Choosing a new set of tires isn't an easy task. There are so many aspects that you have to take into account. And even if it is more or less clear to you what type of tires you need, it is certainly difficult for you to decide where to buy them and how much to pay for them.
With so many online sources of tire deals, it is easy to get lost in the multitude of proposals. Most dealers emphasize maximum quality at a minimum price. But is this even possible for a tire to be both high-quality and cheap at the same time? Or maybe the dealers who offer expensive tires are simply artificially inflating the prices?
Let's find answers to these questions in this article. I have reached some conclusions about cheap tires I want to share, based on my personal experience and that of many drivers around me.
I know how tempting it is to decide in favor of a cheap set of tires. It seems to you that you save so much money and you don't understand those who pay almost double for them. Let's troubleshoot the topic and see who is right in such situations.
Is It OK to Use Cheap Tires?
To better understand the tire pricing policy, let's first understand what exactly these prices include. Everyone knows the quote "You get what you pay for". Some agree while others will find counter-arguments for this idea. But the quote is so true when speaking of tires and everything related to the parts of a vehicle.
If a manufacturer offers cheap tires, this means that the components he uses in their production are cheap. High-quality materials can only be expensive because quality costs money. Respectively, such a thing as "high-quality and cheap" simply does not exist.
In this regard, try to abstract from the aesthetic condition of the tires. Both the high-quality and the poor-quality ones look attractive at first. The question is what these tires are made of and how the materials in them will last over time.
If the manufacturer uses poor quality components, i.e. cheap, this means that their performance on the route will be terrible. The traction will not be stable enough, the handling of the vehicle will be poor, and the response to essential tasks (braking, cornering, etc.) will be compromised. And all this is directly proportional to the lack of safety while driving.
How Do Cheap Tires Perform?
Another risk of low-quality (cheap, by the way) tires is their poor ability to deal with road challenges. I refer to wet and all-terrain road conditions. The car will be less stable in such circumstances. Thus, it is very likely that the car will either start hydroplaning or lose grip on rough terrain. I don't think this is exactly what you want from your tires.
Needless to mention lower quality tires do not last as long as high-quality ones. I think you understand that quality tires also mean a higher price. But this is the price for your safety on the road. It is not excluded that cheap tires start to deteriorate much earlier than the dealers promise. And this is unforgivable, especially when it comes to drivers who run in off-road, all-terrain, muddy, or heavy snow conditions.
You realize how much you need a reliable set of tires in these situations and they must never let you down. The problem is that you never know how cheap tires will behave in these circumstances. Maybe in their first year of life, they will perform decently. But starting with the second year, the safety aspect in them becomes more and more unstable.
Are More Expensive Tires Better?
Manufacturers who offer solid guarantees for their tires and ask for a high price for them opt for quality materials. They work with scientists from different fields such as chemists and physicists to find the optimal composition and design. And when I say "design" I don't mean the cosmetic look of the tire. I refer more to the treads that have logic behind them.
The architecture of the tires is extremely important in reducing the sound, removing water and obstacles, and offering optimal ventilation between the road and the tire. So treads and snow/rain grooves are not just a design element. They have an explanation and a purpose when we talk about quality tires. Such tires serve their purpose in the most decent way possible. Yes, they are more expensive. But you don't pay for tires, you pay for safety.
How Long Do Cheap Tires Last?
Opting for cheap tires means thinking short-term. It means to consider only a momentary saving of money without taking into account the long-term consequences. Even if you only need one tire, don't let the price take priority over the situation. The price must be a secondary element in the whole equation of finding the right tires. Emphasize the quality of the tire, even if it means paying more.
Long-term thinking means taking into account the additional costs that may appear along the way as a consequence of cheap tires. Do the math! Suppose you have a set of cheap tires. In the best case, they will perform decently for around 3-5 years (in mediocre driving conditions). Quality tires will perform for up to 6-8 years under the same driving conditions. Respectively, you will pay for another set of tires sooner than you would with a quality set.
Are Cheaper Tires Less Resistant To Punctures?
In a pessimistic scenario, one or two of the cheap tires will necessarily undergo a puncture or a blowout, because they are more sensitive to external factors. You will have to urgently buy new tires, which, again, is not quite budget-friendly. Keep in mind that high-quality tires, even if more expensive, are not prone to punctures to the same extent as cheap ones. So if you save something with poor quality tires, it is only a momentary saving, and by no means a long-term one.
The most pessimistic scenario and the most expensive is the one in which the car suffers an accident due to cheap, i.e. low-quality, tires. Unfortunately, this scenario is as real as it gets. Sometimes the price of health is so high that nothing can justify the bad idea of opting for cheap tires.
