Tilton Racing

What Tilton Racing does

Tilton Racing (legally Tilton Engineering) is a privately held manufacturer of high-performance racing drivetrain and brake components, founded in 1972 and headquartered in Buellton, California (805 area code). The company designs and produces metallic, cerametallic, and carbon/carbon friction clutches under its flagship OT-Series line (introduced 1986), twin disc street clutches in the ST-215 and ST-246 product families, hydraulic release bearings across four numbered series (6000 through 6300), bellhousings, billet steel flywheels, and high-torque Super Starters (40000-Series and XLT-Series). Supporting brake controls include pedal assemblies, master cylinders, balance bars, valves, and remote bias adjusters. The technology stack rests on proprietary friction material formulations and precision manufacturing developed over five decades, with components specified for torque capacities up to 1,250 lb-ft and starter outputs of 3.0 HP.

The company's commercial model is direct-to-dealer hardware sales: products are distributed through an authorized dealer network with a public dealer locator on tiltonracing.com, supported by installation instructions, technical drawings, 3D models, and direct technical and sales contact channels. Pricing is publicly disclosed and ranges from approximately $380 for individual hydraulic release bearings to over $8,600 for complete OT-Series clutch-flywheel kits, with unit sales structured as pay-as-you-go purchases of assemblies, kits, and individual service parts. The company serves three primary segments: professional and semi-professional racing teams competing across F1, NASCAR, IMSA, IndyCar, SCCA, Formula Drift, and SCORE disciplines; budget-minded short-track racers purchasing Sport-line clutches; and high-performance street and pro touring enthusiasts purchasing ST-Series and OT-215 kits. Geographic reach is claimed worldwide with active dealer presence in the USA, Germany, the UK, Japan, France, and Australia.

Name

Tilton Racing

Legal name

Tilton Engineering

Website

https://tiltonracing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tilton Racing (Tilton Engineering) is a Buellton, California-based specialty manufacturer founded in 1972 that designs and sells high-performance racing clutches, hydraulic release bearings, brake controls, and super starters through a global authorized dealer network serving professional racing teams, short-track racers, and high-performance street enthusiasts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Racing Components

NAICS

Motor Vehicle Transmission and Power Train Parts Manufacturing (33635), Motor Vehicle Brake System Manufacturing (336340), Ball and Roller Bearing Manufacturing (332991)

SIC

Motor Vehicle Parts & Accessories (3714), Ball & Roller Bearings (3562)

akta.pro primary industry

Clutch, Torque Converter & Flywheel Manufacturing (IMACAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Wheel Hubs, Bearings & Knuckles (Hubs/Bearings/Spindles/Knuckles) (IMACAIAI)

Keywords

• Racing clutches
• Driveline components
• Hydraulic release bearings
• Brake controls
• Super starters

Headquarters

HQ city

Buellton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Racing Components Sales: Tilton Engineering generates revenue through the direct sale of high-performance racing components including clutches, brake controls, hydraulic release bearings, bellhousings, flywheels, and super starters. Products are sold as complete assemblies, kits, and individual service parts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Tilton Engineering designs, manufactures, and sells high-performance racing drivetrain components including metallic, cerametallic, and carbon/carbon racing clutches, hydraulic release bearings, bellhousings, flywheels, and high-torque super starters. The company also produces brake control systems (pedal assemblies, master cylinders, valves, balance bars, and bias adjusters). Products are sold as complete assemblies, kits, and individual service parts to professional racing teams and high-performance street enthusiasts worldwide.

