Special: Do more expensive pedals mean the best lap time?

I am taking the Thrustmaster T2PA, T3PA, TLCM and T3PM around the Red Bull Ring and seeing what pedal base scores best on: fastest lap, average time, consistency and is potentially fastest. Some of the results are very surprising.

[@Enoch-Root]

While I like my TLCM which I have set to the hardest spring settings and highest level of sensitivity via the PC settings program, more expensive pedals will not make you faster, they're not going to change your skill level. The best racers can still be faster than me with a cheap wheel and pedal set. A better wheel and pedal set up is perhaps more immersive, but if you're buying for because you expect to be faster, you'll probably be disappointed. If you want to get faster, then studying the physics and techniques of racing is going to be much more useful than an expensive wheel and pedals.

[@SimulatedDrivingResource]

As always, couldn't agree more. Can't add anything to that :D

[@Therubbersluggchannel]

@@SimulatedDrivingResource the bloopers at the end where great bro had my laughing

[@SimulatedDrivingResource]

Haha.. glad you enjoyed! I hope when TM bring out their DD, they'll choose a name that I can pronounce!!

[@Therubbersluggchannel]

@@SimulatedDrivingResource lol

[@k-reativity2207]

Can't seem to get a hold of you in PSN. Did you receive the message on tuesday?

[@Therubbersluggchannel]

Great review 👍

[@marcianzero_yt]

On topic: I can only compare T2PA and LCM. When I bought the LCM I expected fast and much of improvement. That was not the case. Not wanting to give up on my money spent, I stayed it’s it. I have tried many settings and spring combinations before I was finally happy. It took weeks before I was starting to feel the muscle memory realizing how it works. I honestly think I could live without the loadcell. But my T2PA have started to squeak a bit, so I will stick with LCM. Of course I have not taken the massive effort of driving so many laps on the A1 ring track. :) Good video. Was surprised to see bloopers, expected you to be absolutely flawless. ;)

[@SimulatedDrivingResource]

Yes, I think we all think like that. Sometimes we assume better gear means better performance but in the end, skill and acquintance with the gear is much superior. Well, before the T3PM, I was really convinced the loadcell was necessary but I think like you, now I probably could live without.... however, I do think the springs are much superior then T2pa or did you replace them? Haha yeah I was really struggling with the word, I thought it a nice add for people that do the effort to watch video's till the end...like you. With bringing back the quantity of video's, I hope to improve on quality more with little things like that. 😎

[@marcianzero_yt]

No mod to the T2PA. It is a very simple construction, but I think with the correct training of the muscle memory that wont be an issue. Also: With the wheelstand I had before, the heavy breaking on the loadcell was an issue… That said: The squeaking probably comes from pushing too hard at all times. It makes absolutely no sense. But after >20 years of driving cars, the brain is difficult to convince… There are also some KZbinrs leaning their upper body towards the corner when steering. Insanely fast, insanely much playtime. Still leaning. ;)

[@SimulatedDrivingResource]

You gave me an idea for a next video... does Leaning in corners make you faster 🤣

[@marcianzero_yt]

I will collect royalty. ;)

[@slaphead90]

Maybe I'm a slow learner but when I went from the T3PA to the T-LCM it took nearly 3 days (or 6 hours) for my muscle memory to adapt. I also had to "mod" the T-LCM as even on the hardest springs it felt like air had got into the hydraulics which gives the pedal a very spongy feel. My solution to this was to use two soft skateboard bushings in place of the lower spring and then use just a single black or red spring with the preload spring set to full travel. After I adapted, however, my average lap times went up by 0.3s and my consistency went through the roof, with a good few sessions seeing lap times within 0.05s of each other. The sim was ACC, track was Brands Hatch, and the car was the Porsche 991 II GT3 R @Neosphinx - How long did you give yourself to adapt to each pedal set? When I switched over to the T-LCM I could barely get within 3 seconds of my average with the T3PA - it took a few hours before I could match my previous times.

[@SimulatedDrivingResource]

Ehm... 20 laps... that's it actually. I changed after 20 laps to another. I have driven all pedal bases the last months and I am familiar with both track and car. I could have made it an even more extensive test with 50 laps or 100 and then the average laptime and consistency would have been more flat. Unfortunately, that does take a lot of time and seeing I am already struggling now to output 1 video in a week, not-doable. Thanks for sharing your mod! Some people indeed share your vision that the pedal feels spongy and your mod seems a very good fix!

