Cheap tyres... at what price?

Ah, that famous search that every motorist does sooner or later... "cheap tyres", please Mr Google. But what are you really looking for? A good tyre at the right price, or rather the cheapest tyre on the market? Let's talk about it for a minute.

A cheap tyre: making the distinction

It is important to distinguish between a quality tyre that you negotiate at a good price and a discount tyre. Sometimes, there is not even a noticeable price difference between an entry-level tyre and a tyre offering better value for money.

So how do you calculate? How do you choose?

Staying within budget and staying safe: choosing the right tyre

Beyond tyre size, choosing the right brand is essential. On our pages dedicated to tyre manufacturers, we present relevant information about each tyre brand. If little or no data appears, it is not because of laziness on the part of our editorial team, but because it is difficult to find verified information. And that should be your first clue...

• Is it a well-known manufacturer? Recognised? Approved? Suitable for the European market?

You have chosen a tyre brand in the "value for money" range, you have information about the manufacturer and you feel reassured. The next questions to ask yourself might be:

• Has this tyre been tested by specialist organisations such as the TCS?

• Is there access to reliable tyre reviews on this particular profile?

Tyre label, an indicator to consider

Another aspect that can validate or invalidate your choice is the tyre energy label. Not that it is a reliable indicator every time, but its consistency is.

Let us explain: if, for the same size, category and season, a Discount tyre obtains a better energy rating than a Continental or Michelin tyre, be careful!

Also note that when consulting the energy rating database, it is not uncommon to see this message for Budget tyres: "The supplier of this model has not yet completed the verification process." (source example) https://eprel.ec.europa.eu/screen/product/tyres/1659508)

Choosing the right seller

At this stage in our thinking, we understand that buying new tyres is not just about price. We take the time to think it through, do our research and then move on to selecting the right website and the right tyre. And that's where things can sometimes get complicated...

Recognising a good website is not just about its eye-catching design, lower prices, and certainly not the fact that it is the first one to appear in your search engine!

Is it a new seller? I'm just saying, but Toopneus has been online since 2005.

You can be new and very serious, but as an online buyer, I always prioritise a site that has experience.

• What does my mechanic say? Again, as a Jyméo partner, we have a network of several thousand fitters throughout France and Europe.

Confidentially speaking: everything you need to know about tyre reviews

What should we think about reviews now?

Personally, I always take them with a pinch of salt since I was horrified to learn that some people make a living out of creating fake profiles and posting fake negative reviews sponsored by unscrupulous competitors. Yes, that's where we are now...

This is one of the reasons why Toopneus has its own review site. Avispneu.com ... these are reviews that have been verified one by one, from people all over France and Navarre, who, at our request, have agreed to share their opinions on their tyres and their experience of buying from Toopneus.

Have we ever had negative reviews? Of course, to err is human AND good faith is not always the norm. However, we have learned from each of these experiences and adapted our ways of doing things, sometimes even changing service providers (for deliveries, for example).

Because let's be realistic, from the validation of your basket to the delivery of your tyres, Toopneus is not the only one involved.

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