If you’re shopping for new tyres, then you might wonder whether it’s worth investing a little extra in the premium brand options. The more prestigious brands command respect among seasoned motoring aficionados, and motorsport companies. But do those more expensive tyres really make a difference, and is that difference really relevant in your case? Let’s take a look at the options and see what difference they really make.

Durability

If you’re shopping for tyres (or any consumable), then you’ll need to think about how long it will last. A tyre that costs twice as much but lasts three times as long is a good investment. If you can afford higher quality, such as Michelin tyres for example, then it’s usually a smart idea to go for them, especially if you’re putting in a lot of miles. 

A quality set of premium tyres should last you for 40,000 miles at the rear of the car, and around 20,000 for the front. Compared to many of the other ongoing costs associated with car ownership, this isn’t a huge ask – especially when you consider the other factors we’ll mention.

Performance

Quality tyres tend to offer improved grip and reduced stopping distances. The difference between the cheap and expensive options tends to be wider when weather conditions are more inhospitable. If you’re prepared to invest a lot up-front, you might even go for specialised winter tyres to deal with cold weather conditions. This is particularly worthwhile if you’re doing a lot of driving at night during winter, when road conditions are particularly icy.

Safety

If your traction and stopping distances have suffered, then your vehicle is, almost by definition, less safe. You can find the top speed that the tyre is rated for printed on its side. This is expressed using a single letter, which is usually the last one in the sequence. For example, a speed rating of ‘U’ will allow your car to drive safely up to 124mph. Note that this is a theoretical maximum, not a target: driving at high speed will cause your tyres to prematurely degrade, not least because you’ll be braking harder.

Cost

You can pick up cheap car tyres for as little as £30. Premium ones, by contrast, can cost several times that. If you multiply that figure by the four wheels on your car, you can end up paying significantly more for the expensive tyres. But if we bear in mind many of the advantages we’ve run through, this one-off payment can be more than justified. In some cases, you might consider it worth taking out finance to help you to absorb the short-term pain. Even if you factor in interest, you might end up paying much less than you otherwise would.