Inside Sim racing definitely isn't the same anymore since u lefy
I bought this 3 yrs ago as a complete beginner, and it's still going strong. Great vid, you accurately covered all key positives and negatives. For my purposes it still performs really well, the pedals are useable and basic, with my size 12 feet I have to use just my toes but it isn't an issue. I had to get creative to keep the pedal base from sliding, then got a cheap stand problem solved. Paired with a ButtKicker, I've used it in F1 2017,18,19,20, Dirt Rally and 2.0, Grid 2019 and Autosport, Nascar Heat 5, Project Cars 1 & 2, and finally Wreckfest. For casual entry level, it's been great for me, but not really suitable for anything competitive (the slight dead space is an issue). Not recommending it this many years later, but on a retiree budget for basic recreation it's been great for me.
I was hesitant getting this because most of the time getting the cheaper version of something usually ends up being a bust, and for some, $200 isn't very cheap to be taking that chance. But coming from someone who has never used a racing wheel besides a few at an arcade, this thing is amazing took awhile to get used to but once you get your settings right in game it feels good. Can't say how it compares to an expensive wheel, obviously not as good or realistic as one of those but if you are a beginner with no experience on a racing wheel and looking for a good entry level wheel I would highly recommend this! So far I've played forza motorsport 7, forza horizon 4, dirt rally 2.0, and need for speed heat, all worked great.
I just bought it but I bought better pedals and I'm waiting for it to ship. I went all out with this idea of simulating racing and also am going to buy an xbox ( I'm a playstation man myself lol). This wheel is going to be the cure of my thirst of fast, beautiful cars in a game like forza.
@@lucasredd6144 no noticeable delay, settings will vary game to game and take awhile to feel right most start off feeling very stiff but I've been using mine a year now with no complaints still works very well
if you download the calibration tool from thrustmaster and calibrate the wheel on the degrees ur using in game you will have no deadzone at all :)(you put ur wheel on the degrees u want in the thrustmaster control panel, and then use the calibration tool)
First time dropping by your channel. I just wanted to say thanks for the very informative and in depth review. I literally couldn't have done a better review myself. I don't have a single question or thought left unanswered. Thank you again for a great review!
Shaun I must tell you that was one fantastic video, so informative and on point! I'm not a gamer just some dude researching wheels new to racing, this is an extremely useful presentation. Thank you sir!
I have a tmx with t3pa pedals and th8a that I use on PC and xb1 I absolutely love it I had a g920 before it but the tmx blows Logitech outta the water!
s1201 I have one of these and it's so unreliable I'm going to change to the Logitech as soon as I can. It been returned to Thrustmaster who have said there's nothing wrong with it and its probably my internet (if some one can enlighten me how my internet would cause issue by all means please). The wheel shuts its self off randomly after working fine for weeks in both online and off line play and it can often forget it button mapping as well. And even after sending it to France it's still doing it. Not happy and would NOT recommend.
i think the TMX with T3PA pedals is a step UP from the Logitech G series because the Belt/Gear system is better than the Hellical Gears on the logitechs
superbly delivered, honest, yet not unnecessarily damning, and you as a pro Simmer, are realistic of the fact that people are coming into the sim arena without a big starting budget, well done , many pro's cant see that!
I just got one a week ago or so for my first wheel and its been great. I laughed when I saw it on the tv tray because that's exactly how I have it. The pedals kept moving around on the floor so I got some good'ol duct tape to put on the bottom and it works great at keeping it in place. For my first wheel I think its fine but I'm already looking to up grade once I get a better platform to use. I'm looking at spending maybe 3k or 4k in total someday to complete a setup but for now the TMX is fine.
