While all tires appear round and black, how much traction they provide in adverse weather, how quietly and comfortably they ride, as well as how long they last can vary greatly. Every tire’s performance depends on its manufacturer’s design technology, rubber compounding capabilities and production proficiency.
Since O.E. tires are developed through the cooperative efforts between the vehicle and tire manufacturer’s engineers, they have been proven to meet the vehicle maker’s original specifications and the needs for the majority of drivers who purchased the vehicle.
In most cases, drivers will have years of experience with their vehicle’s O.E. tires before they need to be replaced. Reinstalling O.E. tires will reduce purchase anxiety and the possibility of buyer’s remorse by continuing to provide predictable performance that will not result in any surprises.
While most tires from the same performance category provide similar dry road traction, wet and wintry road conditions reduce traction and challenge vehicle drivability. If O.E. tires on one axle are mismatched with inferior, non-O.E. tires on the other axle, the differences in the tire’s traction and handling may upset the vehicle’s handling balance when it’s needed the most during challenging driving conditions and emergency situations.
If accidents, road hazards or insufficient vehicle maintenance cause single or pairs of tires to wear out, replacing the worn out tires with matching O.E. tires will retain the same visual appearance, as well as equivalent traction and handling capabilities.
