How to set up your Thrustmaster racing wheel on PC

Thrustmaster TS-XW Source: Windows Central

Thrustmaster makes some of the leading sim racing wheels for PC and console. In many cases, the bicycle tin can be used across a combination of PC, PS4, and Xbox One, but while consoles are usually a simple plug and play, there'due south a piffling piece of work to do to get going on the PC.

Products used in this guide

Amazing wheel: Thrustmaster TS-XW ($700 at Dell)
Budget choice: Thrustmaster T150 ($200 at Dell)

How to install drivers and firmware to your Thrustmaster cycle

Thrustmaster T150 Source: Windows Central

When you hook upwardly your Thrustmaster bicycle to your Xbox 1 or PS4, it's pretty much plug and play. You can adjust some of the settings in the game to have your setup feel better, but that's non ordinarily the case on the PC.

Like many external input devices, your PC will need to see some drivers, and it's also a good idea to brand sure that the firmware of the wheel is up to date, too.

To download both, head over to the Thrustmaster support folio.
Choose your bicycle.
Ringlet down to the drivers section where you'll find a .exe file download for drivers and firmware combined.
Download this and install it to your Windows PC.

Once the application downloaded above has been installed, open it up and and then connect your wheel when prompted. Without the drivers installed there's a stiff gamble your racing games won't run into the bike at all.

Thrustmaster Firmware Source: Windows Fundamental

Information technology's also important y'all make sure your wheel is in the correct mode. Xbox One wheels on Windows 10 should be fine, but if y'all're using a PS4 and PC-compatible wheel, consult the transmission to ensure the correct mode is selected for PC. On some, for example, y'all need to select the PS3 compatible fashion for employ on PC.

When you lot open the control console application, ensure your cycle is highlighted and click on properties to open up up the settings window.

The application will brandish the electric current firmware your wheel is on every bit pictured. To check for and install whatever updates, just click the check for update button in the lower righthand corner.

How to check the wheel earlier racing

Thrustmaster TS-XW Source: Windows Central

The bulk of your bike setup process volition accept place in each of the different games yous desire to play, merely at that place are some things to check before yous get started.

The Thrustmaster application allows yous to check the input of each role of the cycle and pedals, ensuring they're working correctly and testing the force. It'south also useful to get familiar with the buttons on the wheel and what each of them is numbered as, considering yous'll need to know that in the games.

1 particularly useful feature yous tin handle here is the rotation lock. If y'all have a wheel with a 1,080-caste rotation on information technology, such as the TS-XW and the T150, you can limit how much of this you want to use. 1,080 degrees is a lot, and unless you're playing something like Euro Truck Simulator ii or Farming Simulator 19, you're not going to use all of it.

Racing games don't really demand a lot of rotation, so y'all can knock it down in here to something less and it will translate to all your games.

Our top Thrustmaster wheel

Thustmaster makes a number of smashing wheels, and yous can set all of the PC compatible ones upward in this mode ready to hit the virtual tarmac. It'south hard to single out just one wheel to cheque out, but these are two of our electric current favorites.

Pro quality

TS-XW

Thrustmaster TS-XW

A professional person quality racing wheel for Xbox and PC

Information technology's pricey, simply information technology's too modeled on an actual racing wheel from Sparco. Trimmed in alcantara, packing a i,080-degree rotation, and a huge power supply that looks like a turbo, this is a serious piece of equipment.

Whether you're racing on panel or PC, the TS-XW is a worthwhile investment for the more serious sim racer. Not just does it look like the real thing, just its sophisticated strength feedback system feels like the existent thing. And if you lot don't similar the Sparco wheel, you can swap information technology out for a number of other designs.

An affordable culling

The TS-XW is pricey and sim racing is already an expensive concern. If you're looking for something a little less expensive, the T150 Pro is a solid alternative.

Affordable quality

T150 Pro

Thrustmaster T150

Lots of features at an attractive price

The T150 lacks the ultimate build quality you go on its more expensive siblings, but maintains a 1,080-degree rotation, solid strength feedback, and compatibility with both PC and PS4.

The Pro version is besides worth the extra spend over the regular T150 if you can stretch to it since you become Thrustmaster's T3PA three-pedal set included over the two-pedal in the standard edition. The T3PA is an adaptable set of pedals, and is the same equally you become with the TS-XW.

We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.

Buyer'south guide

These are the best Netgear routers available now

Dearest Netgear and want to improve your dwelling internet? Nosotros've rounded up the best routers available now, whether yous're looking to game, set up a mesh network, or just savour lag-free internet in your home.

Richard Devine

Richard Devine is an Editor at Windows Central. A quondam Project Manager and long-term tech addict, he joined Mobile Nations in 2022 and has been institute on Android Central and iMore besides as Windows Primal. Currently yous'll find him roofing all manner of PC hardware and gaming, and you can follow him on Twitter and Instagram.