Why not cheaper tires?

[SlipperyPete]

Originally Posted By: ledslinger
Originally Posted By: SlipperyPete
If I could find a shop that took payments per mile in fractions of a penny, I'd spring for top of the line tires every time.


Like Harry and Lloyd, you'll catch your break.

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Originally Posted By: daves87rs
But I'm not going to fault someone getting Kendra or Doral tires for example, because they are decent tires big box stores carry (like belle tire, for example) for the budget crowd. They are going to last long (milage wise), but at least they are safe on the roads...


Well, they do hold air, and they will get you down the road. I guess I see "safe" as a relative term. Are they safer than riding on donuts? Arguably. Would you be more safe in a tire that handles better and stops shorter, and likely has a more modern rubber compound that stays pliable in the heat and in the cold? Again, arguably.

Tires are four things I never mess around with. I decide which will best suit my needs regardless of price, and then try to get the best deal on those. "Best suiting my needs" typically involves superior wet and dry traction, or at least near the top of the class for those metrics. I don't care too much about tire life, care less about noise and comfort, and don't care at all for the gamble of used tires. My wife and kids are riding on these things.

I've bought BFGoodrich, Firestone, Michelin, and Yokohama recently.


While true, you have to remember not everyone thinks like us.

So for those who don't....gotta have something decent...

 

[grampi]

I haven't been able to see a difference. I've gotten just as good of performance and tread life from cheap tires as I've gotten from expensive ones...with many of the more expensive ones I think a lot of price difference is just paying for the brand name....

 

[mrsilv04]

Originally Posted By: grampi
I haven't been able to see a difference. I've gotten just as good of performance and tread life from cheap tires as I've gotten from expensive ones...with many of the more expensive ones I think a lot of price difference is just paying for the brand name....


Do you track it or keep any sort of records of how long each tire lasted?

 

[grampi]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Tires are four things I never mess around with. I decide which will best suit my needs regardless of price, and then try to get the best deal on those. "Best suiting my needs" typically involves superior wet and dry traction, or at least near the top of the class for those metrics. I don't care too much about tire life, care less about noise and comfort, and don't care at all for the gamble of used tires. My wife and kids are riding on these things.


Problem is there's no ACCURATE way to dertermine which tires do these things the best. Sure there are lots of online reviews on tires, but as far as I know, they all come from consumers. These people are hardly tire experts, and real, objective tire evaluations from true tire experts simply don't exist.

 

[grampi]

Yep...longest lasting tires I've had so far were the Kumho 721...lasted 83K and probably could've safely went another 2-3K....

 

[GC4lunch]

Originally Posted By: grampi
Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
"Best suiting my needs" typically involves superior wet and dry traction, or at least near the top of the class for those metrics.


Problem is there's no ACCURATE way to dertermine which tires do these things the best. Sure there are lots of online reviews on tires, but as far as I know, they all come from consumers. These people are hardly tire experts, and real, objective tire evaluations from true tire experts simply don't exist.


Well, that's not entirely true. In the United States, we have the federally mandated Uniform Tire Quality Grading system, which provides some reliable information. The Treadwear rating is pretty accurate on a comparative basis, but -- Hokiefyd is correct -- pretty much the least important thing that a tire does is last a long time.

Far and away the most important function of a tire is to stop the car when the car needs to be stopped, but, unfortunately, the Traction grade of the UTQG is irrelevant. The mandated testing procedure for Traction tests wet stopping distances with a locked wheel; but almost all cars and light trucks these days have antilock braking systems (ABS) which release the brake pressure when wheel lock is incipient, so on real cars on real roads the wheel will just keep turning (that is, long stopping distances) when the tire loses traction. An incidental side effect of the outdated Traction test is that it artificially enhances the apparent relative performance of all-season tires vs. regular (non-all-season) tires. All-season tires on real cars on real roads typically have much longer stopping distances than non-all-season tires, because in wet conditions all-season tires retain a film of water on the tread (the tread compound of all-season tires is "hydrophilic" --"water-loving" -- to allow it to adhere to snow), and that water film impedes tread-to-pavement friction. In the UTQG traction test, one small patch on the circumference of the tire remains in contact with the pavement for the duration of the stop, and the film of water on that patch of tread gets scrubbed off; in real-life conditions, the car's ABS releases the brake, allowing the tire to rotate, and a new part of the circumference, still covered with fresh wet film, rotates into the space between the tread and the pavement.

Tire Rack also performs a lot of comparative tire tests, usually in groups of three or four models of similarly specified tires per test session. It is not valid to compare the test result numbers (stopping distances, lateral acceleration g's, etc.) between test sessions, because they are conducted throughout the year in Indiana weather, and a tire tested on a chilly day in March may not behave the same as one tested in sweltering heat in August, especially when the test crews differ from test session to test session. But within each testing session, the results showing the relative differences among the three or four models of tires tested at the same time are valid.

Also, there are several German automobile magazines that every year put 20 or so models of tire through rigorous tests and print the results. If you can read German, many of the test results are on-line.

 

[GMFan]

If you are going to buy cheap(er) tires it is just as important if buying expensive tires that you do research before buying.

Tirerack has excellent testing and it's more important to pay attention to the actual tests performed than user reviews which are only anecdotal.

