BUDGET NEW TIRES: Antares from $90/tire, installed $25/tire. Call 519-397-4686
Tire Review · Updated June 2026 · Chatham-Kent, Ontario

Are Antares Tires Any Good? An Honest Review

Short answer: yes, for what they are. Antares is a budget tire, and I'm not going to tell you it's a Michelin. But if you're choosing between a fresh set of Antares and a worn-out used tire — or a bald one with the cords showing — the Antares wins every time. Here's the straight version, from a shop that actually sells them.

I sell Antares because there's a real demand for an honest budget tire, and most "reviews" you'll find online are written by people who've never mounted one. So let me give it to you straight: what they are, who should buy them, and who shouldn't.

What Antares Actually Is

Antares is a budget brand made in Qingdao, China, and distributed in North America by Horizon Tires. It's traceable, it carries a real treadwear warranty (45,000 miles on most passenger and SUV sizes), and the lineup covers the sizes most people actually drive on. That matters — this isn't some no-name tire with no maker behind it and no warranty if it lets you down. It's a legitimate, warrantied, new tire at a budget price.

The models I stock most:

The Honest Pros and Cons

Where they're good

  • New rubber, full tread life ahead of it
  • Balance up easily - smooth, shimmy-free ride
  • Real warranty (45k miles, most sizes)
  • 3PMSF winter rating on the Polymax 4S
  • Quiet and comfortable for normal driving
  • Will pass a safety, no problem
  • Cheap — often around $90–150 a tire

Where they're not

  • Not a premium wet-braking tire
  • Won't match a Michelin for ultimate grip
  • Tread life is decent, not exceptional
  • Quality can vary a touch batch to batch
  • Not a high-km highway-warrior tire
  • Not a track or performance tire

One more thing from the bay, and it's the part I like best: Antares balance up beautifully. I've installed plenty of them, and they take hardly any wheel weight to true up. That tells you the tire is round and built consistently - the cheap junk usually fights you and needs a fistful of weights. In plain terms, an easy balance means a smooth ride with no shimmy in the wheel. You only really notice it after mounting a lot of tires, and these just go on nice.

Who Should Buy Antares

This is the part that matters, because a tire is only "good" or "bad" relative to what you need it for. Antares is the right call if:

Who Should Spend More

I'd point you up the ladder if:

The bottom line on Antares: it's not pretending to be a premium tire — it's a new, warrantied, budget tire that walks all over a used or bald one. If you're shopping to save money, get us to price a fresh Antares set against whatever else you're looking at. Most people are surprised how affordable new actually is. We install all four for $25 a tire right here in Pain Court.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Antares tires safe?

Yes. They're new, warrantied, traceable tires that meet the standards and will pass a safety inspection. They're a budget tire, not a premium one — but "budget" and "unsafe" aren't the same thing. A fresh Antares is far safer than the worn-out used tire it usually replaces.

Where are Antares tires made?

They're made in Qingdao, China, and distributed in North America by Horizon Tires. They carry a treadwear warranty (45,000 miles on most passenger/SUV sizes).

How long do Antares tires last?

Most passenger and SUV sizes carry a 45,000-mile (about 72,000 km) treadwear warranty. Real-world life depends on your driving and rotations. It's solid budget life — not premium-tire mileage, but plenty for the price.

Are Antares good in winter?

The Polymax 4S is an all-weather tire with the 3PMSF mountain-snowflake rating, so it's legal and capable for Ontario winters as a year-round tire. For serious ice and deep snow, a dedicated winter tire still wins — but as a do-it-all budget tire, the Polymax 4S holds its own.

Antares vs a used tire — which is better?

New Antares, almost every time. A used tire is somebody else's wear with no warranty; a new Antares gives you full tread, a fresh date code, and a warranty for not much more. Unless the used set is nearly new and a steal, go new.

Do you sell Antares in Chatham-Kent?

Yes — we stock the popular car, CUV and truck sizes and can order others. Give us your tire size (it's on the door-jamb sticker, like 225/65R17) and we'll price a set and install it locally.

The Bottom Line

Are Antares tires any good? For a budget tire, yes — and against the used or bald tire they usually replace, they're a clear upgrade. Don't buy them expecting Michelin performance. Do buy them if you want a safe, new, warrantied set without spending premium money. That's exactly the job they're built for, and they do it well.

Want a Fresh Set Without Overpaying?

Antares from around $90 a tire, installed for $25 each, right here in Pain Court. Tell us your size and we'll price it against whatever else you're considering.