Tillett Racing Seats - With Or Without Back Frame?
Seat fitting guide
Tillett make some of the lightest race seats you can buy, and on several of their W series seats you choose whether to have a back frame. It sounds like a small option on the listing, but it changes how the seat goes into the car.
Here is what the back frame does, which Tillett seats offer it, and how to decide whether you need one, using the W1i as the example.
- Some Tillett W series seats have a back frame as an option
- Our listings show it on the W1i, W2i, W3 and W4
- Without a back frame the shell is lighter
- The back frame gives base mount and side mount fitting points
- The W series has no headrest and suits compact formula cockpits
- The Tillett B seats are side mounted on brackets
What is on this page
What the back frame does
A Tillett shell is a single moulding in GRP or carbon. On its own it is very light, but it has no built in structure for bolting to a car. The optional back frame adds that structure to the back and underside of the seat, with ready made mounting points.
With the frame fitted, the seat can be base mounted, bolting through holes in the underside of the frame to the floor or to a set of runners, or side mounted on brackets. Base mounting is usually the simpler job, and it gives a firm, stable base for the seat.
Going without a back frame
Leaving the frame off keeps the seat as light and slim as possible, which is why it appeals in a single seater or a tight kit car cockpit. The trade off is the installation. Without a frame the seat has to be fixed to a purpose built mounting, which usually means drilling the shell in the right places and bolting it through, so it takes more care and more measuring.
Garreth’s advice is to only go frameless if you, or whoever builds the car, are confident making a proper mounting for it. A seat is only as secure as what holds it in.
Which Tillett seats offer a back frame
The back frame is a W series option. The W range is built for single seaters and formula cars where there is no room for a full headrest, so the shells sit low and compact, with no headrest at all.
Our listings show a back frame option on the W1i, W2i, W3 and W4. The W1i and W2i take a 4 point harness, while the W4 takes a 6 point harness. The W5 is also a 6 point seat, but it does not have the back frame option. Each listing shows the mounting choices for that seat, so check it before you order.
-
From £520.08 Incl. VATPayPal CreditKlarna ReadySelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
-
From £464.36 Incl. VATPayPal CreditKlarna ReadySelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
-
From £489.50 Incl. VATPayPal CreditKlarna ReadySelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
-
From £464.36 Incl. VATPayPal CreditKlarna ReadySelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
The W1i as an example
The W1i shows the choice well. It is a black GRP shell, 40cm wide with the rolled edges cut off or 44cm with them left on, approved for road and track. It can be side mounted or base mounted, and the back frame is there for cars or regulations that need one. Leave the frame off and the shell is lighter. The seat can be ordered as a bare shell or with Dinamica faux suede cover panels.
The Tillett B seats, such as the B6, are the ones to look at for a conventional track car or road car. They are side mounted on Tillett brackets, and our Tillett seat and bracket guide shows which brackets suit which seat.
How to choose
Start with how the car is used and what its regulations ask for, as some require a back frame. Then think about fitting: if you want to base mount the seat or add runners, the frame makes that straightforward. If weight and a slim profile matter most and the car has a purpose made mounting, the bare shell is the lighter route. For Caterham and Westfield owners, our guide to the best Tillett seat for your car narrows it down further.
What does a Tillett back frame do?
It adds structure to the back and underside of the shell with mounting points for base or side mounting.
Which Tillett seats have a back frame option?
Our listings show it on the W1i, W2i, W3 and W4; the W5 does not have it.
Is a Tillett seat lighter without the back frame?
Yes. Leaving the frame off keeps the shell lighter.
How is a Tillett seat fitted without a back frame?
It is fixed to a purpose built mounting, usually by drilling the shell and bolting it through.
How are Tillett B seats mounted?
The B seats, such as the B6, are side mounted on Tillett brackets.
💬
Tillett fittingFrame or bare shell
A back frame makes mounting easy; a bare shell saves weight.
Need a personal recommendation?
We're here to ensure you pick the right seat.
Contact us today.