In recent years, many of us have abandoned our game controllers for a racing wheel that offers a much more realistic feel and immersion. But since the game wheels appeared on the market, so many models have been developed that it has become complicated to know which one to use.

We particularly appreciate the French brand Thrustmaster, renowned in the industry for its high quality products.

That’s why we decided to talk to you today about a wheel that was released a while ago, but that we recently tested for you: the Thrustmaster T80 Racing Wheel.

In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about this model and what we thought about it. You will discover the characteristics of this wheel, its advantages and its disadvantagesfor which type of player it is best suited for, its price and where you can find itfor sale.

The characteristics of the Thrustmaster T80

The Thrustmaster T80 Racing Wheel, more commonly referred to as theT80 ,is a Official PlayStation 4 entry-level racing wheel .

We have listed its main characteristics:

• Year of release: 2013

• This model is manufactured under official PlayStation license and is the first steering wheel released for racing games on PlayStation 4.
• The Thrustmaster T80’s wheel base is made of plastic and its handle covers are made of textured rubber.
• Therotation angle of this model is 270°, which is less than a full turn, and the steering sensitivity is adjustable for more precise steering.
• This steering wheel features Thrustmaster’s exclusive “Bungee Cord” system, which offers a linear and realistic resistance that allows for an automatic return to center.
• The Thrustmaster T80 is equipped with two rotary paddles for sequential gearbox control paddles made of plastic.
• On the steering wheel there are 11 action buttons (including the official “PS”, “Share” and “Options” buttons) anda multi-directional cross.
• Thrustmaster’s T80 offers full compatibility with PlayStation 4 games and menus as well as PlayStation 3 thanks to the built-in official firmware that allows automatic recognition.
• This model features a wide-jawed central mounting system that ensures optimal stability on all types of desks and tables.
• The connection of the steering wheel is wired and is done via a USB cable.
• Dimensions: 19 x 13.5 x 3 cm (L x W x H)
• Steering wheel weight: 1.8 kg / Pedal weight: 1.5 kg

For what type of person?

With the Thrustmaster T80 steering wheel, the manufacturers have opted for a model that is suitable for a fairly wide audience, who may be less inclined to spend a large budget, but who are still looking for performance and good gaming sensations.

That’s why we think it’s a model that’s much more suitable for beginners than for experienced and regular pilots, who might be a bit disappointed.

It is a steering wheel that is suitable for both adults andchildren since it is very solid and the pedals are adjustable and fit even the smallest of people.

Its advantages

Our test of the Thrustmaster T80 Racing Wheel introduced us to this model which is quite old, but still has many advantages.

We particularly appreciated its ease of use thanks to the correct positioning of the buttons on the steering wheel. It is very easy to access the keys of the Thrustmaster T80 regardless of the position we have at the wheel. Plus, the buttons are very responsive, so you don’t have to press hard to get a quick response from the steering wheel.

We were also seduced by the comfort and ergonomics offered by the T80 steering wheel from Thrustmaster. It is very pleasant to play, especially as mentioned above thanks to the accessibility of its buttons, but also thanks to its 270° rotation angle and its adjustable pedals. These adjust perfectly to the size of the player and guarantee a comfortable and pleasant position during the game, even for long sessions.

The Thrustmaster T80 steering wheel is also one of theone of the cheapest steering wheels on the market with a price that defies all competition. In addition, it is also the one that offers the best value for money in our opinion, especially thanks to all the features it offers, but also thanks to a serious manufacture and solid finishes.

Indeed, the T80 from Thrustmaster is a very solid plastic wheel, which resists very well to shocks and potential scratches. It is a model that will be able to cope with prolonged use without the risk of being easily damaged. It should be able to serve you for a long time.

The Thrustmaster T80 steering wheel also has the advantage of being able to be installed and configured very simply. On the principle of “Plug and Play”, you just have to connect it to your console and it will be immediately recognized. The fixing is done very easily with a plastic clamp tightened by a screw, which really offers a good stability.

In addition, the Thrustmaster T80 has an extremely high level of compatibility as it allows you to play an incredible number of games.

Its disadvantages

Following our test, we also discovered the negative points of the Thrustmaster T80 Racing Wheel, some of which are due to its age and price.

In our opinion, the biggest flaw of the Thrustmaster T80 steering wheel is its lack of force feedback and vibration. No information about the race is transmitted to us, which affects our ability to react and clearly reduces the pleasure felt during the game. The rotation angle, which only goes up to 270°, also limits the realism and the feeling of immersion in the race. We know that at this price we can’t be picky, but we would have liked to feel even a few vibrations during the race, which a controller can, paradoxically, offer us.

In addition, we have noticed that the return to the center of the T80 steering wheel, which is done with a rubber band system since there is no motor, was quite abrupt when we drop it. This surprised us, and unfortunately not in a very pleasant way.

We also found that the pedals of the Thrustmaster T80 Racing Wheel were too unstable and slippery. Impossible to play comfortably without finding a system to fix it.

As nothing is included or planned for this purpose, you have to do something to keep the pedalboard fixed, which we would have done without.

The Thrustmaster T80 does not have an ideal size for everyone and this is a flaw that can cause problems for some people. It is true that it may be small for adult players with large hands, and unfortunately this may severely limit their comfort during play.

Finally, we found it a shame that the Thrustmaster T80 steering wheel is not compatible with the PC. This may limit you, since if you don’t have a PlayStation 3 or 4 at home, this model is not for you.

Where to get it and for how much?

The Thrustmaster T80 Racing Wheel has an average price of 100 €.

It is sold at €109.99, its base price, in Thrustmaster’s online store.

But you can also find it on sale at many retailers on the internet such as Amazon.fr where delivery is faster.

You can easily find this model at very interesting prices on second-hand sale and purchase sites. However, we recommend that you check the condition of the steering wheel before you buy anything, to avoid being cheated.

Conclusion

For those who can’t afford to upgrade, the Thrustmaster T80 Racing Wheel is a worthwhile model. Even if we sincerely regret that it does not offer any force feedback or vibration, we enjoyed playing with this wheel.

This steering wheel is a robust model that manages to combine comfort and ergonomics for a price that does not exceed 110 €. It is therefore difficult to compete with all these qualities and a price like that. This is an ideal model that will really delight players who are just starting out and want to learn about Sim-racing.

If you’re looking to buy a steering wheel for the first time at a low price, you can’t go wrong with the Thrustmaster T80 Racing Wheel, you won’t regret it!