Warning about cheap winter tires: cheap is expensive buy

225/40 R18V

A winter tire in size 225/40 R18V is mainly found under mid-range cars such as the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, Audi A3, BMW 1 Series, 2 Series and 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz A-Class, Peugeot 308, Renault Megane, SEAT Leon and Volkswagen Golf.

“The prices of the well-known A-brands (premium tires) continue to rise, while at the same time the number of unknown, low-cost brands (budget tires) is increasing sharply. For this test, one specific tire size was deliberately chosen so that a large number of budget tires could be thoroughly examined. After all, randomly purchasing a cheap tire does not appear to be without risks. The test results show that of the fourteen budget tires tested, eleven perform poorly,” says the ANWB.

Unstable handling, a long braking distance

Poor tires have unstable handling, long braking distances (up to 47.1 meters on wet pavement versus 31.7 meters with a good tire), rapid oversteering and sliding, and high wear and consumption. Examples of unsafe tires are: Radar Dimax Winter, Nankang Winter Activa 4, Petlas SnowMaster 2 Sport, Syron Everest 2 and seven others.

Don’t just pay attention to price

Paying only attention to price when choosing tires is not wise. Some cheap tires last only 34,000 kilometers, while a more expensive premium tire can reach up to 75,000 kilometers. So in the end, cheap can be expensive. There are also differences in fuel consumption, which can be as much as 0.4 liters per 100 kilometers. At current fuel prices, this can mean a difference of about 390 euros over a distance of 50,000 kilometers – the average lifespan of this tire size.

The toppers

A good tire offers precise steering, stable handling in evasive maneuvers, good grip in dry, wet and snowy conditions, and low wear and fuel consumption. Examples of toppers include:

• Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3: Outstanding wet performance, 76,500 km tire life
• Michelin Pilot Alpin 5: strong on dry, 67,000 km lifespan
• Hankook i*cept evo3 W330: lowest cost per kilometer, lifetime 72,400 km
• Continental WinterContact TS 870 P: most economical and quietest tire

Tips for tire size 225/40 R18V:

• The best tires in the test are from Goodyear, Michelin, Bridgestone and Dunlop.
• For those for whom price is important as long as it does not come at the expense of safety: Matador, Ceat, Hankook or Kleber.
• For optimal performance on snow and ice: Kleber, Ceat or Michelin.
• For optimum performance in wet conditions: Goodyear, followed by Bridgestone, Semperit and Uniroyal.
• For minimal wear: Goodyear (76,500 km), Hankook (72,400 km), Michelin (67,000 km).
• Best dry handling: Michelin or Bridgestone; alternatives: Hankook and Kleber.
• Quietest tire: Continental, followed by Vredestein.
• Most economical tires: Continental and Matador.