Best Tires Under $200

‍5 Best Tires Under $200

Tires under $200 typically sit as the sweet spot for most drivers. They are still reliable choices for most drivers and last long enough to give you the amount of usage that you need for them and they can be found at many different places.

With advances in technology, budget tires now can offer better features that used to be exclusive to higher-priced counterparts. If you're looking for an affordable tire that is reliable and can handle everything you need it to do, look no further than budget options like these.

1. Pirelli P Zero All-Season Plus

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The Pirelli P Zero All-Season Plus is a versatile, high-performance tire that delivers on its promise of lasting performance for all-season traction. With a unique tread design, the All-Season Plus has been designed with both wet and dry roads in mind with a larger tread void that ensures superior stability under wet conditions.

The soft compound also enables the tire to offer an excellent grip in both dry and wet conditions. It also creates a relatively low rolling resistance meaning you can drive with peace of mind knowing that your car will retain its fuel efficiency without compromising handling or performance on the road.

This all-season tire is known for its advanced tread compound, lateral siping, and rigid center rib. All three features ensure better winter traction and driving accuracy.

Pricing

Pricing ranges between $129-$185 for standard passenger tire sizes at Tire Rack. If you are looking for larger options for big trucks, you will see a larger increase in price above $200. However, the majority of these tires and available sizes can be found well under the $200 threshold.

Pros

• Best-in-class wet road traction and handling
• Steering and braking responsiveness
• Minimal road noise due to the asymmetrical pattern
• Winter siping for reliable ice and snow traction

Cons

• Does not handle well in off-road situations
• Low-end warranty policy

2. Michelin Defender T+H

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The Michelin Defender T+H tire is designed for all-season performance. The tires are designed to provide the best traction in the rain and snow. They are also able to maintain their grip on the road even at low temperatures without losing traction.

Michelin uses their famous Evertread compound in the design with an asymmetrical pattern to create some of the best traction money can buy. The silica-enhanced tread also helps to drive smoother with more road comfort.

Michelin’s Intellisipe Technology can be found on the independent tread blocks to aid with winter driving. This allows for the interlocking sipes to do their work when asked in difficult elements too.

Pricing

At Tire Rack, you will find this tire between $110 and $195.99 in price depending on the specific tire size needed for your vehicle. There is a wide range of sizes too so you have plenty of options to consider.

Pros

• Dry traction and handling with maximum accuracy
• Sipes and grooves to assist with winter driving on slippery surfaces
• High-end tread life
• 90,000-mile treadwear warranty

Cons

• Deep snow can cause problems
• Short distance braking isn’t the best

3. General Tire AltiMAX RT43

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The General AltiMAX RT43 all-season tire performs well on different surfaces, including wet weather, snow, ice, and dry pavement. It has a symmetrical tread pattern that provides excellent traction in any condition.

The AltiMAX RT43 is able to improve fuel efficiency through the use of advanced rubber compounds that are designed to be resilient in wet conditions while offering more precise handling at higher speeds on dry surfaces.

There is also a silica compound with added cushion for more durability and long-lasting tread life. It also helps improve road comfort and absorbs vibrations when driving for minimal cabin noise to disrupt your riding experience.

Pricing

This is one of the most affordable tires available with pricing between $75 to $167 at Tire Rack with plenty of sizing options to choose from too.

Pros

• 75,000-mile warranty
• Plenty of stability and steering responsiveness
• Excellent traction ability on both dry and wet pavement
• Newly upgraded sipes for winter driving

Cons

• The tire can get a bit noisy on rougher roads

4. Bridgestone Blizzak WS90

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The Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 tire has a lot to offer in the winter, with a wide range of features that will help you to get through icy winters. It offers excellent braking performance in snow and ice, as well as wet or dry road surfaces, and was designed with non-stop performance in mind from the first time it’s put on your car.

The Blizzak WS90 tire is a winter tire intended for driving in snow or ice with softer treads that remain flexible in colder temperatures. It uses a directional tread pattern too so it can target slippery roads with much more precision.

Bridgestone’s MultiCell Compound technology ensures that the construction of the tire is durable enough to last for multiple winter seasons with added features like bite particles for more reliable winter performance.

Pricing

Average pricing for this tire at Tire Rack ranges between $98 to $175. The major pricing swings depend on the exact sizing needed for your vehicle. However, this is an extremely affordable price for such a high-performing specialty tire.

Pros

• Braking and handling on icy roads is flawless
• Dry road handling and performance is above average
• Long-lasting tread life with multiple seasons of usage
• Acceleration and braking responsiveness

Cons

• No limited treadwear warranty
• A bit noisy on bumps and dry roads

5. Continental ExtremeContact Sport

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The Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 tire is a high-performance tire with a smooth and quiet ride. The large contact patch design and wide traction angle provide excellent traction on wet and dry roads, while the directional tread pattern disperses water efficiently.