I got this wheel as my first racing wheel. Had it for about 6 months, bought it second hand for £50 and it’s such a great wheel. No faults, would recommend to anyone starting off in sim racing
@@mracer8 are you fucking stupid? Read the comment and go to the timestamp. The guy in the vid said a pedal set with BRAKE AND CLUTCH and he was making a joke about how the guy screwed up... maybe if you could read you would understand
This was so helpful. I could only find reviews saying only good things and dancing around the point. This video was so helpful to me and my choice. I just subd
I just got this wheel a few days ago as my first wheel and I absolutely love it! I’ve always been a big NASCAR 2003 fan but never was able to drive and now that I can finally drive in a real simulation game I’m addicted
I got mine yesterfay, I dont even have a table for this thing and i Absolutely love it. Its been a lot of fun and while my setup us very cave man like, Its been a blast trying to drift in an 86. Or speeding through a county in an F1 Race car
Gotta agree, this is a toy compared to the likes of a T300 or Open Sim wheels. However, I myself came from used G25/G27 wheels which have very old technologies, are not supported on modern consoles but have good FFB. I went out to buy a new wheel I can use for the PS4 and PC and got myself a T150 (the TMX's PlayStation brother). True enough in the case of the pedals, but I had second thoughts with the main wheel. I think the wheel is more than that of an entry level. It's smoother than a Logitech wheel and it feels good straight out of the box. I have already recommended this wheel to a lot of my friends who are planning to start some competitive sim racing. Above all, I love the modularity of this package, with the ability to upgrade to a T3PA pedal soon.
Oye, ¿pero crees que los T3PA sean mejores que los pedales del G27? A mi me parece que tienen menos recorrido y viéndolos por dentro parecen de menor calidad que los Logitech.
ARGH!!! after weeks of price comparisons of online retailers and stores , reading and watching every review in the world it seems i find this gem of a review (beam of light appears and shines on)... maybe i just need curtains lol , i just wanted a fun wheel to mess around in forza4 and so on ,thanks to you i decided on a tmx pro since it does come with good pedals ! THANK YOU SHAUN !! keep up the great work
Shuan is basing this off an $800 wheel, that's what he's basing it off, it's okay for the money, he's saying "it's not gonna break your hands like a direct-drive wheel will" he's being honest for folks looking to upgrade their G27's or G25's
Such a comprehensive and well thought out review that addressed the exact concerns I have as a purchaser of my first force feedback wheel. Thank you so much.
I just upgraded from my old logitech momo to this and this feels VERY similar. The gear feeling is a lot less but the force feedback is pretty much on par.
This must be one of the finest reviews I've ever seen!! I have some questions though: 1. How do you calibrate, setup the wheel and upgrade the firmware if you're on an Xbox? Does it all have to be done in the games? 2. I am about to buy the pro package with the better pedals, but what's the difference to the Thrustmaster TX series? That leather version or similar (people seem to not like the Ferrari version). 3. What is better on the TMX wheel and the pedals in the pro setup vs Logitech g920? How's the pedals? (Vs the pedals in the pro setup) 4. I've heard nothing about that glitch problem in the middle before. Other reviewers says it's much better in this matter that for example the g920. Which is correct? 🙂
I purchased this after years of runnning on the driving force GT, and i really needed an upgrade. Price was good and any modern wheel is better than an old one :D
I think I will be getting this for my old school arcade machine for the driving games. Mounting it onto the front between the controllers may the perfect spot. Thanks for a detailed review...
Great review! Everything was great! I've been thinking for some time about getting this steering wheel as a switch from the controller. Now the decision will be even easier. Think for players who are not so professional on the road, it is a good steering wheel for the transition from the controller, especially since the steering on the controller despite many setting options is never as precise as with a steering wheel.
I have used a controller my entire life. About a year ago I bought a U SHAPED WIRELESS WHEEL for $17 at Gamestop for my Xbox360 to play Nascar 09...I WAS BLOWN AWAY HOW MUCH BETTER THE RACING WAS...JUST WITH A WIRELESS WHEEL CONTROLLER. Now of course this is a much Bigger step than a U Shaped Wireless Wheel controller. When NASCAR HEAT EVOLUTION came out it was a HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT, which caused me to make the leap from Xbox to PC. I just purchased a i7 gaming pc with nvidia 1070 16gb ram with 2 gig hard drive which they told me would easily play IRacing. Im not sure if I am going to like it. I was also scared to spend more money until I got my feet wet first. So basically THANK YOU VERY MUCH...I WENT OUT AN BOUGHT THIS WHEEL. I cant wait to try it out. Best buy said it would be in tomorrow. Per your video...you made me feel good about buying this wheel being a Newbie to Sim Racing. Thank you so much. :0)
I just bought this wheel. I figured it would be decent enough to start with. It’s still awkward but I’ve literally only had one day. Cool video! I was surprised at the force feedback myself!!!!
