Unless your muffler is currently scraping the pavement, the only parts of your car that should consistently touch the road are your tires. The tires must always be in good working condition to ensure your safety.
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The primary purposes of a car’s tires are to carry the vehicle’s weight, transfer braking and traction forces to the pavement, cushion impact from the road and change and maintain the direction of movement. They are one of the most important parts of your car, so it pays to buy quality when you need to replace your original equipment (OE) tires or swap out worn wheels on a used purchase.
However, unless you own a high-performance sedan or sports car, there is no point in spending more money on an expensive tire if a budget-friendly alternative is within your means. Inexpensive tires will generally be between $50 and $150 each, but most brands have a wide selection of treads and tire sizes and types can affect the final cost. Moderately-priced tires will run you between $100 and $300, but you’ll pay between $300 and $1,000 for high-end, high-performance or specialty off-road tires.
Price is important, but you want tires that will stand the test of time too. Most family car tires can easily last 70,000 miles or more. During testing, Consumer Reports found that the best all-season tires will last about 55,000 to 85,000 miles and the best performance all-seasons between 50,000 and 85,000.
For parts that are designed to keep you and your passengers safe on the road, make sure you don’t equate affordable value with a bargain-basement deal when you’re out shopping for tires. Here are eight brands that make affordable and durable tires.
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Hankook
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Average price (according to Tirebuyer): from $69.95 for all-season tires to $635.99 for 22″ all terrain truck and SUV tires
According to FixMyCar, Hankook is one of the fastest-growing tire companies in the world, has established OE partnerships with esteemed automakers like BMW, Mercedes and Porsche and produces a wide selection of exceptional tires. The company will go above and beyond in its consumer research and testing. Hankook tires will cost slightly more than most budget brand tires, but also afford you slightly better performance and quality.
Cooper
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Average price (according to Tirebuyer): from $97 per tire, while more advanced tires range from $175 to $585
Cooper has a lengthy history in the tire sector and is a well-known name in the automotive world. The company has an A+ rating with the BBB and is known for offering quality all-season, summer, on/off-road and winter tires at relatively affordable prices. Their tires are widely utilized as replacements for passenger automobiles and some of their tires are even OE on Ford, Volkswagen, and Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
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Kumho
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Average price (according to Tirebuyer): from $70.85 to $550
Kumho was founded in Thailand and today has production units around Asia. As a much larger corporation, certain tires serve as original equipment manufacturers (OEM) for Hyundai, Audi, Volkswagen, and Nissan automobiles. Kumho is recognized as a brand that offers decent tires at a reasonable price. In addition to tires for cars, crossovers, sport utility vehicles and light trucks available through your local automotive store, Kumho also produces a range of tires for competition vehicles and commercial trucks.
Falken
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Average price (according to Tirebuyer): from $71 for all-season touring tires to $554 for rugged mud terrain tires
Falken should be at the top of your search if you’re looking for high-performance tires. Having been in business since the 1980s, this Japanese manufacturer is renowned for their durability and adaptability worldwide. They allow cars to go at high speeds, yet they are of great value for daily city drivers too. Regardless of the weather, they provide exceptional all-season capabilities to get you where you need to go. The company has used its experience in racing to produce tire innovations for improved handling and grip that are affordable for the general public.
Atturo
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Average price (according to SimpleTire): from $137.04 to $353.27 per tire depending on size (Trail Blade M/T models)
You have probably heard of this company before if you enjoy off-roading and exploring the potential of your car in the great outdoors. Established in 2009, Atturo tires provides reasonably priced, premium tires for Jeeps, SUVs, light trucks and 4×4 owners. The brand’s tires function on par with those of more expensive competitors and offer excellent, strong durability, aggressive styling and an optimized tread design. Its line of Trail Blades delivers solid performance in winter and wet weather conditions.
Ironman
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Average price (according to Tirebuyer): from $50.00 for touring tires to $570.04 for 26″ mud terrain tires
Ironman is a budget brand of its parent company, Hercules Tire and Rubber. With a large company backing it, Ironman produces a quality tire that’s still affordable. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the performance of Ironman tires, especially considering their lower prices and wide selection of options available. Ironman has a smaller range of tires, but it’s “one of the better budget-friendly options on the market,” per Automoblog, and its models have respectable treadwear, temperature and traction ratings.
Lexani
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Average price (according to SimpleTire): from $64.96 to $565.99 per tire depending on the tire size selected (for its LX-Twenty line)
Lexani tires are designed to help you stay safe on the road at all times, using tried-and-true tread designs and road-grip-enhancing compounds. These tires also have wide shoulder blocks, which improve handling when driving around tight turns, especially at high speeds. Even though Lexanis are typically bought for luxury vehicles such as Mercedes, Bentley, Ferrari, Tesla and BMW, they are one of the few high-performance tire options that are still affordable. Lexani offers all-terrain and performance all-season tires that are great looking too.
General
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Average price (according to Tirebuyer): from $188.22 for all-terrain tires to $609.99 for extreme traction tires
General Tire is among the best tire brands available when creating a flexible selection of models for different applications. Their models are constructed with premium materials and designed to withstand the most stringent safety testing. General Tires are priced above many in this list, but some of their tires rank among the best in the business. According to Consumer Reports, its Altimax RT43 model is the second-best all-season tire available, just behind the more expensive Michelin Defender T+H, and its Grabber HTS60 places second in all-season truck tires.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 8 Affordable Tire Brands That Could Last the Lifetime of Your Car
