10 Worst Tire Brands to Avoid at all Cost in 2023

With over 13,000 tire-related crashes happening each year, tire safety must be a top priority of everyday drivers. So it is essential to know which worst tire brands to avoid at all costs.

Many people overlook the importance of getting good tires in their cars, which leads to severe accidents.

Most people end up buying poor tires when they compromise between the price and quality of the tires.

As per our research, the list of worst tire brands includes Firestone, Falken, Carlisle, General Tires, Westlake, AKS, Goodyear, GeoStar, Autogreen, and Chaoyang.

These worst-quality tires wear out quickly, and you will soon have to invest in new tires again.

Worst-Tire-Brands-to-Avoid

Before we begin, let’s understand how to spot a cheap tire brand.

How To Identify The Worst Tire Brand?

The easiest way to avoid getting a bad tire brand is to get one that has been thoroughly tested by an independent third party.

You may also read tire reviews and compare them to decide which one is the most durable.

But don’t worry we have tested the tire brands from cheap to expensive.

So, here are some pointers for finding a low-quality tire brand.

1. Poor quality inspection:

Tire manufacturers should always use an expert inspection for the tires.

If it’s not properly done, you will never know how strong a tire is. This means that if you are buying a cheap tire, it might be dangerous.

2. Unclear information:

Check the tires for any details on the packaging or the label. The tire brand should have a clear statement about the tire and the year it was manufactured.

Also, you can check the manufacturing date on the tire to see if it was made recently.

3. Poor tread pattern:

Worst tires to buy

You should always inspect the tread patterns of the tires.

The tire tread should be well designed and should give a firm grip on the road surface.

Tires with poor tread patterns tend to wear out quickly, and this will result in higher expenses for repair or replacement.

4. Low-quality rubber:

Low-quality tires will be thin, and the sidewalls will break easily.

You will know the difference between low-quality and high-quality tires because of their thickness and durability.

5. Misfire or poor performance:

You can easily identify misfired or poorly performing tires because they will make a lot of noise while driving.

Also, if you buy a tire from a poorly equipped store, it will make a lot of noise while being inflated.

6. Bad customer service:

It is very important to check customer service before you purchase a tire.

Always buy tires from a shop or a company that has been in business for long enough to understand how customers feel about their products.

List of 10 Worst Tire Brands to Avoid

There are hundreds of cheap tire brands that exist in the marketplace. So, it is a challenging task to decide which tire brands to avoid.

Our expert review team has picked the worst tire brands based on their performance, lack of safety measures, and poor designs.

Here is our list of tire brands to stay far away from.

S. No

Brand

Con

Rating

1

Firestone Wilderness

Lack Safety Features

2

Falken Tires

Low Road Traction

3

Carlisle Tires

Not Weather Resistent

4

Low-End General Tires

Low Quality Material

5

WestLake Tires

Low Lifespan

6

AKS Tires

Poor Grip

7

GOODYEAR G159

Defective Models

8

GeoStar Tires

Low Driving Comfort

9

Autogreen Tires

Low Dry Road Grip

10

Chaoyang Tires

Easily Gets Punctured

1) Firestone Destination Tires

firestone logo

Firestone is a famous US tire company that makes quality tires.

However, the quality of their Destination tires has disappointed its users. These tires are made in China from low-quality raw materials.

The Firestone Destination tires are so soft, and road bumps cause them to bend quickly.

They lack even the very basic safety features, which makes them more susceptible to bursting.

2) Falken Ziex Tires

Falken Tires Logo

Falken is a Japanese brand popular for making affordable tires. Recently, they are focusing more on making budget tires at the cost of quality.

The Falken Ziex tires have low road traction and glide down easily on wet roads or any other slippery surface. So, it is risky to use these tires in wet conditions.

Check out our complete Falken Tires Review before buying.

3) Carlisle Tires

Carlisle Tire Logo

Carlisle tires have manufacturing plants in the USA. But they are still making trail tires in China.

Like Firestone, they are also not immune to producing some of the cheap quality tires on the market.

The Carlisle Paddles Radial trailer tires are poorly exposed in extreme weather conditions and end up in an explosion.

4) Low-End General Tires

General Tire Logo

You may be surprised to see the name General tires in the list of worst tire brands.

