There're a couple of impressive best cheap tires if you are planning to spend $100 or less per tire. Get one of the best deal on tires from our review.
Top 11 Best Cheap Tires in 2024 (Under $100)
While getting specialty tires on a budget remains an arduous task, there are a couple of fantastic best cheap tires if you are planning to spend $100 or less per tire.
Reputable manufacturers such as General Tires, BFGoodrich, and Falken, have worked hard to ensure the features of their best buy tires nearly match those of premium tires.
Here we bring you the most affordable quality tires for your car including all-season tires, summer tires, best touring tires, and more.
If you’re searching for the best all season tires under 100, then look no further than this wonderful auto wheel rubber ring from General Tire.
These best buy tires are well-liked tire thanks to amazing comfort and performance.
And it’s all due to its unique features.
For instance, its twin-cushion silica tread compound yields incredible ride comfort while the intelligent reactive contour technology adjusts to diverse road conditions to ensure maximum contact with the road surface throughout.
Plus, you barely experience any road noise- the tire’s AMST (Acoustic Modulations Sound Technology) suppresses sound impressively.
Meanwhile, the tires replacement tire monitor (RTM) stamp will alert you when it’s time for tire change by changing to ‘Replace Tire’ from ‘Replacement Tire Monitor’.
Overall, this is one of the best budget performance tires for minivans and passenger cars.
They are extremely heavy-duty and feel harder and stiffer than typical tires for muddy terrain.
The center rib (in the tread pattern) impedes the mudflow helping to clean the treads while the tread design ensures outstanding mud traction.
As you would expect in a top-quality mud terrain tire, the upgraded shoulder blocks help remove rocks and ice blocks giving the auto tire heightened grip.
The widened grooves further help the tire better resist hydroplaning for more peace of mind.
Superior responsiveness and stability when tackling wet surfaces make it a top choice for anyone looking for the best cheap tires.
This tire was definitely built to make your touring car fun and safe to drive.
The cozy ride, dependable all-season traction, and the extraordinarily responsive handling make it unrivaled when it comes to budget touring tires.
Falken’s renowned dynamic range technology (DRT) gives these best tires for the money remarkable grip at different operating temperatures, creating magnificent wet and dry traction for year-round driving.
The strategically positioned tread blocks balance the harmonics to lower tire noise for a tremendously quiet ride.
Also included is Falken’s proprietary 3D canyon sipe technology to improve wet braking.
The tire wears evenly because of the symmetrical rib design.
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Reduced road wander (even when you hit defects like potholes).
These are arguably the quietest tires under $100 and the safest bet if you are hunting for tires to make your time on the road as quiet as possible in your sports car.
That’s all because of the revolutionary noise-reducing dB silent technology developed by Achilles tire manufacturer.
Like the rest of the best cheap tires, the Achilles ATR sports tire will give a rugged performance and peak traction- the superior radial construction guarantees this.
Besides, the interlocking tread block grants supreme directional stability and exemplary cornering performance.
To cut a long story short, this affordable tire gives you a memorable experience both in wet and dry handling or even drifting.
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Great performance on a wide variety of conditions.
You could be asking, what’re the best tire deals near me? Well, we think you have it in this BFGoodrich tire because it’s readily available on Walmart with free shipping.
The tire features BFGoodrich’s silica-infused Comp-2 compound that’s traditionally used in racing tires to bring sharp steering response (and faster acceleration) and peerless contact.
To create resistance to hydroplaning, the tire’s tread design features wider circumferential rain channels, shoulder grooves, and directional g-Hooks.
The three also contribute to lifting the tire’s wet traction.
The sporty g-Force tread pattern has several benefits including shorter braking, maximum cornering power, and optimum stability for intense excitement even when climbing rough terrain.
Finally, the reinforced construction of the internal structure delivers increased durability.
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Cute sporty design.
Very stable at speed and when cornering.
Long-lasting tires for the money.
