A Cheap Tire – Does It Make The Grade?
A cheap tire is appealing, especially when you need to replace all four. It’s not that big a deal when you need to fuel up your car or even get an oil change. Purchasing tires, on the other hand, can be a major investment. Can you get the quality and safety you need from a cheap tire or is it a case of “you get what you pay for”?
First, you need to make sure you actually need new tires. Do a visual inspection. Are there any discolored spots or bulges? Check the tread for depth and evenness of wear. If portions of your tire look more worn than others you’ve got other issues that need to be addressed (check the alignment and suspension) to make sure that any new tires don’t wear out too quickly.
Discount tire stores do offer a valuable alternative. You can often find name brand quality tires for less than at a local garage since they deal in volume. Discount tires stores tend to have a larger supply so you can get your model straight off the tire rack and won’t have to wait for a shipment with your size to come in. Even though you are looking for cheap tire prices you should expect quality and safety.
Purchase tires for the type of climate you will be driving in. In the Pacific Northwest look for tires that are all season or all weather tires to handle the rain. For the upper Midwest you’ll want tires that can handle the snow or even some cheap tire chains. If you live in an area with a great deal of snow you may consider getting an extra set of rims and buying a cheap tire set of snow tires. Snow tires offer significantly improved traction because the rubber is designed to stay softer in colder temperatures. Because they are so soft you’ll need to replace them with regular tires once the weather warms up.
If you are only replacing two of your tires, try to match what you currently have on your vehicle. It doesn’t have to be the exact same model but the tread design should be similar to ensure smooth driving and handling. You will need to have the tires balanced and mounted professionally. It’s a good idea to get an alignment when replacing tires. Put the best tires on the drive axel. If you have front wheel drive the tires should go on the front. With rear wheel drive make sure the best tires are in the back. If you have a full sized spare make sure you rotate it into the regular driving rotation as well.
No matter if it’s a cheap tire or am expensive one, you want them last as long as possible. Purchasing new tires is just the beginning of your process. You’ll need to rotate them regularly for longest road life. Keep them inflated to the recommended pressure. This ensures longevity for your tires and gives you a smoother ride. You’ll get better gas mileage as well.
Dirt cheap tires can be found but if you don’t maintain them they will cost you much more in the long run. Keep them properly inflated, rotated and aligned. Practice these simple approaches and you’ll experience hefty savings over the life of your tires. And yes, a cheap tire can make the grade!