Without a doubt, it is one of the top brands in the industry. Many professional racers use them in the Nascar and Formula 1 races.

But, some cheap General tires also exist in the market, which is the exact replica of the original tires.

These low-end tires are perhaps the most deadly tires to rely on since they are manufactured with inferior quality material.

They wear out quickly and generate too much noise on the road. Instead of buying a cheap dreadful version, always go for the original General tires.

5) Westlake Tires

West Lake Tires Logo

A Chinese Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Company manufactures Westlake tires.

They produce one of the cheapest tires that only perform well at the normal speed of 50 mph on a dry road.

The cheap WestLake tires get easily damaged by road bumps and potholes.

They lose the traction between the tire and the road if you go above 60 mph.

The lifespan is also short due to early rubber aging of tires, which is around 20,000 miles.

6) AKS Tires

AKS Tire Logo

AKS is another Chinese tire brand. It is perhaps one of the most deadly tires put ever in production. They are not only cheap in terms of costs, but in performance as well.

The AKS tires have a poor grip on dry and wet roads and quickly wear out.

7) Goodyear – G159

Goodyear Tires Logo

Goodyear is a well-known US tire brand. They produce quality and reliable tires.

Back in 2003, one of their models, G159, was associated with a number of accidents. Later in 2005, the G159 design was declared defective and unsafe for driving.

However, Goodyear had already stopped manufacturing G159 15 years ago. But these tires are still available in the market, mainly in the used form at a very reasonable price.

You must stay away from this defective model to avoid any hazards.

8) GeoStar Tires

GEOSTAR Tires

GeoStar manufactures tires in China at a very low cost. It is famous for all-weather and all-season tires.

But these tires offer low driving comfort and don’t grip well on snow and wet roads. It also has poor steering responsiveness.

9) Autogreen Tires

autogreen tires

The next one on our list of the worst tire brands is Autogreen Tyres. These tyres are also manufactured in Beijing, China.

It is not a durable choice as these tires are not long-lasting, and hardly complete 20,000 miles.

Uneven tread wear and vibrations at freeway speeds. It also has a low rating for grip on a dry road.

10) Chaoyang Tires

Chaoyang Tires

It is one of the leading Chinese rubber companies. The brand is very popular in Asia as well as in the USA. However, these tires make too much noise and wear out pretty fast.

Furthermore, it is not an option to use in extreme weather conditions as the tire will burst.

The tires are too soft, and the nail gets in, and easily gets punctured.

Do Tire Brands Really Matter?

When it comes to buying tires, the name matters a lot. This is because the brand represents the quality of the product.

You should go for the one that has a reputable image in the market. You will be able to identify the ones that have been thoroughly examined by the experts.

The thing that you need to do before buying a tire brand is finding out if they have been tested.

There are many brands of tires that have been examined by tire testing companies. It will help you avoid getting an unreliable tire brand.

Are Chinese Tire brands worth buying?

It depends on the brand, but most Chinese tire brands are deadly to use. In the last two decades, China has grown exponentially in the tire industry all over the world.

Not all Chinese brands are poor. Some top brands like Goodyear and Firestone have also outsourced their production to Chinese manufacturers.

But many Chinese tire manufacturers are making the worst tire and selling them to the market without API’s authorization.

They also make the exact copy of expensive original tire models using cheap materials.

The primary focus of these Chinese brands is profit-making. So, they don’t follow any quality standards in production as well.

The Chinese tire brands have a number of issues, such as too much noise, low traction between the tire and the road, quick tread wear, too soft tires, shorter lifespan, lack of basic safety features, and many more.

Instead of shelling bucks on cheap Chinese tires, it is better to invest in durable and trustworthy tire brands.

You should choose a brand carefully as it is a matter of safety for your vehicle and your family.

Related:

How to Tell if You Need New Tires

Driving on bald tires can be dangerous, and it will be worse in rain or snow. The results can be tragic if you don’t replace your tires in time.

When To Replace Your Tires?

If you go to any tire store and ask the salesman about tire replacement, half of the time they will tell you yes because they want to sell you something.

So, it is imperative to check by yourself and determine if you need new tires or not.

The followings are the simple ways to check it.

1. Check the Tread Depth

You can check it with the help of a tread depth gauge. If you don’t have it, you can do a traditional penny test to check the depth.

