Buying car tyres? Why some tyres are cheaper than others

Not purchased new car tyres in a while? First time you’ve had to buy tyres? It’s confusing, isn’t it?

Faced with all the choice, labelling, advice and – above all – price points, it’s really hard to know where to start – or what’s best. In our latest short tyre advice article, Asda Tyres try to help by explaining what goes into making a tyre in the first place, so that you can judge whether cheaper tyres really are a good bet or not…

Laying down rubber facts

Just because – to most untrained eyes at least – all tyres look the same, it doesn’t mean they are the same. Simply put, they’re not. There’s a world of difference between cheaper ‘budget tyres’, and premium tyres.

And yes, while all car tyres are made of rubber, it’s the way that the rubber is processed with other ingredients – such as carbon, fabric and polymers – into what’s known as “compounds” that makes all the difference.

But what kind of difference?

High-quality rubber compounds result in safer tyres

The simple truth is that tyres made from low-grade rubber compounds aren’t as effective at gripping the road in wet conditions, with potentially dramatic effects on stopping distances. The fact is that tyres with inferior compounds are usually the ones sold as “budget” or “value” tyres.

Insurer, Direct Line, asked various tyre industry experts to make the case for buying budget tyres. Not a single one would. This is primarily because the experts believe premium tyres are critical for road safety. Like you, they also want to be able to stop quickly and safely on a wet road, and that means better grip with better compounds.

Car braking on a wet surface

Premium tyres also last longer than budget tyres

The quality of the rubber compound – and its design – also affects what’s known as the rate of wear. You’ve guessed it: based on exact like for like usage, the higher the tyre compound quality, the longer tyres tend to last.

In fact, in tests conducted by Which? – based on an annual mileage of 12,000 – budget tyres only last for two years. Tyres made with high-grade compounds, by contrast, last up to five years. That’s three years longer than budgets. Still think budget tyres are the better deal? You do the maths…

Premium car tyres being fitted

It’s all down to research, development and testing

So how do tyre makers know what constitutes an optimal rubber compound or design for a tyre?

The answer boils down the massive amounts of money that top tyre brands invest in research and development. They’re constantly innovating to keep up with the phenomenal rate of change that’s taking place with automotive development, which in turn, means ever-increasing demand for performance, and – most of all – safety.

Continental research and development plant

Take leading premium tyre manufacturer, Continental. They have tyre test and development facilities all over the world, where each year more than 140,000 tyres are tested over a total of 200 million kilometres. It means that before a new tyre goes on sale, its prototype forerunners have been through a process that involves over 67,000 separate tests, taking them around the world the equivalent of five hundred times. It’s one of the reasons why Continental tyres are known the world over for their high safety characteristics.

Working with the world’s leading car makers

Safety is certainly one of the reasons why one in three new cars in Europe is sold from factory to showroom with Continental tyres OE –“Original Equipment”.

This is really relevant because it demonstrates two things:

– Brands like Continental are preferred by the world’s top car makers, because they produce the kind of high-quality tyres that bring out the best characteristics in the cars they make.

– A commitment to invest in research and development to keep producing ever safer, better-designed tyres.

Continental Original Equipment tyres

Trust the experts – trust Asda Tyres

Ultimately, it’s up to you which tyres you buy, but now you know why some tyres cost more than others, and you’re in a much better position to make an informed tyre purchasing choice. But sometimes, it’s good to talk to a trusted expert too, for impartial advice about tyre safety, which tyres are best for your vehicle, expert fitting solutions, and more. Click here to live chat to one of our experts, or find your nearest fitting station.

You may also like