Cheap tires
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 04-30-2011
Posts: 101
From: Flint, MI
Cheap tires
So I'm having a hard time finding used tires in a size that will fit. I have been considering some of the cheaper sort of off brand tires, and was wondering if anyone has any first, or hell even second hand experience with any Nexen, Sunny, Nankang, etc tires? Even if you just know someone who's tried them and mentioned about it I'd be interested to hear thoughts.
Now I'm not trying to be a ***** here, but I'd really like to keep to people who have any experience with these tires. I have tried some searching around and it seems like a good amount of owners liked them, but then the whole community lambasted them for buying "cheap Chinese crap" or what have you, and one man's unsubstantiated opinion doesn't seem to be a good source of fact. It seems like on some review websites they get pretty mixed opinions, but in those cases I sort of assume you're about twice as likely to comment on a bad product as a mediocre+ one; unless it's absolutely phenomenal.
Anyway, would love to hear from people. There's a local place I can get 4x Sunny SN3800 tires for $450 out the door, and I've seen some other small shops offering other cheap brands.
Now I'm not trying to be a ***** here, but I'd really like to keep to people who have any experience with these tires. I have tried some searching around and it seems like a good amount of owners liked them, but then the whole community lambasted them for buying "cheap Chinese crap" or what have you, and one man's unsubstantiated opinion doesn't seem to be a good source of fact. It seems like on some review websites they get pretty mixed opinions, but in those cases I sort of assume you're about twice as likely to comment on a bad product as a mediocre+ one; unless it's absolutely phenomenal.
Anyway, would love to hear from people. There's a local place I can get 4x Sunny SN3800 tires for $450 out the door, and I've seen some other small shops offering other cheap brands.
Deceased
Joined: 06-30-2010
Posts: 25,739
From: Kannapolis NC
The thing about "Sunny" brand tires, and others like them, is that they are made in China. For my money, and yours too I think, wouldn't you rather be rolling on tires with at least some quality control.
Chinese made tires have killed folks in the past when they have failed in catastrophic ways at highway speeds, sure some accidents could have been avoided because people panic when a tire blows, but you'd never find me rolling on Chinese rubber.
My advice would be to keep looking and talk to a local tire shop, many "name" brands like Goodyear, Cooper, Bridgestone-Firestone, and BF Goodrich have what are called "private label" tires that they make for sale by places like Midas, Monroe Muffler, etc.
Chinese made tires have killed folks in the past when they have failed in catastrophic ways at highway speeds, sure some accidents could have been avoided because people panic when a tire blows, but you'd never find me rolling on Chinese rubber.
My advice would be to keep looking and talk to a local tire shop, many "name" brands like Goodyear, Cooper, Bridgestone-Firestone, and BF Goodrich have what are called "private label" tires that they make for sale by places like Midas, Monroe Muffler, etc.
Senior Member
Joined: 06-07-2011
Posts: 2,180
From: SE Mich
I agree. I put some Falken SN-828 tires on my van. Got 'em at Discount Tire. They sucked, and wore out in 28k miles. The only good part of it all was that Discount gave me a ~$35/tire credit toward replacements. Be VERY wary. My tires were made in Thailand, and not the PRC. I still think there's a difference,even there (downslope). Just my .02...
Deceased
Joined: 06-30-2010
Posts: 25,739
From: Kannapolis NC
Exactly Blue, you need to see where the tires are made, that even goes for the "Big Brands".
One piece of advice my Grandpa's both told me, and it has always held true, is to buy the best tires you can afford because they can be the difference between life and death.
The "Mystery Wonder Radials" that the car lot put on my "new" used panel are from , Hercules. I'd never heard of them, but according to some digging I did on Google, they are affiliated with Cooper and my tires were made in Canada. And for what its worth, they aren't half bad, not Continental's or anything....but not half bad either.
One piece of advice my Grandpa's both told me, and it has always held true, is to buy the best tires you can afford because they can be the difference between life and death.
The "Mystery Wonder Radials" that the car lot put on my "new" used panel are from , Hercules. I'd never heard of them, but according to some digging I did on Google, they are affiliated with Cooper and my tires were made in Canada. And for what its worth, they aren't half bad, not Continental's or anything....but not half bad either.
