In this article I’ll tell you exactly how I did so. With common sense, zero trickery, and no pyramid schemes either!

The truth is most Australians pay hundreds of bucks extra for no real gain on a regular set of tyres. Most of the time you’ll even drive away thinking you got a great deal or discount, but did you?

We used the online tyre retailer Tyroola to buy these tyres, but it’s not just about online discounts – to really save money all you need is a few simple tips to choose the right tyre for your needs (read on and you’ll find how easy it is to really save money!)

Ready to save money on your next set of tyres?

Buy your tyres online, and have them fitted by a local tyre fitter!

This is my first tip, but not my best tip!

Consider the last time you bought tyres from a big name tyre shop. Were you aware it wasn’t just tyres you were paying for, but the following:

• Fancy premises in a premium local location.
• A comfortable waiting room, complete with plot plants and coffee you believed was “free”.
• Customer-facing service staff.
• You can also argue big name tyre shops can capitalise on their reputation by charging you a little more for your tyres.

Online tyre retailers don’t need any of that stuff, which is great for us as we don’t want to pay for that stuff either!

“But I like to support local businesses!” I hear you say!

No guilt required, as not only are online tyre retailers cheaper, they support your local tyre fitters as well.

With Tyroola, you can choose from a list of local tyre fitters based on what works best for you, and the tyres will be shipped directly to them. Many of them will come to you and change the tyres on your driveway.

This means you’re supporting a real local independent business, and saving money in the process!

But read on, as you’re going to save even more money with our next tips!

Why do we spend too much on tyres?

Did you know most of us spend significant money on tyres built for speeds up to 270km/h?

I don’t know about you, but when did your speedo needle hit north of 110km/h? Even in the NT you can’t legally go over 130km/h, so why would you buy tyres built for over double those speeds?

Most premium tyres from big name brands like Michelin, Bridgestone or Pirelli are utterly pointless on your Honda Odyssey, but a tyre shop won’t tell you this – these are the tyres they make the biggest profits on.

In fact, most of the time a tyre shop will convince you you’re getting a great deal on tyres you didn’t really need in the first place!

Did you know all of those brands sell tyres far more appropriate for your daily, for far cheaper, and most of us would never be able to tell the difference!

Keep this in mind:

It’s not a bargain if you didn’t need it anyway.

Technical stuff: Understanding tyre ratings

If technical stuff bores you to tears, don’t worry. Skip this part and scroll down to the section How I saved $352 on a set of tyres for my road car where I kitted my Honda Civic out with a set of Kumho’s from Tyroola (which are fab, by the way).

If you’re a true car geek, let’s take a look at tyre ratings…

All brands and types of tyre must undergo tests to determine key performance factors such as treadwear, durability, traction, resistance to temperature, and so forth. These are important metrics, but if you research a little further you’ll find almost all tyres sold in Australia are perfectly safe for road use. We can use this to our advantage.

Ask yourself this: What’s the fastest you plan to drive on Australian roads?

Don’t worry, I won’t judge – you can keep your answer to yourself.

Now consider this: Most Australians opt for tyres rated V or W. V is rated up to 240km/h and W up to 270km/h. Both over twice the top speed of a Cheetah chasing a Gazelle!

The chart below shows various tyre ratings and the max speed they’re capable of:

You can see from this chart that even a lowly N rated tyre easily caters for Australian speed limits.

Personally I wouldn’t recommend buying the cheapest budget tyres. Some won’t give you enough grip on the corners, and some won’t last as long as you expect. It’s therefore better to consider an H rated tyre a good middle ground, and we’ll look at which tyre brands are best later.

Keep in mind a V or W rated tyre will provide little benefit over cheaper tyres unless you plan on hitting the track or supermarket carpark at weekends or early hours.

Can you guess how much cheaper an H rated tyre is compared to a W rated tyre?

Something for you to research…!

Brands – Which tyres are best?

In Australia we’re lucky to have a great mix of tyre brands, from big name premium brands, reputable Japanese and Korean brands, and also budget tyres made locally or sourced from China.

Which tyres are best for you depends on application. Do you drive your Suzuki Ballina to Coles once a week, rarely topping 50km/h, or do you spiritedly drive your Nissan Skyline as much as Aussie road laws allow?

Let’s take a look at which tyres are best for you…

Premium tyre brands – Pirelli, Bridgestone, Michelin, Goodyear

It has to be said premium brands such as Pirelli, Bridgestone, and Michelin make the most scientific advancements in traction, dispersing water, and ensuring an F1 car can hit an apex at stupid speeds, and those brands may offer you the absolute best drivability on the road – for a price.

Perhaps you will only buy those brands, which brings me to a fantastic money-saving tip:

Top Tip – Did you know all premium brands offer perfectly good mid-range tyres suitable for pretty much all Australian road conditions, for a much more affordable price?

These mid-range tyres are often much cheaper than the flagship tyres on offer. You will often find excellent discounts on these tyres simply because most people are busy spending hard-earned cash on flagship brands, unnecessarily.

Goodyear are definitely up there with the best, and did you know the Dunlop brand of tyre is owned and operated by Goodyear in Australia? That means you can consider Dunlop a pretty decent tyre without having a Gucci-esque price tag.

Reputable tyre brands – Yokohama, Toyo, Kumho, Hankook

Yokohama, Toyo, and Kumho are decent brands of tyre. Anyone into the JDM (Japanese domestic market) scene usually opt for these brands, and often swear by them.

Most of the times these brands of tyre can be bought with bigger discounts if the AUD is in favour of the Yen. Kumho tyres are actually made in South Korea, a country who has made huge headway in quality over the past decades – you can even argue Korean cars are better than some Japanese cars these days for build quality and reliability.

You can consider that a fact as it come directly from my wife, who’s Korean. According to her, Korean brands are better than all other brands.

I grew up owning and racing numerous Honda CRX coupes (the wedge kind, not the hairdresser kind), and I swear the Toyo Proxes R888r tyres were the grippiest, most fun tyres I ever ran on a Honda CRX. Even back then I would find the best discounts on premium Toyo’s like the R888r by simply shopping around, and you could always get better discounts on quality Asian brands than you could with the more “premium” brands. You’re still buying quality, but without the premium price tag.

Hankook are another South Korean tyre brand worth mentioning, and although possibly not on-par with Kumho are still very usable and can often be bought with a fantastic discount.

Budget tyre brands

There are various budget tyre brands in Australia, and although some are good and may serve your purpose, I personally opt for mid-range tyres rated appropriately for my vehicle and driving needs.

