Is it worth it to buy more expensive tires?

[tvguy]

Tires are like crash helmets. The more expensive the more likely better. My michelin Eco's lasted 70k miles. I just replaced them for Defenders rated at 90k. Deal was 70 bucks off at Costco. Ended up costing 500 plus.

I love Michelins, but I rarely wear them out because the sidewalls rot out and crack before the treat is worn out. They say the tires are good for 6 years. An average driver is only doing to drive about 66,000 miles in that time, so a 90,000 mile tire is going to rot out for most before it wears out.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

I drive 20k per year. They'll wear out the tread first. I don't think I've ever gone 6 years on tires.

 

[tvguy]

I drive 20k per year. They'll wear out the tread first. I don't think I've ever gone 6 years on tires.

My mom got 40,000 miles and 18 years from the old formula rubber Michelins before the side walls cracked.
My daughter has 35,000 miles and 6 years on hers and Michelin says they should be replaced soon due to cracks.

 

[scrapquitler]

My mom got 40,000 miles and 18 years from the old formula rubber Michelins before the side walls cracked.
My daughter has 35,000 miles and 6 years on hers and Michelin says they should be replaced soon due to cracks.

So that "little old lady who only drives the car to church on Sunday" isn't really a myth, she does exist??

 

[tvguy]

So that "little old lady who only drives the car to church on Sunday" isn't really a myth, she does exist??

No, she only drove her car to the bowling alley to catch the gambler's special bus. Even when she was working full time, and drove her car to work 5 days a week, she only drove 3,000 miles a year. In retirement it fell to about 1,500 miles.

 

[scrapquitler]

No, she only drove her car to the bowling alley to catch the gambler's special bus. Even when she was working full time, and drove her car to work 5 days a week, she only drove 3,000 miles a year. In retirement it fell to about 1,500 miles.

Wow. Can't imagine driving so few miles. I did have that short of a commute once upon a time, when I worked across the street from my house. My husband got his car two years ago this week, and he's just about at 60,000 miles.

 

[tvguy]

Wow. Can't imagine driving so few miles. I did have that short of a commute once upon a time, when I worked across the street from my house. My husband got his car two years ago this week, and he's just about at 60,000 miles.

Average American drives 11,500 miles a year. My mom's 1500 miles a year averaged with your husband's 30,000 miles works out to pretty close to that.

 

[Ranger111]

Gosh, I got tired reading through the thread....but a couple of people seemed to hit on it....it depends...

I grew up in a family of mechanics, race car drivers and truckers.

That is not my profession, but I do know about tires.

Depending on your driving and your location, a cheap tire might be perfectly acceptable.

If you have lots of heavy rain in your area, you drive on dirt roads, you have snow and ice to contend with, then you probably want to spend more.

But, if you live in a mild climate, don't do a ton of high-speed driving, and drive on pretty good roads, you can make do with cheaper tires.

Best tires are Michelin Defender, Michelin Premier AS, Goodyear TripleTred, Continental TrueContact.

That is the opinion of lots of tire dealers and lots of drivers.

Those are very expensive tires. Do you need them, maybe, maybe not.

A "Barnum" brand from the local Discount Tire dealer may do fine for you. It is sort of like that Michelin tire ad -- A lot is riding on your tires, you decide how much that is worth.

 

[DVC-Don]

I buy my tires from Tire Rack online. Research them for what I want to use them for. For my upstate New York vehicles I get tires rated superior for snow/wet & dry conditions. For the Florida car I look for tires rated superior for wet and dry conditions. I'm more for safety than for range.