Most Thrustmaster Wheel Add On rims work on a T598, so you are not stuck with the standard rim. Thrustmaster says the detachable 30 cm SPORTCAR rim swaps for many existing and future Wheel Add On models in GT, Formula and rally style, and some models need an adapter. On a cockpit, the rim you choose also changes your wheel height, your reach and the space you need around the wheel deck.
Below you learn which rim types fit the T598, how each one changes your driving position and what to check on your frame before you buy.
What comes on the T598 out of the box?
It helps to know the standard rim before you look at upgrades.
The standard SPORTCAR rim
The T598 ships with a detachable SPORTCAR rim of 11.8 inch, which is 30 cm. It has rubber grips, magnetic paddle shifters and a multifunction encoder for 12 extra game actions. Thrustmaster lists its weight at 811 g. That low weight is a good thing: a light rim lets you feel more of the motor, because the base spends less force on moving mass.
The Race Dash screen stays on the base
The T598 has a Race Dash screen on the base itself. You adjust more than 10 settings there and save profiles, and in supported games it shows race information such as speed and position. Because the screen sits on the base, it stays visible whatever rim you mount. Keep that in mind when you set the wheel height, because a rim that sits low in front of the base hides part of it.
Which Thrustmaster rim types fit the T598?
The official compatibility list covers three main styles, and each one suits a different kind of racing.
GT and round rims
Round rims, like the Ferrari 488 GT3 Wheel Add On or the TM Leather 28 GT, suit GT racing, touring cars and road cars. They give you room to turn the wheel hand over hand. On a frame, a round rim works well with a slightly upright seating position and the wheel close to your chest.
Formula and open wheel rims
The Ferrari F1 Wheel Add On, the TM Open Wheel and the Hypercar Wheel Add On are smaller and wider. You hold them at quarter to three and rarely let go. They feel best with the wheel lower and a more laid back seat. Johan Akkerman, founder of SIMGASM, races his own simulator with a Formula Atlas seat on a SIMGASM Sport cockpit, so the Formula position is part of how the range was developed.
SIMGASM | Hobby Aluminum Sim Racing Cockpit - Red
Rally rims
The Rally Wheel Add On Sparco R383 Mod is a deep dish rim. The dish brings the grip closer to you, so you often set the base a little further forward. Pair it with a handbrake on the side of the frame for stages and drifting.
What does a rim swap change on your cockpit?
A new rim changes more than the look of your setup, and a frame lets you adjust for it.
Height, reach and angle
A deep dish rim moves the grip towards you, while a flat Formula rim sits further away. On a desk you live with that. On a cockpit you move the wheel deck, change the angle and set the reach again in a few minutes. SIMGASM treats wheel angle and pedal geometry as performance factors, because a small change in reach changes how relaxed your arms stay in a long race. Our steering angle and wheel rotation guide helps you match the rotation to each rim.
Quick release and adapters
Thrustmaster offers a Quick Release Adapter and Quick Release Upgrade for its bases. Some rims need such an adapter on the T598, so check the official list before you buy. An adapter adds a few centimetres between base and rim. On a frame, you compensate by sliding the base back on the deck. Avoid the desk base plate on a cockpit too, because it adds height and joints. We explain why in should you use the T598 base plate on a cockpit.
SIMGASM | Club Aluminum Sim Racing Cockpit - White
Does a heavier rim need a stronger frame?
A heavier rim mostly changes the feel, not the frame you need.
Rim weight and force feedback
A heavy rim takes more of the 5 Nm constant torque to move, so the wheel feels slower and a bit duller. The T598 still has overshoot of up to 100% for short, sharp effects. Those quick forces pull on the wheel deck. A rigid frame keeps them in your hands instead of in a moving desk. SIMGASM tests every product as part of a complete simulator, not as a loose part, so the wheel deck and the base work together.
Which SIMGASM tier fits your rims
For the T598, the Hobby with its 40 × 40 mm main profile is the starting tier. If you plan to collect heavier rims, race at maximum force or add a stronger base later, the Club with a 40 × 80 mm profile gives more reserve. The Sport and Pro add integrated cable passthroughs and motion ready construction. You see all options in the T598 compatible sim racing cockpit collection. Coming from a T300? Read what changes when you move from a T300 to a T598.
SIMGASM | Pro Aluminum Sim Racing Cockpit - Green
How do you keep extra buttons within reach?
More functions on the rim is great, but a cockpit gives you even more room for controls.
Button boxes next to the wheel
The SPORTCAR rim already gives you 12 extra actions through its encoder. Endurance racers often want more, for example for brake bias, traction control and pit limiter. A button box on the side of the frame keeps them in one fixed spot. Our button box layout guide shows which controls belong where.
Quick answers about T598 rims on a cockpit
Here are short answers to the questions we hear most about T598 rims.
Does every Thrustmaster rim fit the T598?
No. Many Wheel Add On models fit, and some need an adapter. Always check the official Thrustmaster compatibility list for your rim.
Which rim suits Formula racing on a T598?
The Ferrari F1 Wheel Add On, the TM Open Wheel and the Hypercar Wheel Add On suit Formula and prototype cars. Pair them with a lower wheel and a more laid back seat.
Do I need to move the wheel deck after a rim swap?
Often a little. A deep dish or an adapter changes the reach, so slide the base or adjust the angle until your arms bend slightly at the elbow.
Want to learn more? The SIMGASM experts are happy to help.
