Got yourself a bargain? Possibly only at first glance. Because the supposedly cheap opportunities really cost money when you take a closer look. Of course, a quality tyre costs more at first. But it also lasts much longer. Special ^[3] MICHELIN tyres, for example, have a much higher mileage than models from cheaper categories and can be driven up to the legal minimum tread depth of 1.6 millimetres. This is proven by the annual tyre tests^[4]. So if you reach for a cheaper tyre, you initially get a better price, but because of the usual change at three millimetres, you have to buy an additional two new tyres every five years. This means a 40 percent higher tyre budget.^[1]

More safety reserves

Furthermore, quality tyres offer more and are safer for longer, even up to the legal minimum tread depth of 1.6 millimetres.  For tyre manufacturer Michelin, long-term performance plays a major role in the development of its legendary tyres. Because tyre performance is not just  related to  tread depth. Premium tyres, such as those from Michelin, among others, are so highly developed that it is quite possible to have a shorter braking distance with them on wet roads at the minimum tread depth of 1.6 millimetres prescribed in the UK^[2] than lower-quality tyres at 3 mm.^[1] "Even towards the end of their service life, long-term performance tyres have large performance reserves and thus make road traffic safer," says Theres Gosztonyi head of passenger cars at Michelin Europe North.

Good for the environment

Last but not least, MICHELIN tyres with long-term performance contribute significantly to reducing environmental impact. Deliberately, the head of passenger cars at Michelin Europe North asks: "Why pay the full price and then only get part of the performance and put an excessive burden on the environment?" Because in practice, many tyres are replaced much earlier, namely at 3 millimetres of residual tread or earlier[1]. In addition to the costs of buying new tyres, this causes additional fuel consumption as a result of greater rolling resistance and also a greater burden on the environment: if every tyre were replaced at 3 millimetres of residual tread or earlier, about 128 million more tyres would have to be produced every year - in Europe alone.[1] And: these tyres not only have to be produced, they also have to be disposed of later. So the longer a tyre can be run, the better for the environment and the wallet.

[1] All figures and data from the Ernst & Young Report of May 2017 entitled "Planned obsolescence that can be avoided".

[2] The road is defined as wet when at least the roughness of the road is filled with water. This condition corresponds to a water level of 0.1 mm or more and is reached from precipitation above 8 l/h (=mm/h) over an extended period of time. Michelin tests the tyres on wet roads at a water height of one mm.

3] These MICHELIN tyres have Long Lasting Performance: MICHELIN Alpin 6, MICHELIN Primacy 4, MICHELIN CrossClimate+, MICHELIN CrossClimate SUV, MICHELIN Agilis 3.

4] AUTO BILD test rated 'test winner' for the MICHELIN CrossClimate+ out of 6 all-season tyres compared. Tested in size 185/65 R 15 92 V in new condition, with four mm and with two mm remaining tread, tyre label C/B/68 dB. Publication in AUTO BILD issue 47/2017.