Mazda MX-5 Harnesses Buying Guide

Click here to explore the full selection of Mazda MX-5 Harnesses

Click here for our Mazda MX-5 Harness Comparison Table

When it comes to outfitting your Mazda MX-5, selecting the right harness is essential. These iconic sports cars feature tight cockpits that require harnesses designed to fit snugly without excess webbing, while offering easy adjustability.

The only way to fix the shoulder straps in an MX-5 is to wrap them around either a harness bar or roll bar that has been designed for your MX-5. All of our harness listings include shoulder straps with no fixings on the end, intended for wrap-around fixing. 

Please also note, that are harness listings are intended for Mk1 and Mk2 (NA and NB) Mazda MX-5s. They may be suitable for later models, but please check the specifications or contact us for details. 

So where do you begin?

Will your Mazda MX-5 be used primarily for road use, track days, or FIA racing events?

Road Use

For road-legal Mazda MX-5 harnesses, both 4 point and 6 point versions are available.

The 4 point harness is often the starting point for road use. It typically features a standard buckle, similar to those found in factory-installed seat belts, and 2 inch wide webbing. The shoulder straps are designed for wrap-around fixing as noted above.

Examples of road-legal harnesses include:

If you're looking for a more advanced release mechanism, consider a 4 point or 6 point FIA-approved harness, which can also be road-legal (although some FIA models are exclusively for use with HANS devices).

Examples of these include:

Mazda MX-5 Road Harnesses

Track Day Use

For track days, both TRS and Willans harnesses are excellent choices. If your Mazda MX-5 will also be used on public roads, it’s best to choose a road-approved or FIA-approved version.

We also offer harnesses made to FIA specifications, though they have not been officially certified yet. These are not FIA-approved or road-legal, but they can be used for track-day events.

Examples of track-day harnesses:

The Willans Mazda MX-5 4 Point and 6 Point Quick Adjuster Track Day Harnesses are particularly ideal for Mazda MX-5 owners who have installed racing seats. The lap strap adjusters securely fit into the quick-release buckle, allowing for easy adjustment and access. While these harnesses are still awaiting FIA certification, they are currently available for track-day use. Many Mazda MX-5 enthusiasts also use them for road driving, although they are technically intended for track events.

FIA Approved

FIA-approved harnesses can be split into two categories:

  1. FIA-approved harnesses without a HANS device
  2. FIA-approved harnesses exclusively with a HANS device

FIA Use Without a HANS Device

FIA-approved harnesses that aren’t specifically labeled "HANS only" are suitable for both track and road use. These Mazda MX-5 harnesses are ideal for those who need FIA certification without the need for a HANS device:

FIA Use Exclusively With a HANS Device

Some FIA-approved harnesses are specifically designed to be used with a HANS (or FHR) device, which is required for certain competitive racing events. These harnesses typically feature wider shoulder straps (2 or 3 inches). The 3 inch straps taper to 2 inches to fit with the HANS device. Examples include:

The TRS Mazda MX-5 International 6 Point Quick Adjuster Harness is ideal for racing seats, offering excellent adjustability. The lap strap adjusters are combined with the quick-release buckle, ensuring smooth adjustments. Although these harnesses are FIA-approved for competitive racing, some Mazda MX-5 owners opt to use them for road driving, though they are technically designed for use in track events (with a HANS device).

FIA Harnesses

Wrap Around Shoulder Strap Fixings

The shoulder straps on our Mazda MX-5 Harnesses are designed to wrap around a harness or roll bar. Here's a bit more information on how this works. Please note that for the best fit and safety, always follow the installation instructions provided with the harness and your car’s roll bar or harness bar manufacturer.

- Keep the length of the strap as short as possible
- Optimum angle of -10°, never an upward angle
- Keep the 3 bar slide snug up against the tube
- Always remember to loop back on yourself when threading up
- Leave at least a 10cm tail
- Cross over shoulder straps if the tube is more than 50cm
behind the seat
- Use book end stoppers to prevent lateral movement
- Wrap around helps save weight

When wrapping harnesses around the roll cage there are several safety considerations to be aware of. Always make sure that the webbing passes smoothly through the seat opening and is not chaffing on any seat mounts or sharp edges. Sharp edges can cause the webbing to abrade or cut. Always make sure that the 3 bar slide is as close to the harness bar as possible. This is important because a lose 3 bar slide can cause slippage. When wrapping around the roll cage always make sure that you remember the final locking loop. Once you have done the final locking loop make sure that you have at least 10-15cm of web as a tail. Excess webbing can be neatly rolled up and cable tied out of the way.

