Drive-Safely.net

Best Tires for 2022 (Complete Buyer’s Guide)

Best Tires (Complete Buyer’s Guide)

Shopping for the best tires for your vehicle? 

We know how hard it can be. 

That’s because there are a ton of tire brands out there, and choosing the best one can feel like a guessing game. (Hint: it shouldn’t be.) 

Also, each brand sells different types of tires such as all-terrain tires, snow tires, performance tires, specialty tires, and so on. 

Feeling confused? 

You’re in the right place. 

In this blog you’ll learn:

  • The top 10 tire brands of all time 
  • The 3 basic tire types you should know about 
  • How to pick tires that’ll match your vehicle perfectly
  • And more!

Ready?

Let’s dive right in. 

10 Best Tire Brands of all Time 

The first step to picking the right tires for your vehicle is to know the top brands you can select from. 

Then, you dive deeper to find the specific tires to fit your location, climate, and driving habits. 

First, let’s take a look at 10 of the best tire brands ever. 

Best Tire Brand #1: Michelin

Best Tires (Complete Buyer’s Guide) Michelin

Source: tirerack.com 

If you have never heard of Michelin tires, you’ve probably been living under a giant rock. 

That’s because Michelin has been around forever (or more specifically, since 1888), and they’re well-known throughout the world for their quality tires. 

What’s more, they’ve won countless awards including Car Talk’s Golden Wrench Award, top customer satisfaction awards in J.D. Power Rankings for 17 consecutive years, the Innovation of the Year Award from Deere & Company, and more.  

Another thing that makes Michelin great is that their goal is to cover all aspects of what makes a good tire. 

Instead of focusing solely on longevity, safety, fuel economy, comfort, or driving pleasure…

…they aim to combine all these desirable (but seemingly contradictory) elements into their tires. 

Michelin also sells specialty tires for all climates, vehicle types, and preferences. 

Fun fact: aside from providing tires for cars and trucks, Michelin also makes tires for airplanes. 


Best Tire Brand #2: Goodyear

goodyear tires

Source: ​​tirerack.com

Goodyear tires are known to be winners. 

That’s probably why the company was chosen to supply tires to the top three series in NASCAR, as well as SCCA road racing and NHRA drag racing. 

Not a racer? 

You can still benefit from choosing Goodyear tires for your car, crossover, or SUV, or truck. 

That’s because they’re built to last. 

They’re super durable and high-quality, meaning you can buy a set and practically forget about them for years. 

The only downside? 

Since they’re known to outperform other brands with their longevity, their price won’t fit into a tiny budget. 

If you’re looking for cheap tires, this isn’t the brand for you. 

However, if you have cash to spare, you’ll get the best value for money from Goodyear. 


Best Tire Brand #3: Continental 

Goodyear tires

Source: tirerack.com

Looking for quality tires that are slightly cheaper than Michelin and Goodyear? 

Go for Continental tires. 

Don’t worry. 

These aren’t cheap tires that’ll wear out quickly and force you to spend even more on replacements. 

Continental is a great brand, a brand that has made a name for themselves in the industry by supplying everything from bicycle tires to truck tires, passenger tires to motorcycle tires. 

Continental isn’t a newbie in the tire industry, either. 

Founded in 1971, they’ve built a name for themselves through award-winning technologies such as the SportPlus Technology and the EcoPlus Technology. 

Without a doubt, Continental is a strong contender for the best tire brand. 


Best Tire Brand #4: Cooper 

Cooper tires

Source: tirerack.com

On a budget, but don’t want to compromise on quality? 

You’ll love Cooper tires. 

Sure, Cooper hasn’t been around for as long as brands like Michelin, Goodyear, or Continental (although 1914 isn’t that recent, either).

But they’ve made up for their “lost time” by producing stellar tires mainly for passenger and light vehicles. 

Cooper produces a wide variety of tires for every need, such as fuel economy, extreme off-road performance, and more. 

The only downside is that because Cooper is an independent tire manufacturer, so finding their tires can be difficult. 

TireRack has some great options, though.


Best Tire Brand #5: Yokohama

Best Tires for 2022 Yokohama tires

Source: tirerack.com

Yokohama is a well-known Japanese brand with a strong reputation at the racetrack. 

If you’ve heard of its motorsports program, you know that it’s used to create breakthrough new technologies for street tires. 

Two types of tires that customers love most from Yokohama are its all-season and performance models (although the brand provides a wide range of many other types of tires as well). 

Pricing and tread life warranties are standard (Yokohama tires are often cheaper than Goodyear’s or Michelin’s). 

Take a look at some of their options here. 


Best Tire Brand #6: Pirelli

pirelli

Source: tirerack.com

Own a luxury car like a Porsche or a Maserati? 

You’ll need Pirelli tires to give you the best experience as you race away at high speeds. 

Pirelli has been in the tire industry since 1872, and is well-known for crafting high-performance tires for race and luxury cars. 

However, if you own a regular car, this doesn’t mean you can’t go for Pirelli tires. 

These tires are some of the best and most durable in the market, as they’re specifically designed to withstand high speeds and temperatures. 

Remember, though, that superb quality comes with a higher price tag. 

Check out some Pirelli tire options here.


Best Tire Brand #7: BFGoodrich 

GFGoodrich tires

 Source: tirerack.com

BFGoodrich is a brand with a long history, one that dates back to 1870. 

It’s well-known for its famous mud and all-terrain tires, although it provides other types of specialty tires as well. 

Another scene BFGoodrich has been around is the racetrack. Its tires have been tested in drag racing, desert racing, dirt racing, and extreme rock crawling. 

