Can You Buy T45 Steel Tube By The Length? T45 Tube And Roll Cage Kits Explained
A customer asked us whether we sell T45 steel tube by the length, for a roll cage they wanted to build themselves. We do not list loose tube. The T45 on our site comes inside Custom Cages kits, with every tube already bent, profiled and labelled for one car. This page covers what T45 is, how it differs from the CDS in the cheaper kits, and when a kit is the better buy.
- Prices read from the live site, inc VAT
- Tube figures come from the maker's own materials page
- Three kits for one car, so the price gap is like for like
We do not list T45 by the length, we sell it as a finished kit
£1,818.30inc VAT
The three Honda Integra DC2 kits below show the gap between CDS and T45 on one car.
- T45 appears on our site only as the material of a car-specific Custom Cages kit
- Tubes arrive CNC formed and profiled, ready for a fabricator to weld
- T45 is the higher-strength tube, and the CDS kits cost less
- On the Integra DC2 the kits run from £889.20 to £1,818.30 inc VAT
Do we sell T45 tube by the length?
No. We searched our listings, and T45 shows up only as the material of a finished kit. Each kit is a set of tubes made for one car: main hoop, A pillar hoops, roof tubes and the rest, CNC formed and profiled ready for welding by a competent fabricator. There are no straight lengths to cut and bend yourself.
Garreth’s tip is that it suits most people who ask, because if we list your car the shaping’s done before the kit reaches you, and that’s where a home build usually struggles.
Which car it is decides whether a kit exists at all, so that’s what Cameron will ask you first.
T45 against CDS: what the maker says
The names trip people up, because T45 is itself a cold drawn seamless tube. Custom Cages say the term CDS covers all of the tubes they use, since every one is cold drawn and seamless, and what separates them is the chemical composition and the heat treatment. The name CDS alone does not tell you much.
In their kit names, CDS means a higher grade of steel called E355. T45 means BS 4 T45, a high tensile carbon-manganese tube that the maker calls its biggest selling tube and describes as excellent for bending and welding. We list the two as separate kits.
| Property | T45 (BS 4 T45) | CDS (E355) |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum yield strength | 620 MPa | 370 MPa |
| Minimum tensile strength | 700 MPa | 510 MPa |
| Elongation | Normally around 15% | Minimum 25% |
Figures from the Custom Cages materials page. The maker notes that T45 elongation depends slightly on the final heat treatment.
Read the table as a trade. T45 gives you the higher strength, and the CDS kits give you a lower price. The maker rates E355 CDS as excellent for basic roll cages, so the cheaper tube is a proper choice in its own right.
Cameron’s spotted one gap in the T45 listings: they don’t state a tube size. The 6 point CDS kits say 45 x 2.5mm, so if size matters to your build, ask us for the T45 figure before you order rather than finding out at the welding stage.
What a kit gives you that loose tube does not
Bent and profiled
The Honda Integra DC2 CDS listing says every kit is laser-profiled and CNC mandrel-bent to fit the car closely, with profiled tube ends ready to weld.
Footplates and a checklist
The kit comes with a full set of mounting footplates and a numbered tube checklist, so you can check every tube is there before you start.
Instructions
Fitting instructions are in the box. The T45 listing for the DC2 adds that every tube carries an identifying sticker.
The kit arrives in bare metal, so paint or powder coat it before it goes in. Powder coat can be added when you order. We supply the cage only and don’t offer a fitting service, so you need a competent fabricator for the welding.
Lay the tubes out against the checklist before the welder comes out, Cameron says, so you find out about a missing tube on day one, before you’re halfway through the build.
For timings on any kit, use the Availability and FAQ tabs on the product page.
One car, three kits: the Honda Integra DC2
We list three Custom Cages weld-in kits for the Integra DC2, so it shows the CDS and T45 gap without comparing different cars. The 6 point CDS kit is £889.20. The multipoint CDS kit is £421.80 more, and the multipoint T45 kit is £507.30 above that, which puts £929.10 between the cheapest and the dearest.
