help me pick a cheap tire

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I've run several sets of Kumho for around 70K miles. They are excellent tires. Not at all cheap IMO. I've run the Douglas and got more like 60K miles as I remember. Still very good for the price. I don't drive for "sport" or "performance" or anything like that. I drive to get from point a to point b in a reasonable amount of time safely. The operator of the machine is going to have the overwhelming influence over it's safe operation.
 
I have Primewells on my beater Subaru. And to be honest they are as good (tread wear, noise, all season traction) as all the other tires I've had on that car and currently at 30k miles. Expect 50to 60k total life, assuming I have the car that long.

Previous were the OEM Bridgestone, Kelly Navigator, Sumitomo
 
All the Michelin tires I've had have been [censored]. Noisy, poor wear, and lots of tread cracking before being even close to wear markers.
 
General Altimax RT43 score excellent for snow traction and good for ice traction, better than the Michelin Defender in CR testing. Nexen Aria AH7 also does well in the snow and good on ice. Kumho Solus TA11 also does well on snow and ice.

In the almost free tire category, I've had good luck running well worn Michelin Xice tires year round, although at 4/32 they didn't work great in slush anymore, but maybe as good as a new all-season?
 
Some Mich's have hard rubber - I'm on gravel roads often - and they chipped on me. I just shop 40k-50k tires now mainly based on wet weather or off road traction ...
 
I don't see Kumho as a cheap tire. I have had quite good experiences with Kumho tires. Much better than the Bridgestones I had in the past. I have never had a flat with the kumhos and they are wearing way better than the Bridgestones I had in the past. My car is known for eating the inside of the tire. This caused me to get about 14k miles on some Bridgestones with proper rotations. The kumhos I never did rotate due to just being busy and not remembering. They lasted me 35k miles and still see service on road trips to keep miles off of my newer tire and rim combo until the older ones are completely worn.
 
Originally Posted By: Olas
You don't cheap out on tyres or brakes. What happens when all 4 of you are in the car and it crashes because cheapo tyres don't grip well enough?
+1
 
Originally Posted By: Olas
You don't cheap out on tyres or brakes. What happens when all 4 of you are in the car and it crashes because cheapo tyres don't grip well enough?


Then you should send him a CERTIFIED CHECK for the cost of the tires you recommend.
 
Originally Posted By: rooflessVW
I don't understand the BITOG circle-jerk over Michelin. I've always preferred the higher-end Continental or Bridgestone products.

The only Michelin tire I've ever cared for was the MXM4, and they're so overpriced right now I would never consider them over the Bridgestone Turanza or Continental DWS.

They're selling their name, and I don't believe that their products justify the prices they ask.


Bridgestone are in my OK tyre class, but I agree Conti are on average the best tyres around if they are made in Germany or the US. Dunlop are better for some mid size cars but only by a very small fraction and Michellin that are OEM for German Mercedes Police cars are the toughest tyres and nearly as good as Dun's or Conti's.
Goodyear are top of the list for all season tyres.

One important point is that I am only talking about top of the range models, not some budget, off road or worst of all green fuel savers. Pirrelli also make some good tyres BUT not their cheaper models that were nearly as bad as the far Eastern crash stop specials.
 
I was quite happy with General RT43's. I think they have a better price/performance ratio than the Michelins I've had. The Michelins did do better in wet at end of life--but for the price differential I'd be ahead just replacing Generals sooner. The RT43's also were much better in snow. That was for Energies and MXV4's, both of which were done for after 30k (the Generals did 40k, and cost what, 3/4?). The LTX's on my truck are a good summer tire, and have every indication of going the distance, so I'm not a Michelin hater--but I have no blind love either.

The only Conti's I had suffered short life; Nokian tires were good, but even there I had a stinker (i3's, how is a summer tire bad in the rain?).

I'd be willing to try a cheapo set on my '99. I bet, as long as I avoid the cheapest tier, it'd be better than what could be bought 20 years ago.
 
Originally Posted By: sh40674
wife's 2012 fusion needs 3 tires (has a yokohama avid ascend the dealer put on when we bought it because 1 tire was bad). We just had our 2nd child so as you could imagine money is tight. her last car we put a set of Starfire RS-C 2.0 on and we didn't have issues for the 18 months before we got rid of it (including iowa snow)

so that being said, on a tight budget without buying something i've never heard of before... help me pick some tires that are cheap. i hate using the 2 words in the same sentence but i had luck with the star fire's, so lets see. here's some i looked at:

1. the star fire rsc 2.0 again
2. Mastercraft mc 440
3. Kumho Ecsta PA31
4. primewell
5. we have a discount tire near us that tells me the Ohtsu FP0612 are good tires.
6. Douglas from walmart

now please leave the bashing aside.. can anyone recommend any of these?


Ohtsu FP0612 are Falken Ziex Ze912. I had them, and I don't trust them in the snow (not much in terms of siping) and they get loud fairly quick. They are a decent 3-season tire, and their dry grip is good.

Kumho ECSTA PA31 seem to be good on TireRack tests.
 
If you're considering Chinese made tires maybe you can look at the Milestar MS932. It's made by Nankang Tire which ought to be more legit than most Chinese brands. Amazon has them for pretty cheap and the reviews look good. The UTQG treadwear score is pretty low IIRC though, so I wouldn't expect to get more than 30-40K out of them.
 
Originally Posted By: HosteenJorje
You are going to put "cheap" tires on a vehicle that will transport your family?

Are you transporting your family in a converted brinks truck? Why not? Or atleast an old school bus with a roll cage and 6pt harnesses and helmets for everyone... Come on its only money!
 
Originally Posted By: Jarlaxle
Originally Posted By: Olas
You don't cheap out on tyres or brakes. What happens when all 4 of you are in the car and it crashes because cheapo tyres don't grip well enough?


Then you should send him a CERTIFIED CHECK for the cost of the tires you recommend.


Or, people should think ahead and make sensible, responsible choices.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: rooflessVW
I don't understand the BITOG circle-jerk over Michelin. I've always preferred the higher-end Continental or Bridgestone products.

The only Michelin tire I've ever cared for was the MXM4, and they're so overpriced right now I would never consider them over the Bridgestone Turanza or Continental DWS.

They're selling their name, and I don't believe that their products justify the prices they ask.


I not a big fan of Michelin either. Yokohama A539s for dry and Uniroyal Rainsports for wet
wink.gif
 
Originally Posted By: HosteenJorje
You are going to put "cheap" tires on a vehicle that will transport your family?


the OP should be using winter tires for the winter and summer tires for non-winter. Both Michelins of course
 
Kumho, Douglas(Goodyear), Ohtsu(Sumitomo) or Mastercraft(either Michelin US or Cooper made, DOT codes tell all). I'd trust a Uniroyal(US Uniroyals are marketed by Michelin as a third-tier brand but made by Hankook in Korea, again DOT codes) as well.

Pick one, I avoid Chinese tires unless it's going on a pushbike.
 
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