There are high priced tires which perform better or worse than cheaper alternatives. The main goal should be to shop smart and not based only on price or brand. I've had awful Michelins and great off-branded tires.

I have General (Continental) tires on my car now and so far they have been pretty good and I have no complaints. I've also bought Starfire (Cooper) tires for a Saturn I had and I had no issues with them. If you are gonna buy a budget tire just buy one from the big manufacturers. (i,e. Kelly=Goodyear, Dayton=Firestone, General=Continental, Republic=Goodyear, Uniroyal=Michelin, etc).

All the above said I would still NOT buy unheard of branded tires not from a reputable manufacturer or Chinese branded tires.

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: GMFan
If you are going to buy cheap(er) tires it is just as important if buying expensive tires that you do research before buying.

Tirerack has excellent testing and it's more important to pay attention to the actual tests performed than user reviews which are only anecdotal.

There are high priced tires which perform better or worse than cheaper alternatives. The main goal should be to shop smart and not based only on price or brand. I've had awful Michelins and great off-branded tires.

I have General (Continental) tires on my car now and so far they have been pretty good and I have no complaints. I've also bought Starfire (Cooper) tires for a Saturn I had and I had no issues with them. If you are gonna buy a budget tire just buy one from the big manufacturers. (i,e. Kelly=Goodyear, Dayton=Firestone, General=Continental, Republic=Goodyear, Uniroyal=Michelin, etc).

All the above said I would still NOT buy unheard of branded tires not from a reputable manufacturer or Chinese branded tires.


Very true...

 

[mrsilv04]

Originally Posted By: grampi
Yep...longest lasting tires I've had so far were the Kumho 721...lasted 83K and probably could've safely went another 2-3K....


Cool. There's a sample of.... one.

 

[Errtt]

I'm okay with cheaper tires as long as they get decent reviews and name brands. (Liking my General Grabber HTS on SUV)
Cheap tire, those off brands rarely seen/heard of I'll stay away from.
Tires are a safety items so I won't focus on any of those cheapest price off brand stuff, cheapest cost to find.

Today while waiting at a light, a truck beside me I noticed had tires so bald I could see some cord showing. I wouldn't do that to any tire. Also, they were Stampede tires & can't recall that make.

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: Errtt
I'm okay with cheaper tires as long as they get decent reviews and name brands. (Liking my General Grabber HTS on SUV)
Cheap tire, those off brands rarely seen/heard of I'll stay away from.
Tires are a safety items so I won't focus on any of those cheapest price off brand stuff, cheapest cost to find.

Today while waiting at a light, a truck beside me I noticed had tires so bald I could see some cord showing. I wouldn't do that to any tire. Also, they were Stampede tires & can't recall that make.



Some people push them to the limit...just hope it was not a chinese one...

 

[zzyzzx]

Originally Posted By: grampi
I haven't been able to see a difference. I've gotten just as good of performance and tread life from cheap tires as I've gotten from expensive ones...with many of the more expensive ones I think a lot of price difference is just paying for the brand name....


I'm sure that's sometimes the case. Even if cheaper ones last a long time there is still the issue of ride quality and traction on wet roads, etc.

 

[cptbarkey]

not impressed at all with the set of primewells on my elantra. it might be a balancing issue but they feel terrible at 60+mph. if i end up keeping this car they will be coming off asap.

 

[daves87rs]

Primewells just seem very good...many people have issues with those....

 

[dishdude]

If name brands tires aren't too much more, I will generally spring for them - or at least a good quality private label. I have had good luck with store brand Cooper or Kelly Springfield tires.

I won't go so low as Primewells though!

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: dishdude
If name brands tires aren't too much more, I will generally spring for them - or at least a good quality private label. I have had good luck with store brand Cooper or Kelly Springfield tires.

I won't go so low as Primewells though!



True....people seem to have better luck with both of those. Might explain why the good local shops carry cooper's Starfire and mastercraft brands, and the Kellys on my wife's car are doing quite well!

 

[tbm3fan]

Would never consider "cheap" tires. I decide what the primary use of the car is and how it will be driven. My wife drives her sable wagon very different from the way I drive my Focus ZTS. So I analyze Tire Rack surveys, reviews and tests to get a couple of tires for each application. Grand Touring is fine for the Sable and Summer High Performance for the Focus.

Just went through this a few days ago as the Sable needed two tires. Settled on General Altimax HP which cost a whole $8 more at my local place versus Tire Rack+ship+mounting by said shop. They ended up on the back and the back Bridgestone tires on the front. First time on the front and the Bridgestones drum as I have never heard a tire drum like that in my life. Scheduled the car for two more Altimax HP tires for my wife to drive in with my 4 year old son.

My Focus is getting two Yokohama AVID ENvigor to replace two Kumho Ecsta tires that are worn. They join the other two newer ENvigors already on the car. My emphasis is dry traction, quick response to steering input and the ability to rapidly change a lane and stick the landing without any drift. Here I know that the ENvigor and Ecsta both meet the requirements. Once again Tred Shed only $12 higher than Tire Rack especially since tire rack shipped me two Altimax last week in the wrong size.

My older cars, like the Polara, Mustang, F100 and Park Lane ride on Toyo Extensa A/S tires since they also have white walls for the cars.