“You get what you pay for.”
Buying tires online might seem like an easy way to keep the bill down, especially when you’re strapped for cash and having to buy an entire set.
But it turns out that bargain hunting doesn’t always turn out quite like you hoped and could ultimately be more expensive in the end.
In a trending video, @tiredad2, who runs a tire and automotive repair business, shared a warning for anyone tempted to buy a tire online to save money.
“Just an informational video here of what not to do as a consumer,” he says while inspecting the tire in question.
@tiredad2 explains that a customer purchased a set of Lexani tires online.
“It is a very cheap brand known for their low quality,” he claims, though he doesn’t go into detail about why or show any specific shortcomings or defects.
He explains that the customer went to two other tire shops to get the tires balanced but didn’t quite get the result they wanted.
“They’re gonna be what they’re gonna be when it comes to balancing these tires,” he says, due to their supposed low quality.
When the customer called @tiredad2 (now their third stop), the technician drove the vehicle to see what he was working with. While he believes the balance can be improved, he warns that the customer ended up spending more time and money fixing the cheap tires than what they likely would have if they’d purchased solid ones in the first place.
“He’s more than spent the money he saved purchasing these tires online, which was probably a very minimal amount, just a few dollars, and he could have went with a more value brand other than a cheap tire. So, he spent that money two times over already when he could have just done it right the first time,” he says.
In his view, the customer could have selected an inexpensive value brand instead of choosing the lowest-priced option and then paying multiple shops to make it work.
“Being absolutely cheap, in the long run, or sometimes really quickly, it just doesn’t pay off,” he concluded.
In the caption, he drew a distinction between cheap tires and inexpensive tires: “Inexpensive tires provide value to the customer. Cheap tires are the opposite.”
There does not appear to be one universal verdict. In a Reddit thread, drivers shared a range of experiences.
One owner said the tires had good grip and wet-weather performance but complained about a noticeable hum at highway speeds. After more than a year, that driver said the road noise had faded, and the tires still had plenty of tread.
“They’re not bad, but they’re not great tires either,” the driver wrote.
Another person offered a similarly lukewarm review.
“They were fine for what I needed but not something I’d go out of my way to buy again,” they added.
Other commenters were much harsher. Some alleged premature wear, sidewall deterioration, or poor handling in wet conditions, particularly on performance cars. Meanwhile, several drivers using Lexanis for ordinary city driving said they had no major complaints considering the price.
Consumer Reports (CR) recommends comparing safety performance, expected tread life, and the full installed price.
“The key is to prepare for tire replacement before it is an urgent need,” CR tire program manager Ryan Pszczolkowski said.
Here are several ways shoppers can lower the bill without automatically settling for the cheapest tires available:
People in the comments section were split about whether it’s okay to put cheap tires on your car.
“I can’t stand people that cheap out on tires. They’re the only physical thing between you and the ground. Waiting for the ‘i RuN ThOse On My 1997 HoNdA AcCorD aNd DoNt HaVe isSueS’ comments,” a top comment read.
“Don’t disrespect Lexani they some good tires,” a person said.
“90% of the shop don’t know how to balance everything that goes in and out is only static balanced there’s multiple settings on the balance machine for a reason,” another wrote.
Motor1 reached out to @tiredad2 via direct message and comment, and to Lexani Tires via email for comment. We’ll be sure to update this if either responds.
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– The Motor1.com Team