Are premium car tyres a worthwhile investment?

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by: Matt Robbins
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Word Count: 550
Date: Fri, 5 Aug 2011 Time: 6:42 PM
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Premium car tyres tend are more expensive tyres, and are mainly used for high performance cars. The main advantage of premium tyres is that they improve a car's handling, grip and its overall performance. However, there are problems that people need to keep in mind that may stop them from purchasing premium tyres: the main one being that they are expensive and are for more expensive cars.

There are several reasons why premium tyres can be seen as a worthwhile investment. For example, they do not wear as easily as cheaper tyres and are arguably ‘better made' than other tyres, in terms of road handling. Premium tyres are made by well-known and trusted manufacturers, such as Michelin, Dunlop, Pirelli and Goodyear. Because these are well known companies, it is likely the quality will make them merit their more expensive price and make them safer. The safety benefits compared to budget tyres have been proven in several tests. This is also used for excellent grip in dry weather and for drivers who tend to drive a lot. Although the rubber of the premium tyre is soft and thus decreases the overall lifespan, this is outweighed by the grip it provides.

However, care needs to be taken with premium tyres, as they can easily get damaged and this, along with other reasons, can be why it may not be worth buying premium tyres. Cheap tyres can also be easier to replace because there are a lot of models of them and therefore in higher demand. Premium tyres are not as mass produced, as most people drive regular medium to low performance cars. There are no problems in replacing damaged tyres as there are many to choose from, and this may make up for the fact that many do not last long.
Another problem is that premium tyres are more likely to get stolen. As premium tyres are harder to replace this is quite a big problem. There is nothing worse than investing in expensive tyres, only to find they have been stolen. If you have a fast performance car, the tyres will stand out as expensive ones. This is a problem that cheap tyres rarely suffer.

‘All-season' tyres are the most common tyres used, and these are versatile but can offer grip in any weather conditions, wet weather tyres used in rain and dry tyres adaptable for summer roads. However its longevity comes at the cost of the grip which premium tyres can provide. But the fact that they can be used in any weather type therefore makes them safer and a good choice.

Premium tyres are a worthwhile investment if you can afford them, and if you care a lot about the speed and handling of your car. They are well made and therefore less likely to need work during MOTs, and can provide greater grip. But if you do not have a high performance car, there is no real need to spend more on tyres. Cheaper tyres are easily available, and can be replaced quickly and inexpensively if there are problems. But the best tyres to invest in should be all-season tyres that provide protection in all weathers. Tyres should really match the car type, which is why you should buy premium tyres if you have a high-speed performance car.

About the Author

Matt Robbins - Online Manager of Halfords Autocentre (previously Nationwide Autocentre) have more ATA trained mechanics than any other independent garage group being the UK's leading provider of MOT, Tyres, and car repairs across the nation.
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