[@PJDobbs]

I do like my PM pedals. Never tried the PA pedals. I just put the black spring for a heavier brake and never looked back.

[@SimulatedDrivingResource]

I can imagine. TM really made a good set there imo. 👍👍👍

[@caaarlos]

We’re you feathering and trail braking? The reason to use the higher end pedals is to have nuanced inputs. When I first changed from the G923 to the TLCMs I was slower and it took a while to adapt since to go 100% braking quickly I needed to use much more force and develop a new sensibility to control my inputs. After adapting I became seconds quicker on every car and track. Btw to help adapt I started using light calibration for the load cell and I slowly increased it over time as my leg muscles and nerves developed.

[@SimulatedDrivingResource]

Feathering, yes. Trail braking... sometimes. The resistance on the TLCM i have is still pretty soft and normally harder and shorter travel is better to get the technique of trail braking under control? I just bought another sets of V3 and am elite V2 and will see what it gives since they can be hardened up pretty good.

[@caaarlos]

I’ve tried some V3 with Brake Performance Kit from a friend and they felt soft compared to my TLCMs. Not only that but I was reaching 100% of the Loadcell much quicker and with less effort. My TLCM creek a lot, but I have them on the strongest springs and three metal shims on the preload. For brake force I’m at 100%. With these pedals I was able to start doing really fast times compared to before. I still like the V3 and I will try them on my rig with different configurations. They had a much shorter travel but I used less muscle force to reach 100, however they feel better smoother and more precise. I tried WD40 on the rotating shaft of the TLCMS but I think we need industrial grade grease to properly operate them. At this point I’m starting to thing I will only be satisfied with hydraulic pedals that can reach at least 150kg or more. 😅

[@SimulatedDrivingResource]

@@caaarlos that is very surprising because the ones I have now, can barely move them with a brake-kit and completely maxed out. I will do a small test on them when I have some time to see if I can do the same with the TLCM. What spring combo you use for the brake?

[@caaarlos]

​@@SimulatedDrivingResource on TLCM I have both reds, and in the preload "room" in the middle I have 3 metal discs. Calibration software I leave brake force at max, 100. (Without mods, my stock TLCMs are at the strongest setting possible with a bit of preload) On the V3s my friend told me he had the strongest BPK elastometers. Maybe the pedals are old and elastometers degraded? He told me he used both strongest elastometers and he took the "preload foam" out, and also cut the 2nd strongest elastometer on a lazer machine to make it replace the preload foam so the pedal was very stiff from the start. It did feel more stiff in the initial travel, but in the end of the travel to reach 100% it felt softer than my TLCMs. Maybe my TLCMs don't have any lubrication in the shaft that rotates inside the plastic, as they creek a lot and loud, maybe that adds to the "resistance" in the force. I did want the V3s to feel very strong like you described.

[@Therubbersluggchannel]

I have the 248, like the pedals, however I experience miss shifts on the rims paddle shifters alot, has anyone noticed that the paddles miss registering shifting.?

[@SimulatedDrivingResource]

I read a similar problem on reddit. Can you try updating the firmware to the latest version? Solved the issue for people there.

[@Therubbersluggchannel]

@@SimulatedDrivingResource bro didn't even think about that, I will try that

[@stfreak7929]

Hello, which rig do you drive? Gt omega titan?

[@SimulatedDrivingResource]

GT Omega ART. More than sufficiant for me 😉

[@stfreak7929]

@@SimulatedDrivingResource ok nice. Just one more question, do you now, if i can mount any other seat? Like this one: Tenzo-R 37933 Sportsitz

[@SimulatedDrivingResource]

Yes you can. I normally do mention this in my review about it 🤔 or at least I should have. The seat holders can be adjusted in X and Y axis to accomodote other seats

[@stfreak7929]

Can i drive the thrustmaster tlcm pedals with the art cockpit? Or are they to strong for the cockpit. Too many flex?

[@marcianzero_yt]

Here we go again. :)

[@SimulatedDrivingResource]

You make it sound like a bad thing 😏😎

[@marcianzero_yt]

I am only responsible for what I write, not for what you understand. ;)

[@Therubbersluggchannel]

@@marcianzero_yt that a fucked up response

[@ededdeddy725]

Playseat trophy its so nice to have

[@SimulatedDrivingResource]

Een erg prima stoel idd

[@jolicercholly179]

U should really try some real pedals not these thrustmaster toys

[@SimulatedDrivingResource]

It are all toys.