What to know about cheap tires

Tires are expensive and they can be tough to afford when your budget it tight. Does buying a cheap tire mean you’re getting a bad tire? Not necessarily.

“Tire technology requires compromise — gain here, lose there. To eliminate compromise, it takes expense, and very experienced engineers and designers cost money,” said TJ Campbell, tire information and testing manager at Tire Rack. “Inexpensive tires typically don’t perform at a high level across the board. They may excel in one area but be bad in another.”

That makes it even more important to determine exactly what your priorities are in a tire and to find a tire that does well in those areas, whether that means snow, wet roads or a long tread life. While there are some very cheap no-name tires, we don’t recommend that route since their performance can be questionable.

Campbell said, “Look for a subsidiary of a bigger manufacturer.” This might require some research on your part, but the information is out there if you see a brand you don’t recognize and want to be sure of its reputation. “Also look for trusted third-party testing, not just testing from the manufacturer,” he added.

He also advised checking the scale used in any comparison graphs and to make sure there are brand names listed. “Look for a name, not just Competitor A or Competitor B,” he said. Otherwise, they could merely be telling you they perform better than another brand that’s horrible, which means the tire you’re considering isn’t that great either.

Types of car tires

All tires are divided into several categories. It seems like a lot to figure out, but it’s all designed to help you get the best tire for how you drive your car.

• Touring: This is a good all-around tire suited to most cars. It provides a smooth ride with a nice balance of comfort and traction.
• Grand touring: These tires put a higher priority on reduced noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) to deliver an even smoother, quieter ride. They also come at a higher price.
• High performance: Designed for a wide range of performance vehicles, high performance (HP) tires provide the stability and traction required to maintain traction during more spirited driving.
• Ultra-high performance: Similar to a high-performance tire, but with an even stronger focus on high-speed driving and often larger available sizes. You may see this described as a UHP tire.
• Highway: A highway tire delivers a well-mannered ride that focuses on passenger comfort during highway driving, much like a grand touring tire. It also makes high-speed traction and cornering a priority. These often include H/T in their description.
• Summer: A summer tire is designed to provide peak performance during hot dry weather. It has compounds formulated for higher temperatures, so it won’t get too soft in the heat and suffer premature treadwear.
• Winter: Best when temperatures are below 40 degrees or in significant snow, winter tire compounds won’t get stiff or brittle in the cold. Look for the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol to ensure you have a tire rated for severe winter weather.
• Off-road: Off-road tires are at their best on rugged terrain. Terrain tires have deep tread patterns that often extend up onto the sidewall for added protection against sticks and sharp rocks that can puncture those sidewalls. The downside is they aren’t as quiet or comfortable for passengers. You may see an A/T for all-terrain included in the names of these tires.
• Run-flat tires: A run-flat tire is designed to remain inflated for a short time even when it’s punctured. That doesn’t mean that it can run forever, but it should be able to go long enough to find a place to repair or replace the tire. These tires include RFT in the name to indicate that they are run flats.

Reading a tire sidewall

The about a tire. There’s a method to the madness so once you know the formula, you can read the sidewall on any tire and know exactly what kind of tire is on your vehicle. Let’s break down the basics.

Example: P 225/50 R 17 98 H

• Tire class: P stands for a P-metric or passenger tire. Light truck tires have an LT.
• Width: This number (225) is the width of the tread in millimeters from side to side.
• Aspect ratio: This number indicates the height of the sidewall as a percentage of the width, which is 50% in our example.
• Construction type: The R stands for radial, which is pretty much all you’ll see these days.
• Rim diameter: This is the diameter of the wheel that this tire will fit. Our tire fits a 17-inch wheel.
• Load index: Covering a rating range from 70 to 126, this number lets you know how much weight a tire can safely manage and is something you should pay close attention to if you plan to tow or carry a payload in your truck.
• Speed rating: Depending on the letter, your tires may be rated anywhere from 75 mph to 186 mph. An H tire falls in the middle with a rating of 130 mph. Regardless of your tire speed rating, always obey posted speed limits.

Caring for tires

No matter what kind of tires you have, caring for them is key. “One of the most important things you can to do maintain your tires is to keep air pressure at optimal levels as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer,” said Ron Henegar, senior product marketing manager at Goodyear. An underinflated tire, whether it’s cheap or expensive, will wear prematurely. You may notice uneven spots, wear on the edges of the tire tread or even the whole tread wearing down. Once this happens, the damage cannot be undone and your tire’s life is shortened.

You can’t just check your tire pressure once and assume it will be good forever. According to Campbell, “Tire pressure drops about 1 psi per month.” You’re going to need to add a little air to your tires every month or so. The weather can make the change in pressure even greater “Your tire pressure changes 1 psi for every ten degrees the temperature changes,” he added. Pay extra attention to your tire pressure as the seasons change and temperatures dramatically rise or fall.

