A motoring journalist who tests car tyres for a UK publication warns that budget tyres can turn even a modest vehicle into a dangerous handling risk in wet weather, after an experience left them physically unwell after just three laps on a test circuit. This demonstrated how sharply performance declines when drivers choose cheaper alternatives without understanding the safety trade-offs involved.
The journalist has long used tyre condition as an informal check on a car’s overall state. “If they all match, they’re a premium brand and they’re pretty new, I guarantee that the service history will be immaculate,” they explain. However, if a car is fitted with ‘budget’ tyres, I’d walk away. This applies even to luxury models: they once saw a Bentley Bentayga equipped with an unfamiliar Chinese-brand tyre. The thought of that 2.5-ton SUV needing to stop quickly on a wet highway made them question the wisdom of budget choices entirely.
The most critical failure appears in wet braking. During a recent wet-handling test on a 1.6-litre Golf, a budget tyre left the driver struggling to maintain control. The car’s front and rear wheels slid unpredictably, oversteer became uncontrollable, and by the third lap, the driver was visibly distressed. The budget tyre’s lap times were 7.5 seconds slower than the next-worst performer—a gap equivalent to two car lengths on a straight track.
In braking tests from 50 mph, the budget tyre required over nine metres more stopping distance than the best performer. Even when it finally reached the same stopping point, it was still moving at 25 mph. These results reveal a fundamental issue: budget tyres don’t merely perform worse—they fail in ways that create serious hazards when precision is critical.
Read Also: Alpina’s Legacy Ends as BMW Integration Begins
Worldwide, two-thirds of all tyres sold each year fall into the budget category. Premium brands like Michelin, Continental, and Pirelli hold just 30 percent of the market, while mid-range options from Hankook, Vredestein, and Kumho compete for the remainder. Some sub-brands, such as Uniroyal (a Continental subsidiary) or Kleber (owned by Michelin), offer solid quality without premium pricing. However, the cheapest tyres remain a risky proposition.
The journalist’s own test included a Kormoran tyre, a brand unfamiliar to them. It performed poorly across all key metrics, yet its price was higher than some premium alternatives. The brand, acquired by Michelin in 1995, now operates independently in Poland. This price-performance mismatch raises concerns about whether budget tyres actually save money or simply transfer risk onto the driver.
Independent tyre evaluations, such as those published in Auto Express or German motoring magazines, provide an objective way to compare options. Websites like Tyre Reviews compile data from multiple sources, offering clear guidance on which tyres perform best in real-world conditions. A brief online check before purchasing could mean the difference between a safe drive and a dangerous one.