Budget tyres may well be fine, but keep in mind it’s not just about tyre rating – it’s about grip, handling, and stopping ability. If you research, you may also find some budget tyre brands wear out much quicker, which can cost you more in the long run.

You may get a better discount on a budget tyre, but there’s only so far you can go before compromising quality and noise. If I were you I’d stick to the reputable tyre brands above, or the premium brands if you find a good discount.

4×4 tyre brands

I’ll skirt over this quickly as the purpose of this article is more to discus getting a discount on tyres, but if you drive a 4×4 then these are popular choices:

Premium 4×4 tyres:

• Bridgestone Dueler A/T
• BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 (I drove around Australia with a set of these and they were badass)
• Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure

Other popular choices which are cheaper & still good:

• Mickey Thompson Baja MTZ P3
• Cooper Discoverer STT Pro
• Toyo Open Country M/T

Cheaper 4×4 tyres:

• Falken Wildpeak A/T3W
• Maxxis Razr MT

In Australia there are deals to be had on 4×4 tyres, but from personal experience a tyre shop will always get away with charging good money on any 16″ on larger tyres. For example, kitting out my Delica on 15″ KO2’s cost me half the price for the same tyres in 16″ for my Land Cruiser.

The reason – tyre shops know how much we’ll spend on our Land Cruisers!

Anway, the tips below will still save you hundreds of bucks, so keep reading!

How I saved $352 on a set of tyres for my road car

I conducted an experiment to find out how much we pay for tyres, and how much we pay for fitting. I discuss the experiment at length in the article How Much is Tyre Fitting, Really, but I’ll summarise the experiment here as it’s the perfect example of saving huge money on an average set of tyres.

Saving $352 was as simple as this:

• Buying tyres online instead of a conventional tyre shop
• Buying tyres suitable for my needs rather than the best I could buy (and I still ended up with very good tyres!)

Here’s how:

Step 1: Find what tyres are available, and for how much

I used Tyroola, which is so easy you’ll be amazed you didn’t use them sooner.

First I typed in my tyre profile – just type in the values on your current tyres. For me this was Width: 195, Profile: 60, Rim Size: 16.

Tyroola gave me a range of options including premium, mid-range, and budget, along with tyre ratings, noise ratings, and customer reviews.

The premium option was Bridgestone ECOPIA at $167 a corner, and cheapest option a set of Winruns (budget tyres) at $60 a corner – that’s a difference between $668 for a set of Bridgestone or $240 for the Winruns.

The nice thing about Tyroola is they tell you the price you pay just for the tyres, not including fitting. When you go to Bob Jane T-Mart, Tyrepower or K-Mart you never really know.

I actually skipped the highlighted options, and by scrolling down the page a little found a great discount on Kumho tyres:

Perfect!

31 positive 5 star reviews as well.

The Kumho tyres were also V rated, so more than enough for Australian roads, and a great deal cheaper than the Bridgestones. At $67 cheaper per corner that’s already a saving of almost $267 – and guess what, the Bridgestones were only H rated.

Much better rated tyres, for much less money!

Add To Cart!

Step 2: Choose the best local tyre fitter

When buying tyres online you first pick the tyre, then pick a local tyre fitter.

The tyres will be shipped to them, and then you either take your car to the tyre fitter or they come to you – simple.

Tyroola gave me numerous options locally (in Perth) along with feedback from people who had use their services:

This is what I love most about buying tyres online – you can pick and choose the best local tyre fitter for you. Not only that, you can see exactly how much you’re paying for fitment, and read other consumer reviews as well.

The difference in price of fitting was $108 to $192, plus the variation of wheel alignment which can be optional or included. I managed to save a fair bit (around 4 or 5 Perth-priced pints) in choosing the right tyre fitter for me, and they turned out great.

A quick summary – how much would you have spent?

Did you know most people like to be told what to buy?

Nobody likes to think.

Obviously you’re different because you’ve read this guide, so congrats – you’ll have more money in your bank to buy your girlfriend flowers when she gets annoyed at you buying car parts.

Fact is, in the scenario above, most people would’ve bought the Bridgestone ECOPIA despite being an H rated tyre at a much higher price. Usually people opt for the first option.

Those people would’ve spent $352 more on H rated tyres when you got a stonking discount on a decent set of South Korean V rated Kumho tyres, Gangnam Style!

You also know exactly how much you’re paying for the tyre, how much discount you’re really getting, and how much you’re paying for fitment and wheel balancing.

If you went to your local tyre shop, how much would you have paid for fitment?

Do you even know?

Nope!

And more than that, how much of your money would’ve gone to the upkeep of waiting room pot plants and prime-location premises?

Hopefully this guide has shown you how to get a real discount on tyres. If it has, you can say thanks in the comments!

I confess to running Yokohama Geolandar X-MT G005‘s at the time of writing, and although a little noisy have proven pretty decent off-road and on-road performance is really good too.

Let’s take a look at what I consider the best mud terrain tyres for Australian conditions, whatever your budget.

Stuff to consider when buying mud terrain tyres

If you’re struggling to choose a set of muddies there are five key factors to help you decide:

• Dry performance
• Wet performance
• Durability
• Noise and comfort
• And the old chestnut – Price.

Noise is probably your least concern, but if you spend most of your time on-road you’ll find some muddies are much quieter than others.

Wet or dry performance will depend on how much wet sticky mud you want to get yourself into. If you use your 4X4 a lot on the road then dry performance muddies will give you better practicality, fuel economy, and less road noise. Wet muddies will get you anywhere you want to go.

Durability is much better on wet performance muddies. They’re built to be seriously rugged with reinforced sidewalls, and this makes them much more resistant to punctures or damage from hard terrain.

When it comes to budget you’ll find a huge difference in price. In Australia we have the big brands like BFGoodrich and General Tire, more affordable yet still decent Japanese brands like Toyo and Yokohama, and also true blue Aussie brands like Monsta.

Where to get the best prices on mud terrain tyres in Australia?

If you’ve read my other articles you’ll know I’m a big fan of Tyroola, and I recently wrote how I saved $352 for a set of tyres for my Civic daily.

Tyroola are an online Aussie tyre retailer, and buying a set of tyres is as easy as picking what you want and having them sent to a tyre fitter near you. You even get to choose the tyre fitter based on location, price, service, and reviews from other consumers. You can even have them hooked up on your own driveway.

In 2024 it’s a great way of buying tyres for the best possible price.

Best Mud Terrain Tyres in Australia, 2024

Below you will find our best rated muddies of 2024, categorised by Best Aussie, Best Premium, Best All-Rounder, Best for Comfort, and Best Budget.