You can place a penny upside down in this process and put Lincoln’s head into the tread groove. If Lincoln’s head is still visible, it is time to replace your tires.

On the contrary, if you don’t see the forehead, it is an indication that your tires are pretty good to drive on.

If the tread is down to 1/16th of an inch, it becomes unsafe to drive in adverse weather conditions. Many people prefer to replace the tire.

2. Check the Tread Wear Bar

Almost all of the tires sold in the US have tread wear bars. These are small raised bars of rubber in the groove of the tire’s tread.

If the tread comes equal to the wear bar, that means the tire is worn.

You need to replace it with new tires because there is not enough tread depth to evacuate water. This tire is very dangerous on wet roads.

The deeper the grooves, the safer the tires in the snow and on wet roads would be.

3. Check Uneven tread Wear

If you notice any irregular tread wear on one side of the tire, this could indicate your wheels are misaligned.

You need a proper wheel alignment and probably replace the tire if they are worn out.

Also, talk to the tire experts if you think that your tires are wearing unevenly.

4. Check the sidewall damages

Always pay attention to sidewall damage because it will cause the tires to shred. Driving on these tires is very dangerous.

So, you need to replace your tires as soon as possible since the sidewall damages are not repairable.

Other Brands to Avoid


Frequently Asked Questions

How to check the tire manufacturing date?

You need to check the last four digits of the DOT code on the tire. It represents the manufacturing week and year of the tire.

The first two digits indicate the manufacturing week, and the last two digits tell you the manufacturing year.

For instance, if the digits are 3718. It means the tire was manufactured in the 37th week of 2018.

How many years do tires last?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), tires are safer to use for 6 years.

But make sure not to exceed the age of the tires over 10 years and replace them as soon as possible.

Conclusion

It is easy to get trapped by the WORST TIRES BRANDS because they manufacture replicas of the original brand using inferior quality raw materials.

So it will make you believe that you are getting a great deal at the lowest price.

Therefore, you must avoid all of the above-mentioned CHEAP tire brands to make your ride safer.

China is making a large number of tires without any quality standards. There are few credible Chinese brands, but most of them are crap to use.

Always inspect the condition of your tires before replacing them. Check the tread depth, tread wear bars, uneven wear, and sidewall damages.

Quick Question: Which tire brand do you think is the worst?

Also Read:

Motor Oil Brands to Avoid
Kumho Tires Review

Steven Settles is a professional content writer with over 7 years of experience in writing for different niches, including brand reviews, technology, fitness, and more.

Currently, he is working as a content writer for WorstBrands, where he provides insightful reviews of different products, including home appliances, outdoor gear, fashion, and kitchen products. In his free time, Steven enjoys traveling and exploring new places.

45 thoughts on “10 Worst Tire Brands to Avoid at all Cost in 2023”

  1. I use Westlake Tire. Everything is good, but just after riding about 20,000 miles, I have to replace them. these tires lose traction when going above 60 mph and it can compromise my safety.

    Reply
  2. What about winrun maxclaw tyres for Toyota surf Ive had 2 x punctured withen a year . New Zealand and they seem to wander alittle on our roads!

    Reply
  3. Hi Steven hope you well&healthy
    I recently bought a Toyota kluger gxl awd 2015 want to do a bit of 30%off road,70% highway,also I’m from north of Queensland Australia it rain a lots,what tyre you do recommend?
    Thanks for your support
    Cheers

    Reply
  4. Hello Steven. Hope all is well. I have an Infiniti JX35 and live in Texas. We don’t get a lot of rain, but when we do it’s a heavy rain. I need a good all-season tire for that and dry conditions.

    Your suggestions & opinion is greatly appreciated.

    Thank you,
    Travis

    Reply
    • Hi Travis,

      I hope you are doing great!
      I would suggest “Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season.” The perfect tire for all weather conditions and driving conditions. These tires come with a tread guarantee for one year or the first 2/32 inch of tread wear, and a warranty of 65,000 miles.

      Now it’s up to you to make your decision, but before you do, I recommend reading Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season reviews.

      Cheers!

      Reply
  5. Hello, I hope you’re doing well, I’ve read all of the posts to see if a vehicle like mine has been addressed but no. I would greatly appreciate a recommendation for a lower priced, not cheapest…Brand and model tire for all season but I really need good wet and ice or snow traction. We don’t get a lot of snow but I live in Missouri so weather is unpredictable lol. I’m tired of sliding on hills with my Standard Transmission not getting great traction in my 2001 Nissan Xterra 4×4. Hopefully you can give me a few choices. And I’m with you on cheap Chinese! Thank you so much!!

