Cheap tires v.s. Expensive Tires

[dug777]

Originally posted by: Budmantom
I worked at a tire shop for a few years and my recommendation is round, black and cheap.

Except that I understand things like stopping distance can vary considerably between tyres, especially in the wet...

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: Kelvrick
Continental ContiExtreme Contacts are also very good high performance all-seasons. I also like the Goodyear Eagle F1's.

My car came with ContiPro Contacts and they're absolutely horrible tires. Is this higher model really better? 😱

 

[steppinthrax]

I broke down yesturday and got a set of 4 Pirelli - P 4 Four Seasons tires. I got a good price on them. 303 for a set of 4. The tires are 111 each and he even threw in a buy 3 and get the fourth free. I didn't pay for balancing, rotation, mounting, tire disposal fee or valve stem.... I'm interested mainly in tire life. These tires have 85K mile warranties. I don't beleive I will ever get there but I saw good reviews on tiretrack....

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Budmantom
I worked at a tire shop for a few years and my recommendation is round, black and cheap.

The person I bought my car from had that philosophy as well. On a sports car. When I finally realized that these tires were not going to wear out anytime soon, I jumped on a discounttiredirect special and picked up a set of performance tires. WORLD of difference...wet or dry, it's like I'm driving a whole new car. Good thing there aren't many cops out here...

 

[Budmantom]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: Budmantom
I worked at a tire shop for a few years and my recommendation is round, black and cheap.

The person I bought my car from had that philosophy as well. On a sports car. When I finally realized that these tires were not going to wear out anytime soon, I jumped on a discounttiredirect special and picked up a set of performance tires. WORLD of difference...wet or dry, it's like I'm driving a whole new car. Good thing there aren't many cops out here...

Yeah but we are talking Camry.

 

[imported_wonderwrench]

Originally posted by: Nyati13

Just remember the only part of the entire car that touches the ground is the tires. All of the steering, braking, driving...everything all channels through those tires. Low grip tires will decrease everything including safety.

I agree 100%. Most no name or bargain brand tires suck as far as grip goes and tires are a very important safety factor. The trouble is even name brand including high priced tires can suck. There is also no real way to judge how good a tire will be by looking at it. Sure you can tell by a open or closed tread pattern if the tire will be better in the dry or wet. Whats makes a good tire are things you can't see. Like the internal construction and rubber compound used.

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: Budmantom

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: Budmantom
I worked at a tire shop for a few years and my recommendation is round, black and cheap.

The person I bought my car from had that philosophy as well. On a sports car. When I finally realized that these tires were not going to wear out anytime soon, I jumped on a discounttiredirect special and picked up a set of performance tires. WORLD of difference...wet or dry, it's like I'm driving a whole new car. Good thing there aren't many cops out here...

Yeah but we are talking Camry.

:thumbsup:

 

[Budmantom]

Originally posted by: wonderwrench

Originally posted by: Nyati13

Just remember the only part of the entire car that touches the ground is the tires. All of the steering, braking, driving...everything all channels through those tires. Low grip tires will decrease everything including safety.

I agree 100%. Most no name or bargain brand tires suck as far as grip goes and tires are a very important safety factor. The trouble is even name brand including high priced tires can suck. There is also no real way to judge how good a tire will be by looking at it. Sure you can tell by a open or closed tread pattern if the tire will be better in the dry or wet. Whats makes a good tire are things you can't see. Like the internal construction and rubber compound used.

Your definitions of what makes a great tire is the opposite of the OP's.

Most "no name" tires are re-branded name brand tires.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Budmantom

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: Budmantom
I worked at a tire shop for a few years and my recommendation is round, black and cheap.

The person I bought my car from had that philosophy as well. On a sports car. When I finally realized that these tires were not going to wear out anytime soon, I jumped on a discounttiredirect special and picked up a set of performance tires. WORLD of difference...wet or dry, it's like I'm driving a whole new car. Good thing there aren't many cops out here...

Yeah but we are talking Camry.

True, but if $10 more per tire goes from a no-name piece of crap to a good quality budget tire, it's worth it even on an economy car.

I probably spent less on my tires than your average person who goes in to Les Schwab and gets the basic option, but they're MUCH better.

 

[imported_wonderwrench]

Originally posted by: Budmantom

Originally posted by: wonderwrench

Originally posted by: Nyati13

Just remember the only part of the entire car that touches the ground is the tires. All of the steering, braking, driving...everything all channels through those tires. Low grip tires will decrease everything including safety.