Keep in mind the tyres listed below are the latest models in 2024. Want to save some money, opt for a previous model.

Best Aussie MT: Monsta Mud Warrior MT

Being an Australian brand has to be a plus. Who knows Aussie off-road conditions better than Australians?

Combine that with a badass name – Monsta Mud Warrior MT – and a really decent price, these have to be the best Aussie muddy on offer?

Reviews have been great for the Monsta brand in general, and when it comes to the Mud Warrior’s a quote which sums them up in true Aussie style is “They stick like shit to a blanket”. With 4.8/5 on ProductReview and shed loads of positive feedback amongst 4X4 communities, why would you not?

Our mate Danny did a lap of Australia on a set of Mud Warriors, and despite being “a tad noisy” got him through endless dirt, corrugation, sand, a few rivers, remote salt lake, and of course a tonne of mud. He got stuck once, but deflating the tyres a little more got him unstuck, and I’m sure down to his terrible skills rather than the muddies.

Aesthetically speaking, the Monsta Mud Warriors look really serious on a Defender or Land Cruiser, particularly wagons and troopys.

Best Premium MT: BFGoodrich Mud Terrain T/A KM3

For serious off-roaders it comes as no surprise a BFGoodrich muddy gets “Best Premium MT”.

Yes, they’re expensive, but BFGoodrich are known across the world to be absolutely best of the best for off-road. In 2024 the BFGoodrich muddy of choice is the Mud Terrain T/A KM3 which already comes with a stack of great consumer reviews.

Not only are these tyres durable and quieter than most brands of muddy, they will get you absolutely anywhere in Australia (other than across the Torres Strait).

If you have the money and want the best, hook up your rig with KM3s and be the envy of your mates. It’s as simple as that, and you won’t be disappointed.

Yes, I did consider General Tire Grabbers. Despite being a very notable muddy, my personal preference (and experience) has to be BFGoodrich.

Best All-Rounder: Yokohama Geolander X-MT Mud Terrain G005

My guess is you didn’t expect to see a Yokohama on a list of the best mud terrain tyres for Australian off-road conditions, but credit where credit is due the Japanese know their stuff when it comes to tyres.

The Geolandar X-MT G005 may leave your mates wondering how serious you are about mud. That is, until you rock up and tow them out a sticky situation.

I’ve been running these muddies on my Ute for several months, and they’re a very capable mud terrain tyre. You compromise on the brand name and street appeal, but you’ll save some bucks in the process.

If you want a really good mud terrain tyre but aren’t bothered and don’t want to pay the premium of BFGoodrich Mud Terrain T/A KM3s, then check out the price of these Yoko’s:

Best for Comfort: Toyo Open Country MT

Toyo, another Japanese brand, make some excellent tyres. Not only are they excellent, but they’re also affordable.

The Toyo Open Country MT will be a good choice for you if you spend most of the time on the road, but still want a capable weekend warrior. Open Country MTs aren’t as serious as the other brands above, but you’ll be thankful for having a car which still performs politely and relatively quietly on the road.

It’s not as if you’ll be compromising that much either. The thick sidewalls on these Toyo’s are super tough and sturdy, even at low pressure.

You may be surprised to learn Toyo tyres have the most loyal consumers, with around 90% saying they would buy the same brand again. It’s possible these tyres will clock over 100,000km on Aussie roads, so factor that in when you’re considering how reasonably they’re priced.

Best Budget MT: Lanvigator Catchfors MT

When your mates ask you what tyres you have, and you say “Lanvigator’s”, you’ll probably get some blank looks.

You’ll also have a fatter wallet, because the Lanvigator Catchfors MT are much cheaper than all other muddies above. They’re made in China, a country known more for cheap exports than quality exports, but don’t worry too much – the Catchfor MTs come with stacks of positive reviews from budget-mongers like yourself.

The Lanvigators aren’t the quietest by some margin, and they cope with dry mud better than wet mud, but it has to be said they’re priced brilliantly.

If you don’t want a set of tyres which cost more than your car, yet let you have fun in the mud without too much stress, then check out the Lanvigator Catchfors MT.

A great muddy on a budget.

Wet mud performance vs dry mud performance

You may wonder why some MT tyres are better in wet mud and others in dry mud. Not all muddies are designed for the same purpose – other than mud, right?

There are design considerations which affect how the muddies perform in various situations, including tarmac.

Generally speaking, a wet performance mud terrain tyre will be tougher and able to disperse mud more easily. In wet mud, these tyres will effectively channel water and mud away from the tread, therefore maintaining better grip.

Dry performance mud terrain tyres (and all terrain ATs) compromise some of the wet grip for better all-round use. This includes better driving on-road, and usually less road noise. Some dry performance mud terrains will perform better in dry mud than those designed for wet mud.

It’s rare for a mud terrain tyre which trumps all aspect of mud use, but premium tyres like BFGoodrich and General Tire do a far better job in all situations, even offering you a pleasurable drive along the freeway home.

If you’re still uncertain whether you want a muddy for wet performance or dry performance, here are some thought provoking pros and cons of both:

Wet performance MT pros and cons

Dry performance MT pros and cons

Are narrow or wide tyres better in mud?

There’s a belief that narrow tyres can perform better in the mud, but this is incorrect.

Simply put, traction is all about surface area, and that means the larger the surface the better the traction. That means the seemingly ridiculous size of muddies you see on Australian 4X4s is all for purpose, not *just* to show off.

There are other factors of consideration, such as the ability of a mud terrain tyre to withstand pressure at low psi, and tread design to effectively disperse mud, but larger surface area is the reason muddies look so much more aggressive than all terrains.

Your local tyre shop will happily take your hard-earned Aussie bucks for a new tyre rather than offer you a quick and cheap repair. You can’t blame them really – they need to make money – so how do you know when your tyre can be repaired as a cheaper alternative?

This guide will cover various types of punctures, which can be repaired, and which can’t. We’ll compare the cost of tyre repair in Australia vs new tyres, and help you decide which option is best for you.

Lastly we’ll look at repairing a car tyre at home, plus all the finer details about car tyre repair.

Related: If you opt for new tyres, make sure you read how to save $$$s on new tyres in Australia.

How much does it cost to repair a car tyre in Australia?

In Australia the cost of car tyre repair ranges from $20 to $50 a tyre depending on the severity of the damage, type of repair needed, or who you pay to have the tyre repaired. If you live in a remote area you may understandably have to pay more.

If the tyre is fairly new then a tyre repair may be a better option than forking out $100 to $700 on a new tyre. More so if you need the opposite tyre replaced as well.