Hey I was watching few ATS and ETS videos with this wheel and looks like this wheel does not come back to the center like in real cars? I had Thrustmaster 300 GT long time ago and after every turn he was always moving the wheel to the center automatically, does this wheel has that or not?
totaly agree! i am completely new to sim racing so bought this tmx as an entry level sortof starter wheel. its great. i did catch the bug and will certainly be upgrading 1 day. but for now, this is an affordable way into this hobby. i run the tmx with t3pa pro pedals and the th8a shifter and i am having a blast, and i am even able to be competitive with sum of the other drivers on more expensive setups. i give this product a 8 out of 10, only because the pedals were just about useless and no hard mounting. and the customer service with thrustmaster is, lets just say, stressful. but over all, this wheel has been my gateway drug into this hobby. See u on the track!
edgar soto after a few weeks of using this i do love it. but i have had sum issues with the th8a shifter, the costumer service from thrustmaster SUX! 100% i would buy ANYTHING else based on that.
edgar soto guess so, but look for info on the support that logitech offers. look for replacement parts, or cables. check all ur bases b4 u drop the cash on it. either way u go, its a ton of cash.. if support isnt necessary to u, or u dont mind waiting months for results if u have a faulty product , i would go with the thrustmaster, but i cant speak about the logitech support, iv never bought a logitech.. i will next time tho. fosho!
tarzan12052 the g920 comes with a 2 year warranty and they also sell ac adapter with wall plug. They also have a lot of faq on there page. Seems pretty good going to buy it.
I wouldn't say it's that light. I have a TMX pro as well, but I also have a T300, it's definitely not as strong or smooth as the T300. But, it is more than adequate. It's an excellent starting wheel.
im relatively new to sim racing and own the tmx wheel. some of the issues you've had with your wheel aren't issues i share. for example my wheel has maybe a millimetre of dead zone at the max, where it looked like you were driving the a team van with yours lol. and both my paddle shifters share the same satisfying "click" sound. i agree with what you've said about the pedals! any one looking to purchase this set should save up enough to buy the t3pa pedal set (which i did after 48 hours of owning the stock pedals. i also managed to find a brand new set for $156 free shipping so im very happy with my purchase and would highly recommend these to anyone looking to get in to the hobby.
This is not a step down from the G29/G920. Yes it’s made of plastic, but the belt and FFB just make for a better experience. If you get the PRO version, it is actually a step up thanks to the higher bit rate pedals. Also, there’s no dead zone... All you have to do is adjust the linearity of the steering in games like Forza and the wheel is tight!
now that is a good review, i myself own a logitech G29. Finally somebody who doesn't diss the logitech G series. i respect thrustmaster and logitech, they're are different for the same purpose, some may like TM and some Logitech. For an entry wheel of 200 dollars this wheel is a must have for newcomers. I agree, if you play Forza motorsport, forza horizon and even hardcore Sims like assetto Corsa, IRacing than ye, the wheel will do it's job. it ain't a G29, or a T300rs/T500 but it does the job right. That's what logitech is missing, a good entry wheel to appeal newcomers. Again, really nice review, you earned a like and a subscription
Can't say if this is a downgrade from that or not because I've only ever used this tmx but I've had it a couple weeks now and have had no issues this wheel is great for the price
I’ve been trying to find the answer to this question as well. I have the G920, it isn’t compatible with my Thrustmaster TH8A so I ordered this wheel with the T3PA pedals. I’m waiting for it to arrive. I’ll update when I compare the two in person.
For me its fully enaugh! I ordered the one with 3 Pedals! I want to play a VR Driving Simulator with this aaaaaand my good old European Truck Simulator 2 in Vr! Just for imersion! Watched now several reviews!
