Fanatec GT DD Pro vs Thrustmaster T598 – The Smartest Direct Drive Choice for 2025

Which Direct Drive racing wheel is the smartest choice for sim racers in 2025?

Upgrading to Direct Drive is the moment many sim racers feel their virtual races finally come alive. Strong, precise force feedback in your hands makes every apex, kerb and slide feel like you are in a real cockpit.

Two popular options for sim racers who want this realism without jumping straight into the high end segment are the Fanatec GT DD Pro / CSL DD 8 Nm and the Thrustmaster T598. On paper they look similar, but in real use the differences are clear.

In this comparison we walk through the key points and explain why more and more racers choose the T598 Direct Drive Bundle as the best price performance choice at this moment for a Direct Drive racing wheel.

Power and feedback: constant torque versus peak moments

The quality of the force feedback makes or breaks any Direct Drive racing wheel base.

• Fanatec GT DD Pro / CSL DD 8 Nm
  • Constant torque: 6 Nm
  • Peak torque: 8 Nm
  • Peak torque is lower than the T598
  • Uses older direct drive technology
  • Known for a nervous feeling at low speeds and low steering inputs
• Thrustmaster T598
  • Constant torque: 5 Nm
  • Peak torque: 10 Nm thanks to controlled overshoot
  • Axial Direct Drive motor without cogging effect for extremely smooth steering
  • Latest generation motor, designed for realism and detailed force feedback

Where Fanatec mainly stands out in constant torque, the T598 and its modern Axial Flux motor deliver a much more natural steering feel. The higher 10 Nm peak torque gives realistic hits from kerbs, contact and off track moments, while the lack of cogging keeps the wheel motion ultra smooth. Fanatec’s older direct drive technology simply cannot match that smoothness.

For more advanced sim racers who care about finesse and detail, the T598 often feels more alive and less blocky, especially in technical corners and during small corrections.

Ecosystem and compatibility

• Thrustmaster T598-P
  • Compatible with the full Thrustmaster sim racing ecosystem
  • Expandable with pedals, shifters, handbrake and extra add on wheels
  • Quick Release adapter available for older Thrustmaster add on wheels
  • Works on PS5, PS4 and PC
• Fanatec GT DD Pro / CSL DD
  • Compatible with the Fanatec ecosystem
  • Works with recent Fanatec accessories
  • Less flexible for wheel upgrades because of the split QR1 and QR2 systems
  • Works on PS5, PS4 and PC

Thrustmaster has built the T598 as a modular system that you can expand step by step. You can start with the standard bundle and later upgrade to for example an F1 style wheel or a load cell brake, without changing the Direct Drive base itself.

View the complete T598 Direct Drive Bundle in our shop »

Price and value: high performance under €500

For less money, the Thrustmaster T598 gives you a newer motor, smoother force feedback and a solid metal pedal set. The Fanatec bundle costs more, includes weaker pedals and is based on older hardware. That difference becomes clear as soon as you start driving longer stints or push for lap time.

Driving experience in practice

Sim racers who have tested both systems describe the T598 as very smooth and responsive. Because there is no cogging effect, even slow pit lane manoeuvres, trail braking and precise steering inputs feel clean and consistent.

The Fanatec DD Pro can feel a bit nervous at low speed and at very small inputs, something that more technical drivers often notice when they fine tune their sim racing setup.

The integrated Race Dash display on the T598 base is also a unique bonus. You can read speed, gear, flags and settings directly from the base without an extra screen or external dash software. This increases immersion and makes the whole sim racing cockpit easier to use.

🏁 Conclusion: why the T598 is the better Direct Drive choice in 2025

If you only look at constant torque on paper, the Fanatec GT DD Pro seems stronger. But sim racing is not just about numbers. It is about feel, precision, comfort and the freedom to upgrade your rig over time.

The Thrustmaster T598 combines modern motor technology, smooth and detailed force feedback and a complete sim racing ecosystem at a sharp price point. For under €500 you get a Direct Drive experience that can convince both beginners and experienced sim racers who are ready to move beyond entry level belt driven wheels.

Check out the T598 Direct Drive Bundle in our webshop and feel the difference for yourself.