15/07/2011: Prices of budget tyres are going up so choose with care.

If budget tyres are on your mind then you’ll no doubt be pleased to hear that according to a recent survey, the market for passenger car tyres was essentially stable between May 2010 and April 2011. And whilst the term budget tyres may mean different things to different people, it’s still worth noting that although prices are marginally up over the period, the research data suggests that the price increases may be tolerable to most motorists who are understandably keen to buy budget tyres - especially in today’s difficult and uncertain economic times.

Of course what budget tyres means to you depends on what you call budget. Premium brand tyres averaged £93.92 in April against £90.50 in May 2010. Against this, upper range budget tyres were £54.54, lower range budget tyres were £50.12 and mid-range tyres were £68.50. All tyres in fact experienced similar average price increases over the period. However, both the premium and upper budget segments saw a dip in average prices in October 2010 interrupting the upwards trend. But really, even budget tyres are still becoming slightly more expensive.

However, fans of budget tyres should note that this recent survey showed that the increase in prices charged by car dealers made these outlets the most expensive place to buy your new tyres. And if you really do want budget tyres, it’s also worth noting that some of the leading names in the fast fitting market are at the top end of the average price list too. So if you’re looking for budget tyres then you’ll find the best prices on the Internet although it’s still worth taking a look at your local independent dealers because you may well find a bargain or two to be had there.

Don’t forget however that budget tyres are not necessarily the cheapest tyres you can buy. High quality tyres that deliver reliable high mileages can cost you less than cheaper tyres that need replacing more frequently for example. Some people also say that budget tyres may be those that deliver the best performance, safety or ride comfort. This is a perfectly reasonable position to adopt for many motorists of course. At the end of the day though, it’s up to each individual to choose their own definition of budget tyres but whatever you choose do remember that you will probably find the lowest prices for almost any tyres by going online.