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Thrustmaster T598 vs Fanatec Gran Turismo DD Pro

Head-to-head · Updated 19 October 2026 · Based on 38 owner posts and reviews

These are the two direct drive wheels most people weigh when they play Gran Turismo 7 on PS5 and want to move up from a Logitech G29 or a Thrustmaster T300. The T598 is the cheaper one. The Fanatec Gran Turismo DD Pro is the officially licensed GT wheel and costs $300 more as a bundle.

We cannot hands-on test wheels. This page uses owner posts on GTPlanet from 2024 to October 2026, verified-owner reviews on PB Tech, and the prices and compatibility on the Thrustmaster and Fanatec pages as of 19 October 2026. We did not find a poster who had owned both, so the comparison is built from separate owner reports.

We can’t test everything, so each pick is labelled with where the evidence comes from. How we research and test. Some links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you (disclosure).

The short answer

For most PS5 buyers with a $500 budget, the T598 is the safer value pick: owners praise its detail and its pedals, and it costs $300 less. The Gran Turismo DD Pro is the better long-term platform, with more rims, pedals and bases to move up to, but late-August 2026 reports show Fanatec still working on disconnects in GT7 since update 1.71, and owners say its out-of-the-box GT7 settings are weak until tuned.

Choose the Thrustmaster T598 if you want direct drive on PS5 or PC for $499.99 with decent pedals included, and you can live with a PC-based firmware update and a basic wheel rim.

Choose the Fanatec Gran Turismo DD Pro if you plan to keep upgrading within one brand (load cell pedals, better rims, a stronger base later), and you are willing to wait out or work around the current GT7 firmware issue.

Thrustmaster T598Fanatec Gran Turismo DD Pro
Price (US, 19 Oct 2026)$499.99$799.99 (5 Nm bundle)
Torque5 Nm constant, overshoot up to +100%5 Nm, 8 Nm with the $59.99 Boost Kit 180
PlatformsPC, PS4, PS5PS5, PS4, PC
Wheel includedSportcar rim, 11.8 in, paddle shiftersGran Turismo DD Pro steering wheel
Pedals includedRaceline Pedals LTE, two pedalsTwo-pedal set, throttle and brake
Quick releaseNot stated as included; adapter sold separatelyQR2 Lite on base and wheel, preinstalled
Also in the boxClamp, 2 carpet grips, 98 W power supplyTable clamp, 5 Nm power supply, pedal spacers

Price and what the money buys

The T598 is $499.99 on Thrustmaster's page with base, wheel and two Raceline pedals. The Gran Turismo DD Pro bundle is $799.99 with base, wheel, a two-pedal set and a clamp. The 5 Nm bundle needs the $59.99 Boost Kit 180 to reach 8 Nm, which brings it to $859.98.

Torque is not a clear win for Fanatec. Thrustmaster rates the T598 at 5 Nm constant with overshoot up to double that. A GTPlanet owner who moved up from a T150 said it is powerful enough to hurt your wrists. A DD Pro owner who bought the Express version in 2021 said the standard 5 Nm supply felt light and the 8 Nm supply made a big difference.

Feel in Gran Turismo 7

T598 owners coming from a G29, T150 or T300 talk about catching slides sooner and being more consistent over a race. One former G29 owner wrote that everything you feel in the wheel is useful information. Another said the T598 pedals are the best of the wheels he has owned.

DD Pro owners are more divided about GT7. Several say the default setting feels dull, grainy or like a vibrating wheel until you tune it. One owner who moved from a CSL Elite said the 8 Nm DD Pro was not a night and day change. Others are happy, and in September 2026 one owner running the 5 Nm bundle with the 8 Nm supply said they are very happy with it after fixing an early drifting-axle issue. Both wheels need settings work in GT7, and owners trade settings lists freely.

Firmware and reliability

For the T598, firmware updates need a Windows PC. Two owners call this a nuisance if you only have a console. Several owners report power connector faults that cut the wheel out, and one owner repaired a short connector pin while another tightens the plug with a ferrule crimp before each session. A few report heat. One owner measured about 45 degrees Celsius and lost no force over hours of endurance racing, while another lost force after about 50 minutes in a 19 degree room and fixed it by reducing master force to 90 percent. In September 2026 one T598 owner reported four disconnects in a week after the GT7 update, on a unit that had been fine before.

For the DD Pro, GT7 update 1.71 added FullForce support and also brought unstable behaviour for some owners. GTPlanet reported on 28 August 2026 that Fanatec confirmed disconnects, force feedback loss and bases spinning to full lock. Fanatec's advice is to lower the FUL setting or turn it off. A 21 September forum post listing Fanatec's known issues still included the GT DD Pro losing force in GT7. Owners tried lower torque and sensitivity, with mixed results. This may have changed after that date, so check the latest Fanatec app notes before buying.

Upgrade path

Fanatec has the wider ecosystem. Owners swap in rims such as the McLaren GT3 V2 and the ClubSport RS, add load cell pedals, and later move to a ClubSport DD+.

Thrustmaster owners can use T-LCM load cell pedals and rims such as the Ferrari 488 GT3. Thrustmaster's page lists a load cell upgrade kit for the T598 pedals as available soon. One owner found the larger EVO Racing 32 rim dulled the 5 Nm base.

If you are on PC

Both wheels work on PC, but neither is the obvious PC buy. For PC-only racing, Moza's R5 bundle is $379 with 5.5 Nm and its R9 V3 base is $299 with 9 Nm on Moza's US store, with a wide range of rims. See our wheel guide.

