Tillett Racing Seats are known worldwide for their high performing quality line of kart racing seats and accessories.
A variety of shapes, sizes and rigidity give a driver the opportunity to maximize their karts performance.
Franklin Motorsports has been distributing Tillett Kart Seats since 2005 and keeps a strong online presence for all drivers.
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HOW DO I CHOOSE A KART SEAT?
There are many factors to consider when choosing a new kart seat. If you have had a Tillett seat in the past, do you know the size and shape? Does it still fit? If not, where are the gaps or pressure points? Will the rigidity suit your new kart/engine combination? Finally, if you are in a team, will they be happy if you choose a different shape?
Choosing a Shape
Below are the shapes or Tillett seat models available. Each shape depends on age and body type. With that said, there are many different sizes within the shape, being able to accomodate all drivers
T11
The most versatile and common shape is the T11. At an angle of 58° and a range of different sizes, including Wide Top and Wide Hip Sizes for different body types, it is the most common seat. It was designed to obtain the lowest driving position while at the same time an upright shoulder position, allowing the driver to retain full control of their karts without upsetting the weight distribution through the corners. Utilizing its signature “Flat Bottom” design, the T11 can be mounted lower in the kart than any other seat. This creates a very favorable low center of gravity.
T9.5
The T9.5 shape was made for taller drivers. It has a 48° reclined back, allowing drivers with taller torsos to position themselves lower in the kart. The T9.5 shape is another model made using Tillett’s special manufacturing technique; this is shown by its smooth surface front and back.
T5
The T5 is ideal for drivers 8 - 12 years old. With an angle at 63°, it allows for more upright seating position. This helps the young driver keep good control and enables a shorter driver better vision over the steering wheel.
T14
The T14 is also ideal for drivers 8 - 12 years old, with an upright back position and additional leg support. The additional leg support can be ideal for classes where a particularly small or in experienced driver struggles to control a faster kart.
Choose a Size
This is important, as a good fit is essential for the protection of the driver and the handling of the kart. If a driver is loose in a seat he will pull to steer, pulling himself out of the kart, making it bounce at the slightest provocation. To assess whether the size of a seat that you have in your possession is correct, sit the driver in the seat and feel the gaps over the leg bone, the hip bone and down the length of the ribs, from top to bottom. This must be done with any rib protection in place, but the race suit is not so important unless it has integral padding. The rib protector when worn tight, should not move inwards as the driver sits back in the seat. Once sat back in the seat, it should be difficult to squeeze your fingers between the seat, your ribs, hip and leg bones. It’s important that all the points are evenly pressured and no one element is either loose or pinching. If one area feels loose, some firm foam stuck between driver and seat is acceptable. If it is pinching anywhere you need a different size.
To assess the size without having a seat in your vicinity, we find that denim jeans waist size, weight and height are good indicators. Coupled with information about the chest circumference and rib protector type. An over thick rib protector can make two sizes difference and leave you with very loose hips, so this is to be avoided (i.e. buy a P1) or accounted for with a WT wide top T11 seat.
Choosing a Rigidity
Did you know? Tillett Racing Seats were the first to discover that seat stiffness affected lap times. Changing the seat rigidity alters the amount of weight transferred to the outside front tire, it is also partly responsible for the amount the inside rear wheel can lift through the corners. This gives you the ability to balance a chassis that may not be perfectly adjusted for the track surface, driving style or weather conditions.
The most common rigidity are: Standard, "t", and VG
To make it simple, currently most karts use the VG rigidity or the "t" rigidity.
As a tendency but not a rule
Low powered karts (Or karts with weak bottom end torque like Rotax Max) prefer a soft seat like a VG.
Kart with more torque such as an X30, OK or KZ the seat used more commonly is a T11t
Four stroke karts can use a "t" or standard, as they less affected due to their torque
Standard OEM seats supplied with many karts are made to a price and are often inconsistent in rigidity and strength. To make sure that the seat you buy this year will be the same size and rigidity as one you buy next, Tillett Racing Seats are made to set specifications.
Installing the Seat
Installing the seat in a good position can be a difficult but important job. To get the correct balance in the chassis, it is important to understand where the drivers back is in relation to the rear axle. Over the years the average seat position has been going back in the chassis. And the average is now three cm further back than it was in the late nineties.
More About Tillett
All Tillett Karting seats are designed and manufactured in the UK by specialists.
Kart Seats are the heart of Tillett Racing Seats and have been since the very first seat was created, over 35 years ago.
Founder, Steve Tillett designed his first seat in his father’s garage in 1986, pioneering the idea behind seat design, which would go onto shape the entire karting world. Fast forward to the present day, Tillett is the leading supplier of kart racing products, utilising decades of development, knowledge and modern technology - producing models dedicated to performance and comfort, for all classes of karting around the world.
Tillett seats have been used by the very best drivers such as Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Michael Schumacher, Lando Norris, Kimi Raikkonen and Jenson Button. Team and drivers from all over the world, have given us premium feedback on our seats, allowing us to set the precedence for quality in the industry.