    Reply
    • Hi Bobbi,

      I hope you are having a fantastic day!
      I would suggest you check Kumho and Falken’s tires. These tires perform well on the ice especially Falken Ziex ZE950.

      Reply
  6. What I’s your opinion of Kumho , Perilli or Toto tire for 4×4 pickup 275/55R20. I drive a lot as a home hospice nurse so need dependability

    Reply
    • Hello Gayle,

      I hope you are having a great day!
      If budget is not an issue for you then I would suggest you go with Pirelli tires. But, if you want something good at an affordable price then go with Kumho tire. Both of these options are very good for 4×4 pickup 275/55R20.

      Reply
  7. Hello – thank you for this informative article. My car is a 2004 Toyota Matrix with 218,000+ miles. I will probably be driving it for a few more years, as it’s been very reliable. My Ecopia tires need to be replaced and since I only drive about 5,000 – 6,000 miles yearly, I am looking for a budget-friendly option that is safe and reliable on wet roads (I live in FL and we have a long rainy season). I have been considering Ironman GR906 and Primewell PS830/850 (114674) and would like to know which you think would be the better choice for a safe tire with good wet traction. Or am I making a bad choice for safety – should I be considering Kuhmo or Toyo instead? Thank you.

    Reply
    • Hello Stephnie,

      I hope you are doing great!

      Ironman tires are less expensive than many high-end brands. But, they are pretty average in overall performance in dry and wet conditions.

      The safety record of the new Primewell tires is quite decent, but they are still a bit behind the other tires on wet roads. However, for the price, they’re almost certainly one of the decent tires options you can get right now.

      Get Kumho or Toyo tires if you want to ensure that your car gets decent gas efficiency while still looking stylish. Kumho is the best brand for all-season and high-performance tires. They’re cheaper than other tire manufacturers, but they don’t skimp on quality.

      Reply
    • Hi Tony,

      These tyres are rather standard. High speed and wet road grip are both lacking in these tyres. However, if you’re on a tight budget and rarely travel big distances, go ahead.

      Reply
  8. Hello.. are Goodride tires good? i drive a Ford Ecosport with stock tires – Goodyear Assurance (205/60/R16).. i want to replace them with 205/65/R16 tires.. is Goodride a good choice? thanks

    Reply
    • Hi Jed,

      Goodyear tyres are my preferred brand over Goodride tires. However, if you’re on a tight budget, Goodride is a good option, but these tires aren’t suitable for wet situations.

      Reply
  9. What about Landsail for Ford Edge ? I’ve heard good feedback about them and they are surprisingly cheap when it’s reviews are seen. I’m thinking to get them in my Ford Edge 2013, 245-60/R18

    Reply
    • Hi Bob,

      I hope everything is going well for you!
      Power King Towmax II tires are made in China. This brand has received mixed reviews. We haven’t yet put these tires to the test. So, rather than risking your RV on cheap tires, I would advise you to look for another good alternative.

      Reply
  10. Could you tell me please which tyre is the better for winter Semperit Master Grip 2 or Viking Wintech 95 T. I have Semperit for 7 years and with next winter it will be one year more. They passed 60000km. 4.5-5mm and they still look excellent. What do you think for Viking tyre and please for advise?

    Reply
  11. Could you tell me please which tyre is the better for winter Semperit or Viking. I have Semperit for 7 years and with next winter it will be one year more. They passed 60000km. 4.5-5mm and they still look excellent. What do you think for Viking tyre and please for advise?

    Reply
    • Hi Andrej,
      I hope you are doing great today!

      Between Semperit and Viking tyres for winter, I would go for Viking winter tyres any day. Viking tyres are made of high-quality materials and have a clean and elegant appearance. Go for it.

      Reply
  12. My tires are due for replacement with a mileage of 40,000+ kilometers. They are Aeolus CrossAce S02 H/T. I am satisfied with their performance so I want to buy again these tires as replacements for the worn out tires. However, these tire are no longer available in the market. The available tires in my place are RunWay and WestLakes. Which of them is better? I prefer Highway Terrain tires. Tire size is 265/65R17.

