Thrustmaster T598 Review: Is 5 Nm Really 10 Nm? (2026)
The T598 shows up constantly on this site without ever getting its own page -- our Thrustmaster lineup review covers the T128 through the T818 but skips it, and our Logitech vs. Thrustmaster, best racing wheel for Xbox and best racing wheel for PS5 guides all reference it as the brand's entry direct-drive option for console racers. It deserves the dedicated look, because its headline spec hides a real trap.
Thrustmaster T598 by the Numbers
- 5 Nm: the T598's continuous torque rating, with a 100 percent overshoot that briefly pushes output to 10 Nm for sharp effects like curb strikes, per Thrustmaster's own published specifications.
- $424.99 / $524.99: the price of the servo base alone versus the full bundle with Raceline Pedals III -- about $100 more for a complete magnetic-sensor pedal set.
- 2 console SKUs, 1 price: the T598 sells as separate PS4/PS5/PC and Xbox Series X|S/PC versions, both at the same price point -- no console premium either way.
- 14+ months: the gap between the T818's 2023 launch (Thrustmaster's first direct-drive base) and the T598's November 2024 launch (its second) -- the T598 is not the brand's original direct-drive wheelbase, despite often being framed as the "entry" one.
- 1080°: the T598's maximum steering rotation, roughly half the 900°+ range of Thrustmaster's belt-driven T300RS and TX -- fine for F1 sims, tighter for rally or oval racing that wants more lock.
T598 Options: Base, Bundle, and the Licensed Version
| Option | Price | Includes | Console | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T598 Base | $424.99 | Servo base + basic wheel rim only | PS4/PS5/PC or Xbox/PC (separate SKU) | Racers who already own pedals |
| T598 Bundle | $524.99 | Base + basic wheel rim + Raceline Pedals III | PS4/PS5/PC or Xbox/PC (separate SKU) | Most first-time direct-drive buyers |
| T598 Ferrari SF1000 Bundle | Higher (varies by retailer) | Base + licensed Ferrari SF1000 wheel + Raceline Pedals III | PS4/PS5/PC | Buyers who want the F1-licensed rim over the stock wheel |
| T818 (for comparison) | $649.99 (base only) | Servo base only -- no wheel or pedals | PC only | Sustained 10 Nm, no console support |
Both T598 console SKUs carry the same price. Our own Xbox wheel guide covers the Xbox/PC version; our PS5 wheel guide covers the PlayStation version. The Ferrari SF1000 bundle swaps the stock rim for a licensed wheel at a retailer-dependent markup -- check current listings, since Thrustmaster's licensed bundles move in and out of stock.
The Overshoot Trap: Two "10 Nm" Numbers That Aren't the Same Number
The T598's box advertises a 100 percent overshoot to 10 Nm, and the T818 is rated at a sustained 10 Nm -- so on paper, two Thrustmaster wheelbases that differ by $225 appear to hit the identical torque ceiling. They don't deliver the same thing. The T598's 10 Nm is a brief spike the motor can produce for a sharp, momentary effect -- a curb strike, a wall hit, a single hard kerb clip -- before easing back toward its 5 Nm continuous baseline. The T818's 10 Nm is sustained: it can hold that output continuously, the way a steady cornering load or a long understeer scrub would demand. A spec sheet that lists "10 Nm" for both wheelbases is technically accurate for each, but it's comparing a peak to a plateau.
This matters most in exactly the moments F1 sim racers care about: sustained cornering loads under high aero grip, where the T598 settles back to its 5 Nm baseline while the T818 keeps pushing. For short, sharp impacts -- the kind a curb strike or a spin into a wall produces -- the T598's overshoot genuinely delivers a noticeably stronger hit than its continuous rating alone would suggest. Judge it by what it's built for, not by matching a number against the T818.
