40 centimetres and 22 buttons: We can test Thrustmaster’s new truck wheel with ETS2 and ATS at the SCS booth

Thrustmaster is expanding its SimTask range and addressing our trucking community more directly than ever before. The new SimTask Truck-40 Add-On Kit was unveiled for gamescom 2026 and can already be tried at the SCS Software booth with Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator.

SCS can be found from 26 to 30 August in Hall 10.1 at Booth B022–C023. In its official show announcement, the studio had already teased new Thrustmaster hardware for its booth. We now know what that product is: a large truck wheel rim, an adjustable mounting system and considerably more controls than a simple round steering wheel.

40 centimetres instead of a compact racing wheel

The number is already part of the name: the Truck-40 has a diameter of 40 centimetres. Thrustmaster is therefore taking a different approach from conventional circuit-racing or rally wheels. The new model is not intended to look like it belongs in a racing car, but to enable a more credible truck-driving position on long virtual journeys.

There are 22 action buttons in total. In ETS2 and ATS, that is more than a minor convenience. Indicators, lights, wipers, cruise control, retarder, engine brake, navigation and many other functions constantly compete for easily accessible controls in truck simulators. The more of them we can place directly on the wheel, the less often we need to reach for a keyboard or separate button box while driving.

The wheel rim itself is not the entire product, however. The Add-On Kit also includes a metal mounting system. It offers four adjustable height positions and can be tilted by up to 30 degrees. This should allow the wheelbase to sit more upright than in a typical sim racing setup. Thrustmaster promises a more suitable posture for long journeys; whether that position is genuinely comfortable at our own desks will be one of the most interesting aspects to test at gamescom.

Try it directly with ETS2 and ATS at the SCS booth

The connection with SCS is more than a logo on a product slide. Visitors can actually use the Truck-40 at the show with the two games for which it is particularly relevant. This allows us to check how large the 40-centimetre rim feels, whether the 22 buttons are easy to reach and how stable the mount remains during larger steering movements.

Its size is particularly difficult to judge from pictures. A larger diameter promises calmer operation that is more in keeping with heavy vehicles, but it also requires more desk space. It is equally important to know whether our knees, desk edge and monitor position work with the more upright mounting angle. The gamescom demo therefore offers more than a static product display: we can directly test its practical ergonomics in ETS2 and ATS.

Important: This is an add-on

Despite the convenient description as a new truck wheel, we should make an important distinction. The SimTask Truck-40 Add-On Kit is not a complete plug-and-play wheel set with its own wheelbase and pedals. It is a replaceable wheel rim with a matching mounting system for existing Thrustmaster hardware.

According to the information currently available, the wheel rim works with Thrustmaster bases that support detachable wheels. Both the older and newer Thrustmaster quick-release systems are set to be supported. Whether the complete setup can be used on PC or a console therefore also depends on the connected wheelbase and its approved platforms.

There are also important exceptions for the included mount. According to the published information, it is not compatible with the T128, T248, T248R or T98. Owners of these models should therefore not assume full kit compatibility based solely on the general platform information. Before buying, it will be worth checking Thrustmaster’s final compatibility list carefully.

October launch – but still no price

Thrustmaster plans to begin sales in October 2026. Neither an exact date nor a price has been announced so far. That leaves open the one figure that will determine how attractive the Truck-40 is compared with an entirely new setup or competing truck wheels.

For many players, the add-on concept could be appealing in principle. Anyone who already owns a compatible Thrustmaster base would not need to replace their entire system and could instead expand it specifically for ETS2 and ATS. The actual advantage will depend heavily on how much the wheel rim and metal mount cost together.

More than a small accessory

The Truck-40 matters to us primarily because it continues to close a long-standing gap between sim racing hardware and truck simulators. Steering wheels have traditionally been developed for fast cars, while ETS2 and ATS place very different demands on us: large steering inputs, long journeys, numerous vehicle functions and a more upright driving position.

With its 40-centimetre diameter, 22 buttons and dedicated mounting system, Thrustmaster is visibly responding to those differences. Its presentation directly alongside SCS underlines which games are at the centre of the product. A more realistic wheel rim obviously does not replace a complete truck cockpit. For existing Thrustmaster users, however, it could be the clearest step away from a racing-car setup.

Whether it becomes a genuinely strong offer will now be decided by three factors: the driving feel at the SCS booth, compatibility with our own hardware and, above all, the currently unknown price. Would you expand your existing Thrustmaster base with a 40-centimetre truck wheel – and what is the most you would pay for the complete Add-On Kit?