Top 10 All-Season Tires Under $100: Best Cheap Tires

With all the competition coming from every side of the world, tires are becoming cheaper every year. Today, you can buy a tire that’s priced under $100 and still have reliable and safe driving experience. That is, of course, if you aren’t a racing driver.

See, high-performance tires are still very expensive – there aren’t many cheap models (we found some excellent options, though). So, if you want the best cheap tires, you should go for all-season touring tires. The best thing is that these models are designed for modern passenger cars, so most vehicle owners are fully covered.

In recent years, even the Chinese entered the tire-manufacturing world. Their products are super-cheap and undercut the competition by a large margin. They also seem to have similar designs on the outside, but it’s the tread compound that makes the whole difference.

Still, in our experience, Chinese tires aren’t worth it. All of the models we tested don’t satisfy modern tire standards. They lack traction, even on dry surfaces, and especially on wet surfaces. The grip is also insufficient, while highway stability is bad.

Overall, we found that Chinese tires from new manufacturers are unsafe. That’s why we strongly suggest purchasing tires from reputable and well-known manufacturers.

To help you choose the best cheap tires for your car, we created a top 10 list. In that list, we will the 205/55R16 size. The reason is simple – this is the most popular replacement tire size in the U.S.

Also, if you go for larger dimensions, not many good $100 options are available on the market. Still, choosing a set of tires from the list below in larger dimensions will also be very cost-effective, given their size.

The 10 Best Cheap Tires Under $100 You Can Buy

1. Pirelli P4 Four Seasons Plus

Best All-Season Touring Tires Under $100 (205/55R16)

In our opinion, the P4 Four Seasons Plus is the best touring tire under $100. Pirelli is a manufacturer that we fully trust – every tire we tested from them scores highly in almost every scenario.

The P4 Four Seasons Plus isn’t as responsive as other Pirelli tires, though, but that shouldn’t be an issue for everyday driving. More importantly, thanks to the silica-rich tread compound, the Pirelli touring tire provides the driver with safe traction and grip on dry and damp tarmac.

Heavy rain performance is one of the best among touring tires as well. The two central circumferential grooves and numerous variable-angle lateral grooves help water evacuate quickly – the P4 has excellent resistance to hydroplaning. Over the snow, the P4 is usable, but still not the best choice for harsh wintry conditions.

On top of that, this tire also has low-rolling resistance, made possible through the use of innovative materials and processing methods when designing the tread compound. For you, that means lower fuel consumption.

Furthermore, the P4 Four Seasons Plus is also supremely quiet on the highway and comfortable over bumps. The best thing about this tire, though, is the best-in-class 90,000-miles treadwear warranty, which promises 6-7 years of carefree driving.

2. Yokohama AVID Touring-S

Best All-Season Touring Tires Under $100 (205/55R16)

The Yokohama AVID Touring-S is another touring tire that offers outstanding qualities for the money. Compared to the Pirelli, it comes with a shorter 65,000-mile treadwear warranty, which might be an issue for some buyers.

However, thanks to the Tri-plex Tread Compound, this tire offers excellent responsiveness and precise steering feel, something that most Yokohama tires can be credited for. With a set of these tires, your car will immediately feel more engaging to drive.

Grip and traction are also comparable to the best touring tires under $100. The Yokohama is very stable on the highway as well. Furthermore, the Tapered Rain channels improve wet traction as well, making the Yokohama one of the best tires for light and heavy rain driving. Snow traction isn’t as good, though, but that’s the case with most all-season tires.

Finally, the Yokohama scores highly in the comfort testing thanks to the Silent Shoulder tread block sizes and Twin Rail Stability Rib.

3. Cooper CS5 Grand Touring

Best All-Season Touring Tires Under $100 (205/55R16)

The CS5 Grand Touring is one of the most well-rounded all-season tires under $100. It comes with an 80,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is much more than similarly priced rivals.

Furthermore, the CS5 Grand Touring is one of the most comfortable and quiet touring tires, even when compared to pricy rivals.

On the road, the Grand Touring isn’t as responsive as an enthusiast driver would want, but they are still useful for everyday driving.

More importantly, the CS5 Grand Touring provides the driver with safe traction and grip on dry and wet surfaces and excellent highway stability. With that said, the snow traction could be improved in the next generation.

4. BFGoodrich Advantage T/A Sport

Best All-Season Touring Tires Under $100 (205/55R16)

The BFGoodrich Advantage T/A Sport comes with a 70,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is far from the best results in the category. However, it redeems itself with performance in other areas.

On the road, this is one of the most responsive touring tires, better than even some premium competitors. It seems that the Sport moniker and Next Generation ETEC (Equal TEnsion Containment) System really work in giving the driver better feeling behind the wheel.

Much like its rivals, the Advantage Sport also provides the driver with excellent traction and grip on dry and wet surfaces. Highway stability is also top-notch, and there is even usable snow traction.

