We buy new tires
After a long winter this year, drivers can finally get their cars ready for the summer season. Like every year, this includes tire changes. We advise what to look for and what to consider when buying new tires for your car.
Wheels, and especially tires, are one of the most important elements of the car and are responsible for the safety of the driver and passengers. They play the role of a "link" between the road surface and the vehicle. Therefore, it is worth checking their condition before putting them back on after the winter break. In a situation where they need to be replaced with new ones, you should carefully read the market offer.
The first tire buyer's dilemma is the question - new or remanufactured? - First of all, it is worth distinguishing between two concepts related to tire regeneration, i.e. deepening and retreading. These are questions that are often confused. The first process is the mechanical cutting of the worn tread with a special device. Only truck tires marked "Regroovable" can be retreaded. Thanks to this, it is possible to deepen the tread by another 2-3 mm, and thus increase the tire mileage by another 20-30 thousand. kilometers. The second term - retreading - is the application of a new layer of tread to the used carcass.
For passenger tires, retreading is not particularly cost-effective for several reasons. The first reason is the small price difference between a new tire and a retreaded tire. An example is the size 195/65 R15, where you can find a retreaded tire for PLN 100. If the client decides to buy the most popular Dębica Passio 2 protector, he must prepare PLN 159 per piece. The difference between a set of brand new Dębica tires and a set of retreaded tires is only PLN 236, which corresponds to the cost of one full refueling of a C-segment car. In the case of passenger car treads, this part of the tire is much more susceptible to damage and wear than in the case of truck tires. There is also a risk of faster corrosion of the tire bead (the part that is responsible for holding the tire in the rim), - explained Szymon Krupa, specialist of the online store Oponeo.pl.
In 2013, no new manufacturer debuted on the Polish tire market. However, this does not mean stagnation. On the contrary, customers can count on several interesting offers depending on their preferences. Universal tires include Nokian Line, eLine and Michelin Energy Saver+. In both cases, these tires are available in many sizes and are designed for passenger cars in the A, B and C segments. For those looking for sporty performance, the Dunlop SP Sport BluResponse and Yokohama Advan Sport V105 deserve attention. “The first has won 4 out of 6 tire tests this year, and the second is based on technologies used in motorsport,” said Krupa.
However, before deciding on a specific model, you should first consult with other users or an experienced seller. This is where the Internet and numerous automotive forums come in handy. – It is worth reading both positive and negative reviews of individual products. The basic idea of tire performance is also given by information labels and tire tests carried out by leading automotive organizations and magazines, adds Oponeo.pl specialist.
For many drivers, one of the most important factors in buying tires is…price. In this regard, manufacturers from Asia are leading the way. However, the quality of their products is often questioned. “The quality of tires produced in Asia has steadily increased, and over the past few years, price has become as important to European consumers as product quality. We are also very aware that if a particular tire brand does not meet our expectations, we will not choose it again. Manufacturers from China, Taiwan or Indonesia also know this principle. Their activities are not limited to the production itself. They also put a lot of emphasis on R&D (research and development), which allows them to gain an edge over other brands. An example of such a campaign is, for example, the opening of the Dutch research center of the Indian concern Apollo in Enschede in 2013,” said Szymon Krupa, specialist of the online store Oponeo.pl.
Below are examples of tire sizes with approximate prices:
| Car model | Tire size | Prices (for 1 piece) |
| Fiat Panda | 155/80/13 | 110-290 PLN |
| Skoda Fabia | 165/70/14 | 130-360 PLN |
| Volkswagen Golf | 195/65/15 | 160-680 PLN |
| Toyota Avensis | 205/55/16 | 180-800 PLN |
| Mercedes E-Class | 225/55/16 | 190-1050 PLN |
| Honda CR-V | 215/65/16 | 250-700 PLN |
