The Thrustmaster T98 Ferrari 296 GTB is an entry wheel built for one job: getting a new PlayStation 5 driver off the controller and onto a rim without a big outlay. It carries an official Ferrari license and a plug and play setup, and it is honest about what it is. This is not a force feedback wheel, and knowing that up front changes how you should judge it.
This review looks at how the T98 actually behaves, where it earns its place, and where a driver would be better served spending a little more. We compared the manufacturer specifications against recurring owner feedback, and you can read how we review. If the terms here are new, start with Getting Started.
At a glance
| Spec | Thrustmaster T98 Ferrari 296 GTB |
|---|---|
| Feedback type | Bungee cord resistance with automatic centering |
| Rotation | 240 degrees |
| Platforms | PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC |
| Pedals in box | Two (throttle, brake) with Hall effect sensors |
| Wheel diameter | 10 inches |
| Shifting | Paddle shifters, three Manettino driving profiles |
| Mounting | Tool free clamp for desks up to 1.8 inches |
What bungee cord resistance actually means
Before we judge the feel, it helps to know how this wheel resists your hands. A force feedback wheel uses a motor to actively push the rim, so it can simulate the front tires loading up or a curb rattling through the chassis. The T98 does something simpler. It uses a bungee cord system that provides linear resistance and pulls the wheel back to center on its own. That gives you a consistent, spring like weight as you turn, and a tidy return to straight, but the wheel cannot tell you anything about what the car is doing. There is no signal when the front end starts to wash wide, because nothing is driving the rim except the cord. For a first wheel, the honest question is not whether the T98 feels like force feedback. It does not. The question is whether it is a real step up from a thumbstick, and it is.
How it drives
Reviewers who race the T98 consistently describe it as a comfortable, low friction way to steer with your hands instead of a stick. The spring weight builds smoothly, the automatic centering keeps the wheel predictable, and the paddle shifters let you row through gears the way you would in a real cockpit. Where owners agree it shows its limits is the 240 degrees of rotation, which is well short of the 900 degrees commonly used to match a road car. That narrow arc suits arcade leaning games and casual Gran Turismo 7 sessions, but it makes precise, low speed maneuvering feel twitchy, and it does not let you cross your hands through a hairpin the way a full lock wheel would. The Manettino selector, borrowed from the Ferrari steering wheel it is styled after, cycles three sensitivity profiles so you can dial the response softer or sharper to match the game.
It also helps to be clear about where that narrow arc pays off. Games that lean arcade, from casual laps in Gran Turismo 7 to family friendly racers, are built around quick, exaggerated inputs, and the 240 degree range keeps the car responsive without asking you to swing your arms across a full turn. The moment you move toward stricter simulation, where a car needs 900 degrees to represent its real steering, the T98 starts working against you, because you run out of rotation before the on screen wheel does. Matching the wheel to the games you actually play is the single biggest factor in whether you enjoy it.
Build, wheel, and pedals
The 10 inch rim is compact and light, which keeps the whole set easy to store and easy to clamp to a desk. The standout detail for the tier is the pedal set. Rather than a basic potentiometer, the two pedals use Hall effect sensors, a contactless design that reads position magnetically and tends to stay consistent longer than a wiper contact that can wear. You still get only a throttle and a brake, with no clutch and no load cell, so you are braking by how far you press rather than how hard. That is expected at this level, and the Hall effect sensors are a genuinely useful touch that many competing starter wheels leave out.
Compatibility and setup
The T98 is the PlayStation and PC version of this wheel, so it covers Gran Turismo 7 on console and a wide range of PC titles, with no extra software required to get moving. The tool free clamp handles desks and tables up to 1.8 inches thick, and the light weight means it seats quickly without a dedicated rig. There is no bundled shifter or handbrake, and because this is a bungee cord wheel rather than a force feedback base, there is no upgrade path into stronger motors later. What you buy is what you keep, so plan around it being a starter rather than a platform.
Who should buy it, and who should skip it
| Buy the T98 if | Skip it if |
|---|---|
| You want a first wheel for PS5, PS4, or PC on a tight budget | You want real force feedback that signals grip |
| You mostly play Gran Turismo 7 casually and value plug and play | You need 900 degrees of rotation for full lock control |
| You like the Ferrari styling and Hall effect pedals at this tier | You want a wheel you can grow with, motors and all |
How it scores
The WSR Score reflects verified buyer ratings gathered and normalized on a consistent scale, not an editorial rubric. You can read what goes into it on How We Review. On that basis the T98 rates well for a starter wheel, which matches the pattern in owner feedback: satisfied casual drivers who wanted an affordable, good looking way onto the rim, tempered by racers who expected feedback the wheel was never built to provide.
Alternatives worth a look
If your budget can stretch to a wheel with genuine motors, our Thrustmaster T128 review covers the entry force feedback option that many first time buyers step up to. To weigh the T98 against the rest of the starter field, see the best racing wheels for beginners and the best racing wheels under $150. For the full picture across every tier, our best sim racing wheels guide is the place to begin, and you can browse more options in belt and gear driven wheels.
