Tips for your vehicles exhaust: Maintenance and Care Guide

What This Collection Covers

Exhaust tips are the visible finishing piece of an exhaust system, and this collection ranges from universal bolt on tips that fit any tailpipe within a matching diameter range to vehicle specific tip kits engineered to bolt directly onto a factory or aftermarket cat back system. Coverage spans polished stainless, black chrome, carbon fiber, and titanium finishes in single, dual, and quad configurations.

Universal Bolt On Tips

Universal tips from Mishimoto, Gibson, and aFe clamp onto an existing tailpipe within a specified inlet range, making them a straightforward upgrade for custom exhaust builds or aftermarket systems that ship without tips.

Vehicle Specific Tip Kits

Borla tip kits for the Dodge Charger, Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, and Audi SQ5 bolt directly to factory or Borla cat back hardware, while Akrapovic offers carbon fiber tail pipe sets engineered specifically for the BMW M2, M3, M4, and M5.

Diesel Truck Exhaust Tips

Sinister Diesel offers ceramic coated stainless tips sized for the larger diameter tailpipes common on diesel trucks, giving Power Stroke, Cummins, and Duramax owners a finished look that matches their larger exhaust systems.

Finishes and Materials

Polished stainless steel remains the most common finish, while black chrome and black ceramic coated finishes suit blacked out builds, and carbon fiber and titanium tips from Mishimoto, Ticon Industries, and GReddy offer weight savings and a distinct look for performance builds.

Tip Shapes

Slash cut, straight cut, teardrop, obround, and turn down shapes are all represented, with slash cut and turn down styles common on trucks and SUVs, while teardrop and round straight cut styles are popular on cars and sport trucks.

Sizing Tips Correctly

Exhaust tip fitment depends on matching inlet diameter to the existing tailpipe outer diameter, and outlet diameter to the visual size desired, with length also playing a role in how far the tip protrudes past the bumper or rear valance.

Top Exhaust Tip Brands

• Borla. Vehicle specific tip kits for Dodge, Jeep, and Audi performance applications
• MagnaFlow. Polished and black stainless tips in universal and direct fit styles
• MBRP. Truck and diesel focused exhaust tips
• Akrapovic. Carbon fiber tail pipe sets for BMW M performance models
• Mishimoto. Carbon fiber and dual offset universal tips
• Sinister Diesel. Ceramic coated stainless tips for diesel trucks
• Gibson. Round and turn down stainless tips in multiple lengths
• Ticon Industries. Teardrop stainless tips
• GReddy. Burnt titanium tips for Revolution RS exhaust systems
• aFe. Universal bolt on polished tips
• Banks Power. Tailpipe tip kits for trucks

How to Choose the Correct Exhaust Tip

• Measure your existing tailpipe outer diameter to confirm inlet size compatibility
• Choose an outlet diameter that matches your desired finished look and vehicle proportions
• Confirm whether your vehicle requires a direct fit kit or accepts a universal bolt on tip
• Check length specifications against rear bumper clearance to avoid excessive protrusion
• Confirm finish, polished, black chrome, or carbon fiber, matches your build theme
• Verify single, dual, or quad tip configuration matches your exhaust system's outlet count
• Check material heat tolerance if running headers or high flow systems with elevated exhaust temps
• Confirm mounting hardware, clamp on versus weld on, matches your installation preference

Common Questions

Will a universal exhaust tip fit any car?

A universal tip fits as long as your tailpipe outer diameter falls within the tip's specified inlet range, regardless of make or model, making it a flexible option for custom builds.

What is the difference between clamp on and weld on tips?

Clamp on tips use a set screw or clamp to secure to the tailpipe and can be removed or repositioned, while weld on tips require welding for a permanent, gap free installation.

Do vehicle specific tip kits require cutting the exhaust?

Most vehicle specific tip kits from brands like Borla are designed to bolt directly to factory or matching brand cat back hardware without cutting, though fitment should be confirmed against your specific exhaust system.

Are carbon fiber tips heat safe?

Carbon fiber tips are engineered with heat resistant resins and often include a stainless steel liner or sleeve at the inlet to protect the carbon fiber from direct exhaust heat exposure.

Why are diesel truck tips larger than car tips?

Diesel trucks typically run larger diameter exhaust systems to support higher exhaust volume, so diesel specific tips are sized with larger inlet and outlet diameters than most car applications.

Can I put a small tip on a large diameter exhaust?

No, the tip inlet must match or exceed your tailpipe outer diameter, so a tip sized for a smaller pipe will not fit over a larger diameter exhaust.

What does slash cut mean on an exhaust tip?

Slash cut refers to an angled cut at the tip opening rather than a straight, perpendicular cut, giving a more aggressive visual profile common on trucks and performance cars.

Do black chrome tips discolor from heat?

Quality black chrome and ceramic coated tips are designed to resist discoloration from normal exhaust heat, though extreme heat from long term high load use can cause some fading over time.

How many tips do I need for a dual exhaust system?

A dual exhaust system requires two tips, one for each outlet, and many brands sell dual tip kits as a matched pair for consistent finish and sizing.

Can I upgrade tips without replacing my whole exhaust system?

Yes, exhaust tips are typically the easiest exhaust upgrade since they only require access to the existing tailpipe ends rather than replacing mufflers, pipes, or the full system.

Why Buy Exhaust Tips from Black Ops Auto Works

Black Ops Auto Works stocks 317 exhaust tip SKUs across polished, black, and carbon fiber finishes with real fitment data, competitive pricing, and support from staff who build these vehicles themselves. Products are filterable by inlet size, outlet size, finish, and shape to confirm the correct application before ordering.

For focused shopping, browse our Exhaust Systems, Catback, Mufflers & Resonators, Mid Pipes, MBRP, Borla, and MagnaFlow.