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May start to make some noise when the tread begins to wear.
Falken makes another appearance in our best budget tires list, thanks to this gem of a tire.
The heat diffuser technology is especially handy in this tire as it reduces heating in the sidewall, first to protect the tire’s internal construction and secondly to improve stability even you’re towing your RV or ferrying heavier loads.
The previously mentioned 3D Canyon sipe technology helps interlock the tire shoulders to withstand wear and tear from higher amounts of torque and supply extra handling stability too.
Also boosting stability and handling is the tread-pattern rigidity and rugged tread blocks.
You again get an aggressive upper sidewall and offset shoulder blocks to guard the tire against being pricked by sharp rocks as well as provide additional off-road traction when driving with low tire pressure or in off-camber roads.
In short, this is hands down one of the best inexpensive tires that you can drive on all terrains.
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Longer tread life.
Excellent grip in snowy, wilderness, mud, and more conditions.
We also pulled out another top of the class all-season performance tire in this Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 car tire.
From Michelin’s groundbreaking variable contact patch technology (maximizes grip and control), Extreme Silica+ compound (stays grippy in all conditions), all the way to the advanced Helio+ invention (creates 28% better snow traction), this’s the best deal on tires packed full of features to deliver an ultimate performance in the summer, cold weather, and snow.
Indeed, very few of its rivals produce this level of dry grip and snow traction.
Plus, it offers perhaps the shortest braking whether in wet or dry conditions in the entire list.
In a nutshell, the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 is shoulder and head above the competing all-season tires.
The Atlas UHP Tire force also impressed us and can be a fair alternative to the Michelin Pilot sport a/s 3 more so in passenger vehicles.
You will once more enjoy terrific traction and extreme stability and performance even at insane speeds thanks to the tire’s special asymmetrical tread pattern.
The company uses an all-season tread compound to improve the tire’s resistance to severe driving conditions and it unsurprisingly maintains top performances whether in wet, dry, or winter situations (the transverse grooves really help in water evacuation).
Other highlights are the much-praised flat pattern block in the tire’s centerline (strengthens handling/stability on straight drives), open-type shoulder grooves (dissipates heat), and rational groove depth (enhances mileage).
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Even wear throughout.
Quiet and comfortable in all weather.
Maintains directional stability even at high speeds.
Another all-season tire that shines in the best affordable tires category is the Solus TA71 from Kumho.
This tire’s amazing road feel and crisp, responsive steering makes the Solus TA71 one of the world`s elite auto tires for all seasons.
The quiet comfort and stunning performance on soggy and frosty surfaces make it ideal for luxurious sedans such as Acura RL, Audi A4, BMW 3/5 Series, Honda Accord, Cadillac CTS, and more.
The four wide grooves quickly evict water for matchless traction on wet pavements along with the fine-tuned gripping edges.
Like the Atlas UHP force tire, it features an advanced asymmetric tread which magnifies stability while the oversized contact betters the steering response in all weather conditions.
The Cooper Evolution is a superbly engineered touring tire for cars, minivans, and SUVs.
It offers all the essentials including ride comfort and agiler handling besides being ultra-quiet.
When it comes to dry pavements, the tire’s wonderful grip will awe you while its equally robust wet grip impresses when driving in heavy rain.
The best buy tire’s versatility shines even on unpaved surfaces like dirt, sand, rocks, and gravel.
You will also love the superb experience when braking, accelerating, steering and turning primarily due to the advanced technologies (Stabledge + 3D Micro-Gauge sipes).
The tread blocks even out the wear rate while the visual wear indicator lets you see the remaining tread life.
This tire surpassed our expectations in many ways.
To begin with, the deep circumferential grooves combine with the adaptive sipes to improve the grip on the road resulting in mind-blowing traction in rainy and winter conditions.
Then, the multi-pitch tread design delivers an absolutely quiet and cozy ride.
