What Is The Difference Between Original Equipment Tyres & Off-The-Shelf Tyres?

When it comes to bespoke tyres, they are getting more and more popular with both motorists and manufacturers. Off-the-shelf tyres might be getting better by the day, and more capable to suit any vehicle but what this also means is that manufacturers are wanting to gain more control over how the tyres on their vehicles perform, and how the vehicle behaves. This is where Original Equipment tyres come in. 

Although off-the-shelf tyres are just as good an option as OE tyres, there may be some tweaks and differences between the two. In this article, we are going to outline the differences between the two and what each tyre can offer. 

Many big names in the tyre world have started manufacturing OE tyres including Michelin, where the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S is used as OE on the BMW G80 M3 and BMW G82 M4. The difference between off-the-shelf tyres, to this Michelin OE tyre, is fairly drastic. The OE 4S includes 4 compounds instead of 2, like the off-the-shelf version. The OE tyre also has a tighter belt in the middle of the tyre for better contact, improved sidewall rigidity and tweaked grooves and tread depth. 

So What Is Original Equipment? 

Original Equipment means the vehicle component that is selected by the manufacturer to be fitted to the vehicle is classed as standard. It is not only used for tyres but can also be used for batteries, exhausts and more. 

Tyre manufacturers work closely with the vehicle manufacturer to secure their product as OE. Having this recommendation is one of the highest accolades, and the tyres that are selected have been placed in the highest regard by some of the top car manufacturers. In turn, this means motorists can also put their trust in the selected brand and tyres for their vehicles. From initial scope to the hypothesis, to extensive testing to ensure the tyre is ideally suited to the vehicle. 

How Can You Tell If It Is An OE or Off-The-Shelf Tyre?

The sidewall markings are the main way motorists can decipher which tyres are OE. Many of the world’s top manufacturers such as Mercedes, Audi and more tend to have designated marks on the sidewall that let people know this tyre has been given OE status. 

Each letter and symbol is used by all tyre manufacturers, to show that the particular tyre has been designed specifically for that vehicle. 

Choosing The Correct Tyre

When it comes to changing the tyres on your vehicle, it is highly recommended that if you already have a vehicle that has been fitted with OE tyres, you stick to the same one and simply replace the tyres with new versions of the ones previously fitted. However, this is not a set-in-stone rule, as many off-the-shelf tyres can still be highly compatible with your vehicle. For example, if your vehicle has OE tyres that are Michelin, choosing other premium brands such as Continental or Pirelli can still give you great performance, but the recommended tyre would still be the ones fitted as OE.