What does OEM mean?

OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) is a common term within many industries and marketplaces, including the tyre industry.

Also referred to as ‘OE tyres’, OEM tyres will be a common term used in relation to both tyre and car manufacturers, whether it be in press releases, tyre sidewalls, or vehicle handbooks.

But what does OEM mean? And how does this apply to your car and tyres? Let’s explore the definitions and what it means for your motoring experience.

What Does OEM/OE Tyres Mean?

OEM is a term used to identify the manufacturer that provides specific parts to another company, assisting them in making their own products.

An Original Equipment Manufacturer maintains a relationship with certain companies that wish to use their parts – these parts/products will match exactly what the company wishes to distribute to their customers.

The term for a vehicle manufacturer's OEM when fitting tyres to their new vehicles is OE tyres, which stands for Original Equipment tyres.

OE tyres are the specific tyres that a car manufacturer will declare the best suited for their specific vehicle, therefore will fit them on their newly produced cars.

Common OEMs for tyre fitting within the motoring industry are tyre brands such as Michelin, Continental, Bridgestone, Hankook, and many others.

Why Use OE Tyres?

Car manufacturing companies will use reputable OE tyres to ensure quality and expertise towards the specific vehicle that the tyres are originally equipped to.

OE tyres for a car will have features that are aligned with the vehicle’s components, such as braking components, suspension systems, and wheel alignment, giving higher levels of performance to the vehicle.

Given that OE tyres cater to their respective vehicles, car tyre features such as noise levels, fuel efficiency, and grip will typically be optimal for the vehicle’s performance.

Safety is also a component of why car manufacturers use OE tyres. This is ensured by the car company that is producing the vehicle, with regular safety checks and tests between different tyre models before choosing what tyre will be originally equipped to their car model.

The relationships built between both tyre and car manufacturing companies essentially benefit the outcome of their products, giving customers optimal performance throughout their driving experience.

OE Tyre Markings

Tyre models produced by the manufacturers will feature markings that indicate what vehicle manufacturer has chosen that specific model to be one of their OE tyres.

These markings will appear on the tyre’s sidewall, being visible beside the other informative tyre markings.

As different tyre models will outline different markings based on the car brand that receives the model, it is important to outline the different symbols for the tyre markings:

Let’s use a Michelin tyre for example: the Michelin Primacy 4 has been an OE tyre for BMW car models in the past (and present), therefore, Primacy 4 tyres designed for BMW models will have the BMW star marking on its sidewall.

It is important to note that one tyre model can have different OE markings, as different car brands can utilise the model as their OE tyre.

When Should I Change My Original Tyre?

If you have a brand-new car, it is unlikely you will need to change your originally equipped tyres soon – the tyres that are fitted on your vehicle will align with the features of the car and should last between 25,000 to 40,000 miles.

If your OE tyres are below the legal tread depth limit of 1.6mm (UK), you should instantly change your tyres. To check your tyre’s tread depth, one recommended method is taking a 20p coin and place it between the main grooves of the tyre. If you can see the outer band of the coin, the tyre may be below the legal limit.

If you wish to keep with the seasonal weather trends, you may wish to change your OE tyre to the appropriate seasonal tyre. For example, if your vehicle’s OE tyre is a summer tyre, you may want to change to your tyre to a winter or an  all-season tyre when the temperatures start dropping during autumn/winter periods.

As long as your OE tyres are not showing any signs of damage, wear, or insufficient tread depth, the tyres should enhance your car’s performance needs.