Exhaust Tips

What an exhaust tip does

An exhaust tip is a cosmetic and protective end piece for the tailpipe. It dresses up a plain pipe, protects the end from rust and dents, and can slightly change the exit note by changing the outlet size. It does not add power, and a tip that is much larger than the pipe will not make the exhaust louder in any useful way. The tips here are universal: they are sold by inlet diameter, outlet diameter, length and shape, and they fit any vehicle whose tailpipe matches.

Measuring your tailpipe

Measure the outside diameter of the tailpipe where the tip will sit. Common sizes on trucks and Jeeps are 2.25, 2.5, 2.75 and 3 inches. A clamp-on tip needs an inlet equal to or slightly larger than the pipe, with the clamp taking up the difference. The Go Rhino tips here list a 2.75 or 3 inch inlet with a 4 inch outlet, while Borla's run from 2.25 inches on the square tip up to 4 inches on the large round one. Then measure how much straight pipe extends past the rear valance or bumper; the tip should overlap the pipe by at least a couple of inches for a clamp to grip, and its total length, 10 or 14 inches on the Go Rhino pieces, should not stick out past the bumper where it can catch a trailer hitch or a rock.

• Inlet: matches the pipe OD.
• Outlet: cosmetic; keep it within about an inch and a half of the inlet for proportion.
• Length: long enough to clear the valance, short enough to stay inside the bumper line.
• Shape: round, oval, square or rectangular to suit the bumper cutout.

Clamp-on or weld-on

Clamp-on tips have a slot and a band clamp or a stainless clamp, as included with the Go Rhino tips. They install in minutes and can be removed, but the clamp can loosen as the pipe heats and cools, so check it after the first few drives. Weld-on tips, such as the Flowmaster carbon fiber tip for 3 inch tubing, have no slot and give a clean, permanent joint. Welding is the better choice on off-road vehicles where the tip may be dragged over obstacles, since a clamp-on can be knocked loose.

Finish choices

Polished 304 stainless, as on Borla's austenitic stainless tips, stays bright with occasional metal polish and resists road salt. Chrome over stainless gives a mirror finish but can peel if the chrome is chipped by rocks. Black chrome and black ceramic coatings hide soot and suit a blacked-out truck, though ceramic can scratch. Carbon fiber shells over a stainless core look sharp but should not be used where exhaust heat is extreme, such as right behind a turbo downpipe with a short exhaust. Rolled edges and angle cuts are cosmetic; a double-wall tip hides the inner pipe and stays looking finished.

Installation notes

Clean the pipe end with a wire brush, slide the tip on fully, rotate the slot and clamp to the underside where they are hidden, and tighten evenly. Position the outlet so the exit points away from the rear tire and any trailer plug. Check that the tip does not touch the bumper or body at any point, because exhaust vibration will wear through paint quickly. Confirm the inlet size against your tailpipe before choosing.