So, I just had the entire exhaust system replaced (ouch!$) from the cat back; hardware and everything. I couldn't get replacement black exhaust tips (they are NLA), only chrome was available. So, I kept my old tips and cleaned them up. They look OK but need to be refinished. However, the longer I wait to refinish the old tips, the more I wonder if it's worth the trouble. The car looks OK without the tips. Do the tips play any functional or performance role in the exhaust system? My only thought is that they might help to keep water out of the muffler when the car is being washed.