You can buy tyres for £40 or you can spend £120+ for a premium one, so are expensive tyres really worth the extra few quid?
To answer this, we first need to understand what exactly makes a tyre expensive. Generally speaking, people buy tyres that cost upwards of £100 because they want performance without compromise – and at that price point you can expect reduced wear time as well as improved grip on wet surfaces such as tarmac, gravel roads and snowboard hills.
Cheaper tyres can cost as little as £10 each (part worn or budget tyres), whilst expensive tyres can cost around £100/£150; however, the average price of a tyre is around £30/40. So what are you paying extra for? Basically, it comes down to performance and quality. it will also be relatively light and it will offer excellent grip in most conditions.
What makes a tyre more expensive?
Tyres are made from rubber and other solid materials. The most expensive tyres will have fewer of these materials and will be made from higher-grade products than cheaper alternatives. The more lighter and durable the tyre is, the more expensive it will be. This is because it can withstand punctures and damage whilst still providing you with a comfy ride.
For the average person taking their kids to school, you’ll probably not be too concerned with these tyres, but if you like to put the gas on the pedal or enjoy off-road thrills, a good tyre can save you money (and hassle).
Off Road Tyres
Excessive tread can slow you down when riding on the road, however, it’s well worth having good tread for off-road riding. high-performance tyres will allow you to tackle more extreme terrain comfortably.
Durability is important for off-road tyres, as you may find that the tread of the tyre wears down. A good quality off-road tyre will be built to last, meaning you’ll get more mileage out of them than your average on-road tyres.
We spoke with Fred Taylor, business owner of Mudslingerz Tyres in Cheshire, UK. He had the following point to make: “You can buy decent off-road tyres for £70 which are just as good as their £100 counterparts. We stock a number of brands in store and online, with Maxxis tyres making up the bulk of our sales, and we hear nothing but good things about their mid-range tyres”.
On Road Tyres
For on road use, thinner tyres are better because they are lighter, much quicker when cornering and have less rolling resistance – this makes them ideal for racing (on licensed tracks of course).
But for most people (especially those who spend most of the day stuck in London traffic), looking for basic specs and good durability are going to be perfectly fine for you, so sticking with a mid-range brand will do just fine.
Budget Tyres & Part Worn Tyres (And why you should stay away from them)
Yes, you can get tyres for less than a crate of beer, but do we need to really go over why we don’t recommend them?
Budget tyres and part worn tyres will need replacing more often, and can be pretty dangerous.
On average, cars with budget tyres take 7 seconds longer to break on wet terrain, handle poorly and are often made overseas on surfaces that are different to the UK.
While part worn tyres are perfectly legal, you know nothing about the history of the tyres (or how often the owner hit the curb with them).
Conclusion
If you like racing (on or off road) and need that extra bit of speed, durability and handling then paying that little bit extra for premium ones might make the difference, but for the average person, mid-range tyres are perfectly fine for everyday use.