What are the Different Types of Exhaust Tips & What Do They Do?

By Mike Cote - November 25, 2018

Car manufacturers install stylish exhaust tips in place for a good reason—they look great and entice you to fork over loads of dough for the latest model. But, you can add a fresh look to your ride and save a ton of cash by swapping rusty tips, or covering bare tailpipes with custom exhaust tips. These polished puppies slide over your car’s tailpipe and either weld or clamp in place for an easy and affordable style enhancement. And, while exhaust tips have the sole function of looking incredible, you have multiple styles to choose from. Whether it’s a tasteful, 2 ½” tip or an over-the-top 6” tip, tailpipes offer easy, bolt-on styling. Here’s a list of the most popular exhaust tip styles and what they do for your ride.

MBRP Straight Exhaust Tip

Straight Cut

Straight cut tips have a traditional, cavernous appearance and maximize the amount of visible bling under your bumper. This gives your car’s exhaust the look of a performance kit from behind, even if it’s still stock.

MBRP Angle Rolled Exhaust Tip

Angle Cut

This style’s outlet is cut at an angle and blends well with aggressive body styles. Sharp and muscular, these tips are favorites of the 4X4 crowd.

Borla Intercooled Exhaust Tip

Intercooled

Unlike ordinary tips, intercooled tips feature a secondary tube, surrounded by turbine-like fins. And while intercooled tips won’t increase horsepower, their unique styling is sure to add a high-performance feel to your car.

Gibson Rolled Exhaust Tip

Roll Edge

Roll edge exhaust tips have a beefy, curved-inward look, with its smooth, rounded outlet edge. The rolled edge on this tip adds internal depth and makes your car’s exhaust system look larger than it really is.

Gibson Slash Exhaust Tip

Single Wall

This style that has a single layer of metal tubing. Essentially, any style of tip can be a single wall design. Even better, single wall exhaust tips are generally more affordable than dual wall tips.

Flowmaster Dual Exhaust Tip

Dual Wall

These tips have a two-layer construction and create the illusion of being solid and heavy. And, dual wall tips have thicker rear profiles for easier viewing from behind. Best of all, they come in a variety of shapes, with either straight or angled cuts.

Gibson Turndown Exhaust Tip

Turndown Exit

Also known as “dump outs”, turndown tips angle toward the road. This style shows a bit more chrome when looking down at the tip from the curb. And, turndown tips bounce sound waves off of the road and back into your ride, making for a slightly louder sound and great style for performance enthusiasts.

Finding the Right Exhaust Tip for Your Ride

Exhaust tips have one simple task—add maximum style. And, with inlet (tailpipe) and outlet (exit) sizes ranging from a subcompact-suitable 1.5” to a massive, 6” exhaust tip for street-dominating diesels, exhaust tips are sure to have your car’s tailpipes and style covered. Traditionally, tips come in brilliant chrome or polished finishes, but black powder coated finishes, as seen on Metal Mulisha exhaust tips, are becoming popular. But, while custom exhaust tips look incredible, corrosion can quickly tarnish them. There’s a simple solution—install a stainless steel tip. Even better, we offer tips in a full range of shapes to suit any car. Choose from round, square, oval and rectangular exhaust tips to add brilliant styling to your car, and tastefully fit its bumper openings. For more ideas on topping off your ride’s tailpipes, feel free to check out our exhaust tip customer reviews.

Product Comparison

Flowmaster Round Rolled Angle-Cut Exhaust Tip

Flowmaster Round Angle-Cut Aluminum End Exhaust Tip

Borla Round Turndown/Turnout Exhaust Tip

Borla Square Angle-Cut Intercooled Exhaust Tip

Give your car a new attitude in minutes with exhaust tips.

Conclusion

Custom exhaust tips not only enhance the appearance of your vehicle but also allow you to personalize its style. Whether you prefer a straight cut, angle cut, rolled edge, or turndown exit, there's an exhaust tip that suits your taste. Remember to choose the right size and material for durability, and enjoy the added flair these tips bring to your ride.