Early Pz.Kpfw.Tiger Ausf.E (Sd.Kfz.181), also known as Pz.Kpfw.VI Ausf.E or Tiger I, were powered by the Maybach HL210P45 engine, which provided 650hp@3000rpm. The more powerful HL230P45 was introduced after 250 Tigers had been produced, and the engine was governed at 2500rpm starting in November 1943. This dropped the tank's top speed to 38kph (24mph) and reduced the maximum turret traverse speed, since the hydraulic traverse drive operated via a power takeoff from the engine. A stowage bin was added to the rear turret starting in August 1942. Originally these were T-shaped stowage bins from Pz.Kpfw.III; these were later replaced with a rectangular stowage bin. Mud guards, fitted starting in November 1942, were mounted on early tanks so they followed the curve of the hull pannier bottom. On later tanks the mud guards were attached in a straight line. The drive sprocket spokes, originally manufactured in line with the sprocket teeth, were changed during production so that the spokes were centered between the teeth. Starting in December 1942, the pistol port in the turret right rear was replaced by an escape hatch. Five S-mine dischargers were mounted around the perimeter of the upper hull starting in January 1943, but this was discontinued in October that year. Starting in February 1943, the driver's twin periscopes were no longer fitted, and if still present the apertures for the periscopes above his visor were plugged. The air filters mounted on both corners of the rear hull were modified in March 1943 so that the previously separate upper chambers were combined, then in December 1943 fitting the filters was discontinued. During the production run, the road wheels were reinforced by doubling the number of bolts attaching them to the hubs. Tigers originally had a headlight mounted on both front corners of the hull; the right headlight was later dropped, and finally a single headlight was mounted between the driver and radio operator. The smoke dischargers mounted on the turret sides were dropped in June 1943 since they had a tendency to discharge when hit by small-arms fire.

A new turret design was introduced in July 1943, and this featured a new commander's cupola with seven periscopes and a ring for mounting an AAMG instead of the earlier drum-shaped cupola. The new cupola reduced the overall height to 288.5cm (113.6"). In March 1944 the turret roof armor was thickened to 40mm (1.6"), and with this change the naehverteidigunswaffe close-in defense weapon was mounted in the turret roof. In early 1944, the gunner's binocular telescope was replaced with a monocular model.

The Tiger was too wide for rail travel when wearing its cross-country tracks, so transport tracks were developed. Mounting these tracks required removal of the outer road wheel on each hub, and the Tiger's ground pressure with zero penetration while on these tracks was 1.46kg/cm² (20.8psi), and the tread with the transport tracks was 262.2cm (103.2"). The mud guards were also removed for rail transport.

The running gear of Tiger Ausf.E was modified starting in February 1944 to use interleaved steel-tired road wheels. These road wheels were mounted two to a swing arm, instead of the rubber-tired road wheels, which were mounted three to a swing arm. When fitted with the steel-tired road wheels, the outer wheels were not removed for rail travel. With the introduction of the steel tired road wheels, tanks were fited with a smaller (600mm [23.6"] vs. 700mm [27.6"]) idler wheel.

Pz.Kpfw.Tiger Ausf.B (Sd.Kfz.182) was also known as Pz.Kpfw.VI Ausf.B, Tiger II, and Koenigstiger. The first 47 tanks produced were topped by a turret designed by Krupp for Porsche's Tiger II design. This turret featured a 10.0cm (3.94") curved front face, and the turret was elevated from the hull deck. The 8.0cm (3.1")-thick sides and rear were angled at 30° from vertical, and the roof was comprised of a 4.0cm (1.6") thick flat center section housing the commander's cupola, loader's hatch, and naehverteidigunswaffe; and the front and rear plates which were also 4.0cm (1.6") thick and sloped downward at an angle of 78° from vertical. The commander's cupola on this turret formed a bulge in the left side wall, and the armor around the cupola was thicker at 9.0cm (3.5"). Sixteen 8.8cm rounds were stowed in the turret bustle, and behind these a hatch in the turret rear plate provided access for removing the 8.8cm gun. With the so-called Porsche turret, the Tiger Ausf.B weighed 68,500kg (150,000lb).

The forty-eighth Tiger Ausf.B produced, completed in June 1944, featured a new turret, also designed by Krupp. The two turrets were not able to be swapped without modifications to the tank, however. The bulge under the commander's cupola was eliminated on the new turret, and twenty-two 8.8cm rounds could be stored in the rear bustle. The loader's hatch, which had been 1.5cm (.60") thick, was replaced with a 4.0cm (1.6") thick hatch in June 1944. The new design also eliminated the rim around the loader's hatch. The ring welded around the commander's cupola for mounting an AAMG was replaced in March 1945 by a mounting post. The series turret also featured a rear hatch for gun removal.

The HL230P30 engine was governed to 2500rpm, which capped the top speed at 35kph (22mph) and slowed the turret traverse rate. At 2000rpm, Tiger II's turret could rotate at ~19°/sec. In April 1944, a portion of the hull armor in front of the radio operator's position was deleted to improve his vision. Also in April 1944, the gunner's binocular sighting telescopes were replaced with a monocular model. Tiger Ausf.B manufactured before May 1944 had sheet metal guards around both exhaust pipes to prevent burn injuries. The Gg 26/800/300 double-link track, introduced in May 1944, omitted the holes for the drive sprocket teeth on the connecting links. Tanks fitted with this track used a 9-tooth sprocket instead of the earlier 18-tooth design. The Kgs 73/800/152 single-link tracks again allowed use of the 18-tooth sprocket when introduced in March 1945. As on Ausf.E, the sprocket ring attachment holes were originally aligned with the teeth, but later sprocket rings were manufactured with the holes and teeth out of alignment. The Tiger II also had 660mm (26.8") transport tracks available, and these were to be the combat tracks of the Panther II, which never saw serial production. Zero penetration ground pressure on the transport tracks was 1.23kg/cm² (17.5psi), and tread was 261.0cm (102.8")