Safety Equipment has never been such an important topic as it is today, and the importance/emphasis grows each racing season. Therefore, is important to understand what safety products are available, and how they affect the driver's safety.  Each manufacturer has their own recommended sizing and usage charts, as equipment fitment varies from manufacturer-to-manufacturer.

Here in our Technical Center, we have attempted to compile the most recent comprehensive overview of these companies and their products to help you and your driver make an informed and educated decision as to the exact safety equipment you need to be safe while at the track.

Below who will find sizing/fitment guides to help you choose the proper Racing Helmet.  If you need other driver safety gear, please visit our other tech pages for Racing Suits, Driving GlovesDriving Shoes, Head-Neck Restraints and also Racing Seats.  And always remember, if you have a question about choosing the proper safety equipment, please contact our knowledgeable technical sales staff for assistance.

SNELL® RATING - All auto racing helmets are Snell® certified with an “SA” designation, while motorcycle helmets have an “M” designation and finally, karting helmets will have a "K" prefix.  These designations will appear on the Snell® decal found inside the helmet.

The Snell Memorial Foundation® releases an updated helmet testing certification every five years. Right now, the newest designation for motorsports is SA 2020 and has been on the market since October 2020.

For more info about the Snell Memorial Foundation®, visit www.smf.org. (link opens new page)

PROPER FITMENT - Having a helmet that fits properly is crucial to the driver's safety.  The general rule when sizing a helmet is to measure your head around the forehead just above the eyebrows with a cloth measuring tape and compare that to the manufacturer’s size chart.  If you do not have a cloth tape, use a piece of string or yarn to find the size of your head, then lay it out flat on a table and measure the length of the string. (NOTE: To help our customers, we have provided links to the helmet manufacturer's sizing charts below)

Any helmet you choose should be one you are comfortable wearing for extended periods and should fit snugly around your head and cheeks to the point that it is almost uncomfortable.  This is because the soft foam padding will break-in over time and compress a bit.  A helmet that is too comfortable when new will become too loose once you’ve worn it for a few sessions on the track.

If you are replacing a helmet you already have, please don’t make the mistake of assuming the sizes are all the same from one manufacturer to the next.  Just because you wear a size large from Brand X, doesn’t mean that Brand Y’s size large helmet with provide you the same fit.  Again, please refer to the factory helmet sizing charts provided below to ensure proper fitment.


Arai® Helmets-USA

Bell® Racing-USA


G-Force® Racing Gear


HJC™ Motorsports


Impact™ Racing


OMP™ Racing Products


Pyrotect® Racing Safety


RaceQuip® Safety


RJS™ Racing Equipment


Roux® Helmets-USA


Simpson® Safety


Sparco® Safety USA


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RACECAR ENGINEERING™ HAS ALL OF YOUR HELMET ACCESSORY NEEDS COVERED

Please also remember that Racecar Engineering™ carries a full assortment of brand-name helmet accessories.  We have in stock and ready to ship replacement shields, radio ear pieces, tear-offs, race gear storage bags, fresh-air systems and much more.  

Browse our wide selection of safety products and buy online today.  If you have questions about choosing the right safety equipment for your motorsports segment, please contact one of our Technical Sales Associates for assistance.

At Racecar Engineering™ we make every attempt to be every racer's 'One-Stop Safety Shop'.

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Related Tech Safety Topics:  Racing Suits | Driving Gloves | Driving Shoes | Head and Neck Restraints | Racing Seats