So, the time has come to change your tyres and you're faced with huge variations in price? Of course you want to buy a reliable product in terms of safety and performance, but you're also wondering if premium tyres are really worth the extra cash? Remember that the purchase price is not the only thing to consider when looking for the best value for money tyres. Make the smart choice, by calculating the total cost of your tyres throughout their lifespan.
Is a low-cost tyre always a better deal than a premium tyre?
There are significant differences in price between premium and low-cost tyres, for tyres of the same size. If we look at one of the most common sizes, 205 55 R16 91V, we can see that the prices for tyres in this size can vary three-fold. However, a low-cost tyre is not always a better deal than a premium tyre.
- First of all, a low-cost tyre is likely to wear more quickly. Logically, a cheaper tyre is less technologically advanced than a premium tyre. This means the rubber, structure and tread will probably be less resistant to wear. You will therefore need to replace your tyres more often, including the cost of fitting and balancing them. The variations in lifespan between tyres can be upwards of 40%.
Good to know: Manufacturers do not release information on precise tyre lifespans. You therefore need to check out official tests, the only reliable source of information when determining how many miles a tyre will last for.
- Low cost tyres also have lower energy efficiency than premium tyres. This means you will consume more fuel when driving on cheap tyres. The lower the rolling resistance of your tyre, the lower your fuel consumption. On the EU tyre label, the difference between an A grade and a G grade is estimated at around 0.5 litre/100 km, i.e. a potential saving of 80 litres of fuel per year (based on 15,000 kilometres/9000 miles a year).
In order to optimise your tyre purchase, we advise you to compare tyres on the basis of their cost per kilometre. This calculation puts the initial investment into perspective and shows that purchasing a premium tyre is not necessarily a more expensive option.
