Looking for best value-for-money tyres? Here are our picks

Previously, we gave you a rundown on Malaysia’s most preferred tyre brands. Those are the big boys, i.e., Michelin, Continental, Bridgestone, etc. And with big boy tyres usually comes big boy prices. But what if your budget is a little tight and you’re looking for something with a bigger bang for the buck?

Well, this time we’ll be looking at brands that are less popular and yet still well-worth considering. Like in the previous article, we’ll pick two of each brand's most popular tyre models to help you decide.

Hankook

Based in South Korea, Hankook is now the seventh largest tyre company in the world. Prices have also gone up since the early days, so they do cost a little more than other budget tyres though still more affordable than the big boys.

Ventus Prime 3 (15 - 19-inch)

The Hankook Ventus Prime 3 was launched in Malaysia a little over 2 years ago, offering a balanced tyre between performance and comfort unlike the more performance-oriented Ventus V12 evo2.

Ventus S1 evo3 (17 - 22-inch)

Commonly categorised as an Ultra-High Performance (UHP) Tyres, the Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 has been said to offer a safe driving experience in both dry and wet conditions, with good braking performance.

Falken

This Japan-based brand is often overlooked in Malaysia, but we think they deserve a shout out in this list. Here are two models that you could shortlist.

Ziex ZE310R (15 - 18-inch)

Derived from the flagship Azenis FK510 (we’ll get to this next), the ZE310R is said to cater to the performance-oriented yet price sensitive consumers. It aims to offer an all-round capability when it comes to performance, comfort, and longevity.

Azenis FK510 (17 - 22-inch)

Falken’s current flagship model – the Azenis FK510. Though billed as a performance-oriented tyre, the FK510 has been said to favour ever so slightly towards comfort with relatively low noise. It’s also praised for its aquaplaning resistance and short wet braking distance.

Kumho

Founded in 1960 in South Korea, it was known as Samyang back then but renamed to Kumho. It is now the second largest tyre brand in Korea after Hankook. Here are two models you could shortlist.

Ecsta PS31 (15 - 18-inch)

An affordable performance-oriented tyre with a wide range of sizes. Feedback from users has been decent considering its price point, with respectable grip and decent comfort. Though some said that noise is on the higher side.

Ecsta V720 (15 - 19-inch)

An extreme performance tyre at reasonable prices. This is for those who regularly goes to track, autocross, or drift events. Downside is the high rolling noise that can be tiring on longer journeys. The newer V730 has also been released, but sizes are limited and prices are higher.

GT Radial

GT Radial tyres are manufactured by Giti, a Singapore-based company but its origin can be traced back to Indonesia. It has been in the Malaysian market since 1998 and was selected as Proton’s supplier for the Preve and Exora Bold back in 2012.

GTX Pro (13 - 18-inch)

Like the Kumho PS31, it’s a performance-biased tyre that covers a wide range of sizes at reasonable prices. Being a directional tyre, expect tyre noise to increase as in wears out.

SX2 (15 - 18-inch)

This is GT Radial's most aggressive model, suitable for those looking for an alternative to those of the extreme performance calibre, such as the Yokohama Advan AD08R, Bridgestone RE-71R, etc.

Conclusion

And there we have it, our picks for the best bang-for-the-buck tyres. We always say you should never skimp on tyres as they are the only thing connecting you to the road. 

Going for budget alternatives will require some research and the selections listed here are our findings. There are, of course, plenty more options out there, but these are the options we think you should consider.

Also read: Michelin, Continental, Bridgestone, Goodyear? Which are the most preferred tyre brands in Malaysia?