The real enjoyment of driving a good car comes when you have complimentary tires. These will determine how safe your drive is, how well you can accelerate the vehicle, efficient braking and more. In short, tires help your car perform excellently and that is exactly why you should stay away from the the worst tire brands.
Tires are typically divided into 3 types depending on their performance and price. These are classified as premium, mid-range and cheap tires.
If you lack experience on this topic, you may not be able to distinguish one class from another but we hope to help you make the right choice through this reading!
What Are the Worst Tire Brands? Complete List 2023
Only reliable brands can guarantee that their tires will be safe for use. In fact, not all expensive tires are good and some cheaper ones are actually reliable for long-term usage. That is why it can be difficult to avoid the worst tire brands.
Looking at so many names, it can be hard to figure out which brand is reliable and which is not. Below we have compiled an extensive list of companies that are producing low-quality tires only and you should avoid them at any cost.
1. Accelera
- Was founded in 1996 in Indonesia.
- Serving as part of Elangperdana Tyre Industry.
Customers are turning away from Chinese tire brands and investing instead in names like Accelera. However, this is not a well-established brand. Accelera currently offers tires for passenger cars, off-road vehicles, and even racing.
However, some users have reported poor performance, especially in wet conditions. They have shared that the tires only perform well with gentle use of the throttle and brake pedals. Despite offering a range of tire types, the brand’s road tires have reportedly struggled with performance.
2. AKS Tires
- Was founded in 2007.
- It is a family business with an owner experienced over 21 years.
Based on the lack of information about the company that manufactures these tires, we would recommend avoiding this brand altogether. It is unclear where these tires are being made, but it is possible that they are being produced in someone’s basement.
There is little information available about the manufacturer. This includes information on ownership, headquarters, or the technologies and features used. The performance of these tires is also extremely poor.
Buyers have reported low levels of grip and traction even at slower speeds in optimal conditions. In less ideal conditions, the performance is even worse.
3. Chaoyang
- Founded in 1958 in Hangzhou, China.
- Falls under the ownership of Zhongce Rubber Group.
Chaoyang is a company that could not do any good although it has been in the business for quite some time. As long as the brand produced bicycle tires, you could actually hear good reviews about it.
The car tires that it started manufacturing recently were quite a blow to its popularity. Experts pointed out that they lacked refinement and the company, on the whole, was not equipped with enough experience to increase the lineup with tires for multiple applications.
4. Compass
- Came to the market as a prominent company in 1998.
- The work model is similar to the Chaoyang tire brand.
Compass sells bike and car tires, as well as car parts from various brands. It seems that Compass is a wholesale company with a tire manufacturing plant.
They have not made any significant improvements since then. In terms of tire performance, Compass does not excel in terms of longevity or comfort, and overall the performance is not impressive.
5. Geostar
- Rather a new company founded in 2007.
- Owned by the brand Nankang.
There are a few companies that perform with the ideology to make excellent products as affordable as possible but then there are others who focus on the price tag of products only, completely ignoring their performance.
Unfortunately, Geostar falls into the second category. The brand promises to deliver “very cheap tires” but these have been classified as unsafe and unreliable especially when driving over wet roads or muddy conditions.
Car tires are already available at a reasonable price and many buyers feel that Geostar did not have to make them even cheaper simply to stand out in the market. We believe the strategy badly back-fired.
6. Goodride
- Been on the market since 1997.
- It is covered under the Zhongce Rubber Group.
Goodride is a prime example of a tire brand that produces an extensive lineup of tires but does not keep up with quality standards. The company is producing passenger car tires as well as tires for trucks, buses and for agricultural processes.
Although it has kept a cost to minimal, users have continuously reported disappointment when it comes to traction and handling. Some have pointed out that the performance is worse compared to similarly priced tires from other brands.
The issues also make it unsafe to use although durability of the tires is not a problem at all.
7. Sunfull
- Has been around since 2007.
- Falls under the Unicorn Tire Corporation, a US brand.
Sunfull has limited tire options and poor performance, particularly in wet conditions with long stopping distances.It is just another brand that further emphasizes that most of the things manufactured in China are of low quality.
8. Trazano
- US-based brand founded in 2009. ‘
- Works under the Zhongce Rubber Group.
The biggest drawback for this company is that it does not even operate an official website. You can imagine how reliable or safe buyers would feel purchasing from a brand that does not have an appropriate webpage.
Most of the information that is available about the performance of the tires from this company is provided by resellers. They are posed as safe and reliable but buyers strictly disagree. Although there are brands worse than this but if you have the funds to spend, we would recommend you do not waste them here.
Tires from Trazano are known to wear down in quality and most of them have an underlying issue of uneven wear.
9. Triangle
- Founded in Weihai, China, in 1976.
- Under contract with University of Akron to use its Research and Development department.
Triangle was more inclined towards producing tires for the Indonesian market till China lacked the sale potential. However, it shifted from manufacturing sweeper car tires to car tires for the Chinese market with hopes to improve its product quality while keeping the costs to minimal.
It can be safely said that Triangle did not rise up to the challenge. Although the R&D department is doing its job well and suggesting good production models on paper, the company is not delivering satisfactory tires. Many buyers are disappointed from using these tires on wet roads.
10. Westlake
- Based in China and working under Zhongce Rubber group.
- Founded in 1958 so it is quite an old name.
Similar to other brands operating under the same Group, Westlake has not been able to win over appreciation from its clients as it is manufacturing the same cheap tires with compromised quality.
Although the company promises to deliver safe tires for the local market, i.e. China, they do not guarantee the same performance in other parts of the world.
Unfortunately, Westlake does not follow reliable inspection processes like the protocols in Europe or the US and therefore, they are sold at lower costs.Some of the models are suitable for lower speed so you can expect a decent drive within town.