I agree 100%. Most no name or bargain brand tires suck as far as grip goes and tires are a very important safety factor. The trouble is even name brand including high priced tires can suck. There is also no real way to judge how good a tire will be by looking at it. Sure you can tell by a open or closed tread pattern if the tire will be better in the dry or wet. Whats makes a good tire are things you can't see. Like the internal construction and rubber compound used.

Your definitions of what makes a great tire is the opposite of the OP's.

Most "no name" tires are re-branded name brand tires.

I have been in this business for over 25 years and have seen very few rebranded
tires that are the same as the makers brand name tires. Sure there have been and are exceptions to this but not many. Take Michelin tires sold by Sears they are very similar but no the exact same tire Michelin sells. Multi-Mile tires are made by several different companies. Kelly, Cooper etc. I have owned no-name / re-branded tires and they hold air and roll but they never impressed me. They wear faster and have less grip than tires I have owned from Michelin, Bridgestone, BFG etc. I have a tendency to turn very aggressively and most cheap tires just roll over on to the sidewalls or loose traction way to early. Also cheap tires seem to have delayed response to steering input while better name brands do not. I have come to the conclusion that Michelin makes some of the best tires.
They will not roll over on to the sidewall on hard turns they have instant response to steering input also. Their down side is wet traction and winter performance.

The only way to tell a good set of tires from a bad set is by comparison at extremes.
Most people never get the chance to compare tires side by side yet be crazy enough to test at the edge of adhesion, under many weather conditions. I have in the past installed and tested 6 or 8 different brands/models of tires on my car in a 2-3 week period. The difference is so huge between tire brands/models its like changing cars.

Good tires can make a car bad ones can kill!

 

[Budmantom]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: Budmantom

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: Budmantom
I worked at a tire shop for a few years and my recommendation is round, black and cheap.

The person I bought my car from had that philosophy as well. On a sports car. When I finally realized that these tires were not going to wear out anytime soon, I jumped on a discounttiredirect special and picked up a set of performance tires. WORLD of difference...wet or dry, it's like I'm driving a whole new car. Good thing there aren't many cops out here...

Yeah but we are talking Camry.

True, but if $10 more per tire goes from a no-name piece of crap to a good quality budget tire, it's worth it even on an economy car.

I probably spent less on my tires than your average person who goes in to Les Schwab and gets the basic option, but they're MUCH better.

So what is it that makes your tires so MUCH better?

 

[Budmantom]

Originally posted by: wonderwrench

Originally posted by: Budmantom

Originally posted by: wonderwrench

Originally posted by: Nyati13

Just remember the only part of the entire car that touches the ground is the tires. All of the steering, braking, driving...everything all channels through those tires. Low grip tires will decrease everything including safety.

I agree 100%. Most no name or bargain brand tires suck as far as grip goes and tires are a very important safety factor. The trouble is even name brand including high priced tires can suck. There is also no real way to judge how good a tire will be by looking at it. Sure you can tell by a open or closed tread pattern if the tire will be better in the dry or wet. Whats makes a good tire are things you can't see. Like the internal construction and rubber compound used.

Your definitions of what makes a great tire is the opposite of the OP's.

Most "no name" tires are re-branded name brand tires.

I have been in this business for over 25 years and have seen very few rebranded
tires that are the same as the makers brand name tires. Sure there have been and are exceptions to this but not many. Take Michelin tires sold by Sears they are very similar but no the exact same tire Michelin sells. Multi-Mile tires are made by several different companies. Kelly, Cooper etc. I have owned no-name / re-branded tires and they hold air and roll but they never impressed me. They wear faster and have less grip than tires I have owned from Michelin, Bridgestone, BFG etc. I have a tendency to turn very aggressively and most cheap tires just roll over on to the sidewalls or loose traction way to early. Also cheap tires seem to have delayed response to steering input while better name brands do not. I have come to the conclusion that Michelin makes some of the best tires.
They will not roll over on to the sidewall on hard turns they have instant response to steering input also. Their down side is wet traction and winter performance.

The only way to tell a good set of tires from a bad set is by comparison at extremes.
Most people never get the chance to compare tires side by side yet be crazy enough to test at the edge of adhesion, under many weather conditions. I have in the past installed and tested 6 or 8 different brands/models of tires on my car in a 2-3 week period. The difference is so huge between tire brands/models its like changing cars.

Good tires can make a car bad ones can kill!

I agree Michalins are top notch but that is the only tire that stands out. Kelly Springfield (owned by Goodyear) makes a lot on non name brand tires and most of them fine (if I remember correctly).

Firestone & Uniroyal are a couple of big names that produce crappy tires, I'll take a non brand name Kelly.

I would put Michalins or Goodyears on a new Corvette, but give me the round black ones for a Chevette. Most people driving an Accord, Malibu or Corolla won't notice a difference till they have to pay.