Whether you repair or replace a tyre may depend on the severity of damage, use of vehicle, or how much tread you have left on the tyre (see the “Tread Wear Indicators” section).

How do you know if your tyre has a puncture?

Although flat tyres are almost certainly a puncture (or faulty valve), smaller punctures can occur which are harder to notice.

It may not come as a surprise the #1 cause of punctured tyres in Australia are screws and nails. Are tradies working on your block?

Usually a nail will cause a slow puncture which may go a few weeks without noticing. Steering and suspension may begin to feel slightly different, or you may not notice until you park with your tyres at a certain angle and notice one is slightly ballooned at the bottom.

Here are common signs you have a puncture:

• Flat tyre.
• Steering pulls to one side or cornering feels less responsive.
• Suspension may feel softer than usual.
• The bottom of one tyre is bulged out more than the others.
• A thumping or thudding sound or vibration prior to a blow out. You may also experience a sense heavy wind blowing the car (similar sensation).
• Your neighbour shouts Hey mate, your tyre looks flat.

Common causes of tyre punctures

There are four main causes of tyre punctures which can cause either slow or rapid deflation of a tyre. The type of puncture will help you decide next steps:

• Sharp object penetrating tyre such as a screw or nail.
• Failure of a tyre’s valve stern, either when the tyre was replaced or due to dirt and debris in the valve (the reason you should always have tyre valve caps fitted).
• Breakage of the link between a tyre and rim, usually from a collision with a kerb, pot hole, or other external object.
• Excessively worn out tread causing explosive tyre failure or debris from the road tearing through the tyre

How is a tyre repaired?

We know our tyres are the #1 most important safety aspect of the car, so if you’re concerned about a tyre repair being safe then don’t worry. A tyre repairer will inform you if the tyre can be repaired safety, and assuming the puncture isn’t near the tyre wall then your tyre can be made as good as new.

A tyre repairer will adhere to Australian Tyre Repair Standards, and if this is not possible will inform you the tyre must be replaced.

There are two industry recommended repair methods. The first is a two-piece stem and patch repair, or a one-piece patch/stem combination repair.

The 3 primary considerations when repairing a puncture are:

• Evaluate the damage the object has caused.
• Reestablish an airtight seal of the tyre’s inner liner.
• Completely fill the path the object took through the tyre.

In general, the process of repairing a tyre is as follows:

• The tyre technician will locate the hole with soapy water or within a vessel of water.
• The hole is reamed to clean it, and the inner liner is prepped with a rasp.
• A liberal dose of rubber cement is applied to the area where the patch will rest, then a plug-patch is inserted.
• A plug fills the void in the tyre and provides some sealing.
• The patch is then pressed against the inner liner, completing the seal.
• The tyre is re-installed on the rim and rebalanced.

Typically, a mushroom-shaped patch and plug combination repair is the best method of repairing a punctured radial tyre.

Tyre patches alone and tyre plugs alone are not acceptable tyre repairs. The only approved tyre repair is the combination plug-patch style. In the workshop, the tyre is removed from the wheel and repaired in line with the Australian Tyre Repair Standard.

1. Take the tyre off and repair both sides

A tyre cannot be fully repaired from the outside. A temporary repair can be achieved with an external plug, but do not consider this a safe repair.

To comply with Australian Tyre Repair Standards it is necessary to remove and inspect the interior of the tyre for hidden damage, and seal the puncture both internally and externally.

2. Fill puncture path

A tyre repair must fill the path the object took through the tyre.

If this is not done properly, moisture can seep in from the opening of the puncture and reach the steel belts and/or casing cords. This exposure can cause rusting or deterioration and further compromise the structural integrity of the tyre.

3. Treat inner tube

To repair the inner liner it must be cleaned, buffed, cemented, patched and coated to restore its ability to retain air. This can only be done from inside the tyre and another reason why plug-only repair is unwise.

Can you repair a tyre at home?

Keeping in mind your tyres are one of the main safety aspects of your car, and a tyre fitter will perform the repair inline with Australian Tyre Repair Standards, it is possible to repair your tyre at home.

Dune offer a 4WD Premium Tyre Repair Kit (available from Anaconda). Although being marketed for 4WD enthusiasts, such as to repair a punctured tyre on an off-road jaunt, the kit is suitable for repairing tyres on a passenger car, 4WD, ATV, or truck.

Here’s a video to get you started:

How to decide whether to repair or replace a car tyre

There are general considerations which will help you decide whether to repair or replace a tyre. Your main two considerations will be the extent of damage, but also how much longevity is left in the tyre.

Important considerations (and when not to repair a tyre)

If the puncture is larger than 6mm you should never repair a tyre.

A sidewall puncture in your tyre is unrepairable. The sidewall and tyre shoulder area flex a great deal, which means tyre patches would quickly come loose. Instead, your tyre will need to be replaced.

Impacting a kerb or hitting large potholes can crack your rim where the tyre bead seals. If you’ve hit something and your tyre is now flat, you may require additional repairs above and beyond a tyre repair, such as rim repair or replacement.

If the tyre has been repaired previously then consider the structural integrity may be too compromised by an additional repair, especially if the puncture is in a similar area. The number of repairs may be limited by the tyre manufacturer’s recommendations and repair policy.

How used is the tyre?

Tread Wear Indicators give you a good idea of how much life is in the tyre, but you should also consider how damaged the tyre may be from road debris or collisions with hard objects.

How long did you drive on a punctured tyre, and how deflated was the tyre?

Driving on a flat tyre for any distance can severely damage the structural integrity of the tyre, making it more necessary to replace the tyre instead.

Age of the tyre is also a factor, or whether your vehicle has remained stationary for lengthy periods of time.

If you are in any doubt, seek the advice of a local tyre repairer.

Tread wear indicators

All road going tyres are legally required to have Tread Wear Indicators (TWI).

For vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of 4.5 tonnes or less, a tyre must have a tread pattern around its circumference that is at least 1.5mm deep across the surface area of the tyre which comes in contact with the road. These are small raised platforms of rubber moulded into the main tread grooves.

You should be able to locate the TWI by following the indicators in the shoulder of the tyre:

• Look for the letters TWI. 
• A small triangular arrow head shape (see below).
• Sometimes by a company brand logo , (Goodyear ‘Wingfoot’ the ‘Michelin Man’, etc.)

Once you have found the tyre wear indicators you can determine if they are worth repairing or replacing. There is no point repairing a tyre if it will need to be replaced in the next 6 to 12 months regardless, and never repair a tyre without 1.6mm of tread as an absolute minimum.

