You have probably spent a lot of money buying a new or second hand car. You have also spent hours searching for the best car seat to buy to keep your baby safe. Why is it that we are always reluctant when it comes to buying new and quality tyres?

Are they a little bit boring because they are black? Maybe! Is it because we know they would eventually wear out once it comes in contact with our bad roads and need replacing? Either ways, tyres are the most important part of the car. I will keep saying this.

It's evident that buying a new set of tyres of tyres isn't one Nigerian motorists look forward to. We have a lot of grumblers who drive cars in Nigeria. There are a huge range of replacement tyres available. Premium brands such as Bridgestone, Michelin, Pirelli, Goodyear which comes at premium prices. The cheaper options such as Infinity, Eternity, Ceat which fits your budget. The price difference can be so much, with some budget tyres costing three times less than the premium brands.

It's tempting to go for budget brands especially when you know the tyres can burst anytime. I'm sure Nigerians ask themselves, why not spend a little now and get another one later? The question is are budget tyres safe? Some of them are!

What's the difference between Budget Tyres, Mid-range Tyres & Premium Tyres?
Tyres generally fall into three main segments: premium, mid-range and budget. Premium tyres are more recognizable, brands like Michelin, Bridgestone, Pirelli are built with much higher quality, better ingredients and materials. Visit https://www.affordabletyres.ng/Premium-Tyres for any premium tyres of your choice.

Premium tyres are often built for specific purposes. For example tyres like Bridgestone Ecopia is made to make the vehicle more fuel efficient.
Mid-range tyres are often produced by the same premium manufacturers using many of the same methods, but different materials. That makes them still good quality but more affordable, though the trade-off will be that they’re not as hard-wearing. For example tyres like Firestone, Riken, Ceat, Debica e.t.c. Visit https://www.affordabletyres.ng/Mid-Range-Tyres for any mid-range tyres of your choice.

Finally, budget tyres are often made lesser known brands, using materials and processes that aren’t of high quality. They are a lot more affordable, but of significantly lesser quality than more expensive tyres. For budget tyres, visit https://www.affordabletyres.ng/Budget-Tyres for any tyres of your choice.

Note, budget tyres need to meet a certain required safety standards, so be calm, you’re not driving around in danger. That said, while premium manufacturers will go to lengths to exceed standards, budget tyres will only meet the minimum requirements.

Do you get what you paid for?
Maybe! In terms of quality and technology, premium tyres beat budget tyres hands down but comes with a price tag that does damages.

Budget tyres, offer lesser quality, but are more suited for slower speed driving or for cars which don't travel far. Therefore, if you don’t use your car every time or travel far, a budget tyre may be the preferable option.

However, a car that travels the distance, the costly rubber will pay off when it comes to cost per mile. A premium tyre can last 20,000 miles or more. A budget tyre may last for a significantly shorter time depending on how often they’re used.

Budget tyres offer good value for money as far as you don’t expect to complete a tour from Lagos to Benin. Really, the concern for Nigerian drivers should be how safe are these lesser known tyres.

Are Budget tyres safe to drive on in Nigeria?
Premium tyres cost a lot more because of the money and time spent in research and development of their tyres. It means they can perform better in any situation or weather condition.

Budget tyres get to perform well in dry weather. The moment the road gets really wet, their ability to grip drops drastically. The braking distance and grip level of budget tyres are around 30% worse than premium tyres. This means there’s greater potential for losing control of the car.

Budget tyres perform capably in good conditions. In countries like Nigeria where we have cranky weathers and bad roads, it’s worth paying more for a better tyre.

A large % of Nigerian drivers use more of budget tyres on their cars. This has earned Nigeria the nickname "dumping ground" for budget tyres.
There are good budget tyres like Eternity, Infinity & Sailun but the likes of Double King are a "NO" for me.

How do I know the right tyre for me & Nigerian roads?
It's sometimes confusing for Nigerian motorists to know which tyres are best for their cars. Some cars, performance cars in particular, will often come with recommended brands which you can find in the owners’ handbook.

The EU tyre label was introduced to help know the performance of a tyre. EU Tyre Label (picture attached) has helped consumers get a better grip on the difference between tyres. It gives a clear information on each tyres effect on efficiency, noise and grip regardless of its cost.

Visit our website, affordabletyres.ng for tyre reviews and information on quality tyres.

Give us a call on 09087934000 or email us at contact@affordabletyres.ng with any questions regarding the best tyres for you.