I bought my Nokkians at my Nissan dealer and they are available pretty much anywhere they sell tires. Michelin X-Ice are available pretty much everywhere as well, canadiantire sell them too. If these cheap chineese tires where anywhere as good as the more expensive tires, everyone on the planet would use them.
Why would anyone in their right mind pay 150$ for a tire when they can get one for 50$? it's because people rather trust their lives with something more reliable and safe and obviously they are not the same quality and in tires that relate pretty much to safe breaking distance in a danger situation or staying on the road in heavy snow. I think with the Micra that is so light, good winter tires are even more important. If buying a cheap tire would only mean a reduction of durability, then it would not be as bad, but when you compromise your security, stability and breaking distance on ice and snow, then it's another story.
It's ok to offer cheap tires for sale, but at least why not also offer good quality tires? Buying a cheap car does not mean people will want to put cheap tires on it and judging by what people choose on this forum, most prefer good, safe and reliable tires. Surely not everyone will have the budget for 800$ of tires, but it might endup being a very costly decision at the end. I would rather buy very good tires and put them on my rims, then buy cheap tires+rims. I think it's best to pay 600$ on a good set of tires, than to pay 600$ on a poor set of tires+rims.
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View my fuel log 2015 Micra SR automatic: 7.0 L/100 km ... 40.4 mpg (Imp) ... 14.3 km/L ... 33.6 mpg (US) ...