When buying tyres, you may be wondering:
What is the difference between cheap and expensive tyres?
What can of tyres do I need?
Your first car was probably cheap, and your first tyres were probably cheap too. If you have a family, chances are you are spending a bit more on your tyres now. Like the different cars you’ve driven, not all tyres are created equally. So, there can be a vast difference between cheap and expensive tyres.
While tyre costs do vary, deciding on a tyre is not just about cost. In fact, tyre manufacturers specifically design each different tyre brand and model to perform under different circumstances, and each tyre is designed to excel under different, specific conditions. The most obvious place you see this is if you watch Formula 1 racing, and see the different tyres that they use at different parts of the race and in different conditions - each tyre performs differently.
The fact is that you need different tyres depending on:
where you live.
the weather conditions.
the conditions of the roads that you are driving on.
You’ll also need different tyres depending on the model of your car. Your tyre choice is vital to ensure you get the right balance of comfort and safety,
Without getting too technical, without talking about rubber compounds and treads, we wanted to go through a quick explanation of some of the tyres you might see and might want to look at for your car.
Summer Tyres
If you are living in a warmer climate, it may be that you need tyres with a tread pattern that work in both wet and dry conditions, offering reasonable traction to support your family’s safety. The compound that these tyres are made from is designed for warmer conditions so performance may suffer if you use this style of climate in cooler conditions.
Winter tyres
If you live in generally cooler climates, you’ll still want a tyre that works in wet and dry conditions but is made from a compound that works in colder climates.
If you are driving in predominantly wet climates, tyre tread becomes even more important. You need to ensure you have the right tread depth and shape. Tread becomes essential because it needs to disperse water from underneath your tyres so that you maintain traction with the road.
All-Season Tyres
While there are tyres for wet weather and tyres for hot climates, most of our clients live in more temperate conditions, so an all-round, all-weather tyre is more appropriate.
It doesn’t get too cold in Melbourne and it doesn’t snow. So, all-season tyres provide the ideal balance for all the weather conditions that you are likely to face - just make sure you drive appropriately to the conditions that you are in.
If you're still concerned about the difference between cheap and expensive tyres, you can contact us for more information. We assess your needs and budget to find the tyre that is both quality and economical.
Another post has tyre maintenance tips to help you get the best value from the tyres you buy.
If you are looking at replacing your tyres, please get in touch today to discuss your options.