    Your opinion will be appreciated. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Hi Nes Dumagan,

      I hope you are doing great!

      Although both of these brands are owned by Chinese rubber companies but Westlake tires perform well. They perform well on dry roads and work better than other cheap tires on wet roads. In comparison to the RunWay tire, these tires last longer. If you don’t have to drive in bad weather, WestLake is the way to go.

      Reply
  13. Hi Steve
    Thank you for your quick reply, your thoughts are the same as mine and i shall be replacing these what do you think of the hankook tyres for all weather use are they a reputable make and not some cheap chinese rubbish ? thanking you again terry.

    Reply
  14. Hi my kia picanto came new with hankook kinergy eco tyres in 2015 the car has done 8000 miles todate 2021 and now the tyres are showing cracks between the treads would it be ok to replace these with the same tyres as i am a very low milage user at 72 yrs old your advice would be appreciated thankyou best regards terry.

    Reply
    • Hi Terry

      Hope you are doing well
      If the cracks are small, it may be safe to drive on them. But if the tyre cracks are quite visible, then it would be better to have a reputable tyre expert check the tyre. In most cases, replacement is the only solution, even if the tread depth on your tyres is still good. But as you mentioned you are a low mileage user then the tyres can still perform well. However, you will have to drive carefully on rough surfaces.

      I would suggest you replace them for a safe side.

      Reply
    • Hi MM

      Although both tires are great but Yokohama ES32 is a bit noisy. So, our pick is Kumho Ecsta PS71.

      The Kumho Ecsta PS71 provides outstanding wet grip and performance to drivers. The revised tire design reduces braking distance and helps to resist aquaplaning.

      Reply
    • Hi Gihan

      Lanvigator tyres are very cheap in price as well as performance. These tyres have average dry traction, but their wet performance is subpar. Also, after 20,000 miles, these tyres will be worn out. Overall they are not worth buying if you drive your vehicle regularly.

      Reply
    • Hi TJ

      The GT Radial Touring VP Plus tires are a very affordable as well reliable option on the market. However, traction in deep snow or ice and hardpack is not the best. But overall, these all-season tires are a decent pick. Even for the rough surfaces, you can rely on them.

      Reply
    • Hi Dave

      Nexen tires are doing great, especially their all-season tires. Nexen cp672 is a decent performer in dry conditions. But, in snowy and wet conditions, they are not a top choice.
      On the positive side, the tread life is good. These tires are a quiet performer on the highway and provide you maximum comfort on a dry surface.

      Reply
  15. 2020Ram came with Firestone destination tires crap in snow have to use chains just to plow wearing like garbage this is what comes on new trucks that you pay 59,000 for

    Reply
  16. ESCOPIA H/L 422 PLUS K1818 E p4HAZ 225/60 RM 99-h TUBELESS RADIAL M&S on my brand new 2020 SUBARU FORESTER, lasted only 16,000 miles !!

    Reply
  17. How about fronway tires, are they okay? Unable to afford the expensibe brands… They said it war made in malaysia.

    Reply
    • Hi Cecille,

      The Fronway tires are made in China and there are mixed reviews about this brand. We have not tested these tires yet so we can’t recommend them. However, if you or on a tight budget you can try out the brands like Primewell, Uniroyal, and Blacklion. These brands provide good value for money as well as good performance.

      Reply
  18. Another consideration regarding “how much to spend on tyres “…

    What makes your car stop?
    The tyres.
    What makes your car turn?
    The tyres.
    What makes your car go?
    The tyres.

    They are the only connection between your car and the road. If you’re the kind of driver who is alert and responds to traffic, you need your tyres to follow your command to brake or steer around obstacles when the proverbial poop hits the fan.

    Cheap tyres are paramount to crippled soldiers….you THINK you have an army to protect you….

    Reply
  19. Davanti tyres are also very dangerous on high performance cars, vibrations at highway speed, unable to get balanced, too soft, puncture and cut very easily, very bad dry road braking distance. Replaced mine soon after buying with premuim brand tyres. Solved all the above issues.

    Reply
    • Hi John,
      We highly appreciate your feedback.
      Yes, we agree with you as we have received mixed reviews about the Davanti tyres in recent times. We want to do a review of these tyres very soon.

      Reply

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