Run flat tyres

If your car has run flat tyres it is unlikely these can be repaired. You can consult the tyre manufacturer for their repair policy.

Run flat tyres (otherwise known as mobility) tyres are becoming more popular as an original equipment manufacturer’s fitment to new cars, particularly for BMWs. This technology allows you to get home and to the store safely at a reduced speed and range without the need to change the tyre.

The speed restriction for run flat tyres is generally 80 km/h with a distance restriction to travel less than 80km on these tyres.

For advice on run flat and self sealing tyres it is best to ask your local tyre shop. Run flat tyre repairs would be conducted in accordance with the Australian Tyre standard and in line with product specific recommendations from the world class manufacturers.

Manufacturers policy on repaired tyres

The warranty of a tyre may or may not be compromised by a tyre repair. This will depend on the tyre manufacturer’s policy.

When it comes to speed ratings, some manufacturers allow this to be retained if the specified multi-step repair procedure is followed exactly, by a professional tyre repairer. However, because manufacturers have no control over the state of the puncture or the quality of the repair, they often consider the high speed capability of a tyre to be compromised.

Final thoughts on tyre repair

Ultimately the decision to repair or replace a tyre is up to you.

If a tyre is repaired professionally in conformance of the Australian Tyre Wear Standards there is no reason the tyre won’t offer you maximum longevity. However, replacing a punctured tyre will mitigate any risk you face from a poor repair or subsequent damage in the future.

If in doubt, seek the advice of a tyre repair professional or purchase a new tyre (or new set of tyres).

If you decide to replace tyres, read our guide on how you can save a great deal of money in doing so.

If you have any further thoughts or questions on tyre repair, get in touch or add a comment below.

Needless to say we often overpay on premium tyres designed for speeds up to 270km/h, and legally speaking you’ll never get anywhere near that on Australian roads, will you?

Although the words “budget” and “performance” aren’t the best paring of words, there are definitely great tyre options which will give you great performance on a much friendlier budget. Most of the time, given the price you’ll save, it’s a no brainer.

Let’s look into what I consider the best budget performance tyres in Australia, in 2024.

Note: Please note prices have been sourced from our preferred tyre retailer Tyroola.

Budget performance tyre considerations

Before investing in any set of tyres it’s worth considering a few things which will help you choose the right tyres for you. When it comes to Australian road conditions (assuming you won’t be taking your performance car on endless corrugated dirt), most tyres will have very good grip, and almost all will have a suitable speed rating.

Let’s cover some basic considerations before buying a set of budget performance tyres:

What’s your budget?

Lot’s of Aussies drive performance cars, but when it comes to buying tyres they don’t have the funds to buy premium Pirellis.

And that’s fine.

There’s a huge difference in price of performance tyres, and you have to wonder how much you’re paying for the name. Did you know the state-of-the-art premium tyre technologies won’t affect your butt dyno whatsoever, and it’s not as if your Dad ran those tyres when he ragged his V8 Commodore around Sydders.

Did you know most premium tyre brands sell perfectly decent tyres for much less than their flagship brands, and most are great for on-road performance? They just aren’t rated for dragstrip speeds, that’s all.

Write down on paper how much you can afford for your budget premium tyres, and we’ll help you find something suitable.

What’s your driving style?

Do you rag your car?

Genuine question, and this will affect how “budget” you want to go. Generally speaking, the cheaper the tyre, the less grip it may offer. You can argue cheaper tyres offer less durability, but this isn’t always the case.

Keep in mind tyres are one of the main safety aspects of your car. More so for a performance car. So if you drive aggressively and push tyres to the limit, it may be worth spending a bit more money or blowing your budget.

What type of driving do you do normally?

If you drive a lot on the freeway then the pressure is off significantly when buying tyres.

Always consider what you use your car for the most. Write down percentages of use on paper (such as 80% freeway, 15% around town, 5% hooning around Coles car park at 3am) – this will help guide you towards a set of tyres which meet both your budget, and your performance needs.

Did you know the average Porsche driver will stay within speed limits much more than the average Holden driver? There’s irony in that, but it means Porsche drivers unnecessarily overspend more on performance tyres than Holden drivers!

Are weather or regional conditions a factor?

Most of the time in Australia weather and climate isn’t an issue, unless you live in Melbourne where I know you get arctic weather conditions most of the year.

Do you need your tyres to cater for regional conditions, such as dirt roads or snowy mountain conditions? This may affect the tyres you buy, but you knew that already, didn’t you?

With weather conditions I really just wanted to make a cheap joke about Melbourne weather.

Right, let’s look at some budget performance tyre options…

Best in Budget Performance: Pirelli Dragon Sport

The Pirelli Dragon Sport is a great performance tyre from a brand you know to be premium. It’s a tyre which although isn’t the cheapest is still very affordable given the brand name.

The Dragon Sport is a very popular choice in Australia for sports and performance cars, with lots of positive feedback from genuine Aussies. It’s a great sweet spot between performance and affordability.

As a summer tyre the Dragon Sport work very well in the dry, and not too bad in the wet either. Even Melbournites have had great experiences with the tyre, both along wet tramlines and on spirited Great Alpine drives.

Although some have found these tyres slightly more noisy than boring tyres, it has to be said the tyre wear and longevity is very good. Yes, you can buy a more budget tyre, but will it last as long as Pirelli Dragon Sport? Probably not.

Best for Smaller Performance Cars: Toyo Proxes T1 Sport

I have a lot of respect for the Toyo Proxes T1 Sports, and a lot of experience having run them on my Honda CRX for many years before going all ridiculous with R888Rs (which are badass).

A lot can be said for most Japanese tyre brands, and believe it or not the Toyo Tire Corporation emerged right after WW2. Decades of Toyo tyres sold worldwide for many applications has proven quality and durability, and also good performance with the Proxes T1 Sport. You can probably throw in “innovation” as well, and Toyo tyres are often respected by car enthusiasts.

I’m always impressed by the comparative performance of Toyo Proxes T1 Sport, and I feel you will too considering these are well within the “budget performance” bracket.

Ultimate Budget: Maxtrek Maximus M1

If you’ve found the first two budget performance recommendations above your budget, then let’s bring things back down to bargain.

You may find this a bit of a curve ball, but Maxtrek Maximus M1 tyres hold their own in the dry. Surprisingly so. What they fall short on is wet weather grip, but that’s less of a concern in most parts of Australia for most of the year.

