When driving your luxury car, like a Mercedes-Benz or BMW, you expect impeccable performance — but are the Pirelli tyres good enough to deliver? OEM tyres on a luxury car are specifically developed for your vehicle for optimum handling and comfort.

Understanding Homologation Markings on Tyres

"Homologation" refers to the approval of a product by a regulatory body. In the case of tyres, homologation markings indicate that the tyre has been approved for use on public roads. These markings are usually found on the tyre's sidewall, and they can vary depending on the country in which the tyre was manufactured.

Homologation markings typically include the name of the regulatory agency, as well as the date of approval. In some cases, homologation markings may also include a speed rating or other information about the tyre.

These tyre markings are an important consideration when buying tyres, as they help ensure that the tyres you purchase are safe for use on public roads.

Here are the different tyre markings found on various tyre types:

"OE" mark: Stands for "Original Equipment." This means that the car manufacturer approved the tyre and is the ideal choice for your vehicle. OE tyres will offer the best performance, comfort, and handling.
"*" mark: This mark indicates that the tyre has been approved by BMW. Such tyres are specifically designed to provide superior performance and handling.
"AO" mark: This mark indicates that the tyre has been approved by Audi.
MOS Tyre: An all-terrain tyre designed for both on and off-road driving. It has a special tread pattern that helps grip the road in all weather conditions. It is also designed to be durable and long-lasting.
MOE Tyre: A tyre designed for on-road driving.
MO1 Tyre: Designed for AMG® models, these tyres make steering easy and provide better traction and control.
MO Tyre: The standard Mercedes-Benz tyre that is designed for on-road driving.

Understanding Homologation Markings For Different Car Tyres

Now that you understand what homologation markings are, let's look at some of the different markings you might see on your Bridgestone tires

Mercedes-Benz Tyres

Mercedes-Benz has done years of testing and research to develop four tyre categories - MO, MO1, MOE and MOS tyres. These tyres are meant to cover a driver's needs whether they are on the road or off it. You can expect a Mercedes-Benz with MO tyres to provide a smooth and comfortable ride while still offering excellent grip. The other tyre types offer even more grip and handling, making them ideal for high-performance driving. You can also find high-quality tyres from Michelin tyres that are in line with Benz’s OEM specifications.

BMW - * Marked Tyres

The asterisk (*) means tyres with these markings are approved by BMW. Goodyear tyres have a great collection of "*" marked BMW Tyres.

When choosing the perfect tyre for your BMW, look no further than tyres bearing the "*" mark. BMW specifically designed and approved these tyres to provide superior performance, handling, and comfort.

Audi - AO Marked Tyres

The "AO" mark on a tyre indicates that the tyre has been approved by Audi. The car tyres are specifically designed to provide superior comfort and handling. If you're looking for the best possible tyre for your Audi, look for one with the "AO" mark.

Tesla - TO Marked Tyres

Tesla "TO" Marked Tyres have been specifically designed for use with Tesla vehicles. These tyres have various features that make them ideal for use with Tesla cars, including a special tread pattern that helps to improve traction and performance.

In addition, Tesla-Marked Tyres are made from a special compound that helps to improve their durability and longevity. So, these tyres are an excellent choice for anyone who owns a Tesla car.

Ferrari- K2 Marked Tyres

Ferrari-marked K2 tyres have been designed and homologated specifically for use on Ferrari cars. The 'K2' marking means that the tyres have been tested and approved by Ferrari for use on their cars, indicating that the tyres have been designed to meet the standards of the Ferrari brand.

The 'Homologation Markings' on the tyres indicate that they have been approved for use on public roads in Europe, America and other parts of the world, making them some of the safest and most reliable tyres on the market.

If you're looking for tyres that will provide optimal performance and safety on your Ferrari, look no further than Ferrari-marked K2 tyres.

Porsche – NO, N1, N2, N4, N5, N8 Marked Tyres

Porsche is a German car company that manufactures high-performance vehicles. All Porsche cars are equipped with tyres specifically designed for their models. The tyres are marked with a "Porsche" logo and one of the following letters: N1, N2, N4, N5, or N8.

These letters indicate the level of performance that the tyre has been designed for. Depending on the terrain (countryside, highway, snow etc.) and the usage, the N-spec tyres have numbers that indicate the terrain type they are suitable for.

So the N4 tyres are designed for off-road terrain while N2 tyres are designed for public roads and are the standard tyres that come with all new Porsche vehicles.

All Porsche tyres must meet strict quality standards to be homologated (approved) for use on Porsche vehicles. Homologation markings can be found on all tyres that have been approved for use on Porsche vehicles.

These markings include the "Porsche" logo, the homologation number, and the letter "H", followed by a number. The homologation number indicates the year the tyre was approved for use on Porsche vehicles. The "H" followed by a number indicates the country in which the tyre was approved.

For example, a tyre with the markings "Porsche 991 N1 H2" would be a tyre that has been approved for use on Porsche vehicles in the year 2012 and in Germany.

LandRover LR Fitment Tyres

The "LR" designation on tyres indicates that the tyre has been approved by Land Rover for use on their vehicles. The "LR" marking means that the tyre has been tested and approved by Land Rover, indicating that the tyres have been designed to meet the standards of the Land Rover brand. You can use the "LR" marked tyres to drive on roads worldwide.

Jaguar "JLR" Fitment Tyres

Jaguars are high-performance cars that need high-performance tyres. That's why the company offers a range of "JLR" fitment tyres that have been specifically designed to meet the demands of these cars. Whether you're looking for tyres that can handle high speeds and hard cornering, or you need a tyre that can provide superior grip in wet weather conditions, the "JLR" fitment tyre will suit your needs. And because the company knows that every driver is different, it offers a range of different tyre types, so you can choose the one that best suits your driving style.

Goodyear Tyres

Goodyear tyres are well-known for their quality and boast several homologation markings that attest to this. The "OE" mark, as discussed above, indicates that the tyre has been approved by the original equipment manufacturer. The "*" mark signifies that the tyre has been approved by the European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation for BMW.

Goodyear also offers MOS tyres, MOE tyres, MO1 tyres, and MO tyres. These are all specialised tyres that have been designed to meet the specific needs of different car brands. As such, Goodyear's range of tyres is second to none regarding quality and performance.

Continental Tyres

Continental tyres are some of the most popular on the market, known for their high quality and performance. Various homologation markings can be found on Continental tyres, which indicate the standards they have been designed to meet. Continental tyres are trusted by some of the world's leading car manufacturers, such as Audi, Mercedes, and BMW. This is a testament to their quality and performance, making them an excellent choice for any driver.

RFT (Run Flat Tyres)

All the brands mentioned above develop RFT tyres (run-flat tyres). These specially designed tyres can continue to be driven even if they lose all their air pressure. This means that you can still get to your destination even if you have a puncture. RFT tyres are marked with an "RFT" logo, and they are available in various sizes to fit all types of cars.

Final Word

Now that you know what the different homologation markings on tyres mean, you can decide which tyres are right for your luxury car. Choose OE tyres for the best performance or BMW or Audi tyres for superior comfort and handling. Whichever tyres you choose, you can be confident that you're getting the best possible performance from your luxury car.