These tires are now used for everyday driving on slippery roads. The increased grip that these tires provide gives drivers an edge over other vehicles on wet roads, which can prevent accidents too.

Continental has taken a step towards improving fuel efficiency. This is accomplished through low rolling resistance and aerodynamic properties, as well as the use of new materials.

The ExtremeContact DWS06 is designed with an asymmetric tread pattern that helps to reduce hydroplaning on wet surfaces as well as increase water dispersion. The asymmetric tread allows for maximum handling performance and is molded into a five-rib design.

Pricing

Average pricing on this tire ranges between $125 to $195 on lower-end sizes for traditional sedans and lightweight SUVs or crossovers at Tire Rack. However, because there is such a wide range of sizes available for larger trucks too they can get much more expensive in those areas.

Pros

• +Silane technology for a more advanced tread compound design
• Dry traction is incredible with more braking and acceleration accuracy
• Cornering and handling is flawless with a sporty feel
• Steering responsiveness with excellent riding comfort

Cons

• Not a reliable tire in winter conditions

Types Of Tires To Consider

Tires are one of the most important parts of your car. They provide the traction that you need to stay safe on the road and keep your vehicle moving.

There are several types of tires that you should consider, including all-season, all-terrain, winter, and high-performance tires. Each type has its own unique features to consider before you buy.

All-Season

These are considered the "default" tires that you should have on any vehicle. They will work well in all weather conditions and can be used year-round, including winter. They provide a smooth ride and a level of comfort for all drivers.

However, they lack some of the performance features that a winter, all-terrain, or high-performance tire would have. Instead, the design is more basic to provide year-round balance.

Winter

These tires offer better traction in snowy or icy conditions as well as increased braking power to reduce slipping. High-quality brands use upgraded technology features to ensure better driving, braking, and road grip despite difficult conditions.

The most notable difference about winter tires is the tread compound and rubber used to design the tire. It is typically a softer material that can become more flexible in freezing temperatures. They also perform well in dry conditions too.  

All-Terrain

All-terrain tires are a type of tire that is used on vehicles with off-road capabilities. They have a tread pattern that allows them to have superior traction when in wet and muddy conditions with low air pressure.

All-terrain tires come in a variety of sizes and styles, including side knob, tubeless, and even full-suspension models.

High-Performance

High-performance tires are becoming more and more popular in the automotive industry. They offer better traction, grip, and stability while providing a smooth ride.

They provide a smoother and quieter ride than regular street or all-season tires and they offer longer tread life than other models too. This makes them ideal for drivers who want to enjoy driving on their car without getting it repaired often.

Top Tire Brands Under $200

Michelin

Michelin is a tire company that was founded in 1889. Michelin tires are some of the best tires in the world and they are used by many vehicles around the world with plenty of options to choose from for drivers.

They make some of the highest-rated tires across a variety of different tire categories with plenty of options under $200. They are also known to consistently provide one of the best warranty policies on their products.

Bridgestone

Bridgestone is one of the most popular car brands in the world and their tires are one of the best available on the market. They have a strong reputation for making quality products and providing excellent customer support.

The company has always focused on innovative technology and quality products. It is considered to be among the best tire companies due to its wide range of products which includes excellent quality tires at affordable prices for drivers.

Pirelli

Pirelli tires are made with quality materials that are durable and provide protection to your car's rims. They've been around for decades now and they've proven to be one of the best brands on the market.

Pirelli is also known for the sporty tires they make that perform best at high speeds and in racing situations. They can provide plenty of handling support and road comfort for many different vehicles too.

Factors To Consider

Budget tires are difficult to find. As a result, consumers are often faced with price differences among brands. There are a few factors that need to be considered by the shoppers when choosing budget tires.

Tire Size

One of the biggest things that will impact the tire price is the size you need. This ultimately goes together with the type of vehicle you drive and what specifically sized rim diameter best fits your vehicle.

This is why tires tend to be more expensive for larger vehicles like SUVs and pickups because they have a wider rim and the tires cost more. If you drive a smaller sedan in the 14” to 16” range, you can expect to save quite a bit on your tire purchase.

Tire Type

The other important factor to remember is the tire type. It will play a major role in the way specific tires are priced because specialty tires like winter or high-performance options are typically priced as premium products.

However, you can find plenty of reliable all-season and touring tire picks at low costs for your vehicle. They will provide plenty of balance, comfort, and year-round performance on the road that is suitable for many casual drivers.