Original Equipment (OE) Marked Tyres

Original Equipment (OE) tyres are those that are fitted to your car during the manufacturing process. These tyres are in most cases not merely selected by the car manufacturer by chance, they do go through a rigorous testing and development program.

Car manufacturers work in close collaboration with the tyre experts to develop tyres for their cars that are in some cases specifically tuned and adapted for the car platform to make sure the tyres contribute to the safety, drive and handling characteristics the car's engineers are wanting their customers to experience when they buy their cars. The testing process is rigorous and ensures that tyres meet the most demanding safety and performance standards as set out by the car manufacturers engineers.

Considering the huge accolade of having OE status, it’s no surprise that tyre manufacturers like Bridgestone, Continental, Dunlop, Falken, Goodyear, Kumho, Michelin, Pirelli and Yokohama continue to compete strongly for wheel positions on new cars. It’s this competitiveness that encourages tyre manufacturers to constantly improve their tyres through new innovations and technologies, thereby playing a contributing factor in elevating their brand status to quality and/or premium brands.

The OE markings are represented on the sidewall using a special symbol that is determined by the car maker, not the tyre manufacturer, and not all tyres have the OE marking on them. It really is up to the car maker if they want this marking to be present on the tyre to indicate an approved or “homologated” tyre for their car. This makes an OE tyre easy to identify in the aftermarket when it is recommended as a suitable replacement for your car. If there is any doubt as to weather you are replacing the tyres on your car with the right solution, speak to your nearest Bob Jane T-Marts store and they will be able to provide best recommendation for your car: