When it comes to choosing the right tires for your car, you want to pick long lasting tires that don’t wear down too quickly. Tires wear overtime when you use your car a lot. Thatswhy it’s so important to have your car tires checked before you go on a long journey.
The general principle when it comes to tire wear, is that high end and high spec tires will always last longer than the budget range. This is mostly true, but if your premium tire gets a puncture and cannot be repaired, then a premium tire could really have its life cut short. That kind of equals the playing field.
Tires wear out, it’s not just to do with the brand that you start with. There are plenty of factors that can affect the wear and tear of the tires that you have. That could mean that your economical budget tire may end up lasting longer than you expected. In this article, we are going to talk to you about which tires last the longest and how you can ensure your tires will last.
Findings on the Longest Lasting Tires
Consumer Reports’ treadwear testing reveals almost 50% of the 47 all-season and performance all-season tires could be expected to last at least 65,000 miles, and 6 brands could top 85,000 miles or more.
What curious though from the report is that long lasting tires aren’t always premium priced. The report stated that 3 different Michelin models met or exceeded their warranty.
It was found that the Pirelli P4 Four Seasons Plus could last 100,000 miles.
Tires That May Not Last As Long…
Here are some tires consumer reports said, may not live up to their advertised tread wear predictions…
- Continental TrueContact and PureContact (H-, V-speed rating)
- Sumitomo HTR Enhance L/X (T-, H-, V-speed rating)
- Kumho Solus TA71 and TA11
- Firestone Precision Touring; and Bridgestone Serenity Plus.
All of these tires were tested and fell short of their warranties. The craziest one on the report was the Nokian enTYRE 2.0 with an 80,000-mile warranty. it was projected to wear out in 35,000 miles.
Can You Rely on UTQG Ratings?
The Uniform Tire Quality Grading System (UTQGS) is a system used to measure Treadwear, Traction, and Temperature. The problem with these rating is they are assigned themselves by the manufacturers. They are used to compare one tire to another. Essentially a tire with a 300 grade will last three times as long as a tire with a 100. The issue occurs when you try and use this to compare across brands. It’s also known that manufacturers sometime fudge these ratings, both high and low.
Factors That Affect the Life of a Tire
There are plenty of elements that are individual to each motorist. Ultimately your driving will affect how long your tires were lost no matter which brand or make you sort out with.
This includes the following:
- Your average annual mileage
- Are you driving in the city with lots of gear changes, or long distances across the country?
- Are you a steady and consistent driver? Or do you drive fast and turn corners fast?
- Do you keep your car in the garage, or does it sit in direct sunlight?
- Do you check your tread depth often for even wear or splits and bulges?
- Are you regularly rotating your tires?
- Are you getting your tires checked by a mechanic?
- Do you check the inflation level of the tires frequently?
Each of these things should be a consideration for you. Keeping your tires serviced is critial to their life span. These are the main factors that can affect the life of your tires, and if you ensure that your tires are healthy you should see that they will last.
Premium vs Budget Tires
The biggest question that most drivers ask is where the premium tires will last longer than budget, cheap tires.
It’s a good question, because most people associate brand names with longevity and excellent construction. The fact that you’re spending all of that money should mean that your tires will last. And rightly so!
Most branded tire outlets and garages will encourage you to buy the best tires that you can afford. Chances are that they could be asking you this so that they can increase their sales – right? Well, not quite.
The money and investment of the big named tire companies pour into research, technology, and manufacturing is eye-watering. This is why the brand names often have a higher price point. Don’t forget, tires are a high value and complex multi million dollar business. It’s also worth remembering that the chemists and engineers at work in house to perfect the right compounds and tread patterns.
Goodyear, Pirelli and Michelin have extensive and state of the art development centers with indoor testing tracks. This can replicate all the driving conditions that you can think of. These manufacturers also employ skilled and highly qualified drivers that will test drive the new tires for you so before you blink at the price for one of the new tires you should consider all of this.
Any of the big tire manufacturers out there will tell you that all of this investment in technology and research is worth the additional cost that you pay. While you can find some good budget tires out there, you must remember that when you pay for a budget tire, you get a budget service. You want the tires that are as safe as possible for your car, not the ones that just about pass the safety checks.
Great Quality, Low Rates
You can buy good quality tires at a discounted rate. Most people would agree that unless you get unlucky and have a puncture, it’s always a good idea to have quality tires on your car.
The problem is that new tires are often required right at the wrong moment and frequently without warning. Most people just don’t have the funds to be able to buy the branded ones. That’s why so many motorists will look for the cheapest deal they can find.
Here are some ways that you can make sure that your tire stay safe:
- Check your tires frequently when you fill up with fuel. This will tell you whether the trade is wearing too low or on evenly. It will also tell you if there’s any builders or split or cracks in your tires that could cause a problem. Changing your tire before it blows out gives you time to find a better deal and save some money.
- Change your tires before the tread goes too low. You don’t need to drive around on a low tread just because it’s legal, you’re thinking about safety here, not just the cost.
- Buy your tires when retainers are offering discounts. Your tires are going to last much longer if you have the branded versions that have put money into research and safety. There’s nothing wrong with buying tires and storing them correctly until you need them.
So, Which are the Longest Lasting Tires
According to Consumer Reprts, the Pirelli P4 Four Seasons Plus. Generally it was found that all-season and performance all-season tires are last long.
Branded tires are always going to last you longer than the discount kind, by the best tire that you can afford even if it does mean waiting until they are cheaper. You should always try to buy the same make of tires that your car was originally fitted with, too. Looking at independent tire tests and seeking out authentic reviews will help you to decide which are the longest lasting tires for your driving style.