Above all, the tire is made with a hardened orange oil compound not only to lengthen the tread life but also to minimize rolling resistance making them one of the most fuel-efficient tires under $100.
Also notable is the tapered center rib- it provides constant contact greatly enhancing straight-line tracking.
This tire is sold under the Yokohama promise so you get a 30-day free trial and a warranty of 85,000 miles (max).
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Very quiet.
Unbelievable fuel saver.
Long lasting tread.
<center>What they Don’t Like<center>
The shock absorption a bit wanting on bumps and potholes
A Buyer’s Guide for the Best Buy Tires
Just as you have plenty of choices to think through when looking for new shoes, you need to consider a couple of issues when shopping for budget tires.
To help you land the right tire for your vehicle, here are the key factors to consider:
(i) Size and type
You don’t want to waste time (and money) returning the tires because you ordered the wrong size and type.
The way out here is straightforward- just check your car’s owner’s manual for information on the perfect tire size and the best tire type to use for your machine.
But don’t worry if you haven’t retained the manual (or the information placard) this long…the manufacturer’s website will likely have such details.
If not, contact the nearest dealer and request them for specifications on whether to go for all-season, all-terrain, snow tires, or performance/ultra-high performance tires and the correct size.
(ii) Understand the tire terminologies
The easiest way to approach tire buying is to select the exact model you have been using as long as you have been happy with its service.
But if you’re upgrading due to one reason or another, it’s important to be familiar with the common tire codes (found on the sidewall).
Below we look at them in the respective sequence as guided by this example: P215/65R 15 95H M+S (in the respective order)
The first letter/number– indicates the vehicle’s primary function. For example ‘P’ implies a passenger car while ‘LT’ means for light trucks.
3-digit number- denotes the tire’s width. In our example, it’s 215 showing that it is 215mm wide.
2-digit number- this represents your tire’s aspect ratio. In our case, it is 65 meaning that the tire’s height equals 65% of the width.
The next 1 letter- tells you about the construction type. Here ‘R’ means radial.
2-digit number- shows your wheel’s diameter. In this case, it is 15 signifying a diameter of 15 inches.
2 or 3-digit number (optional) – highlights the tire’s max loading capacity (tire load index). 95 (in our illustration) indicate that it holds up to 690 lb. (1,520 kg).
The following 1 letter– stipulates tire’s speed rating, while carrying the maximum load. This varies a lot. For example, H shows it will reach 130 mph (210 km/h) on Sport Sedans and Coupes.
Series of letters– these are mainly ‘M+S’ or ‘M/S’ to tell you if it will navigate in mud and snow or just one of them.
(iii) Warranty
This is a no brainer- a manufacturer offering a longer warranty shows he trusts his brand and will not have problems giving a replacement or refunding you if the tire doesn’t deliver what it promises.
For this reason, concentrate on budget tires with longer warranty terms.
Having said that, most of the best tires for the money offer a warranty of anything between 40k-80k miles meaning anything below 40k miles should set your alarm bells ringing.
Some further give you a limited trial period to allow you to get a feel of the tire before making the purchase.
(iv) Treadwear and tread design
Traction is crucial in automobile tires and it will heavily influence your purchase decision.
This takes me back to the sidewall and this time you should check for the treadwear number- overall, the higher it is, the longer your tire lasts.
As a guide, the minimum you should accept is 300 regardless of the manufacturer.
Don’t forget to inspect the tread design while still there.
This impacts traction and overall tire performance and since it’s not coded, the easiest way to determine if it will meet your needs is by perusing the reviews left by other buyers on the website.
Lastly, a useful value to check here would be the UTQG (uniform tire quality grading system).
Now, UTQG assesses the tire’s quality (excluding winter tires) by looking into considerations such as treadwear, temperature (heat dissipation), and traction.
Look for tires with UTQG rating of at least A for traction to be on the safe side when comparing budget car tires.
