The Thrustmaster TMX Racing Wheel is the entry point to Thrustmaster’s belt-and-pulley force feedback system on Xbox and PC. It uses a mixed pulley-and-belt drive system rather than the gears of cheaper wheels, supports 900 degrees of total rotation, and is officially licensed for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Windows PC. It typically ships with a two-pedal set in the base configuration and a three-pedal T3PA set in the Pro bundle. This Thrustmaster TMX review covers the force feedback, build, compatibility and value as a Xbox-first sim wheel in 2026.
Thrustmaster TMX Racing Wheel with force feedback and racing pedals (Compatible with XBOX Series X/S, One, PC)
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Thrustmaster TMX at a Glance
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Force feedback | Mixed pulley-and-belt drive force feedback with brushed motor |
| Compatibility | Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC (Windows) |
| Wheel diameter | 11 inches (280 mm) |
| Rotation degrees | 900 degrees (2.5 turns lock-to-lock) |
| Pedals included | Two pedals (base) or three-pedal T3PA set (Pro bundle) |
| Shifter included | No — TH8A shifter sold separately |
| Materials | Rubberised rim, brushed metal centre plate, fixed paddle shifters |
| Connection | USB to Xbox or PC, AC adapter for the motor |
| Approx price | around $249 |
Belt-Pulley Force Feedback
The TMX’s force feedback uses Thrustmaster’s mixed pulley-and-belt system. A brushed motor drives the steering shaft through a combination of pulley and belt, which is smoother than pure gear drive but not quite as refined as the T300RS’s full belt-driven system with a brushless motor. The practical result is meaningful: feedback feels noticeably more nuanced than gear-driven entry wheels, with less granular noise as you turn the rim slowly. You feel weight transfer and tyre loading clearly enough to drive on feel, which is the foundation of consistent lap times. The 900-degree rotation matches the standard for modern sim wheels, so you can drive cars from lock to lock the way you would in real life.
Compared with the Logitech G920, the TMX’s feedback is generally regarded as smoother in the small movements around centre, but it is also noticeably quieter — the belt-pulley system absorbs more of the small mechanical clicks that gear-driven wheels produce. Peak torque is similar between the two wheels, but the TMX’s character is more refined. Tuning on PC via the Thrustmaster Control Panel software lets you adjust the balance between mechanical and dynamic feedback effects, so you can dial in a profile that suits whatever game you spend most time in. In Forza Motorsport, the default profile is good; in iRacing and ACC you will want to spend a session tuning before league racing.
Compatibility and Platforms
The TMX is officially licensed for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Windows PC. That covers Forza Motorsport, Forza Horizon 5, F1, WRC, Assetto Corsa, Assetto Corsa Competizione (PC), iRacing, Automobilista 2 and the rest of the modern sim catalogue. It is the Xbox counterpart to the T150 on PlayStation. The wheel uses the Thrustmaster ecosystem, so the T3PA pedal upgrade, the TH8A shifter and quick-release wheel rims for higher-end Thrustmaster ecosystems are not directly compatible with the TMX base, but you can move pedals between Thrustmaster bases if you upgrade later. On PC, Thrustmaster Control Panel offers full force feedback tuning.
Pedals and Build Quality
The base TMX ships with a two-pedal floor unit — throttle and brake — that is functional but linear, with no progressive resistance. The TMX Pro bundle is the version worth seeking out: it bundles the same wheel with the T3PA three-pedal set, which includes a clutch pedal, a metal pedal plate, height-adjustable pedal faces and the option to flip the brake pedal inverted like a real race-car brake. The rim itself is rubberised with brushed metal centre detailing, and the paddle shifters are fixed-position behind the rim. Build quality is consistent with the upper-entry price band — better than the budget Apex/Overdrive class, but not as premium as the leather-rimmed G920.
Software, Buttons and Controls
The TMX carries a full Xbox button layout — D-pad, A/B/X/Y, menu and view, and Xbox guide — so you can drive Xbox dashboards and games without picking up a controller. Two large paddle shifters sit fixed behind the rim; they do not rotate with it. On PC, the Thrustmaster Control Panel software gives per-game tuning of force feedback strength, sensitivity and rotation angle (from 270 to 900 degrees). Firmware updates are pushed through the Control Panel and add new game support over time. On Xbox, the wheel is plug-and-play with no software needed.
What’s in the Box
The TMX box (base) includes the wheel with attached rim, the two-pedal floor unit, the AC power brick, the USB cable and the desk-clamp hardware. The TMX Pro version replaces the two-pedal unit with the T3PA three-pedal set. A printed quick-start guide is included. The TH8A shifter and other higher-tier Thrustmaster accessories are sold separately but not directly compatible with the TMX base for upgrades.
Who It’s For
The TMX is for the Xbox or PC sim racer who wants Thrustmaster’s belt-pulley force feedback at the upper-entry tier rather than the gear-driven Logitech G920. If you race Forza, F1 or ACC and you want smoother feedback than gears deliver while staying under $300 for the wheel itself, the TMX is the natural choice. The Pro bundle with the T3PA pedals is the version most buyers should target. It is not for the racer ready to step up to belt-driven brushless wheels like the TX or TS-XW, and not for PlayStation owners (use the T150 or T300RS instead).
Verdict
The Thrustmaster TMX is an upper-entry Xbox sim wheel with meaningful advantages over gear-driven rivals. Mixed pulley-and-belt force feedback feels smoother than the G920’s helical gears, 900 degrees of rotation matches the standard, and the TMX Pro bundle with T3PA pedals is genuinely good value. At around $249 base or higher for the Pro, it sits in the practical mid-entry band most Xbox sim racers should be targeting. For PC racing hardware to pair with the wheel, see our best gaming laptops under $1,200 guide.
Compared with the Logitech G920, the TMX trades the G920’s premium leather rim and included three-pedal set for smoother belt-pulley feedback and a quieter operation. The G920 has the more polished out-of-the-box experience for buyers who do not want to tune their wheel; the TMX has the smoother feedback character but benefits from a session in the Thrustmaster Control Panel software to dial in. Both wheels are credible Xbox sim choices in the same price band, and the right pick depends on which trade-off matters more to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Thrustmaster TMX compatible with Xbox Series X|S?
Yes. The TMX is officially licensed for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC, and works in Forza Motorsport, Forza Horizon 5, F1 24, ACC and other major Xbox racing titles.
What is the difference between the TMX and the TMX Pro?
The wheel itself is identical. The TMX base ships with a basic two-pedal set; the TMX Pro bundles the same wheel with the upgraded T3PA three-pedal set, including a clutch pedal and a metal pedal plate.
Is the TMX better than the Logitech G920?
It depends on what you value. The TMX has smoother belt-pulley force feedback than the G920’s helical gears. The G920 has a higher-quality leather rim and ships standard with a three-pedal set. Both are credible Xbox sim wheels at their price band.
Can you upgrade the TMX with a shifter?
Not directly. The TMX does not have a dedicated shifter port for the TH8A. To use a high-end Thrustmaster shifter you would need to upgrade the wheel base to a TX or TS-XW class.
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