Thrustmaster T598

$499.99
Owner-reportedPS5, PS4, PC

Thrustmaster's first PlayStation-compatible direct drive base, bundled with a wheel and two pedals. Owners who came from a G29, T150 or T300 call it a large step up in detail and consistency, and several rate the pedals highly. The recurring complaints are a PC-only firmware update, a basic rim and power connector faults.

What owners report · from 18 owner posts and reviews we read

  • A large step up from a G29, T150, T300 or TX (several owners)
  • Easier to catch slides and more consistent over a race (a few owners)
  • Pedals are better than expected for a bundle (a few owners)
  • Good value for a PlayStation-compatible direct drive wheel (several owners)
  • Firmware updates need a Windows PC, which console-only players may not have (two owners)
  • Included rim feels cheap (two owners)
  • Power connector faults can cut the wheel out in play (several owners)
  • Some owners report the base getting hot and losing force on long sessions, while another reports no loss after hours of endurance racing (split)
  • Printed button labels wear off (one owner)

Coming from a G29 (and previously a DFGT), it's a no-brainer upgrade.

The base got really hot and much of FFB strength faded away after around 50min.

Owner threads we read (3)
Torque
5 Nm constant, overshoot up to +100%, 5 ms latency
Platforms
PC, PS4, PS5
Wheel included
Sportcar rim, 11.8 in (30 cm), detachable, with paddle shifters
Pedals included
Raceline Pedals LTE, two pedals
Quick release
Not stated as included. A quick release adapter is sold as a separate accessory.
Also in the box
Clamping system, 2 carpet grips, 98 W power supply
Best for
PS5 and PC racers moving up from a belt or gear wheel who want direct drive at the lowest price.
Worth knowing
Firmware updates need a Windows PC, and several owners report power connector problems that cut the wheel out mid-session.
Check price at thrustmaster.com

Price seen at thrustmaster.com, 19 Oct 2026 (price on product page; stock status not shown).

Fanatec Gran Turismo DD Pro (5 Nm) Wheel Base Bundle

$799.99
Owner-reportedPS5, PS4, PC

The officially licensed Gran Turismo wheel. Owners report quiet running, a solid base and a deep upgrade path of rims, pedals and bases. They also report that the stock GT7 settings feel weak, that the wheel rim is basic, and that the late-August 2026 GT7 update broke FullForce stability for some bases.

What owners report · from 20 owner posts and reviews we read

  • A clear step up from belt or gear wheels (several owners)
  • Deep upgrade path: rims, load cell pedals, and stronger bases later (several owners)
  • Compact and well built (one owner)
  • GT7 force feedback feels weak or vibration-like until tuned, and the default setting is poor (many owners)
  • Not a big jump for people coming from a CSL Elite or T-GT II (a few owners)
  • Since GT7 update 1.71 (late August 2026), force feedback loss and disconnects on some bases with FullForce (several owners)
  • Stock wheel is small with basic shifters (several owners)
  • 5 Nm feels light to some, which is why the Boost Kit is common (a few owners)

The DD Pro is a nice compact package: great build quality, easy to hardmount, completely silent even after longer session

The FFB issue is more of a GT7 thing. The game just feels dull and lifeless with the DD Pro, in my opinion of course.

Owner threads we read (3)
Torque
5 Nm standard, 8 Nm with the Boost Kit 180 (sold separately, $59.99)
Platforms
Compatible with all PS5 and PS4 consoles, and PC
Wheel included
Steering wheel for the Gran Turismo DD Pro
Pedals included
Two-pedal set, throttle and brake
Quick release
QR2 Lite on the base and wheel, preinstalled
Also in the box
Table clamp, 5 Nm power supply, pedal spacers, T-nuts, cables
Best for
Players who want one brand to grow with, for example load cell pedals and a better rim next, then a stronger base.
Worth knowing
Since GT7 update 1.71 some bases lose force feedback or disconnect, and Fanatec's advice so far is to lower or switch off FullForce.
Check price at fanatec.com

Price seen at fanatec.com US store, 19 Oct 2026.

Questions buyers ask

Which is better for GT7 on PS5, the T598 or the Gran Turismo DD Pro?+

Owners praise the T598 for value and detail, and the DD Pro for build and upgrades. As of September 2026 Fanatec still listed a GT7 force feedback loss on the DD Pro as a known issue. Check the latest notes before buying.

How much does each cost?+

The T598 is $499.99 on Thrustmaster's US page. The Gran Turismo DD Pro 5 Nm bundle is $799.99 on Fanatec's US store. The Fanatec Boost Kit 180 for 8 Nm is $59.99 extra.

Do both come with pedals?+

Yes. The T598 includes Raceline Pedals LTE (two pedals). The DD Pro bundle includes a two-pedal throttle and brake set. Neither includes a load cell brake.

Do I need a PC to update the firmware?+

For the T598, yes. Owners and the Thrustmaster firmware notes they quote say updates use the My Thrustmaster Panel software on Windows. Fanatec owners also describe updating through a Windows app.

Is the T598 reliable?+

Owner reports are mixed. Several describe power connector faults, and a few describe heat. Others report months of daily use without trouble.

Is the DD Pro still worth buying now?+

Many owners are happy with it. The late-August 2026 GT7 FullForce issue is the main caution. If you can wait for a Fanatec fix, or accept running FullForce lower, it remains a strong platform.

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