Lowest price
Integra DC2 6 point National Spec CDS
£889.20inc VAT
- Six point cage in 45 x 2.5mm tube
- Listed MSUK Compliant
- Weld-in, bare metal
Middle
Integra DC2 International Multipoint CDS
£1,311inc VAT
- Listed FIA Approved and MSUK Compliant
- Weld-in, minimum 8 point attachment
- CDS tube
Highest strength
Integra DC2 International Multipoint T45
£1,818.30inc VAT
- Listed FIA Approved
- Weld-in multipoint
- T45 tube
| Kit | Material | Fitting type | Approval | Price inc VAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 point National Spec CDS Roll Cage Kit | CDS | 6 Point | MSUK Compliant | £889.20 |
| International Multipoint CDS Roll Cage Kit | CDS | Multipoint | FIA Approved / MSUK Compliant | £1,311 |
| International Multipoint T45 Roll Cage Kit | T45 | Multipoint | FIA Approved | £1,818.30 |
Prices include VAT and were read from the live site.
Garreth’s tip is the T45 for a car that’s going to be raced hard for years. Cameron says the CDS multipoint is plenty for a lot of club cars, which leaves the difference for something else. Either way, tell us what the car does and we’ll say which kit fits.
If you want to build it yourself
Drop us an email or click to open a chat if you are not sure which route suits your car and your welding skills.
Someone who wants to do the assembly has one more option: the SW Motorsports DIY half cage kits. They arrive unassembled, so you build them, but the tubes are already notched and bent. The Suzuki Swift below is the example, and we list the same style of kit for other cars.
The kit is made from 45mm x 2.5mm CDS tube to the E355+N specification. The listing says it can be bolted in or welded in. It also says the kit is designed to be easy to assemble for anyone with welding and fabrication abilities.
It is a half cage with optional extras, such as hoop and rear crosses and gussets, so the price depends on what you tick. Our guides on bolt-in or weld-in cages and how to install a bolt-in cage cover what the job involves. Read both before you buy.
- From £318.00 inc VAT
- 45mm x 2.5mm CDS, E355+N
- Bolt-in or weld-in
- Arrives unassembled
-
From £318.00 Incl. VATPayPal CreditMade to orderKlarna ReadySelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Product cards show prices excluding VAT. Prices in the text include VAT.
Common questions
Do you sell T45 steel tube by the length?
No. T45 on our site is the material of Custom Cages kits, and each kit is a set of tubes formed for one car. If your car is not listed, email us or open a chat and we will check what we can offer.
Is T45 stronger than CDS?
On the maker’s figures, yes. T45 has a minimum yield strength of 620 MPa and a minimum tensile strength of 700 MPa. The CDS used in the Custom Cages kits is E355, at 370 MPa and 510 MPa.
Is T45 a type of CDS?
Custom Cages say CDS, cold drawn seamless, covers all the tubes they use, T45 included, but in our kit names CDS means their E355 grade and T45 is listed separately.
What size is the tube in the kits?
The 6 point CDS kits are listed as 45 x 2.5mm tube, but the T45 listings give no size, so ask us before you order.
Can I weld a kit in myself?
The CDS listings describe the kits as designed for professional weld-in fitment by a competent fabricator, and we supply the cage only with no fitting service.
Does a kit come painted?
It arrives in bare metal, and powder coat can be added when you order, or you can paint it yourself before it goes in.
How long does a kit take to arrive?
The product page has the answer, so open the Availability and FAQ tabs on the kit you want. If you are working to an event date, email us before you order.
What we would buy
Garreth
Garreth's top tip
For a car that's going to be raced hard for years, I'd take the multipoint T45. On the Integra DC2 that's £1,818.30, and you get the higher-strength tube the maker's best known for.
If you only want to build a half cage at home, I'd start by looking at the SW Motorsports Swift kit at £318.00.
Cameron
Cameron's fitting view
For most club cars I'd start with the CDS multipoint at £1,311.00. That's £507.30 less than the T45, and the maker rates E355 as excellent for basic roll cages.
On the T45, the extra strength is there if you want it, and the CDS leaves money for other parts. Before you pick either, ask us for the T45 tube size, because the listing doesn't give it.
Not sure which kit suits your car?
Tell us the make, model and year, and what the car will be used for. Cally, our digital receptionist, takes your details, and Cameron comes back to you with the right kit before you order.
