Buying low-cost off-brand new tires or premium used tires might not be a $64,000 question, but it could be a $1,000 question. This is especially true these days, as tire costs have increased dramatically due to larger vehicle wheels. It’s nothing to rack up a $1,000 bill for a set of new tires, and that makes used tires a tempting proposition. But should we be tempted?
Tire guru Jonathan Benson is looking for an answer to that question, at least as far as the all-weather Michelin CrossClimate 2 is concerned. This tire performed exceptionally well in a recent Benson head-to-head test, winning accolades for its exceptional snow and wet handling with reasonable dry performance. They can also be pricey, with a new set of four for an average SUV hitting the aforementioned $1,000 mark. Meanwhile, something a bit more generic like the Tomket Allyear featured in this video may be easier on the wallet. Then again, the same goes for a set of used Michelins.
To simulate a set of used CrossClimate 2 tires, all four were machined to just 2.2 millimeters tread depth, or about 3/32 inch. That’s just over the U.S. Department of Transportation’s minimum 2/32 recommendation for tire replacement, then they’ve been installed on a car and driven an additional 2,500 miles. This was also done for Tomket Allyear tires, and two new sets from both brands were included in the test for a full comparison.
Despite a significant drawback in tread depth, the worn Michelins achieved a faster lap time in snowy conditions compared to the all-new economy Tomket tires. It was just seconds, and in an apples-to-apples test, used Michelins retained much more of their performance than used Tomkets. As for feel, the Tomkets produced more understeer and the Michelins were a bit sketchy under braking. Still, the nod goes to a set of almost-worn CrossClimate 2 tires on a new set of Tomket Allyear all-season tires.
It’s not as clear on wet roads. In numbers, the new Tomkets were a little faster over a lap. However, Benson had his hands full trying to keep the test vehicle (a Volkswagen Golf) under control. At times when the tires were not hydroplaning, the Michelins offered considerably better grip in the wet while providing better feedback to the driver. The Tomkets always seemed to be on the edge.
In the dry, it’s no surprise that the worn Michelins easily outperformed the new Tomkets. Tires usually get better in dry conditions as they wear; reduced tread means less tread block movement.
Few people know the tires as well as Benson, but even he was surprised by the performance used versus new. For more on his insight, check out the ride on cars podcast with Benson as special guest, available below.
Buying low-cost off-brand new tires or premium used tires might not be a $64,000 question, but it could be a $1,000 question. This is especially true these days, as tire costs have increased dramatically due to larger vehicle wheels. It’s nothing to rack up a $1,000 bill for a set of new tires, and that makes used tires a tempting proposition. But should we be tempted?
Tire guru Jonathan Benson is looking for an answer to that question, at least as far as the all-weather Michelin CrossClimate 2 is concerned. This tire performed exceptionally well in a recent Benson head-to-head test, winning accolades for its exceptional snow and wet handling with reasonable dry performance. They can also be pricey, with a new set of four for an average SUV hitting the aforementioned $1,000 mark. Meanwhile, something a bit more generic like the Tomket Allyear featured in this video may be easier on the wallet. Then again, the same goes for a set of used Michelins.
To simulate a set of used CrossClimate 2 tires, all four were machined to just 2.2 millimeters tread depth, or about 3/32 inch. That’s just over the U.S. Department of Transportation’s minimum 2/32 recommendation for tire replacement, then they’ve been installed on a car and driven an additional 2,500 miles. This was also done for Tomket Allyear tires, and two new sets from both brands were included in the test for a full comparison.
Despite a significant drawback in tread depth, the worn Michelins achieved a faster lap time in snowy conditions compared to the all-new economy Tomket tires. It was just seconds, and in an apples-to-apples test, used Michelins retained much more of their performance than used Tomkets. As for feel, the Tomkets produced more understeer and the Michelins were a bit sketchy under braking. Still, the nod goes to a set of almost-worn CrossClimate 2 tires on a new set of Tomket Allyear all-season tires.
It’s not as clear on wet roads. In numbers, the new Tomkets were a little faster over a lap. However, Benson had his hands full trying to keep the test vehicle (a Volkswagen Golf) under control. At times when the tires were not hydroplaning, the Michelins offered considerably better grip in the wet while providing better feedback to the driver. The Tomkets always seemed to be on the edge.
In the dry, it’s no surprise that the worn Michelins easily outperformed the new Tomkets. Tires usually get better in dry conditions as they wear; reduced tread means less tread block movement.
Few people know the tires as well as Benson, but even he was surprised by the performance used versus new. For more on his insight, check out the ride on cars podcast with Benson as special guest, available below.