The replacements and upgrades you can do on your vehicle don’t always have to be system-wide, meaning you don’t have to replace the exhaust completely. You can always just upgrade one single component. In this case, you can easily replace the tailpipe(s). Why would you replace them instead of other types of exhaust components?
Because they can affect a lot more than just the way your car sounds. With a new exhaust tip for a car, you can also change the way engine fumes exit out of the vehicle. This can easily affect performance gains since the more unrestrictive of an escape the fumes have the more strain there is on the engine.
What to Look for in Exhaust Tips
Fit
Despite being so straightforward in design, exhaust tips are not that simple when it comes to their fitment. There are two things you need to consider with an aftermarket exhaust tip for a car and those are the inlet and outlet diameter.
The inlet diameter is a bigger concern since different car manufacturers use different tailpipe diameters. Therefore the inlet diameter has to match that of your vehicle’s stock exhaust system.
The outlet diameter is a more forgiving spec since it depends entirely on personal preference. There are no compatibility issues here as the outlet diameter can be as big as you want as long as it doesn’t come in contact with the rear bumper. Otherwise, you’ll need to cut a piece from it.
Length
Another factor you need to take into consideration with exhaust tips is their length. This is where you can’t go shorter or longer than what the manufacturer has intended. While you physically can, it won’t be good for your vehicle in the long run. You also run the risk of damaging it if you have the exhaust tip longer than the vehicle’s backside, if someone were to drive into you from the back.
Material
Despite there being many different materials that exhaust tips for sale are made of, the most popular one is stainless steel. That’s because this type of material makes for a corrosion-resistant tip that can withstand impacts quite well. Simply put, it’s because it’s quite durable no matter outside conditions.
Shape
The shape of the exhaust matters mainly for aesthetical purposes but it can also affect the exhaust note. Both, however, depend on your personal preference but keep in mind that larger aftermarket exhaust tips with more intricate shapes are usually able to help make for a deep growl. Those with a square shape usually make for a raspy sound rather than a refined one.
Types of Exhaust Tips
Straight Cut
A straight-cut exhaust tip is exactly what you expect it to be. It has a straight cross-sectional line that gives it a more traditional look. This type of tip doesn’t affect the exhaust note whatsoever but it definitely helps improve performance.
Rolled Edge
With a rolled-edge exhaust, you can expect to get a deeper exhaust note. But what you can’t expect from it is a boost in performance. Rolled edge exhausts are rather bulky and they also give your vehicle a more aggressive look.
Single Wall
Single wall exhaust tips for sale are made up of a thick metal layer that has a firm coating on it. Single-wall aftermarket exhaust tips are a more cost-effective option than their double-walled counterparts.
Double Wall
Talking about double-wall tailpipes, you can expect them to be more durable since they have another thick layer of metal. This also increases their cost but they’re definitely worth the investment.
Angle Cut
Unlike a straight-cut tip, an angle-cut tip has an angle to it that makes it look way more aggressive than its more conventional counterpart. If you have a performance vehicle you should definitely consider getting an angle cut tailpipe.
Turndown
A turndown exit exhaust tip is one that has a dump-out pipe. This essentially means that you have the tip facing the ground. This may not be the most aesthetically pleasing design but it does change how your vehicle sounds. That’s because the sound waves coming from it bounce from the ground and go back inside it. This makes for a louder exhaust.
Intercooled
A cool tip, in more than one way, that you can fit into your vehicle is an intercooled one. This design has the inner side of the tip covered in fins much like the ones you see on a turbine.
It’s exactly these fins that make an intercooled tip the most appealing for performance vehicles. Fit it on any car and it will make it look much better despite being such a small change.
Conclusion
Aftermarket exhaust tips are mostly noticed by true car enthusiasts and if you fit one that matches the appeal of your car, the right people will notice it. But even if that’s not the case, with the adequate tip you can surprise even people that don’t know much about cars.
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