I have used the tmx wheel and t3pa pedals for a couple years and love them for a beginner setup. I order today my csl elite and ps1 wheel and next week will be the holy grail clubsport pedals v3. Thank you for reviewing the lower end equipment.
good review it kinda made me get a 2nd hand one. its coming tomorrow I cant wait because lately my 458 italia wheel has been dying. the deadzone has just been getting bigger and the pedals give random input sometimes
Gamestop sells the TMX Pro which is the TMX wheel + T3PA Pedals for $249 (when it's in stock), however they do sometimes have sales. I got mine for $199 over the holidays and it's worth it at the $199 price point. The TMX is really filling a big gap on the XBOX One as previously, you went from the Thrustmaster non-FFB or Hori non-FFB, straight to the TX or G920, with nothing to fill the old Mictosoft FFB wheel for the Xbox 360 position in the lineup). I am coming in as someone who is a long time racing games on consoles, but never had a force feedback wheel before. I'd like to offer a few insights for folks who have never used the higher end FFB wheels before, as I think it's hard for you to get into the mindset since you are used to the higher end (better equipment): 1. Get the TMX Pro from Gamespot. The standard pedals aren't worth it 2. Force Feedback feels reasonably strong on certain games (Dirt Rally mostly). If you don't know what stronger wheels feel like, it probably doesn't feel as gentle as you mention 3. The dead zone probably isn't as noticeable to a new person Another couple points about the FFB: - On Project Cars on XBOX, the wheel feels pretty heavy and strength had to be dialed back to get a better feel - Even on full strength in dirt rally and really whipping the wheel around, it doesn't get blazing hot (it's warm and smells a bit like warm electronics). - My 9yr old wanted to try the wheel out, and on Assetto Corsa, it is at least light enough FFB so that he can handle it. It would make a great wheel for ever seasoned racers to use to introduce friends (and especially kids) to FFB wheels. I appreciate someone that is at least honest about the TMX. Most of the early reviews seemed to over-hype the FFB strength, so it could disappoint some. Since I am exactly the more casual, but long time console racer, you are correct and noting that it a great wheel to get someone started. I said it before and will leave with this thought again: Get the TMX Pro (from Gamestop) with the T3PA pedals. The clutch isn't really necessary for a first wheel, however it's still handy in both Dirt Rally (clutch kicks) and Project Cars (The Lotus 98T really benefits from manual clutch to keep the turbo spooled on upshifts if you want to run it at 100% boost).
I’ve had this wheel as my first wheel for about a year now. I think that it’s really good. Although I want to, a never ended up getting a pedal upgrade. I’m building a PC, so I don’t think that pedals are in the budget. The dead zone sucks, but it’s not incredibly noticeable. At some point I want to ditch this wheel for maybe a CSL Elite.
This is a great video and I will be getting this wheel for sure. I am glad someone finally made a good review on this wheel with all the details and ups and downs. I was also wondering if it would be compatible with club sport pettals? thanks
Im planning to get into sim racing it's been 2 years since i moved to PC from xbox one where i only played forza games extensively and i kinda grew up playing racing games but i never really owned or used any steering wheel and i'm now craving to play some sim racing games (or any racing games that are not arcade) but im really confused as to what to get... Do i buy a cheap affordable wheel that i know is not going to last me long enough, that i think lacks quality and be disappointed over time or do i save money for longer and buy a T300RS GT or a G29 or any other mid/high range wheels? I do think i need a wheel stand for a wheel but again im confused as to what to get, i saw the wheel stand pro but it doesn't look very sturdy and would prefer a stand that is very solid and with not much wobble, so i saw the gt omega wheel stand and that looks much better but if anyone knows anything better than the gt omega stand i would appreciate it! So... - Cheap or more expensive wheel? - Do i really need a wheel stand? Because i don't know if my desk is sturdy enough for that purpose Lastly i use a swivel office chair for my everyday use and i think the swivel would make it really hard to use a wheel do you guys know of any system to lock the swivel ? or do i need a whole other chair for using my wheel? Any help is appreciated
I run this and this is not a step down from a G920. This feels so much better then the G920 in my opinion. Also, you can change the rim on it, you just need to do a little “fabrication.” All you need to do is screw off the rim, then take off the button box, and mount a wheel to the button box and base using the same screws. Depending on what rim you use, you may not be able to use the buttons without taking your hand off the wheel. I have a cheap NRG wheel and I have to take my hands off the wheel to use the buttons and can’t use the paddles. And this man said “A Pedals”
Great review! I'm not a huge simmer per se but wanted to enjoy Forza 7 and nascar heat in a different way than using a controller. Picked this set up for $130 brand new off of Amazon!