Don't forget that the tires are what establish the contact of your car with the road. The more efficient and performant this contact is, the safer your way to your destination. Of course, not all expensive tires are of good quality. Certain dealers artificially inflate the prices for poor-quality tires.
In this context, you must be a wise and informed buyer. Compare dealers, read about materials, and talk to people in the field to find the best tires. But never, never let yourself be influenced by their low price.
Are All Cheap Tires Bad?
From our experience in this industry, not all cheap tires are necessarily of inferior quality. Some tire makers produce very good and reliable tires, long-serving and competent while at the same time quite affordable. In particular, it is about brands that might not spend a lot on advertising, remaining somehow less popular than the big players in the industry. Thus, they offer quite reasonable prices AND very decent quality.
Atturo, Cooper, Falken, General Tires, Hankook Tires, Kumho, Nexen, and Toyo tires are some examples that combine reasonable prices AND the decent quality of their products. These tire makers integrate reliable technologies and quality materials in their tires. Each of them has a wide variety of products for different conditions and different vehicles. The performance ratings of these tire brands point to reliability and great service, despite the budget price policy.
With that said, we can identify 2 categories of tires in our context: cheap and affordable. If we refer to the cheap ones, it is more about less-known manufacturers with lower quality. We recommend that you carefully analyze the ratings and reviews of such tires to conclude how reliable they are in the long term.
On the flip side, the tire industry offers affordable products. Unlike "cheap" ones, affordable tires do bear decent quality in their DNA. Their lower price is justified by less marketing but not by lower quality.
Either way, we insist on the need to learn more about each tire and its performance deliverables. If you notice that most of the reviews are negative, don't be influenced by attractive prices. It is never worth saving on tires if they do not guarantee reliable performance.
Is It Better To Get Cheap Or Expensive Tires?
The price of a tire is determined according to the materials and technologies that manufacturers integrate into them. Obviously, a more expensive tire will deliver, in most cases, better performance ratings in various conditions. They have a more complex design and formula that increases the degree of maneuverability, braking, acceleration, and control in hydroplaning. Still, this does not mean that an affordable tire is totally opposite to an expensive one. It is important to be able to distinguish between "cheap" and "affordable" tires. While it seems that there is no difference between them, they offer different degrees of quality. Tires that are too cheap to be true usually come from manufacturers that are not well-known, and they often lack guarantees and high-performance ratings. Affordable tires are those that come from fairly well-known brands that offer decent reliability.
It is unlikely that an affordable tire will offer the same performance as the premium one. However, you have a wide variety of decent and reliable options when a reasonable price is a priority. You can consider Falken, Hankook, Nexen, Kumho, Toyo, or Cooper tire makers that guarantee the quality of their products for an affordable price.
Bottom Line
When looking for a set of optimal tires for your vehicle, you have several scenarios:
- to get more expensive tires from premium brands with total confidence in reliable performance;
- to get affordable tires from reliable manufacturers. These could be less popular, but the ratings and reviews speak of pretty decent performance;
- to catch various deals, rebates, and discounts offered by various tire dealers such as NeoTires. In that case, you hit two targets in one shot. You can get both superb tires AND great price offers;
- to have cheap tires without it mattering too much who produces them, where they come from, and what performance ratings they have. In this case, you risk running into short-lasting tires that will not provide you with the necessary reliability, especially in difficult driving conditions.
The first 3 scenarios are the most viable from the perspective of safety and driving quality. The last one is somehow more risky because you could come across unexpected side effects that I mentioned before. Be very careful when choosing your tires because the price should not be the first aspect of choice. Of course, it matters, but don't let it influence your decision when you are not sure about the quality of the product.
Why Trust Us?
NeoTires is a team of professionals and enthusiasts who are passionate about superior driving experiences. In this context, each of us knows how much the vehicle's tires matter in its performance. The tires are what define how well or badly a vehicle will perform in snow, mud, rocks, rain, and all kinds of challenging conditions.
Thus, tires have been our object of study for more than 5 years. We evaluate, test, and compare them to better understand what makes them perform well and what influences them when they don't deliver enough confidence. We keep an eye on this industry and learn everything about tire technologies, advancements, and innovations from the most reputable tire makers. Then, we transfer all the accumulated knowledge here, on our blog, so that drivers can improve their driving experience in any circumstances.
In addition, NeoTires is about great tires on sale and great sale on tires. We have signed partnerships with reliable brands such as Bridgestone, Pirelli, Hankook, Cooper, Nokian, and many others, which allows us to offer special prices and attractive tire deals. Count on us whenever you need to replace your tires as we are happy to provide qualified assistance, free shipping, great products, and customer-oriented support. Drive safe and choose your tires wisely!
