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Finland, Helsinki
1 Level
482 Review
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Review on Enhance your Racing Experience with Thrustmaster Leather ๐ŸŽ๏ธ 28GT Wheel Add-On (PS5, PS4, XBOX Series X/S, One, PC) by Kim Norman

Revainrating 5 out of 5

Must have if you have wheelbase and rim TX

I've had my Thrustmaster 458 Italia TX base for about a year and a half, but soon after I got it the "novelty" of being able to drive Forza hypercars went away and I wanted more sims. Surprisingly, it wasn't all that long ago that all of these TX-compatible add-ons were available to buy online, and I was more than ready to upgrade. I recommend buying the TH8A shifter and T3PA pedals first, like I did, and then buying the rim later (if you don't have the money to buy them all at once). The reason is better quality pedals and the ability to relocate the H pattern instead of a prettier rim. However, after getting both the pedals and shifter, the original TX rim soon felt out of place for being so light, plasticky and hollow. Also, the D-shape and huge "airbag" make it almost impossible to comfortably hold the handlebars anywhere other than 9 and 3, so tight corners that required a lot of wheel spin weren't very smooth. Now that I'm done describing how bad the TX rim is, enter the TM 28 wheel that fixes everything. When I received this wheel I was immediately pleased with how much more realistic it looks and the very noticeable weight gain that makes it look and feel like a real wheel (only slightly smaller and with a plastic quick release). Because this rim is completely round and the center of this wheel is much thinner and smaller, it's easy to grab from any angle. and you can just slide the steering wheel back to center by your hands (like in a real car) and you can also do it with your hands or any other method you use when making tight fast turns. My only disappointment was that the leather feels very thin and stiff and the stitching is also very hard and rough and can sometimes make your fingers itch/sore depending on how tightly you hold the steering wheel. I was very disappointed that the leather wasn't as stretchy as the Logitech G29 (which I never felt, but it looks thicker in the photos since it's perforated). The leather is a little richer and it feels a little smoother and more comfortable but it will never feel softer as the leather itself is so thin but you can easily change the lacing or wrap the steering wheel cover over this wheel or just wear gloves, but I'm used to it and use it every time I race. Aside from looks, the best thing about this rim is the knobs. The positioning is perfect, the click is very distinct and realistic, and just enough for the console's needs (as on a PC you should probably still use a keypad if you need to map a lot of commands.) To simplify things, I have cut off small black pieces of tape and marked them with a silver marker to match all the buttons on the Xbox controller, saving you a few bucks instead of buying custom stickers. It was also very important to me that this wheel is probably an inch and a half to two inches thinner in depth than the TX rim as I use the Playseat Challenge which does not offer fore/aft wheel movement so my hands can get in on it bit straighter and less narrow and angled than the TX wheel which is a big and much needed improvement for me. At first I wanted to save up for a Ferrari 599 Alcantara rim but this wheel is often so available (which my used watch brand is new and never opened) that I decided I'd take it and I'm glad I did have done . However, if you pay full price for a new one, you can pay another $30 and get a bigger, nicer Alcantara steering wheel. I may add a larger Alcantara D-bar and F1 rim to my collection in the future, but for now I'm very happy to be racing on this rim. The TM 28 leather rim is a must-have for anyone who owns a cheap plastic TX rim, and also worth considering if you're tired of the rubber grips on many other Thrustmaster rims. This rim looks great, seems to be of better quality than the rubber and plastic ones, I prefer the black Thrustmaster badge in the center over the Ferrari logo, the buttons have a professional feel, it makes sim racing easier, more realistic and above all more fun, all this makes you the best sim racer.

Pros
  • Full ride control; 2 paddle shifters; 6 easily accessible, clearly labeled action buttons; 3-stage rotary switch with central push function; Multi-directional D-Pad
Cons
  • Pretty good