Finally, the ride quality of the BFGoodrich Advantage is smooth, and there is not a lot of noise on the highway.

5. General AltiMAX RT43

Best All-Season Touring Tires Under $100 (205/55R16)

The General AltiMAX RT43 is already a favorite among drivers in North America due to the combination of low price, durability, and confident handling.

Sure, the AltiMAX RT43 doesn’t handle like the best premium tires out there, but for everyday driving, it is completely safe.

In our testing, the General’s most popular model proved to be very responsive in the corners, which was a surprise considering the price.

Furthermore, grip and traction are excellent – the tire handles predictably both in dry and wet conditions. Snow traction is only marginal, though, but that’s the case with most all-season tires.

Finally, the 75,000-mile treadwear warranty isn’t class-leading, but still very good for the price.

6. Kumho Solus TA11

Best All-Season Touring Tires Under $100 (205/55R16)

The Kumho Solus TA11 is one of the cheapest tires on this list, yet we couldn’t tell that when testing it. Despite the lower price point, the TA1 still scores highly in most conditions.

We are fans of how the Solus TA11 handles the road. Grip and traction are excellent on dry tarmac, and the tire is also very responsive.

Wet performance is another area where the TA11 scores highly. It isn’t on the level of the best in the category, but it’s still completely safe.

One of the best things about this tire is that it is very quiet on the highway and comfortable over uneven surfaces. The 75,000-mile treadwear warranty is pretty good for the price, too.

7. Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring

Best All-Season Grand-Touring Tires Under $100 (205/55R16)

The CS5 Ultra Touring is a step above its brother CS5 Grand Touring when it comes to handling. Hence, we recommend the CS5 Ultra Touring for drivers of mid-size sedans and even some sporty coupes.

This tire is one of the most responsive in the grand-touring category. Steering is direct and precise, and the tires grip the road very well during hard cornering. Braking is excellent, too. The best thing about the CS5 Ultra Touring is that it works both on dry and wet surfaces.

Like its brother, comfort is outstanding. The ride quality is plush, and there is not a lot of noise on the highway. The only gripe we have is the slightly worse snow traction, but that’s nitpicking really.

8. Hankook Kinergy GT

Best All-Season Grand-Touring Tires Under $100 (205/55R16)

The Hankook Kinergy GT is one of the best grand-touring tires for people that want a serene and comfortable ride. The ride quality on these tires is superb, but it’s the noise-free highway driving that really gets us.

Nonetheless, the Kinergy GT is not the best tire for driver enthusiasts. It is not very responsive and doesn’t have the bite of its rivals. Still, for everyday driving, it is completely useful, both on dry and wet surfaces. If we could improve something, that would be the snow traction.

Another area of improvement could be the 70,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is lower than the closest rivals.

9. Sumitomo HTR Enhance LX2

Best All-Season Grand-Touring Tires Under $100 (205/55R16)

Sumitomo is known for offering excellent handling at a lower price and the HTR Enhance LX2 doesn’t disappoint here.

The HTR Enhance LX2 is very responsive and bites the road very well, providing the driver with an outstanding cornering grip on dry surfaces. Wet and snow traction aren’t as impressive, but driving in the rain is at least safe.

Comfort is outstanding, too – the ride quality is plush, and we couldn’t hear a lot of noise on the highway.

The best thing about the Sumitomo HTR Enhance LX2 is the treadwear warranty, though. At 90,000-miles for T-rated models, it beats every other competitor in the touring category.

The grand-touring models (H- & V-rated) have a 70,000-mile treadwear warranty, though, so drivers of mid-size sedans won’t get the same durability.

10. General G-MAX AS-05

Best High-Performance All-Season Tires Under $100

Luckily for enthusiast drivers, we even found an ultra-high-performance all-season tire priced under $100.

The General G-Max AS-05 isn’t as good as premium ultra-high-performance tires, mind you, but it’s still a step above touring and grand-touring tires in terms of handling.

Responsiveness is top-notch for the price, and there is a lot of grip and traction during hard cornering and acceleration. The G-Max is equally good on dry and wet surfaces, which is great, but snow traction isn’t impressive at all.

Interestingly, the G-Max is very comfortable over bumps, but it still produces more noise than touring tires on the highway. The 50,000-mile treadwear warranty is excellent for the category, though. 

Best Cheap All-Season Tires Under $100: Buyer’s Guide

1. What’s the Difference Between Touring and Grand-Touring Tires?

First of all, let’s have a look at the similarities between touring and grand-touring tires and why they are the most popular tire type in the world right now.

Both of these tire types are designed to appeal to the average passenger-vehicle driver today. The number one reason why that’s the case is the price. Touring and grand-touring tires are very cheap today. Well, cheaper than other tire types, that is. Even some premium models can be had for less than $100 (205/55R16), which is great.

