Vehicle Specific Tyres

Some vehicles have tyres co-developed between the car and the tyre manufacturer to help bring out the key attributes, such as comfort or lateral grip, that the vehicle was initially designed to achieve.

When a vehicle has a specific tyre developed and approved for fitment, it is called a Homologated tyre. Homologated tyres will have a code or marking on the sidewall to denote the particular fitment for which they were designed.

Homologated Audi Tyre

Example of an Original Equipment (OE) Continental tyre manufactured for Audi, with the homologation code "AO".

Homologated Mercedes Tyre

Example of an Original Equipment (OE) Continental tyre manufactured for Mercedes, with the homologation code "MOE".

Almost certainly, on the day a new car model is launched with a homologated tyre fitted as Original Equipment (OE), that tyre will be the best tyre for that vehicle based on the attributes the vehicle manufacturer believes drivers want most from that specific model.
However, tyre technology moves fast, with manufacturers regularly introducing improved versions of non-homologated tyres. These often boast significant enhancements across all key areas, averaging around 10%.

As such, once a vehicle is upwards of three to five years old, from when the model was first launched, there may be alternative tyres that will perform better on that vehicle, or certainly alternatives that will perform comparably.

Once a concept exclusive to high-end premium or sports cars, homologated tyres are now becoming more widespread, with new fitments being developed regularly. The table below outlines the common homologation codes that are likely to be found in Europe.

Manufacturer Sidewall Marking

Alfa Romeo

AR, ARR, AZ

Alpina

ALP

Aston Martin

AM2, AM4, AM8, AM9, AMP, AMS, AMV, AMX, A2A, A4A, A5A, A7A, A8A

Audi

AO, AOE, AO1, AO2

Bentley

"B" (in a circle), B, B1, BC, BL

BMW

"*" (star symbol)

Ferrari

F, F01, F02, F03, K1, K2, K3

Ford

FO, FP

Genesis

GOE

Honda

HO

Hyundai

H, HN, HY

Jaguar

"J" (in a circle), J, JRS

Lamborghini

L

Land Rover

LR, LR1, LRO

Lexus

LX

Lotus

LS, LTS

Lucid Motors

LM1

Maserati

MGT

McLaren

MC, MC1

Mercedes

MO, MOE, MO-S, MO-V

Mercedes (AMG)

MO1, MO1B

Mini

"*" (star symbol)

Pagani

HP

Polestar

POL

Porsche

N0, N1, N2, ... etc

NA0, NA1, NA2, ... etc

NB0, NB1, NB2, ... etc

NC0, NC1, NC2, ... etc

ND0, ND1, ND2, ... etc

NE0, NE1, NE2, ... etc

NF0, NF1, NF2, ... etc

Subaru

SB

Tesla

T0, T1

Toyota

TO, MZ

Volkswagen

"+" (plus symbol), A, VO, VW, VW1, VW2, GTI

Volvo

VOL