I was recently looking to replace the tires on my 2015 Toyota Corolla, which is mostly used to go to AMC Burbank 16 (yes, I’m an A-Lister, if you must know) and to get my boyfriend to work. I’m remote, so I’m safe from Los Angeles traffic. To put it simply, this is a commuter car driving on basic roads in pretty comfortable weather.
I checked the options for this specific car and found options ranging from $49 to $429. It’s just a trusty commuter. Could I just go with the cheapest options at America’s Tires and call it a day?
Cheaper tires are not as good, but they are good enough for commuting
Luckily, my colleague, Dave McQuilling, recently spoke with the experts at BFGoodrich and had asked this very question (along with many others). And I really do mean luck — I have truly been putting off changing the Corolla’s tires because I was unsure if cheaping out was a bad idea, and then came across McQuilling’s interview transcription.
And even luckier, it looks like I can just get the $49 tires and not crash and burn!
When asked if people can just buy the cheapest tire in the shop, BFGoodrich’s On-Road Product Manager David Carpenter stated: “Typically, yes, they can buy the cheapest tire in the shop.”
However, there are some clear benefits to spending a little extra. Of course. Going for a trusted brand will guarantee a bit more engineering experience, meaning years of material development and a more specialized design for specific categories, said Carpenter. Basically, if you live in an area with a lot of wet weather or just drive like a total maniac, you probably want to spend a bit extra on a tire engineered for better grip. This will make the tire noticeably more reactive to your acceleration and braking while driving in the rain or through a corner.
“So typically, the cheapest tire doesn’t have the [research and development] budget to be able to investigate new materials and optimize materials for these specific conditions,” Carpenter said.
There’s another benefit to spending a bit extra, too. The more expensive the tire, the longer it will last. Explained Carpenter: “We’ve designed them to last longer and still give good levels of wet traction for everyday stopping and braking.”
Right now, tires should last you an average of three to five years. Or 30,000 to 70,000 miles. Some cheap tires may be on the lower end of this, while the better materials and more durable tread compounds of higher-end tires can stretch their lifespan.
The more expensive tires are better, but not every situation calls for better tires. Performance tires have better materials and construction techniques that offer superior grip, improved braking, and sharper steering response than basic tires. You will definitely shave some seconds off the track just by switching to better tires. I can tell you with certainty that the tires on my 2006 Lotus Elise give me much more confidence. You are firmly planted. But again, not every situation calls for special tires.
I’ve come to a bit of my own conclusion with this one. Basically, since the Corolla will be doing short commutes on city streets with barely any rain, I think it’s quite safe to go with the $49 tires. But I’ll probably read the reviews first, maybe check some Reddit forums. Another cheap option, the $63 Milestar MS932 Sport, had some pretty questionable reviews on America’s Tire. One read: “Decided to try these tires out, never again. The amount of road noise from them is unreal. They are in a Santa Fe and the ride is louder than the off-road tires on my Titan. Save your money and get better tires. Lesson learned.”
There are some risks with going cheap, but I think we all know that (and accept it). However, you may want to spend a bit more if you live in an area with more varied weather. Or, again, if you plan on driving like a maniac. The cheapo tires may not cut it if you want to make extremely drastic turns on the way to Whole Foods. It’s not worth dying for the salad bar. Trust me.
But if you aren’t a maniac, yes, feel free to get the cheapa** tires. Don’t feel bad about it.
