Premium Vs Budget Tyres seems to be a hot topic these days with so many option flooding the market.
For those drivers who dont know where to start shopping for new car tyres can be overwhelming. Pay a visit to your nearest tyre dealer and you’ll be greeted with such a wide range of options on offer today. From high-end premium tyres, to mid-range and budget tyres, the choices can be endless.
And with such a huge difference in terms of performance and price of premium and budget tyres, car owners and drivers are faced with a dilemma: are tyres worth spending a fortune on? Or are mid-range and budget tyres good enough or even as good as premium-branded ones? Is there even really a difference between budget and premium tyres?
Here, we’ll take a look at premium tyres vs budget tyres – so you can make an informed decision about what will work for you.
Premium Tyres vs Budget Tyres
Premium branded tyres such as Michelin, Bridgestone, Continental and Pirelli boast trusted, well-known names and long histories in the tyre industry. Contrary to what others believe, with premium tyres you’re not just paying for the name but also for the years of tyre technology, higher-quality materials, research and development, safety testing, and expert engineering that these brands have invested in for decades.
The effort that premium tyre brands have put into their products result in hard-wearing, fuel-efficient, safe, and long-lasting products motorists rely on. And the price tag, however, reflects this.
Mid-range Brands
Sitting just in between the premium and budget tyre brands in the market are the so-called mid-range brands. In some cases these tyres actually manufactured by premium brands but only marketed and sold under a different name.
Here are a few examples mid rage brands from premium manufacturers.
- Dayton Tyres made by Bridgestone Tyre
- Supercat tyres also Made by Bridgestone Tyres.
- Marshal tyres are made by Kumho Tyres.
- Zetum Tyres are also made by Kumho Tyres.
Middle range tyres often feature the same technology as the premium ones, offering good wear and tear and fuel efficiency compared to the cheap tyre alternatives, but come at a lower cost. These can be a decent option, depending on your budget and driving style or requirements.
Budget Tyres vs Premium Tyres
Strictly speaking, budget tyres aren’t really that bad. But they do have their limitations in terms of wear and performance. Most brands are still able to carry out their function on the road safely—however, they are more suitable for urban driving or driving at slower speeds and for vehicles that only do low mileage. If this sounds like the kind of driving you do, then you might find cheap tyres a good and economical option for you. However, if you travel on motorways regularly and incur higher mileage, then budget tyres are obviously not the solution for you.
Based on various test drives, cheaper tyres lack the performance of premium ones. While they performed satisfactorily in dry roads, their performance on wet surfaces wasn’t up to par, showing difficulties in handling, grip and wet braking. A cheaper tyre tends not to be optimized for quiet running, which means the increased rolling resistance might lead to a noisy drive.
Tyre Reviews
Before you make your next purchase, read our user generated Tyre Reviews:
We asked Aussie drivers to rate & review their tyres, based on what matters most to them like:
Tyre road noise.- Tyre braking performance.
- Tyre wet and dry handling.
- Tyre tread life.
- Value for money.
- Would they buy again.
The Verdict ( My Personal Opinion)
Personally when I buy tyres for my cars, I have stuck to the OEM tyres ( Original Equipment Manufacturer )
OEM Tyres are the tyre brand and model the vehicle the manufacturer recommends. The reason I do this is because I know the car and tyre manufacturer have worked together to engineer a tyre built for my car and its performance.
If you driving a BMW and you put cheap chinese tyres on it, it is no longer a BMW, A BMW is a performance car and needs tyres to match.
Ultimately, when it comes to shopping for new tyres, your decision shouldn’t be based on cost alone but on a host of factors, such as the tyre’s compatibility with your vehicle, tyre reviews, your driving style, and mileage. While it’s good to look at the price and compare costs, this shouldn’t be the deciding factor, as you may be compromising your and your passenger’s safety and your vehicle’s performance in the long run. It pays to do a little research so you can make an informed decision to purchase and fit tyres that meet your needs, budget and vehicle’s specifications.
Written By
Matt Banks
Matt is the founder of Autohero.com.au and has been hooked on cars ever since childhood.
A veteran in automotive since leaving school, Matt has completed his trade as a panel beater and is across all things with wheels.
His first car was a 1967 FORD XR Wagon followed by a string of collectable Holden’s.
Have a question for Matt? Leave a comment below.