Technical Face-Off

Moza R16 Wheel Base vs Thrustmaster TS-XW Servo

Last Updated: October 10, 2025

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Moza R16 Wheel Base

Torque 16Nm
Drive Type Direct Drive
Compatibility PC
Quick Release Standard


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Thrustmaster TS-XW Servo

Torque 6.4Nm
Drive Type Direct Drive
Compatibility PC/Xbox
Quick Release Standard


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Omni-Engine Methodology: Aggregated analysis of 50+ technical threads, official datasheets, and user telemetry. Zero sponsorship.

The Specs: On Paper

On paper, both wheels are direct drive, which is a good thing. They're compatible with PC and Xbox, so you've got some flexibility there. But let's look at the torque: Moza R16 Wheel Base has 16Nm, while Thrustmaster TS-XW Servo has 6.4Nm. I'd say Moza wins this round.

The Ugly Truth (Real User Experience)

I've seen a lot of posts about faulty bases with the Moza R16 Wheel Base. Users are reporting issues like overheating, spinning without stopping, and even broken quick releases. The big problem here is that it seems to happen at random, making it hard to diagnose and fix. One user reported trying to power cycle the base, but it didn't work for them. Another user said they had a faulty base with wireless transmitter issues. I've seen some users report success with firmware updates, but it's like playing roulette - will it work or won't it?

On the other hand, the Thrustmaster TS-XW Servo has its own set of problems. Users are reporting buzzing noises during calibration, dead zones in the middle of the wheel, and even issues with the quick release breaking. One user said they had to fight a dead zone in the middle while driving straight. The Thrustmaster community is not exactly known for being responsive or helpful when it comes to these kinds of issues.

But here's the thing: at least with the Thrustmaster, I've seen users report that the wheel still works fine after all this. It's like they're saying, "Yeah, sure, my wheel has a bunch of problems, but hey, it still plays games." With the Moza R16 Wheel Base, the issues are more severe and can bring your sim racing experience to a grinding halt.

The Verdict

So, who gets my money? In this case, I'd say Thrustmaster TS-XW Servo is the safer bet. Sure, it has its own set of problems, but at least they're more predictable and don't seem to bring down the entire system. The Moza R16 Wheel Base is a high-risk, high-reward kind of deal - you might get a great sim racing experience, or you might end up with a broken wheel and a bunch of headaches.

Sources: https://www.reddit.com/r/moza/comments/16i5936/r16_loses_ffb_almost_instantly/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Thrustmaster/comments/17pqxqk/an_honest_tsxw_review/ https://www.reddit.com/r/simracing/comments/un088v/thrustmaster_tsxw_issues_and_my_experience_so_far/ https://www.reddit.com/r/moza/comments/15n6ofv/moza_r16_users_hows_the_product_after_some_use/
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Marco 'Drift' Rossi - Lead Engineer
Sim racer since 2010. Hates marketing, loves data.