If you’re happy to relax on wet days, the Maximus M1 tyres are very affordable compared to the other performance tyres above and below. The quality isn’t on par with the other recommendations, but at such a good price you’ll probably feel happier ragging them around the streets, and you’ll save enough money to buy yourself a new subwoofer.

But perhaps not for your Ferrari, right?

Best Budget Performance Allrounder: Goodyear Eagle F1 Directional 5

Goodyear are one of the biggest tyre manufacturers worldwide, not to mention the iconic blimps. Even those weird looking vehicles they took to the moon on the Apollo missions were fitted with Goodyear tyres. I bet you didn’t know that?

When it comes to budget, Goodyear have always been a solid and reliable choice. When it comes to performance tyres on a budget I’ve selected the Goodyear Eagle F1 Directional 5s. As a personal preference I would favour the slightly more expensive F1 Asymmetrics for Australian road use, but it has to be said the Directional’s are better allrounder when you throw in wet weather, and a great price too.

I’ve noticed Goodyear Eagle F1s aren’t as readily available in Australia in 2024, but shop around and you’ll find some. Alternatively opt for the Asymmetrics which are really decent summer performance tyres.

So, if you want a tyre with “F1” in the name, check out the Eagle F1s:

What budget performance tyres do you run, and why?

I’ve been driving enthusiastically and racing cars for four decades now, but I’m more than happy for other expert opinions, feedback, reviews, and experiences.

What tyres do you run and why? How do you find them for budget, and for performance?

Let me know in the comments!

However, if you’re stuck out bush, off-road, or have no other options, below you’ll find possible ways to get your car off the ground to repair or replace your tyre:

Hack #1: Re-inflate the tyre

If you have an air compressor (even a manual foot pump) your safest option is to re-inflate the tyre and drive slowly to a place where you can call for assistance or seek help. The type of puncture will affect how successful this is, and if you have a way of locating and plugging the puncture then this can be used to get you to safety.

Monitor the tyre pressure regularly and re-inflate if necessary. The more you drive on a deflated tyre the more damage you will do to it’s structural integrity.

Related: Tyre repair.

Hack #2: Use the terrain or kerb

If you’re on soft ground your easiest option is to support the jack point or suitable location underneath the car with a concrete block, sturdy rock, or anything you can find in the environment which will adequately support the corner weight of your car. Be vary careful with what you use.

Dig away the soft ground under the punctured tyre until you have enough clearance to remove it.

In an urban area you may be able to achieve the same result using a kerb or elevation, or maneuver your car so the punctured tyre is over mud or grass.

Depending on your vehicle, and as a last resort, part deflating the tyre on the opposite corner diagonally may give you a little more clearance. For example, if your front left tyre is punctured, you can part deflate the rear right tyre. You would need an air compressor or foot pump to re-inflate the tyre.

Hack #3: Use leverage

It may be a hard ask, but if you can locate a long wooden post or straight and sturdy tree limb, you may be able to use this to lift the corner of your car. The longer it is, the better leverage you should have.

Note: This will be a two man job minimum, with safety concerns which you should strongly consider.

One of you will need to lift the car using the lever. You may need to use a fulcrum to get better leverage – a fulcrum is the pivot point, such as on a see saw, which helps lift the heavy object (car) on the other end of the lever. A suitable rock or possibly your spare tyre (last resort) can be used as a fulcrum.

If you can momentarily lift or bounce the car, the other person can slide a suitable object under the jack point to lift the car. Once propped and secure with enough clearance, you will be able to remove and repair/replace the tyre or wheel.

Hack #4: Rocking technique

You may have realised the further you get down this list the less chance of success.

However, if you’re stuck in a situation where you have no other means of leverage, it may be possible to rock the car off the ground. You will need a great deal of man power, more so with a heavy vehicle.

The rocking technique requires you to turn the steering wheel fully in the direction of the flat tyre. You (and your mates) will need to push and pull the car sideways to lift the flat tyre off the ground.

Whatever method you choose, safety should be your top priority. None of the methods listed above should be considered safe, and should only be attempted as a last resort or matter of emergency.

If you can call for assistance, call for assistance.

Mickey Thompson tyres, named after the legendary American racing driver of the same name (Michael Lee “Mickey” Thompson), are considered one of the best brands of 4WD tyres worldwide.

That’s why you see them on a lot of Aussie trucks and utes.

But what is the right Mickey Thompson tyre for your 4WD?

Well, that depends on your style of driving. If you use your 4WD mostly on-road, with the occasionally jaunt on sand or mud, then an all-terrain ATZ is what you’ll want.

However, if you’re a more serious off-roader, or happy to take the hit on noise levels on-road, then a more meaty mud-terrain MTZ is what you want.

Below we’ll take a look at a range of Mickey Thompson 4WD tyres, but make sure you take a look at Tyroola who will hook you up with the best prices.

Mickey Thompson All Terrain Tyres

Mickey Thompson ATZ 5 Rib

80% Road & Sand , 20% Dirt & Mud

The Mickey Thompson ATZ 5 Rib is an excellent all terrain tyre which performs equally well off and on the road.

The tread lugs give this tyre great wet weather handling and they feature reinforced side walls to reduce damage when venturing off-road.

They include a solid centre rib which reduces noise and increases straight line stability. Overall, this is a great choice for all terrain drivers and look great on any rig.

Recommended for the weekend off roader.

Mickey Thompson STZ

80% Road & Sand , 20% Dirt & Mud

The Mickey Thompson STZ represents the latest technology in all-terrain tyres.

These tyres feature ‘Z’ shaped which offer increased traction over wet and greasy roads. The tread pattern provides excellent stearing response, superior grip, and more traction making them perfect for on and off-road use.

They include textured shoulder lugs for added traction off-road and have an extra nylon belt laid between the tread and the steel belts giving them improved strength and stability.

Recommended for the weekend off roader.

Mickey Thompson ATZ 4 Rib

60% Road & Sand , 40% Dirt & Mud

The Mickey Thompson ATZ 4 Rib is an awesome heavy all terrain tyre which performs equally well off and on the road.

The 4 rib design provides excellent off road traction on a wide variety of terrains. It incorporates large tread lugs which offer excellent handling in wet and greasy conditions.

These tyres also include sidebiters which are specially designed to help climb out of ruts and bog holes.

Recommended for the serious off roader.

Mickey Thompson Mud Terrain Tyres

Mickey Thompson MTZ

40% Road & Sand , 60% Dirt & Mud

The Mickey Thompson MTZ is the king of the mud pit!

These fantastic mud tyres are designed for, and deliver maximum traction in off road and on the black top. They include huge stepped sidebiters which are designed for climbing out of ruts and offer excellent protection from damage.