The shorter the strap the better. This is because polyester webbing has a typical elongation of 3-5%, and the shorter the strap the less elongation during crash conditions. If the roll cage is more than 50cm behind the seat, we recommend that you cross the shoulder straps over. This increases stability during a
crash.

The optimum angle for wrapping around the roll cage is -10°. Any angle between 0° to -30° is acceptable, but never an upward angle. To prevent lateral movements of the shoulder straps whilst going around a corner, bookend the location of the straps with stoppers. This will stop the belts sliding along the tube when you go around a corner.

Adjusters

You can upgrade your Mazda MX-5 harnesses to Superlite or Ultralite versions. As standard TRS harnesses use steel anti-creep adjusters. Also available are premium aluminium alloy adjusters, which in addition to being lightweight, offer a smoother and faster adjustment. The Superlite harnesses use these lightweight aluminium adjusters on the shoulder straps, and the Ultralite harnesses use them on both the shoulder and lap straps.

They are highly recommended for vehicles being shared between multiple drivers, and in general we always recommend upgrading to the aluminium adjusters due to their premium look and feel.

Standard Steel Adjusters
TRS 50mm Steel Adjuster

50mm (2") steel adjusters

TRS 75mm Steel Adjuster

75mm (3") steel adjusters

Premium Aluminium Adjusters
TRS 50mm Aluminium Adjuster

50mm (2") aluminium adjusters

TRS 75mm Aluminium Adjuster

75mm (3") aluminium adjusters

Pull Up or Pull Down Lap Strap Adjusters

Mazda MX-5 lap straps can be fitted with either pull-up or pull-down adjusters.

We typically recommend pull-down adjusters, positioned about 12 cm from the buckle for easy access. This ensures that the adjuster remains within the confines of the seat.

Pull-up adjusters, which sit 12 cm from the fixing point at the end of the lap strap, are less accessible but can be supplied on request. We can even provide custom distances for pull-up adjusters if necessary, depending on your seat configuration.

Some harnesses, like the TRS Mazda MX-5 International 6 Point FIA Harness with Quick Adjuster (HANS Only) and Willans Mazda MX-5 4 Point Track Day Harness with Quick Adjuster, come with integrated adjusters for maximum ease and adjustability.

Shipping Costs for Mazda MX-5 Harnesses

We offer free shipping for all orders within the United Kingdom, including the Highlands, Islands, and Northern Ireland. We also deliver to:

You can view the latest shipping charges for these locations on the harness product pages or on our Shipping Charges page.

UK VAT of 20% is removed for export orders, including deliveries to the Channel Islands.

Delivery Times

All of our Mazda MX-5 harnesses are made in the UK, with fast turnaround times negotiated with our manufacturers.

Estimated delivery times are listed on each product page, but we often ship even quicker. Once your harnesses are ready, they will be dispatched on a next-day service (UK mainland) or express service for international deliveries.

Willans or TRS?

Not sure which brand to go for? Choosing between Willans and TRS harnesses is a bit like deciding between two premium brands, like Coca Cola and Pepsi, or BMW and Mercedes! Both are known for their exceptional quality. Whether you're drawn to Willans for its rich motorsport heritage or TRS for its modern racing innovation, both options are excellent.

Willans' reputation dates back to the days of Jackie Stewart, while TRS is strongly associated with current motorsport. Each brand offers different features, which may help guide your decision.

At Cobra Seats, we're fans of both and are more than happy to recommend either, depending on your needs.

For more details on the TRS range, click here: TRS Harnesses Explained

Why Buy From Us?

Click here to explore the full selection of Mazda MX-5 Harnesses

Click here for our Mazda MX-5 Harness Comparison Table