Product overview

Tilton Engineering is a manufacturer of high-performance racing components with three core product lines: Driveline Components (178 products), Brake Controls (73 products), and Super Starters (9 products). The driveline portfolio centers on OT-Series clutches (metallic, cerametallic, and carbon/carbon variants in 5.5", 7.25", and 8.5" sizes) and ST-215/ST-246 twin disc street clutches developed from 50 years of racing experience. Supporting products include clutch-flywheel assemblies (OT-185 and OT-215 kits), button clutch kits (Sport and ULTRA lines in 5.5" and 7.25"), bellhousings, and comprehensive hydraulic release bearing systems (6000/6100/6200/6300-series). The brake control division offers pedal assemblies, master cylinders, balance bars, valves, and bias adjusters. Super Starters include 40000-series (3.0 HP with 3.75:1 gear reduction) and XLT-series for large displacement engines. Products serve applications across Chevrolet, Ford, Dodge, BMW, Honda, Mitsubishi, Porsche, Subaru, and other platforms with Tremec transmissions (T56 Magnum, TKO/TKX) and various OE transmissions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OT-Series: Racing clutch series introduced in 1986, featuring open-type design for lower operating temperatures and cleaner operation
• Super Starter
• ST-Series
• Sport Clutch

Products and services

• OT-Series Racing Clutches Racing clutches in metallic, cerametallic, and carbon/carbon variants, available in 5.5 inch, 7.25 inch, and 8.5 inch diameters for high-horsepower race track and extreme street applications.
• ST-246 Twin Disc Clutch Kits Twin disc clutch kits for the high-performance street market featuring aluminum clutch cover technology derived from OT-Series racing clutches. Available with organic discs (850 lb-ft) or cerametallic discs (1250 lb-ft).
• ST-215 Twin Disc Clutches Twin disc clutches for high-performance street applications using Tilton's racing clutch experience, sold without flywheel.
• 5.5 inch ULTRA Clutch Assemblies Premium 5.5 inch button clutch assemblies for high-performance applications, priced at $1,164.50 to $1,338.75 depending on configuration.
• Sport 5.5 inch Clutch Assemblies Value-oriented 5.5 inch button clutch assemblies for budget-minded racers, priced at $790.50 to $990.25.
• Sport 7.25 inch Clutch Assemblies 7.25 inch 2-disc clutches for short-track racers in SK Modifieds, Sport Mods, Late Model, and Hobby Stock classes. Aluminum clutch cover with 650 lb-ft torque capacity, priced at $650 to $760.75.
• OT-185 7.25 inch Clutch-Flywheel Kits Complete 7.25 inch clutch-flywheel assembly kits for BMW, Chevy, Honda, Mitsubishi, Porsche, and Subaru applications. Includes OT-Series clutch, billet steel flywheel, and hardware. Priced at $1,810 to $8,605.
• OT-215 8.5 inch Clutch-Flywheel Kits 8.5 inch clutch-flywheel kits delivering lower weight than OEM-type clutches with better durability than 7.25 inch racing clutches. Designed for Drifting, Track Day, and Pro Touring applications. Available for Chevy, Ford, and Toyota engines.
• Bellhousings and Bellhousing Kits Aluminum bellhousings and complete bellhousing kits compatible with 2- and 3-plate Sport 5.5 inch, 2- and 3-plate 5.5 inch carbon, and 3-plate 7.25 inch metallic racing clutches. Aluminum construction resists flexing and maximizes power transfer.
• 6000-Series Hydraulic Release Bearings Hydraulic release bearings with adjustable height transmission mount, braided lines and fittings included. Available in multiple bearing options for high-performance street use. Priced at $535 to $545.
• 6100-Series Flat-Face Hydraulic Release Bearings Flat-face hydraulic release bearings that mount onto the transmission input shaft bearing retainer. Compatible with Ford Tremec TKO/TKX/500/600, Ford T-5, Toploader, Tremec T56/Magnum, GM Tremec TKO/500/600, GM Saginaw, and GM T-5 transmissions.
• 6200-Series 44mm Radius-Face Hydraulic Release Bearings 44mm radius-face hydraulic release bearings designed for specific transmission applications, priced at $535 to $545.
• 6300-Series 38mm Radius-Face Hydraulic Release Bearings 38mm radius-face hydraulic release bearings for high-performance street applications.
• Camaro 2010-2020 Hydraulic Release Bearings Bolt-in hydraulic release bearings for Chevy Camaro GEN5 (2010-2015) and GEN6 (2016-current). Preset at factory for use with Tilton ST-246 clutch kits, adjustable for OEM and other clutches. Priced at $595.
• Corvette 1997-2019 Hydraulic Release Bearings Bolt-in hydraulic release bearings for Corvette C5 (1997-2004), C6 (2005-2013 except ZR1), and C7 (2014-2019). Preset for use with ST-246 clutch kits, adjustable for OEM and other clutches.
• 40000-Series Super Starters High-performance super starters with a 3.0 HP (2.2kW) motor and 3.75:1 gear reduction drive assembly for starting large displacement, high-compression engines.
• XLT-Series Super Starters Super starter series providing dependable starting for high-performance engines for over 30 years.
• Racing Pedal Assemblies Racing pedal assemblies available in floor-mount, firewall-mount, and overhung configurations for racing brake control systems.
• Master Cylinders Racing master cylinders for brake control systems.
• Balance Bars Balance bars providing adjustable brake bias control for racing applications.
• Prop and Flow Control Valves Valves for controlling brake fluid flow and pressure in racing applications.
• Remote Bias Adjusters Remote-adjustable bias controls for fine-tuning brake balance during racing.
• Clutch Disc Packs Replacement clutch disc packs for racing clutches across metallic, cerametallic, and carbon/carbon material options.
• Flywheels and Ring Gears Billet steel flywheels with integral ring gears for racing applications.
• Diff and Transmission Cooler Pump Differential and transmission cooler pumps for managing fluid temperatures in racing applications.
• Service Parts and Accessories Service parts and accessories including snap rings, seal kits, bleed fittings, replacement hoses, pistons, reservoirs, and other consumables supporting Tilton clutch, brake, and starter product lines.