However, it can become dangerous to use the same speed at higher speeds as they can lose grip on the road especially when you are cornering.
Some other brands that you should steer clear of are listed below. Although we could not fish out extensive information on them, their performance has been shady for long.
- YKS
- Unicorn
- Telluride
What Are the Alternatives To Worst Tire Brands?
If the long list of worst tire brands is worrying you, don’t be disappointed just yet! We have mentioned some of the best brands to try instead.
- BF Goodrich
- Bridgestone
- Cooper‘
- Continental
- Goodyear
- Hankook
- Michelin
- Nokian
- Pirelli
- Toyo
- Yokohama
You would notice that most of these brands are based in the US or Japan. These regions tend to be a hub for good quality tires. You can do an online research to find out more about these brands online.
What Are Some Reasons to Avoid Cheap/Bad Tires?
It is important to replace bad car tires for a number of reasons. First and foremost, safety is a major concern when it comes to tires. Bad tires, including those with low tread depth or visible damage, can compromise the handling and braking performance of a vehicle, increasing the risk of accidents and injuries.
In addition to safety concerns, bad tires can also lead to increased fuel consumption and reduced fuel efficiency. This is because tires with low tread depth or poor condition create more drag and resistance on the road, which requires the engine to work harder and consume more fuel.
Bad tires can also lead to increased maintenance costs and the need to replace tires more frequently. For example, tires with low tread depth may need to be replaced more often due to excessive wear, while tires with visible damage may need to be repaired or replaced due to structural issues.
In addition, bad tires can lead to a less comfortable and enjoyable driving experience due to reduced performance in various weather conditions. Bad tires typically have unreliable braking distance and grip. This can create a life-threatening situation.
Overall, replacing bad tires is important for the safety and performance of your vehicle, as well as for your own peace of mind and comfort on the road.
Investing in high-quality tires can help ensure that your car is safe and reliable, and can save you money in the long run through reduced maintenance costs and longer tire life.
How To Choose The Right Tire?
Online reviews or talking to someone in person who has made a similar purchase can be quite helpful if you wish to avoid bad tires and make the right choice in this regard.
You can gather more knowledge about the tires you wish to buy by visiting the official website for the company. However, this will only slim down the chances of buying the product from a worthless company.
The bottom line is that there is no way to tell for sure if a tire is reliable or terrible. Some pointers that can help you with this decision are discussed below.
1. Brand
Just like there are worst tire brands, you will come across a few names that are reliable and you can buy tires from them without hesitation. For example, Firestone, Continental, Hankok, and Falken are some brands that deliver reliable performance.
Moreover, the final choice comes down to personal preferences and the conditions on which you need to drive. Also keep in mind that buying a premium quality tire does not guarantee that your vehicle will outperform mid-range tires.
This is again because the conditions in which you drive will determine the level of the performance that the tires give. Some mid-range tires have better braking distancing and low noise compared to premium ones.
2. Performance
Any driver who is into fully enjoying the vehicle performance would not compromise on the performance of its tires. You can find options that do well in both premium and mid-range segments.
As long as you do a thorough research on what you need depending on the use, you will find high-performance tires.
3. Safety
Drivers prioritize safety if they primarily use the car for daily driving and it is not suitable for track use. In this situation, it is not advisable to invest in more expensive tire options.
This is not to say that performance tires are not good, but they come at a higher price. The issue is that you will not be able to utilize the full potential of the tire making the expenditure quite useless.
Even if you choose cheaper tire options, as long as they come from a reputable manufacturer, you should be fine. Keep in mind that grip, traction and braking distance are crucial factors.
More expensive tires may have shorter braking distances, but that doesn’t mean that the cheaper ones have extremely long distances. While they may be longer, they will still provide safe and short stopping distances which is enough.
What More Should You Know?
What Makes a Bad Tire
Journey of a bad tire starts at the very first step i.e. when the manufacturing is initiated in the factory. The process is based on the findings of the Research and Development department.
If these are faulty or not up to the mark, you will end up paying a huge price for a cheap product. Moreover, cheaper brands do not invest enough in R&D and that is why they are able to sell the products at such low prices.
Now imagine a product that is based on weak research. The tires are eventually not tested and the tread design is highly compromised. Some tires only look fine but with solid inspection, preferably by an expert, can reveal minor faults that can be life-threatening.
Moreover, the durability is unsatisfactory as well. You will notice that cheap tires are hardly ever durable. So, in a nutshell, a bad tire results from weak research, improper testing, and ignoring safety checks.
When To Replace a Bad Tire
It is recommended to replace car tires when the tread depth becomes too low or if there is visible damage such as bulges, cracks, or cuts. The tread depth is important for grip and traction, especially in wet or slippery conditions.
To determine when to replace tires, the “penny test” can be used by inserting a penny head-first into the tread; if the top of Lincoln’s head is visible, it is time to replace the tire. A tread depth gauge can provide a more accurate measurement.
It is also important to regularly inspect tires for visible damage and to replace tires that are more than 6 years old, as the rubber can become dry and brittle, reducing performance and increasing the risk of a blowout.
Regularly checking and maintaining tires ensures they are in good condition and able to provide safe and reliable performance.
Wrap Up
Although you will come across plenty of other names that qualify as bad tire brands, these are the worst ones that we would recommend you avoid at any costs. Moreover, don’t be under the impression that Chinese brands are unreliable.
Even some prominent companies from Indonesia, otherwise considered as a hub for tire production, are producing disappointing qualities.
In a nutshell, it is crucial to pay attention to the conditions in which you are driving and then choose the tires accordingly. Tires from even the finest brands will be useless if they are not meant to be used in the external conditions.
Is there anything you would like to add to our topic? Do comment below with your valuable insight. We are looking forward to it!
