What are the best cheap tires?
With so many brands and models to choose from, buying a new set of tires can be a daunting task that brings many questions to mind. What type of tire do you need? Is an expensive tire worth the extra money? Are cheaper tires safe? How much should you aim to spend?
Undoubtedly, tires are one of the most critical components of a car. They play a significant role in accelerating, turning and braking, thereby keeping you and your family safe on the road. For this reason, quality rather than price should guide your buying decision. Thankfully there are plenty of options that won’t break the bank yet still offer the durability and safety of their more expensive counterparts.
What to look for and avoid
Three main factors affect the cost of tires: tread, traction and size. The bigger the tire, the more expensive it is. For example, an all-terrain tire for an SUV or a utility vehicle will cost more than an all-season tire for a mid-sized family car. The tread is the part of the tire that makes contact with the road. The pattern of the ribs and grooves affects how the tire dissipates water and provides grip.
The depth of the tread will affect the lifespan of the tire. Additionally, the cheapest tires are usually made with low-quality materials and inferior rubber, affecting traction and braking distances. Any money potentially saved will be inconsequential should a sub-standard tire contribute to an accident.
Best bargain tires
Best of the best tire
Michelin Defender T+H: available at Amazon
Our take: An excellent all-around choice that provides a quiet and comfortable ride in most weather conditions.
What we like: With an 80,000-mile tread life warranty, this is one of the most durable tires around. It features specialized rain grooves to increase hydroplane resistance and is available in 32 sizes, making it compatible with most cars and light vans.
What we dislike: Sub-par performance in deep snow or on icy roads
Best cheap all-season tire
Pirelli PZero: available at Amazon
Our take: Offering high performance in various temperature and weather conditions, this tire is an excellent option for everyday highway use and long journeys.
What we like: The tread has large grooves and a combination of lateral and diagonal sipes for enhanced traction in snow and ice. It has an optimized profile for improved mileage and fuel consumption while reducing CO2 emissions.
What we dislike: Its sizing options range from 17-20 inches, making it unsuitable for small cars.
Best bargain high-performance tire
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 Plus: available at Amazon
Our take: This tire is designed for high-speed cornering and traction and offers excellent performance on wet roads.
What we like: Delivers one of the shortest wet and dry braking distances in this tire category, along with dependable handling in light snow. It has a speed rating of up to 240 kilometers per hour, making it suitable for most performance cars.
What we dislike: Although it has a 45,000-mile warranty, users can expect much less when driving at high speeds.
Best bargain all-terrain tire
Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S: available at Amazon
Our take: Its saw-tooth patterned tread and deep center grooves provide excellent off-road driving capabilities and improved wet and dry traction.
What we like: The tread blocks have zigzag sipes that increase stability and control in muddy and wet conditions. The design isn’t overly bulky, which keeps noise down to a minimum when driving on freeways, while the 2,039-pound load capacity is ample for most SUVs.
What we dislike: It doesn’t match the capability of a true winter tire in all adverse weather conditions.
Best cheap winter and snow tire
Bridgestone Blizzak WS80: available at Amazon
Our take: This tire is designed to remain flexible in freezing conditions because it features a unique multi-cell compound.
What we like: Its microscopic bite particles and three-dimensional zigzag sipes combine to provide confident braking on ice and snow. It is available in sizes ranging from 15-18 inches, making it suitable for most midsize cars and light trucks.
What we dislike: The thickness of the tread tends to make it overly noisy on dry roads.
Best bang for your buck
General Altimax RT43: available at Amazon
Our take: This budget-friendly option is supplied in most sizes and is a great all-around option for most weather conditions.
What we like: It features visual alignment indicators to avoid irregular tire wear. The tread is designed using low surface abrasion technology for improved durability. It has excellent stability throughout the speed range with minimal road noise or vibration.
What we dislike: Although it provides good handling on wet and dry roads, it isn’t the best choice for snowy regions.
Peace of mind
Regular assessment of your tires will alert you to any irregularities that could endanger the lives of yourself and your passengers. First and foremost, the tread should be within the proper depth to make sure you have enough traction to grip the road.
The penny test is a convenient way to do this. Simply place a penny upside down in your tread; if you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, it may be time for new tires. Also, you should check the air pressure regularly, as the wrong amount of air can lead to reduced braking ability and handling, along with increased tread wear.
A tire pressure gauge will let you know if your tires are properly inflated. Finally, you should perform a general inspection of the tread and sidewall periodically to identify any cuts, scrapes, bulges or cracks. If anything looks suspicious, it’s recommended to take your vehicle to a tire service professional for a closer look.
Chris Gillespie is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
