There have always been pros and cons to cheap products. Today we set out to debate this theory on car tires. It is already known that cheap tires are a controversial topic.
Not once have I heard the question among car owners: Isn’t it the same material in a premium tire and a budget tire?
Well, for those who only know that the tire is something black, round and with a hole in the middle, the lower price will be the main criterion in choosing the tires.
In the end, according to their way of thinking, a cheap tire will do the same thing as a premium tire.
But things are not the same for those who want to know that in addition to keeping the car on the road, tires must also have some properties for which tire manufacturers, top brands, invest hundreds of millions each year for research and development of these products.
Table of Contents
Which Tires Should You Buy?
Budget, Mid-range or Premium Tires
- Tire size: width / height R (radius) diameter.
- Load index
- Speed index
- Name of the tire (model)
- Details about the composition of the tire
- EEC approval number (European standard)
- OUTSIDE – Indicator showing that the tire must be mounted with this part on the outside
- Information about the maximum pressure allowed by this tire
- Country of manufacture
- Manufacturer’s name
- Wear indicators that warn when the tire needs to be replaced.
- DOT – Information that the tire meets all the requirements of the US Department of Transportation.
Brand quality
Brands in the middle segment (in alphabetical order): Barum, Bf Goodrich, Falken, Firestone, Fulda, General Tire, Hankook, Kleber, Kumho, Nexen, Sava, Semperit, Toyo, Vredestein.
Notable brands in the budget segment: Debica (from Goodyear), Viking (from Continental), Tigar (from Michelin), Taurus (from Michelin), Kingstar (from Hankook), Premiorri.
A premium summer or premium winter tire will retain its properties and will be a safe alternative for several seasons than a cheap tire. This has a direct impact on the costs involved in driving.
Whenever you choose new tires for your car, you notice that there are many options on the market for any type of car.
From famous brands that offer premium tires at higher prices, to medium quality tires and cheap tires, from brands you may not be very familiar with.
Therefore, choosing the right tires for your car, depending on the conditions in which you will use them and given the distances you cover daily, can be quite complicated.
Also, the not insignificant differences in the price of premium and budget tires make you pay more attention to the costs involved, without thinking about the fact that premium tires have certain features that you might easily miss.
Premium tires
Premium Tire Manufacturers
In most tests carried out by automotive publications, premium tires often outperform their cheaper rivals because they have greater durability and offer better driving efficiency over long distances.
If you are used to driving thousands of kilometers every year and driving at high speeds on the highway, then premium tires are worth the investment. Especially when you can benefit from an extra warranty, usually offered by premium brands.
Mid-Range Tires
Medium-Range Tire Manufacturers
These tires are often a good compromise for drivers who use their cars under normal conditions. Tires manufactured by well-known brands and manufacturers benefit from the same technologies and offer very good performance, but their price is lower.
One such example is Nexen winter tires or Gislaved tires manufactured by Continental.
Budget Tires
Budget or cheap tires are suitable if you are not used to driving at high speeds, for city roads or for cars that do not run long distances.
For example, you can use cheap budget tires if you have a second car that you use especially for short distances, through the city, or if you use your car mainly for the daily commute to work, for shopping, etc.
In essence, cheap tires offer very good performance, as long as you do not venture out. There are also quite a few brands of cheap tires that offer surprisingly good performance at a very low price.
Where does the cost of tires come from?
Although at first glance it is not easy to intuit, they are complex products that require a complex production process. However, most of the cost is raw materials. These, in the order of tens, decisively influence the selling price. In other words, a tire can be cheaper when determined by the quantities of raw materials in the recipe.
Budget tire features
Here are some elements that can characterize a cheaper tire:
- Lower tread depth;
- Missing metal belts;
- Less reinforced key areas;
- Simpler main element construction technology.
The offer of premium tires is diverse, and usually people are especially attracted to low-budget products. But does low-cost mean better?
The prices of new premium tires are higher than those in the budget category, but the qualities of the premiums, including longer life, make the purchase of premium tires a better investment than buying so-called “cheap” tires.
As a customer, you can choose from a multitude of tire brands. How do you know which one is right for you to buy?
Simple: contact the distributor for a personalized offer.
Our advice is to buy tires that meet all your requirements and never compromise on quality just to save a couple of bucks, because you won’t save as much as you might think in the long run.
Budget tires are only suitable if you do not drive long distances in the city, and you do not have high speed.
In more demanding conditions, premium tires are the right choice because:
- have a longer durability over time
- helps you save big money due to the low fuel consumption provided by premium, energy efficient tires
- have a high level of grip on any type of road, on wet, dry surfaces, on a straight road and in corner
- they are quieter and help you travel more comfortably, unlike budget ones.