Moderator
Joined: 01-23-2009
Posts: 26,532
From: Fredericksburg,VA
The thing about "Sunny" brand tires, and others like them, is that they are made in China. For my money, and yours too I think, wouldn't you rather be rolling on tires with at least some quality control.
Chinese made tires have killed folks in the past when they have failed in catastrophic ways at highway speeds, sure some accidents could have been avoided because people panic when a tire blows, but you'd never find me rolling on Chinese rubber.
My advice would be to keep looking and talk to a local tire shop, many "name" brands like Goodyear, Cooper, Bridgestone-Firestone, and BF Goodrich have what are called "private label" tires that they make for sale by places like Midas, Monroe Muffler, etc.
Chinese made tires have killed folks in the past when they have failed in catastrophic ways at highway speeds, sure some accidents could have been avoided because people panic when a tire blows, but you'd never find me rolling on Chinese rubber.
My advice would be to keep looking and talk to a local tire shop, many "name" brands like Goodyear, Cooper, Bridgestone-Firestone, and BF Goodrich have what are called "private label" tires that they make for sale by places like Midas, Monroe Muffler, etc.
Moderator
Joined: 01-23-2009
Posts: 26,532
From: Fredericksburg,VA
So I'm having a hard time finding used tires in a size that will fit. I have been considering some of the cheaper sort of off brand tires, and was wondering if anyone has any first, or hell even second hand experience with any Nexen, Sunny, Nankang, etc tires? Even if you just know someone who's tried them and mentioned about it I'd be interested to hear thoughts.
Now I'm not trying to be a ***** here, but I'd really like to keep to people who have any experience with these tires. I have tried some searching around and it seems like a good amount of owners liked them, but then the whole community lambasted them for buying "cheap Chinese crap" or what have you, and one man's unsubstantiated opinion doesn't seem to be a good source of fact. It seems like on some review websites they get pretty mixed opinions, but in those cases I sort of assume you're about twice as likely to comment on a bad product as a mediocre+ one; unless it's absolutely phenomenal.
Anyway, would love to hear from people. There's a local place I can get 4x Sunny SN3800 tires for $450 out the door, and I've seen some other small shops offering other cheap brands.
Now I'm not trying to be a ***** here, but I'd really like to keep to people who have any experience with these tires. I have tried some searching around and it seems like a good amount of owners liked them, but then the whole community lambasted them for buying "cheap Chinese crap" or what have you, and one man's unsubstantiated opinion doesn't seem to be a good source of fact. It seems like on some review websites they get pretty mixed opinions, but in those cases I sort of assume you're about twice as likely to comment on a bad product as a mediocre+ one; unless it's absolutely phenomenal.
Anyway, would love to hear from people. There's a local place I can get 4x Sunny SN3800 tires for $450 out the door, and I've seen some other small shops offering other cheap brands.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 04-30-2011
Posts: 101
From: Flint, MI
A good point. I feel like people like to sort of hate on anything chinese as crap, but I rarely hear much first hand to back it up.
My chinese brakes from ebay have been doing very well for several thousand miles now. I'm not saying everything is good from china either, I just feel like instantly discounting something due to country of origin is a little "der tekkin ar jerbs!"
My chinese brakes from ebay have been doing very well for several thousand miles now. I'm not saying everything is good from china either, I just feel like instantly discounting something due to country of origin is a little "der tekkin ar jerbs!"
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 04-30-2011
Posts: 101
From: Flint, MI
What I look at is $/guaranteed mile. I have never had a tire wear out before the guaranteed mileage. 4 for $450 should be 75,000 mile tires with free lifetime balancing and rotation, if not do some more shopping. I don't have my receipt here but I think I paid less than $400 for 75000 miles tires at Pepboys.
Premium Member
Joined: 10-09-2010
Posts: 14,420
From: Tacoma
Put some of these on it I noticed it's an SS, you wont believe how sweet they ride, made every little rattle disappear. Go to discount tire they will match the Tirerack price, put your 400.00 down and get a small payment, You will fall in love with your SS all over again. I have 15000 on them now and they have lost 2/32nds. I am not a very nice to my tires. 255x40 and 225x45