What are the Worst Tire Brands?

You might feel that saving a little cash by getting budget tires would be absolutely fine but this could be a costly mistake. In this article we will look at the importance of good quality tires and several tire manufacturers to definitely avoid at all costs.

Why Should You Avoid Cheap Tires?

The temptation to save money these days is very understandable especially with the prices of even the most basic essentials at all time highs. However there are some things you simply should not budget on especially if by doing so you risk your or someone else’s life.

Safety

The biggest drawback when it comes to buying the cheapest new tires you can find is just plain safety. Our car tires are all that connect us to the road's surface so if they fail when we are driving we could be looking at a bad situation.

If we were to drive over a small nail at high speed with cheap tires on our car we have a greater chance of a blow out. Suddenly our connection to the road is compromised and we can easily lose control of the vehicle and potentially crash.

When we choose quality tires we have a great chance that they will take that initial puncture impact and deflate more slowly allowing us time to stop and make repairs in a safe manner.

Longer Braking Distance

The ability to stop our cars in an emergency is vital, this is why we should keep our brakes in top condition. What some of us may not realize is that the condition of our tires is also important in how quickly we can stop.

We need the grip supplied by our tires to assist the brakes in bringing us to a full stop hopefully before we find ourselves in an accident. Poor quality tires do not offer as much grip as their more expensive counterparts and as a result our cars will not stop as fast.

Durability

We may pat ourselves on the back for getting brand new tires for a low price but this is false confidence because we will be paying for this decision later. Cheap tires are simply not built to last as long as more expensive versions.

Durability of tires is important. Cheaper ones will wear out more quickly which will result in you needing to replace them again in the not too distant future. If a more expensive set of tires can out last the budget alternative by one or two times this will save you money in the long run.

Environmental Concerns

This one is a more moral consideration so it will either be a factor for you or it will not. Cheaper tires tend to be made in less than environmentally friendly ways and their tendency to wear out quickly can also have an impact in terms of pollution.

The more rapid wear of the tires releases more particles into the air which can be damaging to the environment. More expensive tires do not wear as quickly so there are fewer particles produced. Also top brand tires are created in well run factories that tend to follow pollution guidelines far more closely than the cheap brands.

What Are the Worst Tire Brands?

There is no shortage of tire brands available in the US and many of them are inexpensive imports. It is generally thought that China makes some of the worst tires but this is not entirely true. Many Chinese imported tires are poorly made but there are also plenty of other global manufacturers who are found lacking.

Chaoyang

This company has a great reputation in the specific field of tire creation and as they have been making those tires since 1958 that is not surprising. Founded in China they make really good bicycle tires but car tires are a new section of their business.

This is a case of general inexperience making automotive tires and it is not to say that they will not get better over time but right now saving a buck on one of their tires is not worth the risk.

Geostar

This one may surprise some especially if they know that Geostar is owned by Nankang. Those who know about tires know that Nankang does indeed make relatively good tires for the budget end of the market. So by all means consider a Nankang tire.

Geostar however are still trying to do what Nankang does but they are considered the budget arm of a budget tire manufacturer. They are cheaper and as a result just not as good as the standard Nankang offerings.

Triangle

This Chinese manufacturer is relatively new to the market but has been around since the 1970s. They have not developed a stellar reputation in that time but they are trying to make steps in the right direction.

A design partnership with the University of Akron is hoped to improve things for the company but at present they have a major flaw in their arsenal. Triangle tires are not good in the wet and customers complain frequently that they barely have any traction in wet road conditions

Goodride

This is a company founded in the 1990s which does not really live up to its name. They have an impressive range and to their credit they do make durable tires when compared to some cheaper options. Customers however do complain that traction and handling is an issue with this brand.

Westlake Tires

This company touts their tires as “safe tires for the local market.” This may be true as their local market would be China. Sadly this is not the case when they are imported globally. The big issue is that unlike European and US tires they are not stringently tested for quality.

At low speeds they are not bad tires but if you are going to be driving on the highway frequently then avoid this brand. They are reported to offer poor grip at higher speeds and this is not something you are looking for.

Accelara

Accelara is an Indonesian company founded in the 1990s who believe it or not claim to make performance tires some of which are used for racing. This is strange given that their tires have a reputation for poor performance.

Again the big issue here is manufacturing quality and poor performance in wet conditions. If it wasn't for the fact that tires are most important in slippery conditions then maybe these tires would be passable. As it is unless you live and drive solely in the desert avoid this brand.

AKS Tires

As a general rule if you Google a tire brand and can’t find much about them perhaps you should avoid their products. This is the case with AKS, information is limited so it is hard to quantify their process and what kind of checks are used to monitor their tires.

If the mystery behind who they are exactly doesn’t give you pause, then customer opinion that they have poor grip under pretty much all conditions should be your sign to avoid this company's tires.

Compass

If you go to a restaurant and they have a small kitchen but a huge menu go elsewhere. The reason for this is when you do too many things you tend to do all of them poorly. This is the case with Compass who in many ways are more or less an auto parts wholesaler who inexplicably make their own tires.

They started their tire range in the late 1990s and from the start they have had performance issues. Their durability isn’t the worst but the main red flag is that they do not appear to be taking steps to improve their products.

Sunfull

Just as a reminder that it’s not always foreign imports that lack quality, Sunfull is actually a U.S. based company. They are new to the market having started out in 2007. Setting aside their limited tire range, the biggest issue this company faces is poor performance in the wet.

Why Are Cheap Imports So Bad?

Imported tires can often be much cheaper than those manufactured in the U.S. and there is a big reason for this, they cut corners. They do not have to meet the same kind of safety testing and manufacturing standards as domestic or European tires.

Often the materials are of poor quality and the manufacturing process may make the tires look like a tire but not always perform the way a tire should. At a glance a cheap tire looks just like a top brand tire but it is what’s happening with the rubber quality and internally that matters.

As mentioned many of these imports are coming from Asia but this is not to say that the region does not have some good manufacturers. Rules are more lax however so the motivation to push for quality just is often not there.

Find a Balance

We understand that the top brands like Goodyear and Michelin are not in everyone’s budget so by all means look for cheaper options. If you are doing this however, research the manufacturer first and look for customer reviews.

If you can go a little above the most budget brand we suggest that you do that. You will avoid having to change the tires as frequently and you may get a safer tire which frankly is vital.

Shop around and always look for deals. You may find some higher quality tires at a discount price. Tire shops will often run promotions to move stock on certain brands so look out for 4 for 3 offers.

Conclusion

There are a lot of budget tire manufacturers on the market some of which have actually been recalled but may still be offered up for sale. The temptation to save money is fully understandable but with something that holds your car to the road can you afford to be cheap?

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