Is a T1 tire better than a T0?

Neither is better. T1 is a later specification for that fitment, sometimes for a facelifted car or a revised suspension.

Can I mix marked and unmarked tires?

Across axles, yes, though the car may feel different front to rear. On the same axle, match them.

Where is the mark on the tire?

On the sidewall, usually near the size, and it is small. On a Tesla tire it is a T and a single digit and it is easy to walk past.

T0, T1, MO-E: what a maker's mark on a tire means

A one or two character mark on the sidewall means the tire was developed for one car manufacturer and signed off by them. T0, T1 and T2 are Tesla, MO and MO-E are Mercedes, a star is BMW, AO is Audi, TPC is General Motors, a plus is Volvo and N with a digit is Porsche. The marked version can have a different compound, a different casing or an acoustic foam liner that the unmarked tire of the same name does not.

Same name, different tire

This is the part that surprises people. A marked tire and an unmarked tire can share a tread pattern, a brand and a model name and still be meaningfully different products. The car maker specifies what it wants, the tire maker builds to it, and the result gets a mark so that it can be identified later.

The difference is usually in noise, rolling resistance, ride or steering response, and it was tuned on that car's suspension. It is not a quality grade and an unmarked tire is not a worse tire.

The marks worth recognising

Tesla uses T followed by a revision digit, so T0 is the original specification for a fitment and T1 and T2 are later ones. Michelin's T0 tires for Tesla carry acoustic technology aimed at cutting cabin noise, which is exactly the sort of thing that does not carry over to the shop version.

Mercedes uses MO, with MO-E for its electric models. BMW uses a star. Audi uses AO, and AOE where the tire is self-sealing. General Motors uses TPC followed by a specification number. Volvo and Polestar use a plus. Porsche uses N0 through N7, where the digit is the revision.

Michelin also uses Elect, which is not a car maker's mark but the company's own indicator that the tire has been validated for the weight, torque and rolling resistance of an electric drivetrain.

Do you have to match it?

Legally, no. What you must match is the size, load index, speed rating and construction class on the placard.

In practice, on a car where the marked tire carries acoustic foam and the unmarked one does not, replacing with the unmarked version will make the car louder and you will notice within a mile. Michelin's own guidance is to replace an OE marked tire with the same designation.

The sensible rule: if all four are being replaced and you would rather have a different balance of grip, life or price, go unmarked with open eyes. If you are replacing one or two, match what is on the other axle or the car will feel lopsided.

Common questions

Is a T1 tire better than a T0?: Neither is better. T1 is a later specification for that fitment, sometimes for a facelifted car or a revised suspension.
Can I mix marked and unmarked tires?: Across axles, yes, though the car may feel different front to rear. On the same axle, match them.
Where is the mark on the tire?: On the sidewall, usually near the size, and it is small. On a Tesla tire it is a T and a single digit and it is easy to walk past.

Last checked 2026-09-22. Where this page and your own vehicle disagree, the vehicle wins.