Then, touring and grand-touring tires are also very durable. Even some budget manufacturers provide a 70,000-mile treadwear warranty on their tires, and some even go up to 90,000-miles. Considering the average mileage of drivers in the U.S. is around 13,000-miles, that means that you can use these tires for 5-6 years at least.

Furthermore, touring and grand-touring tires are supremely comfortable. Thanks to the softer sidewalls and noise-optimized tread patterns, these tires are super plush on uneven roads and almost noise-free on the highway. That’s very important for drivers that cover a lot of miles daily, or for family drivers that go on long road trips.

In the performance department, touring and grand-touring tires are sufficient for the average driver. They aren’t as responsive as an enthusiast driver would want, but still completely fine for everyday driving.

They also provide the driver with very good traction and grip when driven in the speed limit. Wet traction and grip are especially good, thanks to the deep circumferential grooves and sipes on the tread pattern. Performance in heavy rain is especially good – touring, and grand-touring tires have excellent resistance to hydroplaning.

With that said, the cornering these tires provide can be described as “safe.” They lack ultimate traction and grip and aren’t really suited to powerful cars.

The difference between touring and grand-touring tires is mainly in the speed rating. Touring tires come with smaller speed ratings, which means that they are a better choice for sub-compact and compact cars.

Grand-touring tires, on the other hand, come with higher speed ratings, which makes them useful for mid-size sedans and compact crossovers. These tires also provide a tad better handling in the corners and stronger braking.

That said, touring tires have a slightly longer treadlife than grand-touring tires, but the difference is around 10,000 to 20,000-miles treadwear warranty.

2. What are Ultra-High-Performance Tires?

As their name suggests, ultra-high-performance tires are designed to give drivers better road holding and braking. Driving enthusiasts and owners of sports cars will be best-served by these tires.

Ultra-high-performance tires are much more responsive than both touring and grand-touring tires. They also provide the driver with better traction, which makes them useful on vehicles with more power.

Furthermore, these tires also have a much better grip in the corners and better high-speed stability. Your car will immediately feel alive on ultra-high-performance tires. You can also drive faster – ultra-high-performance tires are ultimately safer.

When it rains, these tires are better on a damp tarmac, but slightly worse in very heavy rain. Overall, though, they remain very safe in almost every condition you encounter.

With all that said, ultra-high-performance tires are also not as comfortable as touring or grand-touring tires. The ride quality will be slightly choppier, and there will be more noise on the highway.

On top of that, these aren’t as durable as their touring counterparts. You should expect them to last around two years less when compared to touring tires, which isn’t insignificant.

Finally, ultra-high-performance tires are also more expensive than touring and grand-touring tires. Still, we managed to find one excellent model under $100 (205/55R16) to appeal enthusiast drivers.

3. Do All-Season Tires Work in Every Climate?

All-season tires are the de-facto standard for average drivers today. They promise excellent handling and braking in every type of weather, even harsh wintry conditions. However, things aren’t that straightforward.

The main takeaway when talking about the climate is the tread compound. Winter tires, for example, have a soft and pliable compound that helps them with traction in the winter, especially over snow, ice, and slush. That said, winter tires become too soft in the summer. When that happens, they aren’t responsive and have much worse handling and stability. On top of that, winter tires wear much faster in warmer conditions.

Summer tires, on the other hand, have a harder tread compound. However, that’s not an issue in the summer, because when the temperatures are high, summer tires are soft and grip the road very well. When the temperature falls, summer tires become too hard and brittle. This makes traction and grip worse, especially over wet surfaces. Also, summer tires can be damaged if driven in very cold weather (cracks will appear on the tread).

All-season tires have a tread compound that works in a wide temperature range. More precisely, the compound stays soft and pliable in freezing weather, and it doesn’t become too soft in the summer. For most people, all-season tires provide excellent traction and grip in warm and cold weather, on dry and wet surfaces.

However, some people also view all-season tires as a compromise. They aren’t nearly as good as summer tires in hot climates and nearly as good as winter tires in very cold and snowy weather.

That said, all-season tires are still very safe to drive in hot conditions, but not as safe in harsh wintry conditions. Despite the deeper grooves and siping on the tread, all-season tires provide only marginal snow traction and aren’t very useful on ice.

So, despite their all-season moniker, we don’t recommend these tires if you live in areas with harsh wintry conditions. You can use your all-season tires in spring, summer, and fall, but we recommend replacing them with winter tires in the winter.

Final Words

We truly believe that the best cheap tires on the list above will give you a safe and reliable drive in the next few years. The models we chose are from reputable and well-known manufacturers, which means that they are tested extensively before they go to the market.

Sure, you can go even cheaper, but then you won’t get safe traction. Very cheap Chinese tires aren’t tested thoroughly, and some of them are dangerous to drive, especially on wet roads.

In our opinion, $80 is the lowest you should go for tires sized 205/55R16. Any lower than that and performance will get worse exponentially. Finally, very cheap Chinese tires don’t last nearly as long, and they might be more expensive in the long run.