The new tread pattern on these tyres delivers the performance you need with surprisingly little noise. They’re one of the quietest heavy traction tyres on the market.

Recommended for the serious off roader.

Mickey Thompson Baja CLAW

20% Road & Sand , 80% Dirt & Mud

The Mickey Thompson Baja CLAW is the ultimate mud tyre for the off road fanatic. Definitely not for school or Coles runs (or are they?).

These directional tyres feature huge 23 degree angled treads which operate in a similar fashion to tractor tyres. They’re self cleaning and provide amazing traction without generating too much road noise.

They include reinforced side walls just below the tread and have scolloped alternate shoulder tread blocks which provide excellent off-road bite and provide superior traction in the most boggy conditions.

Definitely recommended for the off road fanatic!

Mickey Thompson Dirt Road Touring Tyres

Mickey Thompson F-C II

60% Road & Sand , 40% Dirt & Mud

The Mickey Thompson F-C II is the perfect dirt road touring tyre.

It includes a full depth tread pattern for maximum grip and huge shoulder lugs and stepped shoulders to offer maximum off-road traction.

The sharp shoulders of these tyres bite through the top layers of dirt offering excellent high speed dirt road stability and performance.

Recommended for the outback tourer.

Which Mickey Thompson 4WD tyres do you run on your wagon?

Let us know in the comments, and make sure you mention any pros or cons you can think of.

Even if you drive a regular old Honda Civic or Odyssey, which are still pretty badass, then you may want to know what tyres are made in Japan, where your car was designed and manufactured.

Thankfully there are some great Japanese tyres available at most Australian tyre retailers, so let’s take a look!

Why buy Japanese tyres?

People opt for Japanese tyres for the same reasons they buy Japanese cars.

When it comes to cars, Japanese are known for cutting-edge engineering, state of the art designs, and eco-friendly manufacturing practices.

Most of all, most Australians appreciate the sheer reliably when it comes to Japanese cars and car products. Don’t believe me? Take a drive out to your nearest outback town and count how many old Toyota Land Cruisers you see. If that isn’t testament to Japanese reliability then I don’t know what it.

In Australia we have many brands of tyre on offer, from Chinese to American brands, but what tyres are made in Japan?

Let’s take a look!

Japanese tyre brands in Australia

Bridgestone

Most people don’t realise Bridgestone are a Japanese tyre manufacturer, but they are, and they’re know for premium quality.

The Bridgestone Potenza Sport is one of the best selling sports tyres worldwide, and therefore the most common in Australia. They’re a great option if you want to pretend your daily commute is like a lap around Mount Panorama, although if you’re in the JDM scene you’ll likely opt for the next Japanese tyre brand.

Yokohama

You have to admit Yokohama sounds much more like a Japanese tyre brand than Bridgestone, but it’s the reputation of these tyres which make them the go to choice for JDM enthusiasts worldwide.

For your regular runabout you may opt for Yokohama BluEarth, or Geolander for your 4X4, but for your JDM ride you’ll be looking at Advan Sport as a really good choice for performance bang for buck.

When you buy Yokohama tyres, or Bridgestone for that matter, you’re pretty much assured of Japanese reliability and usability.

Toyo

Toyo should never be overlooked as a Japanese brand of tyre, and you can get great deals on the brand throughout Australia (make sure you check out Tyroola who are a great source of tyres, delivered and fitted locally to you).

For hardcore JDM cars take a look at the awesome Toyo Proxes R888 R tyres. Semi slick and take corners like nobodies business.

If you want something which lasts a little longer, more regular tyres in the Proxes range are very good and much cheaper than R888s. Or if you want to kit out your Japanese 4X4 or Honda Odyssey, then there are plenty of options in the Toyo range to choose from.

Falken

It has to be said Falken tyres aren’t the most sort of Japanese brand of tyre, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth mentioning.

Brands like Bridgestone and Yokohama are fantastic tyres but will often cost you a premium. Just because Falken don’t have the same status as Gucci or Prada tyres, they can still be a very good Japanese tyre if you have a tighter budget (or handbag loving girlfriend).

Where to buy Japanese tyres in Australia

Japanese tyres are sold worldwide, and all the brands above have a glowing reputation.

In Australia, that means you’ll find Japanese tyres everywhere – your local retailers like Bob Jane T Mart, K Mart, or Tyrepower, or your online retailers like Tyroola.

What we do recommend, however, is reading our guide on finding the best deal on tyres based on what you really need, not what you’re told you need. So if you have the time, read how we saved $352 on a set of tyres for a regular Honda runabout.

But don’t worry!

Below are recommendations for tyre shops open on a Sunday, both national and local. If you’re desperate for an urgent repair, skip to those sections now.

However, keep in mind you may pay more for your tyre repair or replacement, and it may be more than one tyre you need to replace. If you want to replace your tyres cost-effectively, then a better option might be an online tyre retailer like Tyroola who ship a good set of tyres for a great price to a tyre fitter near you – likely an independent tyre fitter who will change your tyres on your driveway.

National tyre shops open on a Sunday (Mobile tyre fitters)

Mobile Tyre Shop (National)

Mobile Tyre Shop are for most Australians the go to *rescue service* when they need a tyre shop on a Sunday. The company has been around over a decade and has built up a fleet of vehicles Australia wide who can come to you and sort our your tyre woes (and battery woes as well).

Mobile Tyre Shop are available in the following areas, hopefully near you:

• Melbourne
• Perth
• Brisbane
• Gold Coast
• Adelaide
• Sydney
• Wollongong
• Sunshine Coast

If you’re in one of those areas, head over to the Mobile Tyre Shop website, select your tyres, book a time, and they’ll come to you.

Jim’s Mobile Tyres (National)

It doesn’t matter where you grew up in Australia, you’ve probably heard of Jim’s. At least Jim’s Mowing.

Jim Penman kicked off the brand back in 1982, himself mowing lawns for many years before the brand grew and grew.

Jim’s Mobile Tyres are a more recent addition to the Jim’s Group franchise style of business, and can be found all over Australia:

• Darwin
• Sydney
• Hobart
• Maitland & Newcastle
• Melbourne
• Penrith
• Perth
• Wollongong

Best of all, Jim’s Mobile Tyres mostly offer tyre repair and replacement services on a Sunday, and they’ll come to you.

If Jim’s is your man, jump over to Jim’s Mobile Tyres website. All service areas can be found here.

Road Runner Mobile Tyres (Melbourne & Sydney)

Road Runner Mobile Tyres only service areas of Melbourne and Sydney, but they’re worth checking out if you’re in those regions. Customer feedback for Road Runner Mobile Services in both locations is very good, averaging 4.7 out of 5 on Google.