Quantifiable outcome

• Tilton OT-Series clutches are used to win championships in nearly every form of motorsport worldwide including F1, NASCAR, IMSA, IndyCar, SCCA, Formula Drift, and SCORE
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Centerforce: Centerforce is a direct competitor in performance and racing clutches, offering dual-friction and pressure plate upgrades targeting the same hot rod, muscle car, and racing customer base as Tilton.
• Quartermaster: Quartermaster specializes in high-performance racing clutches and bellhousings, competing directly with Tilton in the professional and semi-professional racing segments including drag racing and circle track.
• Competition Clutch: Competition Clutch manufactures performance clutches, flywheels, and drivetrain components for sport compact, import, and domestic performance markets, directly comparable to Tilton's product portfolio.
• RAM Clutches: RAM Clutches manufactures performance and racing clutches, pressure plates, and flywheels for street and track applications, directly competing with Tilton's Sport and OT-Series product lines.
• Hays Clutches: Hays Clutches produces performance clutches and flywheel kits for muscle cars, hot rods, and racing applications, overlapping with Tilton's high-performance street and short-track segments.
• McLeod Racing: McLeod Racing manufactures performance clutches, bellhousings, and drivetrain components for street, strip, and circle track racing — a near-direct competitor with overlapping product lines and customer segments.
• Wilwood Engineering: Wilwood is a manufacturer of high-performance brake systems including master cylinders, pedal assemblies, and brake controls — directly competing with Tilton's Brake Controls product line in the racing and performance street segments.
• ACT (Advanced Clutch Technology): ACT is a leading manufacturer of performance clutches and flywheels for sport compacts, domestic performance, and racing applications, directly competing with Tilton's OT-Series and ST-Series offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Exedy: Exedy is a global Tier-1 OEM and aftermarket clutch supplier with significant scale advantages, competing in the same clutch and drivetrain components space as Tilton across both OEM and performance segments.
• Sachs (ZF Friedrichshafen): Sachs, part of ZF, is a major global clutch and drivetrain supplier serving OEM and aftermarket channels. While not a niche racing specialist, its product portfolio overlaps with Tilton's in the broader clutch and drivetrain category.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tiltoneng
• Facebookfacebook.com/tiltoneng
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tilton-engineering

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tilton Racing