Premium vs Budget Tyres

How does the investment of purchasing a premium set of tyres weigh up to the cheap option that seems appealing atm? Turns out there’s not a clear-cut answer! It’s relative to your importance of handling, road noise, comfort, the life expectancy of the tyre and of course the price. This premium vs budget tyres blog will uncover the pro’s and con’s for each and provide you with more direction in your tyre shopping.

Behind the scenes: the complex world of manufacturing tyres.

This thought may have already crossed your mind… “Why are some tyres so expensive in the first place?”. The answer, just like any other consumer product, the quality in the tyre industry varies greatly. The big players in the industry like Michelin, Maxxis and Continental don’t just pour rubber into a mould – these tyre manufacturers spend millions on research and development. This money is invested into making tyres safer and performing better. From testing in controlled environments, chemists trialling new compounds and engineers working on tread patterns, the process goes deep behind the end result on your car. Cheaper tyre manufacturers often just shortcut to imitating the end result which can lead to varied outcomes.
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Budget Tyres

Tyres could well be the last thing you want to spend that hard earned cash on… There are cheap options available but will it pay off in the long haul? Basically, it’s relative to your driving style. Budget tyres tend to suit urban driving, so generally slower speeds and lower mileage. If that’s you there’s a good chance that budget tyres could be fine on your car.

Pro’s

• Price – The low upfront cost is the biggest perk of budget tyres and it does attract a lot of attention
• Suits a second car that’s not driven a lot.
• Better alternative than second-hand tyres

Con’s

• Lack of Performance – Handling, safety, noise, fuel efficiency and grip
• Less durability and short life of tyre
• More punctures
• Manufactured with cutting costs in mind
• Long-term cost, budget tyres will wear fast.

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Premium tyres

The research and development behind these tyres ensure that the quality of the materials used is of a high standard. Typically these tyres will contain more steel and specific compounds to create a long-lasting product. The rigorous testing that goes on behind these tyres equates to a refined product with top end features that’ll perform in all conditions.

Pro’s

• Greater fuel economy
• Reduced noise and vibration
• Quality handling, responsiveness and safety
• Grip in all conditions
• Durability, this results in less ongoing costs and excessive upgrading.

Con’s

• High upfront cost

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Summary

“Tyres determine approximately 50% of a car’s feeling and its characteristics when you drive it,” said Continental test driver, Scott Armstrong. With this in mind, you want to get the right tyres for your car. It all comes down to considering the use you’ll get out of the tyres. Budget tyres have an attractive price tag although it comes with its fair share of sacrifices. Premium tyres can be costly but have an array of features from safety to fuel efficiency. I’d recommend shopping at the premium end of the tyre quality spectrum because of the long-term advantages outweighing the short-term financial benefits of budget tyres.

At Gas & Tyre we have an expansive range of basic tyres through to the top end performance tyres and every model in between. If you want to try out buying a tyre or set online we make this process easy for you with our tyre selector tool for passenger or SUV/4WD. This tool will help you simply find the perfect tyre for your individual needs! Get in touch with the team in the chat below with any questions.

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