In 1980, Porsche was testing a new sports car model at the Nurburgring race track. And the mechanics ran into an unexpected problem - no matter what tyres were installed on the wheels, the rubber could not reveal the full power and dynamics of the car. To solve this situation, they turned to the Italian tyre manufacturers - Pirelli, in particular, with a request to develop specialized tyres for a specific car. This was the starting point in the development of homologated tyres.

What is "homologation"?

Homologation (in the tyre industry) is the result of the R&D and recommendations of the car manufacturer regarding the perfect tyres for a particular car model. When developing homologated tyres, the technical and design features of the vehicle are taken into account, which make the car as adaptive as possible.

When developing homologated tyres, many factors are taken into account, even up to the specifics of vehicle suspension settings.

The process of developing homologated tyres is by no means a momentary task. It can last for years. Specialized tyres are built cnsidering:

  • speed specs;
  • dynamics of braking and acceleration;
  • controllability;
  • stability on the road;
  • smoothness and comfort;
  • fuel consumption;
  • noise level;
  • safety;
  • vehicle weight and design.
Porsche homologated tyres

How are homologated tyres developed?

Tyre companies receive a request from a car manufacturer with a detailed list of features that highlight the vehicle's strengths. Specially for this list, the most suitable model is selected from the existing tyre portfolio. The selected tyre is modified up to a change in the internal structure, rubber compound formulation and tread pattern. Adjustments regarding performance are made until the tyres are as close as possible to the needs of the car maker.

Interesting fact. The popular premium tyre Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 has a specific directional tread pattern with one circumferential drainage channel right in the center of the tread. However, for Porsche cars, the same model is produced with a completely different tread pattern, with two circumferential hydroevacuation channels, a different arrangement of blocks and sipes, and a modified rubber compound formula.
The homologated version of the tyre for a specific car can be changed beyond recognition in comparison with the base model of the same family.
In the photo: left - Michelin Pilot Alpin 5; right - Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 (homologated for Porsche).

At the next stages of approval, tyres are tested on test sites. As part of real tests, factors that require additional adjustments are determined. After making the final edits, the auto manufacturer approves the homologated tyre model and gives the green light for its mass production. We also note that as part of the adaptation, the need for the number of wheels of a certain format is taken into account - tyres with different properties are often installed on the front and rear axles of some cars. Well, either the whole set of four tyres is subjected to homologation.

Before being installed on the wheels of a particular brand of car, tyres selected for homologation are thoroughly tested.

Few tyre companies cooperated with leading automakers in terms of producing specialized tyres for a specific car model. Usually, homologated tyres are developed and put on the mass production by worldwide famous brands like Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear, Michelin, Pirelli, Kumho, etc.

All adapted tyres have a special homologation marking on the sidewall. This mark is usually applied next to the model name. It informs car owners for which brand of car this or that tyre is suitable. Often, homologated tyres are installed on the wheels of new cars from the assembly line.

Important point! The warranty conditions for many top-end sports cars and some luxury cars often contain requirements regarding the mandatory use of homologated winter tyres. Otherwise, there is a risk of voiding the warranty. When buying such cars in the salon, people are often forced to overpay for homologated tyres at exorbitant prices. However, knowing the homologation marking for a specific car, you can choose the right rubber for the “iron horse” yourself.
Mercedes-Benz homologated tyres

Marking of homologated tyres

Most often, homologated tyres can be found on the wheels of premium cars. These tyres are marked as follows:

Car brand: Homologation marking:
Alfa Romeo AR, ARR
Alpina ALP
Aston Martin AM, AM2, AM8, AM9, A4A, AMP, AMR, AMS, AMX
Audi AO, AO1, A0, A01
Audi Sport RO1, RO2, RO3, R01, R02, R03
Bentley B, B1, BC (Bentley Comfort), BL (Bentley Low Rolling Resistance)
BMW, Mini ✰
M3 (for BMW M series)
Citroen SI
Chrysler C1 (for some Dodge Viper modifications)
Ferrari F, F01, K1, K2, K3
Ford FO, FP (for some modifications of Ford Mustang)
General Motors TPC SPEC
Genesis GOE
Honda H0, H1 (for Acura NSX)
Hyundai H, HN
Jaguar / Range Rover J, JRS, JLR, LR, LR, LRJ
Jeep JE, JP, JK (for Jeep Wrangler)
Lamborghini L, L1
Lancia LA
Land Rover LR, LR1
lotus LS, LTS
Lucid Motors LM1
Maserati MA, MGT, MGT1
McLaren MC, MC1, MC2, MC-C
mercedes benz MO, M0, MOS, M0S, MO DC, M0 DC
Mercedes-AMG MO1, MO2, M01, M02
Nissan N.I.
Opel OP1
Pagani HP
Peugeot PE
Porsche N0, N1, N2, N3, N4, NA5, N5, N6, NA6
NA0, NA1, NA2 (for 911)
NB0, NB1, NB2 (for Cayman and Boxter)
NC0, NC1, NC2 (for Cayenne)
ND0, ND1, ND2 (for Panamera)
NE0, NE1, NE2 (for Macan)
NF0, NF1, NF2 (for Taycan)
Renault RE
Rivian RIV
Rolls Royce RR
seat SE
Skoda SK
Tesla T0, T1, T2
Toyota TO
Volkswagen VO, V0, VW
(+) (electric cars)
Volvo, Polestar VOL

If you do not pay attention to homologation, this is fraught with errors in the car's protection systems, uneven tyre wear, discomfort while driving due to vibrations and hum. Tyres with a single homologation marking must be installed on all wheels of the car(with the exception of “shoeing” the front and rear axles in tyres of different sizes).

Homologated tyres for BMW and Mini vehicles are marked with a characteristic "asterisk" on the sidewall.

It is also not recommended to put homologated tyres on a car that does not require it. Tyres can make excessive noise, reduce the comfort of movement, they may wear unevenly, etc. For example, homologated tyres for Ferrari are not recommended to be installed on the wheels of cars of other brands.

Audi homologated tyres

Homologated tyres are designed taking into account all the advantages of a particular car and completely tailored to the character of the vehicle. If they are not provided for your car, then the manufacturer considered the standard tyres to be a good enough solution.