A good tire is a must-have, irrespective of whether you are driving through rough roads or on paved roads. It is never enough to state the importance of quality tires in regard to efficient and safe driving. While looking for the best tire for your vehicle, you most likely have come across Douglas tires. This is one of the most affordable tires in the market, and this would have triggered a question of who makes Douglas tires.
Douglas is owned by Goodyear Tire Brand and exclusively sold by Walmart retail company. This retail company is well known for delivering high-quality products at a low price. While car tires cost between $300 and $500 a set, Douglas tires are available for approximately $200 for all four tires. You may be wondering how good these tires are. This Douglas tires review will take you through all you need to know about Douglas company and its tires.
What does Douglas Mean?
Douglas is a trademark for a Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company-owned tire line. Walmart has exclusive rights to sell the Douglas tires. They cooperate with Goodyear to have some tires on their portfolio and others in the company’s sub-brands, such as Douglas tires. One major difference between Douglas tires and Goodyear tires is that the former is only found at Walmart, while you can buy the latter from any auto shop and retailer.
When we speak of Douglas, we mean reliable and budget-friendly. This brand may not be marketed as a high-performance or luxury, but it aims to provide you with decent quality at a very affordable price for all types of tires. The tires are designed to serve you for approximately 45,000 miles, which is quite impressive.
Douglas Tires: Who Makes These Tires
Douglas Tires is a subsidiary of Goodyear, which is among the oldest tire company. This brand was founded in 1992 and registered by the Kelly Springfield Company. Goodyear is among the biggest tire manufacturers in the world known for their exceptional products, and thus are the Douglas tires. Since Kelly-Springfield is owned by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, there is a probability that that is where Douglas tires are produced.
Kelly-Springfield manufacturing company is located in Fayetteville, North Carolina, in the United States. Goodyear has an exclusive deal with Walmart selling Douglas tires, so you will not get them elsewhere. Some people believe that Douglass tires are the cheaper variant of Goodyear tires. This claim is, however, false since Douglas has gained a good reputation for the last 25 years. The tires are available in different sizes for CUVs, cars, and minivans.
Is Douglas Tires Any Good?
Douglas tires are some of the best affordable ones in the market. The tires are designed to provide you with a reliable and all-season performance for daily driving. They offer good stability and traction on wet and dry roads, thus providing a comfortable and smooth ride. It is, however, important to note that they may perform differently than premium tires.
Douglas tires have a wide range of tires designed for various vehicles and driving conditions. They offer off-road, summer, winter, and all-season tires. The tires are available in different widths and sizes, thus fitting most vehicles. However, Douglas tires do not perform as well as superior tires at high speeds or in extreme driving conditions.
Douglas Tires Specs
Douglas tires have some specifications that make them stand out from other tires in the market. We shall not discuss the Douglas size because this depends only on your vehicle type. Other Douglas tire specifications include:
1. Treadwear
Douglas tires have a treadwear rating 420 on a scale of 0 to 620. The standard rating of treadwear is 100. This tells you that these tires have a higher treadwear rating, and they will serve you four times more than the norm before they start wearing out.
2. Speed Rating
The Douglas tires have a speed rating of H. This means that you can comfortably drive your vehicle up to the speed of 130 mph. This speed rating is the tire limit before it deteriorates, bursts, or warp. H speed rating means the tire is highway-ready and thus ideal for trucks, SUVs, and passenger vehicles.
3. Traction Rating
Douglas tires have a traction rating of A. The tires are, therefore, suitable to drive for speeds above 115 mph. Traction rating is one of the most important specifications of a tire since it shows its ability to retain traction during braking or at high speeds. The A traction rating for these tires makes them more than acceptable since they follow their speed limits.
4. Tread Depth
The Douglas tires have a tread depth of 9/32″. This spec is not up to the expectation of many since the limit for a safe-to-use tire is 5/32″. The company, however, covers this part by giving a 45,000-mile treadwear warranty.
Douglas Tires Lineup
Douglas has two main tire lineups. They have all-season tires and performance tires. The two Douglas models are built and designed to handle specific conditions. Let us have an in-depth look at the Douglas tires lineup:
Douglas All-Season Tires
Douglas All-Season tires are designed for all-weather performance and comfort. They offer a reliable grip both in the wet and dry conditions. The tires are more comfortable and stable when driving in cities or urban areas. These tires are available for various types of vehicles, including minivans, crossovers, compacts, and mid-size sedans, among others.
Douglas Tires Walmart provides you with solid traction when driving on dry roads. The steering response while on dry roads is above average. The tires also perform pretty well on wet roads by delivering solid traction and grip in these conditions. Douglas all-season tires feature four longitudinal grooves, which help the tires to get rid of water. This prevents you from experiencing aquaplaning challenges.
However, the All-season tires from Douglas do not perform so well in wintery conditions. The tractions on roads covered by snow are below average and worsen when there is ice. They also emit some sounds when driving on rough roads. The all-season tires have over 35 sizes running between 13 and 18 inches.
