The thermally induced chemical vapour deposition of silicon carbide from methyltrichlorosilane (MTS) on isotropic pitch based carbon fibres with hollow and C-shaped cross sections was investigated. The uncoated and coated fibres were characterized by their mechanical properties (tensile strength, Young’s modulus and torsional rigidity modulus) and surface energetic analysis. The oxidation behaviour of the carbon fibres before and after coating was discussed in terms of the weight change measured in a thermal balance during heating in an air flow at a constant heating rate.