So you’re looking for cheap tires. Alright… as bona fide tire nerds we’ll try not to be offended.
Seriously though, we don’t blame you. Tires are a major expense; perhaps the largest expense that you’ll face during the ownership of a given vehicle. Looking to save on that expense with cheap tires is understandable.
Only problem is that truly cheap tires will provide you with about as much performance and safety as cheap life jackets, cheap parachutes, cheap football helmets, and cheap safety belts. Catch our drift?
(Uh-oh, are we losing you? TL;DR version: Overwhelming reasons to avoid cheap tires. Buy and save on a quality set of brand name tires instead with the offers here. Also, brief recommendations for saving on tires at the base of the article.
Thanks for stopping by. Drive safe.)
Why saving money upfront might cost you more in the long run.
Not to mention, the longevity and tread wear characteristics of cheap tires make them an uneconomical purchase in the near term anyways.
In some cases, cheap tires might be almost half the price of quality tires, but they’ll last about half as long. So the low upfront cost of cheap tires is entirely negated by the lack of longevity, and the fact that you’ll have to buy another set of cheap tires (although you probably won’t make the same mistake twice) sooner than later.
And most importantly, keep in mind that for the duration of your cheap tire experience you’ll most likely be dealing with subpar, potentially inadequate tire performance.
From wet braking to handling—see how budget tires fall short
You might be thinking, “…yeah, but I’m not Michael Schumacher and don’t frickin’ care. I drive a ’98 Honda Civic to and from work, dudes, and am far more interested in saving money with cheap tires than I am maximum cornering grip. I’m not even going to notice the difference with cheap tires.”
Roger that, normal person. We hear you. But we’re not talking about the fact that you won’t be able to effectively canyon carve and visit the local race track with cheap tires, we’re talking about you keeping pointed in the right direction on the road. We’re talking about you not being able to achieve sufficient vehicle performance for everyday purposes with cheap tires.
Consider the following:
Tire testing in America is somewhat limited because ‘Murica is behind the curve on the subject. By and large we Americans have not drawn the very direct connection between tire quality/performance, overall vehicle performance, and road safety. And no offense intended, but since you’re looking for cheap tires, you might be one of those peoples. ‘Murica.
Across the pond, however, the Euros conduct an abundance of tire comparison testing, and somewhat commonly they’ll throw some cheap tires into the mix.
How do the cheap tires fare against quality brand name rubber?
Actually, it’s usually a pretty even fight, until the vehicles start moving…
Consider the significant, potentially life-altering difference in wet braking performance between quality brand name tires and cheap tires:
3 Cheap Tires Test Result: The European Tire Tests That Expose Cheap Tires
1
In a tire comparison test that pitted a Continental SUV tire against cheap SUV tires, one of the cheap tires took 43′ longer to stop from 62 mph in wet conditions. That’s just about three car lengths.
All of the cheap tires involved in the test delivered measurably inferior wet road braking performance, and four of the ten cheap tires were deemed “not recommended” and “inadequate” by Auto Bild Allrad. The cheap tires also showed a propensity for “dangerous load change reactions” in all conditions. In other words, a lack of control when taking an evasive maneuver, e.g. trying to avoid an accident.
Those findings were echoed in a 2016 Auto Bild test wherein eleven cheap tires braked “so poorly that they must be deemed a real risk.” The cheap tire that finished last in this test took 59′ longer to stop than the brand name control tire.
2
In a GTÜ (German vehicle inspection organization) summer tire test, all of the cheap tires failed the wet braking evaluation. The worst of the bunch took — wait for it — 220′ longer to stop from 62 mph in wet conditions. (We’re not going to name names here, but this brand of cheap tires is available in the United States.)
The GTÜ concluded that anyone who purchases these sorts of cheap tires “consciously places themselves at high risk.”
3
In another 2016 test involving a collection of cheap tires, Auto Club Europa found that some exhibited “alarmingly poor results in the wet.”
Enough already?
Alright. Point is, cheap tires typically offer far less, sometimes hazardously less traction on wet roads. See the difference in wet road braking performance in the video below (3:05 in).
So what if you live in Phoenix and rain is a rarity?
While the performance differential between cheap tires and quality brand name tires isn’t as drastic in dry road conditions, a measurable performance gap still applies.
How much?
Definitely enough to make the difference between participating in, and avoiding an accident.
In one comparison test the cheap tires provided 25% less overall performance in dry conditions. As above, the dynamic handling qualities of cheap tires, i.e. how they behave during evasive maneuvering, hard braking, etc. are often far from ideal.
And don’t forget, even given consistently ideal road conditions, cheap tires won’t equal the longevity of quality brand name tires. Cheap tires are the epitome of penny wise and pound foolish.
Winter and All-Season Tires – Are Cheap Options Safe?
By now you’ve probably concluded that most cheap tires are also not suitable for four season and winter use. Yeah, that’s a bingo.
Many brand name “all season” tires don’t make the grade when it comes to four season use and wintertime performance, let alone cheap tires (see When the snow flies, not every all season tire is equal). If cheap tires can’t manage hard braking on wet roads, how do you think they’ll do in snow or mixed, messy wintry conditions? Right.
Conclusion
So our case against cheap tires isn’t so much tire elitism as it is wanting to make sure your vehicle, and U.S. roads in general are populated with reasonably capable tires.
We don’t begrudge you for wanting to save on tires, but rather than cheap tires, save on quality brand name tires with the following advice/information:
1. Buy tires online and Avoid Dealer Rip Off).
2. Take advantage of tire coupons and rebates and tire deals, which are available literally all of the time.
3. Read Three Easy Steps to Save on Tires.
Also keep in mind that within the range of quality brand name tires, prices vary. You don’t need to purchase the latest and greatest tire model at the highest cost. Look for quality brand name tires on closeout, for example.
Take these steps and you’ll be better off economically, and certainly far better off from a safety standpoint than by purchasing cheap tires.