(v) The extras
Also, keep an eye on the extra charges- some retailers play games here and can raise the price above $100 if you’re not keen.
Among others, ask about the installation charges, applicable disposal charges for the old tires, sales tax, and the price of replacing the tire stems (recommended each time you purchase new tires).
Moreover, find out how much it will cost you to rebuild or reset the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) if due and if you’ll be charged to fill the tires with nitrogen.
Best cheap tires: FAQs
This section answers some of the questions you may have about the best affordable tires.
Q. Should you always buy expensive car tires?
Well, while most of the expensive tires tend to be very well made and excel in traction, temperature dissipation, handling, braking, and more, sometimes you stumble on tires retailing at scarcely believable prices that perform nearly as well.
Therefore, it’s not a must for you to always shell out a large amount of money to secure a good-quality car tire as long as you are keen when comparing inexpensive tires.
Q. Are cheap tires safe
Generally speaking, yes.
You see, because of technological advancements that have dramatically brought down the cost of producing tires, manufacturers can now afford to include premium safety enhancement in budget tires.
For instance, the reinforced silica compound used in many of them improves cushioning and thus ride comfort.
Similarly, inventions like reactive contour technology help the best cheap tires adapt to adverse driving conditions to provide better control.
Q. What is the difference between all season and all terrain tires?
All-season tires work for many vehicles as they perfectly balance traction between both dry and wet roads.
Subsequently, this category of tires excels on a wide array of conditions including highways, light winter driving, and wet roads (unless the conditions become extreme).
All-terrain tires are, on the other hand, the stars of off-road conditions and harsh winters on the account of their more aggressive tread patterns.
They are however quite versatile and also perform well when driven on tarmac.
Q. Does Walmart mount and balance tires for free?
Unless when running a promotion, Walmart doesn’t offer free tire mounting and balancing service.
Their basic package is however cheap and starts at just $15 per tire.
Q. What’s the best time of the year to buy tires?
To encourage car owners to buy tires before winter, most sellers have crazy offers in the month of October and you’re likely to save significant bucks.
If you miss, try to order auto tires in April – the weather is now warm and people are just about to embark on fun road trips and adventure and retailers again knock down the prices.
Q. Is it better to put new tires on the front or back?
If you have just purchased a new pair of tires, it’s always advisable to install the brand new tires on the back axle.
This helps boost your car control especially when wet because of the deeper tread (resists hydroplaning).
Q. Why and how often should you rotate your tires?
As you might be aware, rotating your car tires helps produce an even wear leading to extended tire life.
Needless to say, it’s also vital for your safety on the road.
Experts suggest that you rotate your tires after every 5,000-8,000 miles.
Final thoughts
Buying tires in 2s or 4s ensures that your vehicle’s axles are on a matching pair and it could go a long way in ensuring that your car drives smoothly all the time. And you don’t have to pay a dime for them as we’ve seen there’s a good number of cheap tires with superb features.
Additionally, be sure to have a professional install your brand new tires- Sam’s Club and Costco are quite affordable- it again keeps a plethora of issues at bay.
Finally, observe all the tire’s maintenance procedures including checking for optimal air pressure, rotating them after every 5,000-8,000 miles, and visually inspecting the tire after hitting potholes or any road debris.
I consider myself a car girl, having grown up messing things at my dad’s auto repair workshop in Springfield, MO.
When I was 16 my father bought me a 1981 Isuzu Piazza, through which I first experienced the power of turbo charger and the smooth Lotus inputs.
I did my Bachelors at the University of Michigan where I got involved in outdoor activities such as hiking and backpacking in Ann Arbor.
After college I worked in the car insurance industry where I got to appreciate the importance of good car parts for safety and claims issues. I later settled down to manage my dad’s garage.
In 2016 I combined my 15 years of experience in the automobile industry and launched this site to provide expert advice on car safety, car care, and outdoor stuff.
I am also active on social media and you can find me on Pinterest.
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