@@Kylosgrande Kyle it was great when I owned it! Its way harder than using a controller, but fun nonetheless. If you do get this, I recommend buying a stand that's made for these wheels and pedals.
@@DD-ix3bm appreciate it thank you! Hopefully forza 8 will be more wheel friendly. I did try my friends wheel and was very difficult in forza but f1 was awesome, he had a g29
Yes i am late Yes this wheel is great if you are starting off for driving and has great ffb, but if you are trying to get into the drift commmunity, i don't recommend this if you want to be smooth due to the rotation being slower than a t300rs or a g29 etc... Yes it is do-able if you put extra effort into moving the wheel for drifting, but having a different wheel with better self rotation would be recommended. hope this helps out with anyone who's looking for a "drift wheel"
Seriously the thing is a Tank no joke. Have dumped this under the desk tonnes of times ok mind you not hardcore, but enough. Had it for 3 years now (bought it because of Euro Truck sim which turned me to try racing games) nothing broken or problematic. Yes i would recommend it to beginners who want to see how the racing sims are and see if they like the whole world, if you don't go in with massive expectations you will really enjoy this wheel it really is decent and the FFB (force feed back is fun). Next week I'm upgrading to a TS PC. Just bought an T LCM so should be a decent upgrade. Better than the Logitech beginner wheels by a mile. Pedals i really am not fanatical enough to say they are bad they did the job they stopped the damn car and propelled it what else do you want ;), but i will prob change my mind when i try the T LCMs, only reason why i bought them is to see the real reason why people say you should upgrade the pedals as soon as possible or first.
I think you can upgrade this wheel to have the 599xx wheel rim. You can undo the hex bolts and remove the screws from the shifters at which point the wheel rim will come off. Simply remove your buttons from the 599 rim and be left with the wheel only and simply reatch it
Thanks for this review. I'm considering getting my first wheel and leaning towards this one. Right now (July 2019) I'm seeing it on Amazon for only $126 so I think I'm gonna pull the trigger on it.
I bought a brake spring for a logitech g920 and shoved it in there and it worked a treat to stiffen up the brakes. Progressive braking for your left foot is a godsend. Beware: If you choice to do this, be careful not to spin the little gear cogs on the bottom of the pedals as it will mess up your alignment and adjusting it is a small pain.
Just bought a used one for 116€, so excited for it to arrive, coming from keaboard. As a casual, Forza Horizon is as close to a sim as i go. Thank you for your review, One can tell you realy tried to get in the mind of a first timer or casual, but I think you neet to go lower. I am still tapping arrow keys to corner...
I had the chance to test a G29 and Ferrari wheel before the TMX and I purchased the TMX, Ferarri wheel is obvs non FFB and was pants. It must feel different on a PC to Xbox as my TMX has strong FFB. Like stronger than my actual real car with steering in sport setting. I do not have youre experience with the higher graded models but as a Sim Stearing wheel novice I actually felt the TMX FFB was too strong and at first I reduced the FFB to 60% Untill I got a RIG that wouldn't skid around my room when I went sideways on the game. I now have 11 months experience with the TMX and play on a playseat (Amazon) and the wheel is fantastic. There are down sides however.The brake has NO feel at all (now modded) and I dont have the pro so only 2 pedals at mo. I will soon upgrade to the T8 shifter and T3pa pedals. The biggest upset for me is the Handbrake situation. I really dont wana have to spend over £200 on a sparco edition but that's really my only option while it's in warranty. If I had the choice again and the same budget I would chose the TMX all day.But If budget allowed I would of gone for a Tx.
I've talked to Shaun about this, and I believe the Logitech is a better wheel, but again, not available new. However the Logitech used gears and this wheel uses belts, so less coggy I presume.