To see if Road Runner Mobile Tyres service your area, simply type in your postcode on their website.

Stuck at home with a flat tyre?

Choose a local independent tyre fitter with tyres from Tyroola

If you have a flat tyre on a Sunday, but have the option of spending the day carless (remember those things called buses? Or those other things called legs?), then an online tyre retailer like Tyroola is a great option for getting a really good deal or discount.

Tyroola allow you to find the best tyre for you and your vehicle, whether budget or premium, and they’ll the tyres to a tyre fitter near you – likely in the very same suburb you live in. Many of those independent tyre fitters will happily rock up at your door and change your tyres on the driveway – problem solved.

In our study of finding a real discount on tyres we used Tyroola as an example of saving over 300 bucks on a set of tyres for a regular Honda Civic, so if you can wait a day then you’ll have enough money left over for AFL tix.

Visit the Tyroola website for more info.

Can you recommend a local tyre shop open on Sundays?

Australia is a big place, with many independent tyre shops and fitters ready and willing to change your tyres on a Sunday (and take your money).

If you can recommend a reputable tyre shop or fitter near you, well that’s what the comments section below is for!

Economic pressures and logistics mean an Australian tyre manufacturer would not be able to compete. In short, an Australian tyre manufacturer would quickly go bust. As much as we like to buy Australian brands, most Australians are not willing to spend much more for a locally produced product. Tyres included.

However, although few and far between, we do have Australian tyre companies who have tyres produced in various overseas locations. Although you’re not buying an Australian made tyre, you would still be supporting an Australian business.

Let’s take a look…

Australian tyre manufacturing companies

Monsta Tyres

If you’re looking for an Australian brand of off-road 4X4 tyres, then check out Monsta Tyres. For regular car tyres you can take a look at Ozzy Tyres, but as a tyre retailer you will find numerous brands of car tyre.

Both companies are owned by Hussein Chahine. As a tyre retailer, Ozzy Tyres has been online since the turn of the century.

The Monsta Tyres brand has been around since 2020, and offers various 4X4 tyres for rugged terrain, all terrain, and mud terrain. For street cars, you will also find the addition of the street series (ultra high performance) and semi slick (for extreme cornering and hooning).

Australian tyre retailers

Even if we can’t buy tyres manufactured in Australia, we still have a range of Australian tyre retailers both online and names like Bob Jane T-Mart.

Let’s take a look at some of the best Australian tyre retailers online, offering you transparency, great deals, and the choice of a range of local independent Aussie tyre fitters in your suburb (some even come to your house and change your tyres on your driveway).

Tyroola

Tyroola are a leading online tyre retailer in Australia, stocking over 3 million tyres in Australia. They’re an Australian company, but also sell tyres in New Zealand as well.

For many Aussies they’re the go to online retailer, offering really good deals on all types of tyres – road or off-road – budget, mid-range, and premium tyre brands.

We used Tyroola in our guide to saving a whopping $352 when buying tyres online – for a regular Honda Civic! So if you’re buying tyres, make sure you read that guide!

Tyrepower

Tyrepower has been around for nearly half a century if you can believe that. If this guide to tyres in Australia sticks around just a few years, then Tyrepower will be at the 50 year mark. Not bad for an Aussie company!

Tyrepower originated in 1977 when a group of 10 independent tyre retailers clubbed together to offer us consumers a better range of tyres, flexibility, and better prices passed on through the power of bulk buys from tyre manufacturers.

I’m sure you’re already familiar with Tyrepower as an Australian tyre retailer. They’re pretty much all over Australia after all, even in backwater towns like Perth, Adelaide, Cairns, and even Darwin.

So that’s it folks.

Although we can’t invest in Australian Made tyres, we can still invest in Australian homegrown companies.

Our preference remains as Tyroola, not only because good deals are to be had, but because it allows us to support true local Australian small businesses – our local independent tyre fitters. The guys who go to the same pubs as us, who would likely be our mates.

Much more so when combined with a heavy set of alloy rims or steelies.

It’s not just fuel economy. It’s also tyre wear, comfort, and drivability.

But why?

Unsprung Weight – Why heavy wheels are worse than a heavy load

Without getting bogged down in science, a car has sprung weight (everything on top of the suspension), and unsprung weight which includes your wheels, tyres, and part of your suspension.

Imagine you have a heavy ball and a bouncy ball.

If you bounce them together you’ll find the bouncy ball has much more energy, whereas the heavier ball will thud and barely bounce.

With the wheels and tyres on your car it’s the same effect, except the bounce is the other way. When you hit a bump in the road this will force your tyres up in the air, losing traction. A lighter wheel and tyre will have less unsprung weight, more energy, and return to the road’s surface much more quickly.

The higher workload required of a heavy wheel and tyre will reduce the effectiveness of your suspension, drivability of your car, and increase fuel consumption.

This is the reason car enthusiasts in the know opt for light wheels such as OZ Racing rather than bling alloys designed for look and not performance.

Rotational Mass – The numerous problems of heavy rotations

The affect of unsprung weight is more noticeable on fuel economy, but the affects of rotational mass come a close second.

Rotational mass refers to any component which rotates with the wheel assembly – namely the wheel itself, tyre, and lug nuts. The heavier the components, the more energy will be needed to accelerate and decelerate. This energy comes from your engine (or battery if you have a fancy modern EV), and the greater load on your engine affects fuel efficiency.

Also, the further the mass from the centre of the wheel the more inertia it will cause, so a heavy tyre can cause more fuel consumption than a heavy wheel, and make your car less performant to boot.

Research has shown the affect of rotational mass on fuel economy can be small, but will have a more significant impact in city start-stop-start-stop driving.

It will also affect your time around the Nürburgring if you ever take your V8 Commodore to Germany.

Final thoughts on tyre weight and fuel economy

Whether you refer to fuel economy as mpg or litres per 100 kilometers (L/100 km) like we do in Australia, a heavy tyre or wheel will have a negative affect on fuel economy and drivability as well.

There are other factors at play as well, such as choice of tyre, tyre design, tread pattern, and inflation pressure. Generally for you as a driver a decent mid-range or premium tyre won’t cause any noticeable negative affects on fuel economy, and there are much bigger savings to be had if you read our guide on finding real discounts on tyres.

Wheels and tyres are just one of many variables which affect your car’s overall fuel economy, and if you want to get really pedantic, some flattening your rear seats when not in use will also increase fuel economy (true in theory, believe it or not!)