There’s a specific kind of dread that sets in when you look down at your vehicle’s tires and see the tread worn dangerously thin. It’s not just a maintenance task; it’s a significant, often unexpected, expense. I’ve been there, staring at a quote from a big-name tire shop that could easily cover a weekend vacation, and feeling the pull towards more affordable online options. The promise is alluring: a full set of brand-new, all-season tires delivered for a fraction of the cost. But with that promise comes a nagging question: am I sacrificing safety for savings? This is the precarious balance every driver on a budget must navigate. A great deal can feel like a victory, but a poor choice in tires can lead to a cascade of problems, from irritating vibrations and poor handling to, in the worst-case scenario, a catastrophic failure on the highway. It’s this high-stakes decision that led us to test and thoroughly evaluate the Suretrac ComfortRide 225/65R17 Tires (Set of 4), a product that sits squarely in this budget-friendly, high-scrutiny category.
- Tread depth 10/32; UTQG: 520 AB
- designed as a Standard Touring All-Season tire for all on-road conditions
What to Demand from Your Next Set of All-Season Performance Tires
A set of performance tires is more than just rubber meeting the road; it’s a key solution for enhancing your vehicle’s safety, stability, and overall driving enjoyment. This category aims to provide a reliable, year-round grip that can handle sun-baked asphalt, sudden downpours, and even light winter conditions without needing a seasonal swap. The main benefits are versatility and confidence. A good all-season tire eliminates the guesswork, offering predictable braking, responsive steering, and a quiet, comfortable ride day in and day out. It’s the workhorse of the tire world, designed to be the single solution for the vast majority of drivers and conditions.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone driving a crossover, sedan, or small SUV—vehicles like the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, or Ford Escape—who uses their vehicle for daily commuting, family errands, and the occasional road trip. They value a blend of longevity, safety, and affordability. However, this category might not be suitable for those who live in areas with severe winter weather, as a dedicated snow tire will always offer superior performance on ice and deep snow. Likewise, performance enthusiasts who engage in track days or spirited canyon carving will find the compromises made for all-season capability limit the ultimate dry grip and sharpness they desire, and should consider an ultra-high-performance summer tire instead.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Dimensions & Fitment: Getting the size right is non-negotiable. The designation “225/65R17” isn’t arbitrary; it specifies a 225mm section width, a sidewall height that is 65% of that width, and a fitment for a 17-inch rim. Using the wrong size can affect your speedometer, anti-lock braking system, and overall vehicle stability. Always confirm your manufacturer’s recommended size before purchasing.
- Capacity/Performance Metrics: Look beyond the size to the UTQG (Uniform Tire Quality Grading), load index, and speed rating. The Suretrac ComfortRide has a UTQG of 520 A B, which indicates a very hard, long-lasting tread compound (520), good wet traction (A), and average temperature resistance (B). The “102H” rating means a load index of 102 (1,874 lbs per tire) and an H-speed rating (safe up to 130 mph), which is more than sufficient for any legal driving in North America.
- Tread Compound & Design: The tire’s tread is its most critical feature. The ComfortRide features an asymmetrical design, which means the inner and outer tread blocks are different to balance wet and dry performance. Key features like its four deep circumferential grooves are designed specifically to channel water away and prevent hydroplaning, while a continuous central rib is intended to provide stability during highway cruising.
- Manufacturing Quality & Warranty: This is arguably the most important factor in the budget category. Even a tire with a perfect design on paper is worthless if it’s not manufactured to a high standard. Look for consistent rubber compounding and perfect roundness. A lack of quality control can lead to tires that are impossible to balance, resulting in vibrations and premature wear, or worse, structural defects that compromise safety.
Keeping these factors in mind, the Suretrac ComfortRide 225/65R17 Tires (Set of 4) stands out on paper with promising specifications. You can explore its detailed specifications here.
While the Suretrac ComfortRide 225/65R17 Tires (Set of 4) is an option for budget-conscious buyers, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. Whether you’re seeking sure-footedness on the asphalt or agility on a rugged path, the principles of performance design are universal. For a broader look at what defines top-tier performance gear, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
![Performance (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41fnOVHHSrL.jpg)
- Mick Jagger, James Fox (Actors)
- Precise and Responsive Operation: Windshield wiper switch for accurate response with every switch. Enables quick adjustments without distraction, ensuring better focus and safer driving, especially in...
First Impressions: A Promising Design with Underlying Concerns
When the set of four Suretrac ComfortRide tires arrived, the initial impression was perfectly adequate. They were secured for shipping and looked every bit the part of a modern all-season tire. The BSW (Black Side Wall) provides a clean, classic look, and the asymmetrical tread pattern appeared aggressive enough to inspire confidence for wet-weather driving. Visually, the deep circumferential grooves and the solid center rib were prominent, aligning perfectly with the product’s marketing claims of hydroplaning resistance and highway stability.
Handling the tires, the rubber compound felt firm, which supported the high 520 treadwear rating. There were no immediate, obvious visual defects on the tread surface or sidewalls. On the surface, everything appeared to be in order. However, as any experienced technician will tell you, the true measure of a tire’s quality isn’t how it looks on the floor, but how it behaves on the balancing machine and, ultimately, on the car. It was here, in the transition from static object to dynamic component, that our initial optimism began to face a series of serious challenges.
What We Like
- Extremely competitive price point for a full set of four tires
- All-season tread design is theoretically sound for year-round use
- High UTQG treadwear rating of 520 suggests a long potential service life
- Design includes features for wet traction and highway stability
Drawbacks
- Severe quality control issues leading to out-of-round tires
- Creates significant vibrations and steering wheel shake at highway speeds
- Reports of dangerous sidewall bubbles and structural defects
- The “ComfortRide” name is completely undermined by the poor ride quality
On the Road: Where Promises Meet a Bumpy Reality
A tire’s worth is proven in motion. We mounted the Suretrac ComfortRide 225/65R17 Tires (Set of 4) on a popular mid-size crossover SUV, a perfect candidate for this tire size and category. Our goal was to test Suretrac’s claims of comfort, stability, and all-season reliability through a battery of real-world driving conditions, from urban commuting to open-highway cruising and rain-slicked backroads. What we discovered was a stark disconnect between the tire’s design on paper and its performance in practice, marred by issues that began before we even hit the road.
Installation and Balancing: The First Red Flag
Our road test began at our trusted local tire shop, and this is where the first, and perhaps most significant, red flags appeared. Mounting a tire is straightforward, but balancing it is an art and a science. A well-manufactured tire is uniformly dense and perfectly round, requiring only a small amount of counter-weight to spin true. This was not our experience with the Suretrac ComfortRide set. Our technician immediately noted that two of the four tires were problematic. One was visibly out of round, showing a slight “hop” on the balancing machine. Both required an excessive amount of wheel weights to achieve a semblance of balance, far more than what is considered acceptable for a new tire.
This was a physical manifestation of the exact problem we found echoed in numerous user reports. Drivers describing a “steering wheel shake at 60 mph” are almost certainly experiencing the effects of a tire that cannot be properly balanced due to manufacturing defects. This isn’t a minor inconvenience; it’s a fundamental flaw. An unbalanced or out-of-round tire not only creates an uncomfortable, vibrating ride but also places undue stress on your vehicle’s steering and suspension components, leading to premature wear and costly future repairs. The money saved on the initial purchase could easily be erased by the cost of replacing worn-out ball joints or tie rod ends down the line.
Dry and Wet Handling: A Mixed Bag of Performance
Once we got the tires as balanced as possible and hit the road, the performance in ideal conditions was passable, but never impressive. In city driving, the tires were relatively quiet and responded adequately to steering inputs. The solid central rib did seem to provide a decent sense of on-center stability when driving in a straight line on a smooth surface. Braking in the dry was acceptable, bringing the vehicle to a stop without any undue drama. However, when pushed even moderately in a corner, the soft sidewalls and budget compound provided vague feedback, discouraging any sort of spirited driving.
The real test for an all-season tire is wet weather performance. The four circumferential grooves are designed for this exact purpose, and to their credit, they did a reasonable job of slicing through standing water on the highway. We experienced minimal hydroplaning at legal speeds, suggesting the tread pattern’s design is fundamentally sound. However, this is where the quality control lottery comes into play. The tire’s ability to channel water is completely undermined if the tire itself is vibrating and skipping across the pavement due to being out of round. A perfect design means nothing without quality execution. While the design incorporates features for solid all-season grip, the execution is where the gamble truly lies. For those who understand the risks and still want to investigate, you can review the advertised performance specs for the Suretrac ComfortRide 225/65R17 Tires (Set of 4) online.
Comfort and Noise Levels: A Story of Vibration
The product name “ComfortRide” sets a clear expectation, one that these tires tragically failed to meet in our testing. The primary issue was not tread noise—which was actually fairly average for a budget tire—but the inescapable vibration. Below 40 mph, the issues were subtle enough to be ignored. But as we accelerated onto the highway, a distinct hum and vibration began to emanate through the floor and steering wheel around 55 mph. By 65-70 mph, this escalated into a pronounced, fatiguing shake that made holding the steering wheel a chore. This is not comfort. It is a constant, physical reminder of a product’s manufacturing flaws.
This vibration is directly linked to the balancing issues and, more alarmingly, to the structural defects reported by other users. Reports of “bumps” or “a ball from the side” describe sidewall bubbles, a critical failure where air has breached the tire’s internal structure. This is an extremely dangerous condition that is a precursor to a catastrophic blowout. Following our highway test, a meticulous inspection of our own set revealed the beginning of a small, but noticeable, bulge forming on the inner sidewall of the most problematic tire. For us, this was the end of the test. No amount of savings is worth compromising on-road safety, and a tire showing signs of structural failure has no place on a passenger vehicle.
What Other Users Are Saying
Our experience, while deeply disappointing, was not unique. A survey of feedback from other buyers reveals a troubling pattern centered on the same critical flaws. The general sentiment is overwhelmingly negative, painting a picture of a product plagued by severe quality control failures. One user described a nightmare scenario where, just “2 days after installation 2 tires already having lik a ball from the side,” a clear and present danger to anyone on the road. This was often compounded by reports of poor customer service when trying to resolve these issues.
Another driver’s experience directly mirrored our own findings with the balancing machine, stating unequivocally, “These tires were bad out of round. They made my steering wheel shake at 60 mph.” This is not a subjective opinion on road noise or comfort; it is an objective failure of the manufacturing process. When multiple, independent users are reporting the exact same fundamental defects—vibrations, shaking, and dangerous sidewall deformities—it points to a systemic problem that any potential buyer must take extremely seriously.
How Does the Suretrac ComfortRide Stack Up to the Competition?
Given the significant safety and quality concerns we uncovered, exploring alternatives is not just a suggestion; it’s a necessity. The tire market is vast, and there are other options across different price points and performance categories that may better serve your needs.
1. Lionhart LH-Five P255/30R22 95W
- This product is not for sale in the state of Arkansas
- Item Package Dimension: 29.53L x 9.45W x 5.51H inches
The Lionhart LH-Five represents a different category of tire altogether: the ultra-high-performance (UHP) segment, often chosen for customized cars with large aftermarket wheels. While also a budget-friendly brand, its focus is on sharp aesthetics and maximum dry grip, not all-season balance or comfort. A driver might choose this over the Suretrac if their priority is an aggressive look and sporty handling for a show car or a vehicle driven only in fair weather. However, they should expect a much firmer ride, shorter tread life, and significantly reduced performance in wet or cold conditions compared to a true all-season tire.
2. Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 PLUS UHP All Season Tire
- Up to 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life coverage
- Engineered with Continental's SportPlus Technology for responsive handling, stellar grip on dry and wet roads plus a long tread life
The Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 PLUS is what the Suretrac ComfortRide aspires to be, but executed at a world-class level. This is a premium, ultra-high-performance all-season tire from a top-tier manufacturer. For a significant but justifiable increase in price, you get superior engineering, exceptional quality control, and stellar performance across the board—from aggressive dry grip and best-in-class wet traction to respectable light snow capability. A driver should choose this tire if their budget allows, as it offers peace of mind, outstanding safety, and a genuinely comfortable and quiet ride without the manufacturing lottery of a budget brand.
3. Fullway HS266 All-Season Truck/SUV Tire
The Fullway HS266 occupies a similar space to the Suretrac as a budget-friendly option, but it’s specifically targeted at larger trucks and SUVs. It competes on price and offers a rugged tread design suitable for heavier vehicles. Someone with a larger SUV might consider this as an alternative if their primary goal is finding the lowest-cost replacement that fits their vehicle. However, like many lesser-known budget brands, it may carry similar risks regarding quality control and long-term durability. It serves as a reminder that the trade-off between price and consistent quality is a persistent theme in this market segment.
Our Final Verdict: A Risk We Cannot Recommend
After extensive testing and analysis, our conclusion on the Suretrac ComfortRide 225/65R17 Tires (Set of 4) is unfortunately a negative one. While the price is incredibly tempting and the on-paper specifications seem perfectly adequate for a daily driver, the execution is dangerously flawed. The significant and widely-reported quality control issues—ranging from out-of-round tires that cause severe vibrations to alarming instances of structural sidewall failure—present a risk that we simply cannot endorse.
The name “ComfortRide” is a misnomer; our experience was defined by a fatiguing, uncomfortable shake at highway speeds. More importantly, your tires are the single most critical safety component on your vehicle. The potential savings offered by this set are completely negated by the potential for a catastrophic failure and the certainty of a poor driving experience. We strongly advise prospective buyers to allocate a slightly higher budget towards a tire from a more established manufacturer with a proven track record of quality and reliability. The peace of mind is worth every extra penny.
If, after considering all the risks, you still feel the Suretrac ComfortRide 225/65R17 Tires (Set of 4) is a gamble you’re willing to take, you can check its current price and purchase it here.
Last update on 2025-10-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API