Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Two comments on this:
First, I'm not sure I've read, from a manufacturer that say their best tires to go OE'S contracts and the tires that don't make that cut get sold at retail. I do know that that's a common belief, but I'm not sure it's based in fact. It could be...I've just never seen that verified anywhere.....
OK, I'm not a "manufacturer", but I used to work for one, and I can affirm this to be the case.
HOWEVER, there are a lot of reasons why tires fail to meet the "OE standards", but would meet "replacement market standards". PLUS, there is always some mixing of "OE grade" in the "Replacement" mix.
Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
.......Second, if that is indeed the case, they'd be talking about things like uniformity, roundness, etc. How that specific tire part number (part number, not model name) performs, things like grip or ride quality, should be the same whether you get it as original equipment or if you buy it from a tire dealer.
And you are absolutely correct about this.
It isn't the overall tire characteristics are different, it's the consistency from individual to individual. Uniformity, balance is a common theme, but so is the appearance. There are certain appearance issues that vehicle manufacturers are fussy about and the average consumer is not - and vice versa.
But there is a wrinkle: Some tire manufacturers will also produce a seemingly identical tire for the replacement market - and it is indeed different (made the way the tire manufacturer thinks tires ought to be designed). It's hard to tell which are which, but you can get a hint in Tire Rack's specifications as they will list a number of apparently the same tire and specify which are OE.
Two comments on this:
First, I'm not sure I've read, from a manufacturer that say their best tires to go OE'S contracts and the tires that don't make that cut get sold at retail. I do know that that's a common belief, but I'm not sure it's based in fact. It could be...I've just never seen that verified anywhere.....
OK, I'm not a "manufacturer", but I used to work for one, and I can affirm this to be the case.
HOWEVER, there are a lot of reasons why tires fail to meet the "OE standards", but would meet "replacement market standards". PLUS, there is always some mixing of "OE grade" in the "Replacement" mix.
Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
.......Second, if that is indeed the case, they'd be talking about things like uniformity, roundness, etc. How that specific tire part number (part number, not model name) performs, things like grip or ride quality, should be the same whether you get it as original equipment or if you buy it from a tire dealer.
And you are absolutely correct about this.
It isn't the overall tire characteristics are different, it's the consistency from individual to individual. Uniformity, balance is a common theme, but so is the appearance. There are certain appearance issues that vehicle manufacturers are fussy about and the average consumer is not - and vice versa.
But there is a wrinkle: Some tire manufacturers will also produce a seemingly identical tire for the replacement market - and it is indeed different (made the way the tire manufacturer thinks tires ought to be designed). It's hard to tell which are which, but you can get a hint in Tire Rack's specifications as they will list a number of apparently the same tire and specify which are OE.