In addition to preventing premature tire wear, proper inflation ensures your car gets optimal fuel efficiency. If you want to do everything you can to reduce your gas budget, then make sure you check your tire inflation and keep it set to the manufacturer’s recommendation.

Tire rotation is also a part of tire maintenance. Campbell suggests rotating every 5,000 to 7,500 miles, but you can rotate them sooner. And just because you have new tires doesn’t mean tire rotation isn’t important. “Being even slightly out of spec has a big effect on new tires,” he added. Make the time to get your tires rotated, even when they’re new.

As for rotation patterns, this all depends on your vehicle and your tires. It may be front to back, side to side or a mix of the two. Check your owner’s manual and follow your manufacturer’s tire rotation guidelines.

Proper alignment is also important for keeping your tires maintained. Broken pavement, potholes and off-roading can ruin your alignment. You may feel a vibration in the steering wheel, but not always. Have a professional check your tire alignment regularly, especially if you’ve been driving on rough surfaces.

When should you replace a tire?

Severe tire damage is cause for tire replacement. Bulges, bald spots, tears or cracking can make a tire fail unexpectedly and cause an accident.

A punctured tire, even if it’s a run-flat, is cause for immediate attention. A professional might be able to repair the damage, but that’s not always possible. Take the tire for inspection so an expert can tell you if a repair is safe to attempt or if the tire should be replaced.

Worn treads are also cause for replacement. This includes overall treadwear or uneven spots on a tire. Take a good look at your tires to inspect for damage visually or try running your hand around the whole tire. If the tread feels the same, without bald spots or torn areas, then that’s a good sign. If the tread is worn to smooth in spots, then it needs to be replaced.

A tread that is too low, even if it’s consistent around the tire, is also cause for replacement. There are sometimes wear bars that appear in the tread so you can easily see that it’s wearing low and will need replacement soon. Without those wear bars, it’s still easy to check to see how much tread is left on your tire. Insert a penny all the way into the tread with Lincoln’s head down. If you see the top of his head above the tread, then it’s below 2/32 of an inch and should be replaced. This is a recommended minimum for a tire and it’s the legal minimum in some states, which will be checked if you have an annual state inspection. While that’s the minimum, it’s not necessarily a good idea to wait that long.

“Drivers should begin the process of shopping for new tires before their tread wears to these levels,” said Henegar. Instead of the penny test, try the quarter test. It’s the same process, but you’re looking to see if Washington’s head is visible. This shows a tread of 4/32 of an inch. While your tires are technically still okay, you should be budgeting for a new set and doing your research.

No matter how well you maintain your tires, they do have an expiration date. As tough as they look, the rubber in your tire degrades over time and eventually becomes unsafe for driving. Ten years from the date of manufacture or six years after a tire is placed into service, it’s time for a replacement no matter how many miles you’ve driven.

Checking your tires is easy, but if you’re uncertain, then rely on a professional. They can tell you if your tires are still good or if you need to replace them to ensure your safety.

What makes for a good tire?

Tires maintain traction, which is essential for you to maintain control. There’s no one right tire for every car and every driver. Instead, you need to find the right tire for your vehicle and your driving style. Consider whether you go off-road, visit the track or deal with lots of cold and snow every year.

Established brands are a better choice than no-name brands, especially when you’re looking for cheap tires. “They have the ability, know-how and skill to make tires that perform at a high level across the board,” said Campbell.

The big brands extensively test their tires to ensure they perform as advertised. This includes having the right tread patterns with the right rubber compounds for conditions. They’re also continually making advancements in tire design, so you get better tires with a known brand.

When looking for a cheap tire, look for a known brand’s less expensive options. If you see a name you don’t know, then do a little research. Many big brands have multiple labels, some of which may be more affordable. This can save you money while still providing the security of an established brand name backing your tire.

Do you need to replace all your tires at once?

Never replace only one tire, even if only one is damaged. A new tire will have a thicker tread than the ones already on your vehicle. This can have an adverse impact on handling and cause all your tires to wear unevenly. In rare instances when your tires are new and only one is damaged you may be able to replace a single tire. Have a tire professional evaluate your tires to see if that’s possible and heed their advice even if it means buying a new set of tires.

It’s best to replace all four tires at once so treadwear is uniform. If your budget is too tight for that expense, even when you choose cheap tires, then replace either the two front tires or two rear tires at the same time. These have similar wear, which reduces issues when mixing old and new tires. Look for the same tires you have in order to get the best match possible.

All-wheel or four-wheel drive vehicles often include manufacturer’s recommendations to only replace all four tires at once. In that case, follow those guidelines and replace all your tires at the same time to ensure proper performance.

Written by Nicole Wakelin for CNET.

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