Fun fact: the BFGoodrich brand is owned by Michelin. 

Check out some of its best tires here. 


Best Tire Brand #8: Bridgestone

Bridgestone

Source: tirerack.com

Bridgestone is currently the world’s largest tire manufacturer. 

It boasts over a hundred different tire types, each one suited for a specific vehicle or driver. 

In 1990, the company revolutionalized winter tires by introducing the Blizzak line. 

Then, in 2014, they introduced DriveGuard tires, which allow a driver to go on for a longer time in the event of a punctured tire. 

This feature eliminates the worry of being stranded in bad weather or an isolated area because of a flat tire. 

In fact, with DriveGuard tires, you can drive comfortably for up to 100 miles on a flat tire! 

Of course, with great quality and features come higher pricing. 

If you have the budget, though, it’s totally worth it. 

Browse through pricing and other details.   


Best Tire Brand #9: General

General tires

Source: tirerack.com

General Tires have been around for 107 years, giving them much experience in the industry. 

Since their beginning in 1915, they’ve produced many different tires ranging from high performance to comfort. 

Another thing to love about General Tires: they’re high-quality but much more affordable than brands like Michelin and Goodyear. 

Check out their tire options here.   


Best Tire Brand #10 Hankook

Hankook

Source: tirerack.com

Hankook is well-known for being the first-ever tire brand in Korea. 

Founded in 1941 as The Chosun Tire Company, it has expanded to cover markets across the globe. 

Compared with other brands that have been around for a hundred or more years, Hankook is relatively new to the tire industry. 

Still, it has used its 70+ years in the industry well, meaning you can get high-quality tires for a fair price. 


3 Types of Tires Every Tire Shopper Should Know 

Ok, so now you know which brands are the best in the market. 

But the search for the best tires for your vehicle doesn’t end there. 

That’s because each brand has a ton of different tire options, some of which include high-performance, all-terrain, snow, and so on. 

How can you pick the best ones for you?

To make things simpler, let’s go over three basic types of tires every car owner should know about. 

Type #1: Passenger Tires

Own a sedan or hatchback?

You probably need passenger tires. 

In fact, passenger tires are recommended for most cars of personal use (sedans, coupes, crossovers, hatchbacks). 

Of course, there are many types of passenger tires as well. 

Here’s a look at six of them:

  • Summer tires. These tires are good for drivers who live in areas with unusually high temperatures. 
  • Snow tires. These tires are great for areas with a lot of cold and inclement weather. 
  • Track and competition tires. These tires are designed for racing and perform well at high speeds. 
  • Touring tires. These tires are made with a focus on handling, as they provide above-average handling features. 
  • Performance tires. These tires are created specifically for rough terrain, and for high-speed luxury cars. 
  • All-season tires. The most popular of tires, these are usually the best option because they’re great in all kinds of weather conditions. 

The tires you pick depend on where you live, how you drive, and what kind of terrain you’ll frequently drive over. 

Type #2: Trucks and SUV Tires 

If you own an SUV or truck, you’ll need tires that’ll support the extra load your vehicle will be carrying. 

That’s why it’s a good idea to go for tires specifically made for SUVs and trucks. 

Here are three types of these tires:

  • All-terrain. These tires are great for 4×4 vehicles. You’ll also love these if you’re an offroader who wants normal driving abilities as well. 
  • Highway. Carrying heavy cargo over a long distance? You’ll need highway truck or SUV tires. 
  • Mud terrain. These are a great choice if you spend most of the time driving over sand, mud, or off-road terrains. 

Type #3: Specialty Tires

Ever had a flat?  

If you have, you probably remember pulling your spare tire out from the back of your car (with a big sigh of relief). 

Remember, though, that spare tires are only designed to take you to the nearest repair shop.

They’re not replacement tires that you can use as your regular tires. 

Yup!

Spare tires are a type of specialty tire crafted for those emergency situations when you’re far from home and need to make it to a repair shop.

Although spare tires aren’t the only type of specialty tire out there, they’re the most commonly used ones. 

How to Pick the Best Tires for Your Vehicle 

Now, for the fun part. 

You’ve narrowed down the best car brands to 10, and based on your vehicle type, you know which type you’ll need. 

So now it’s time to choose. 

Here are some considerations to make.

  • Your budget. It’s never a good idea to settle for low-quality tires. However, you can go for brands like Cooper and General if you’re on a smaller budget. Of course, they won’t give you Michelin’s superior quality, but you’ll get huge value for your money and enjoy some long-lasting tires. 
  • The tire’s quality. When checking tires out, you’ll want to find their treadwear, traction, and temperature score. Treadwear is scored with a control of 100 (meaning a score of 300 means your tire will last 3x longer than the control), traction from AA to C, and temperature from A to C. The higher the score, the higher the tire’s quality. 
  • Other details on the tire. These are less important, but if you like, you can also check out a tire’s load index and speed rating. These will tell you how much a tire can carry and what kind of speeds it can maintain. 

Best Tires for 2022 (Picking the Ones for You Isn’t that Hard!)

I know, picking the best tires for your vehicle seems extra stressful. 

There are a ton of brands to pick from and so much else besides that. 

Don’t worry, though. 

The best tire brands in the market can be narrowed down to 10.

When you pick a brand among the 10, it’ll be a safe choice. 

After that, all you need to do is determine what kind of car you drive, make some quick considerations before the final purchase…

…and you’re good to go!

Picking the best tires for 2022 actually can be a fun and rewarding experience. 

Image credits:

All screenshots taken by the author, December 2021. 

Learn how to change a tire properly here.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *