One of the most trusted yet relatively affordable tire brands in the USA is Travelstar. Are Travelstar Tires good? Who makes Travelstar Tires?
The Unicorn Tire Corporation makes Travelstar tires. The Unicorn Tire Corporation offers a broad passenger SUV, light truck, and specialty trailer tires. Travelstar tires are reliable. They are designed, manufactured, and tested using leading facilities to ensure that they will always be of top quality and performance.
Read on to know more about Travelstar Tires and the company that makes them.
Who Makes Travelstar Tires?
Travelstar is a brand name that is under the Unicorn Tires Corporation. Considering Unicorn Tire’s popularity, most people are surprised that the company started in 2007. It works better compared to other tire companies that have been in the business for decades.
Travelstar is just one of the under Unicorn Tires brands – the others being Finalist, Mastertrack, Hifly, Ovation, and Sunfull. It is also one of the several brands that specialize in passenger vehicles. If you own a sedan, SUV, or light truck, you will find the perfect set of tires here.
Are Travelstar Tires Any Good?
Of course, if you compare Travelstar tires with popular brands like Michelin, Goodyear, and the like, they will be somewhat inferior in quality. However, the top brands are also many times more expensive than the tires coming from Travelstar. This means you can afford a set even if you do not have that big of a budget.
Now, just because these tires are affordable, that does not mean they are not durable. It is quite the opposite, actually. Many regular folks and those working in the automotive repair business were quite impressed with how well Travelstar tires performed. Many people even claim that they are much better than the stock tires that came with their vehicles and are much cheaper to boot.
What Makes Travelstar Tires a Good Buy?
1. Quiet
You can see the treads of Travelstar tires being configured to be considerably quieter when rolling on the pavement. It is not like other cheaper tires where you hear every bump on the road, even with the windows closed. With Travelstar tires, the only thing that you will hear is the roar of the engine and your radio busting out your favorite songs.
2. Works Great in Any Season
Travelstar tires provide all-season tires that deliver on their promise of performance regardless of road conditions. No need to switch between winter and summer tires. You need a set of all-season-rated tires from Travelstar, and you are all good. However, if the winters get harsh in your area, it may be good to use actual winter tires.
3. Displaces Water Efficiently
Hydroplaning is a real danger when driving in the rain, but you can somewhat rest easy if your car has Travelstar tires. Certain tire models come with efficient water displacement tread designs. It means that they push out water from the road to make efficient contact with the surface.
4. Drives Straight
Sometimes, when a car’s steering wheel veers to the left or the right, it is the tires’ fault. The treads of cheaper tires would usually cause the tires to turn either to the right or left. This could be very dangerous when you are on the highway. Travelstar tires utilize asymmetrical tread designs for improved performance and stability.
5. Durable
Just because Travelstar tires are affordable does not mean you can’t expect them to last long. That is not the case at all. Almost all their tires come with a treadwear warranty of 50,000 miles. This means that if you like driving cross-country, then it would be great for you to have these tires on your car.
6. Budget-friendly
The biggest reason why so many people love using Travelstar tires is that they have reasonable prices. Compared to the more popular brands of tires, Travelstar tires are around half the price per tire. You can buy a full set for a fraction of the cost of branded ones.
Travelstar Tire Reviews
There are many different types of Travelstar Tires. One of the most popular Travelstar Tires is the Travelstar UN33 All-Season Tire:
- Treadwear Warranty is 40,000 miles
- Tire Type is for Car/SUV Performance
- Sidewall: Black Letters
- Speed Rating: W
- Dimensions: 27.3 x 27.3 x 9.7 inches
Ultra-High Performance Tire
The Travelstar UN33 tire is an ultra-high performance tire providing responsiveness and precision control required for extreme driving conditions. Each tire has an asymmetrical design that melds the features of other tread designs to ensure equally strong dry and wet performance.
This Tirestar tire has a 4.6 out of 5 ratings on Amazon out of 360 global ratings. So this shows the tire is generally well-liked. Many of the Tirestar tire reviews state that this tire is far more inexpensive than other tires yet delivers similar performance.
Excellent Wear
One reviewer named David wrote, “I have put 12,000 miles on these Travelstar tires. The wear has been excellent. The road noise has been kept at a minimum, and the handling is crisp. Braking and wet weather performance are excellent. Definitely, a quality tire, and I would repurchase them. I recommend these tires.”
Hold Up Well for Many Miles
Other Travelstar tire reviews are similar, echoing the sentiment that these tires hold up well for many miles and have a good grip in wet weather. Like most products on Amazon, there are also some lower-star reviews. However, many of the low ratings for this tire don’t detail why they are bad. Based on the overall 4.6 out of 5-star rating, this Travelstar tire is a good tire to choose for your car or truck.
When Do You Need to Change Your Travelstar Tires?
Check the Tires 5-6 Years After Installation
How long before you need to change your Travelstar tires will depend on your vehicle and how often you drive. But if you ask for a more specific time frame, you should probably start looking for replacement tires around five to six years after installing the current tires.
Check the Treads’ Condition
Also, check if the treads are still in good condition. You can do that easily by using the Penny Test. Grab a penny and then stick in between the treads. Do it with Lincoln going into the treads head first. If you can still see any part of Lincoln’s head, then you already have worn-down treads that require immediate replacements.
Look at the Tires’ Sidewalls
Check the sidewalls of the Travelstar tires, too. If you find any cracks on the sides, then they are already at risk of a blowout. This can be a catastrophic failure. Also, check the surface of the tires if there are any bumps or bulges. These are signs that the steel radial belt is structurally compromised and that the tire might fail at any moment.
How to Make Your Travelstar Tires Last Longer
Even though Travelstar tires are affordable, you will save even more money if you don’t change them often. Fortunately, there are ways to make your tires last for as long as possible.
The following are just some of the most effective tips:
1. Don’t Be an Aggressive Driver
Have you watched any motor racing events? Have you noticed that the drivers would get their tires changed during every pit stop? If you treat your daily driver like it’s on a NASCAR track, then you will also be changing your Travelstar tires often.
Of course, you cannot prevent your tires from wearing down. However, you can slow down the process by adjusting your driving habits. Instead of peeling out of your driveway, ease out gently and slowly. Rather than switching lanes every chance you get, stick to your lane and travel at a steady pace.
Be mindful of how you step on the gas. Be wary of your surroundings, too. That way, you can gently step on the brakes and gradually slow down your car.
2. Maintain Proper Tire Pressure
Not only is maintaining proper tire pressure critical for the vehicle’s performance, but it can also greatly reduce tire wear. If you do not know how much air pressure should be in your tires, consult the information placard on the door jamb on the driver’s side.
Keep in mind that these numbers are cold tire pressure. This means they are the air pressure inside the tires when the vehicle has not run in the past couple of hours.
Overinflating or Underinflating Cause Uneven Tire Wear
Overinflating or underinflating can cause uneven tire wear. If the tires are overinflated, the center portion of the tires will bulge out a bit. This may cause the tires to receive more wear and tear. On the other hand, underinflating puts more stress on the sides of the tires. Running the Travelstar tires with the appropriate air pressure will ensure load and even wear throughout.
Check the Pressure Tire at Least Once a Month
Check the air pressure of each tire at least once a month and adjust them accordingly. Also, take note that tire pressure will change according to the ambient temperature. When the temperature rises, the air pressure will increase and vice-versa. You need to consider this when adjusting the air pressure in your tires.
3. Rotate Your Tires Regularly
Ideally, you will need to rotate your car’s tires every 5,000 to 8,000 miles. This will make sure that they wear out evenly, thereby improving their service lifespan. If you cannot manage to rotate your tires yourself, you may want to have it done at the garage whenever you get an oil change. Rotating your tires regularly can help improve their lifespan while ensuring that you will not void their warranties.
4. Have Your Wheels Aligned Regularly
It does not matter if you keep the correct tire pressure all the time. If you drive carefully, everything will be for naught if you have misaligned wheels. Misaligned wheels are a surefire way to make all your tires wear out unevenly. It can lead to you needing to change your tires after just a couple of months.
Having misaligned wheels means the camber, the amount of tilt the wheels have, is either too far out or pointing in. One sign of misaligned wheels is if either the outer or inner side of the Travelstar tires are more worn down compared to the rest. If you haven’t had your wheels aligned in over a year, your car is most likely due for an alignment.
5. Use the Right Tires for Your Driving Circumstances
Think of tires as if they are shoes. Would you wear running shoes when there is more than a foot of snow outside? Different tires have different functions. Road tires would not be of much use on rough terrain. Meanwhile, off-road tires would be ripped to shreds quickly when used regularly on freeways.
If you want your tires to last for however long the manufacturer promised, they will choose the right kind of tires. Make your choice based on whatever driving condition you often find yourself in.
By following these tips, you will be able to make your tires last longer. This also means that you will be saving quite a lot of money in the long run.
Understanding Your Travelstar Tires
I am not saying that all tire shops are out to cheat you off your money. However, you should know how to read the sidewall numbers of your Travelstar tires. That way, you will be buying the right kind of Travelstar tires.
Aside from the manufacturer’s name, you will also see a set of numbers and letters that look like this:
245/40R18
- 245: The “245” is the width of the tire, measured in millimeters, which in this case means 245mm. It is the width of the rim that you can stretch the tire onto.
- 40: The “40” is the tire’s profile, or the height of the sidewall, which is in millimeters. It means that this particular tire has a sidewall height of 40mm.
- R: The “R” means that the tire is a Radial construction tire. Almost all the tires you see sold commercially are radial. The rarer types are the bias-ply and belted tires denoted by “D” and “B,” respectively.
- 18: The “18” denotes the size of the rim that the tire can fit onto. Unlike the other two measurements, this one is in inches. It means that this tire can fit an 18” wheel.
You will also see another longer alphanumeric code on the Travelstar tire. But this is just for the tracking purposes of the manufacturer. However, it is still important because the last four numerical digits denote the manufacturing date of the tire. For instance, if you see the numbers “4515,” it means the tire was made on the 45th week of 2015.
Avoid buying tires that have been on the rack for six years or longer. Also, check the tires mounted on your car right now. The reason is you will also need to replace tires that are 10 years or older.
Conclusion – Travelstar Tires Review
Travelstar is a brand name that is under the umbrella of the Unicorn Tire Corporation. This brand offers a variety of tires suitable for various types of vehicles and road conditions. Travelstar prides itself on providing top-performing and quality tires for a reasonable price.
If you are thinking of replacing worn-out tires, but you don’t have enough room in your budget for top-name brands, get yourself a set of Travelstar tires. You can get almost the same performance as that of the popular name brands without spending a lot.
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