Second, Not First: Getting the T598's Place in the Lineup Right
It's easy to assume the T598, as Thrustmaster's cheaper console-friendly option, came before the pricier PC-only T818 -- "entry" models usually launch first. The opposite happened here. The T818 launched in 2023 as Thrustmaster's first direct-drive wheelbase, PC-only, using a conventional direct-drive motor. The T598 followed in November 2024, over a year later, using a different motor design -- Thrustmaster's Direct Axial Drive, an axial-flux layout that's cheaper to manufacture at lower torque and is what made a sub-$450 direct-drive base (and, eventually, a console-compatible one) possible at all. The Xbox/PC SKU followed the PlayStation version afterward. So the T598 isn't an earlier, scaled-down T818 -- it's a newer, differently-built wheelbase aimed specifically at hitting a price and a console neither the T818 nor Thrustmaster's belt-driven range could reach.
Who Should Actually Buy the T598
Console racers on PS5 or Xbox who want real direct-drive force feedback without spending T-GT II or TX money should buy the $524.99 bundle -- it's the one Thrustmaster direct-drive option that actually reaches a console at all, and the Raceline Pedals III included are a genuine magnetic-sensor pedal set, not a corner-cut afterthought. If you already own a compatible pedal set, the $424.99 base saves the overlap. Skip straight to the T818 only if you're PC-only and want sustained 10 Nm for serious endurance or GT3 sims where cornering loads, not curb spikes, dominate -- see our direct drive wheel guide for how it stacks up against Fanatec and Simucube at that tier. Either way, the stock T598 wheel rim is the weak point reviewers consistently flag as basic -- it uses the same quick-release hub as the T300RS, TX, T-GT II and T818, so swapping it later doesn't mean buying a new base.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Thrustmaster T598 actually direct drive?
Yes. The T598 uses Thrustmaster's Direct Axial Drive motor, a cheaper-to-build axial-flux design distinct from the radial motor in the flagship T818, but still a true direct-drive base rather than the belt or hybrid systems in the T128, T248, T300RS, TX and T-GT II. It launched in late 2024, over a year after the T818, as Thrustmaster's second direct-drive wheelbase and its first to support a console at all.
What does the T598's "100% overshoot to 10 Nm" actually mean?
It means the motor can briefly spike to double its rated output -- 5 Nm continuous becomes a 10 Nm peak for short, sharp effects like a curb strike or wall hit -- but it cannot sustain 10 Nm the way the T818 does. The T818's 10 Nm figure is a continuous rating; the T598's 10 Nm figure is a momentary ceiling. Both show "10 Nm" in marketing copy, but they are not the same kind of number.
Does the Thrustmaster T598 work on Xbox?
Yes, as a separate SKU. The T598 launched first for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and PC in late 2024, with an Xbox Series X|S and PC version following afterward. Both console SKUs are sold at the same price -- unlike some Thrustmaster tiers, there is no Xbox premium or discount on the T598.
Should I buy the T598 base alone or the full bundle?
The $524.99 bundle with Raceline Pedals III is the better value for most first-time direct-drive buyers -- it adds a full magnetic-sensor pedal set for about $100 over the $424.99 base-only price, and buying pedals separately later typically costs more. The one caveat: the bundle's included wheel rim is widely described by independent reviewers as basic and plasticky. It uses the same quick-release hub as the T300RS, TX, T-GT II and T818, so it can be swapped for a nicer rim later without replacing the base.
The Bottom Line
The T598 is Thrustmaster's real console answer to direct drive -- not a scaled-down T818, but a separately engineered, newer wheelbase built specifically to hit a sub-$450 price and reach PS5 and Xbox at all. Its headline "10 Nm" figure is genuine but conditional: a brief overshoot spike, not the T818's sustained output, so judge it against what you'll actually feel on sharp impacts rather than matching a number on a box. Pair it with a stable sim racing cockpit so the base's force feedback isn't undercut by frame flex, and see our full Thrustmaster lineup review for how it fits against the belt-driven T128 through T-GT II.