Exhaust tip diameter dynamics?
 

What role does the exhaust tip shape, diameter, and length play in things like performance, back pressure, and noise?

The reason I ask is because every clubman exhaust comes with a giant 3"-4" exhaust tip and I have a strong distaste for giant exhaust tips. Would there be a downside to hacking them off and installing a smaller diameter tip?

The exhaust in question runs 2.25" pipes throughout, but then turns into a 4" tip:eek4:.

Should the tip be equal to or larger than 2.25" or could you go a little smaller like 2"?

Do it, they're just for the looks. I don't think I'd go smaller than the actual exhaust but you certainly could without too much effect.

i was sort of wondering the same. Ive got 3" single wall straight cuts now, and was wondering if i did some sort of double wall, if it'd quiet it a little???

Wish they made some of those silencers in 3"

Rally, as long as it is not smaller than the previous diamiter (you said 2.25) then no adverse performace issues will arise. although the last 12 to 4 inches really shape how a car sounds. anything smaller that 2.25 and you start to run into pressure changes, these can sometimes SERIOUSLY affect a cars performance.

recomendation: do anything but put a smaller tip on :):tu:

Nowadays, exhaust tips typically do nada - just an outlet to point fumes in a particular direction.

Days past it was more common to find packed tips (resonator tipss), and with those the diameter effected the tone ever so slightly. Essentially smaller tips helped make a sharper bark and a bigger tip would give a more mellow tone. Pacesetter is one of the few aftermarket makers around that still offers decent resonator tips.

That aside, like FG notes, just go with a tip that is equal to or larger than the exhaust pipe for best results.

Here is my new exhaust

4.5" Tip
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4077/...eb8a22ed_b.jpg

so long as you dont go any smaller than the diameter of the exhaust itself ur fine