Douglas Performance Tires
Douglas performance tires are of higher quality compared to the all-season tires. The performance lineup is also more expensive than the latter. The tire features an asymmetric tread design, providing outstanding all-weather traction. Their circumferential grooves and blades enhance the tires’ grip on wet roads.
The performance tire model by Douglas has a wide and stable shoulder, improving your car’s steering and handling response. Users reported silence of the tires when driving at less than 80 mph and below. As the speed increases, customer reviews state that the tires’ noise becomes louder.
Douglas performance tires feature an H speed rating and a treadwear warranty of 45,000 miles. The tires are available for various vehicle types, ranging from small crossovers to sports coupes, sedans, and small cars. Douglas’s performance lineup has around 15 different sizes ranging from 15 to 18 inches.
Douglas Tires Warranty Policy
A common question that most people ask after hearing of the low cost of Douglas tires is are Walmart tires good. Walmart assures you of the quality of Douglas tires by giving you a 45,000-mile treadwear warranty. To be eligible for this warranty, the tire must be mounted at Walmart stores.
Like any other tires sold from Walmart, Douglas tires have a 90-day free return policy. If you are unsatisfied with the tires, you can return them at Walmart and get a gift card or a refund. Keeping your receipt after the purchase is advisable to qualify for the return policy.
Douglas Tires Price
Douglas tires are among the cheapest you will get in the market. Their affordability is one of the things that have made them quite competitive in the market. A set of four tires by Douglas will cost you not more than 500 dollars, irrespective of the size or type you choose. They are the ideal choice for anyone looking for quality tires for their cars on a budget. Though the prices of Douglas Tires by Goodyear are low, they do not compromise their quality, performance, or safety.
Douglas Tires Problems
With all the above good things we have to say about these tires, what are some Douglas tire complaints customers give? The main drawback of the Douglas tires is the noise, which is louder than other premium tires. According to customers’ reports, the all-season tires increase tire noise when they get to uneven roads. The performance tires tend to have an increase in tire noise when you go beyond 80 mph.
Douglas all-season and performance tires work poorly on icy and snowfall surfaces. There have been reports of sidewall damage and leaks by some car owners, but most of these issues were caused by mounting the tires incorrectly. Other complaints have been tread separation and blowouts as the tire continues to age.
Douglas Tires Installations
Car owners are advised to have their Douglas tire installation done at the Walmart shops. Most of the issues customers have reported about Douglas tires were a result of poor installation. The tires must be thoroughly cleaned, scraped, and lubed up to avoid sidewall leaks. Mounting your tire at Walmart will give you the confidence that an expert has done it and will keep your warranty valid.
Who Sells Douglas Tires?
While Goodyear produces Douglas tires, they are distributed exclusively by Walmart. They are a proprietary brand of Walmart. Goodyear, among the oldest tire manufacturers, registered this trademark line 1n 1992. Walmart is well known for selling high-quality products, and Douglas is not an exception.
The tires are available online from the Walmart store. However, if you buy and install it from another place, the warranty will not be viable. The 4000 Walmart supercenters and the discount stores nationwide increase the convenience of getting the tires.
Douglas Tire Sizes
Douglas tires have different tire sizes to fit your vehicle. The Douglas all-season tires have over 35 sizes ranging from 13 to 18 inches. Their performance tires have around 15 sizes. The tire sizes for Douglas performance tires are between 15 and 18 inches. With these various options, finding a perfect fit for your car should be easy.
How to Choose the Right Douglas Tires?
Choosing a tire may seem easy, but choosing the correct car tire proves to be quite challenging for some car owners. Here are some of the things to consider before you settle down on a tire for your vehicle:
Tire Dimension
Among the first things to check when buying a tire is the dimensions. You can use the dimension chart, usually located on the inner side of your vehicle’s fuel door. In some vehicles, the dimension chart is located on the passenger or driver’s doors. Ensure the markings on your current tires are the same size as the Douglas tire you want to purchase.
Load Index
When purchasing a tire for your SUV or truck, ensure the load index meets your requirements. The load index may not be very significant when getting a tire-passenger car since all car tires with the correct dimensions can sustain wagons and sedans.
Traction and Treadwear Ratings
The treadwear and traction ratings determine how long the tire will last and how stable it is. Ensure the tire you choose has a high rating to serve you longer.
Type of Tire
Finally, consider if you want to buy winter, summer, or all-season tires. All-season tires are ideal for use all year round. On the other hand, summer and winter tires are used during the respective seasons. You will, therefore, need to have a set of tires for each season.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Is Douglas a good brand of tire?
Douglas is an excellent tire to purchase for car owners on a budget. The fact that Goodyear manufacturers manufacture these tires gives us confidence that the tires are of good quality. Walmart also assures you of quality by providing a warranty. The tires, however, cannot work as well as premium tires on snowy or icy roads.
Are Douglas tires made in USA?
Douglas tires are made in the USA by Goodyear Tire and Rubber. Goodyear registered Douglas tires in the year 1992 and since then, they have made cheap and reliable tires. These tires are ideal for various vehicles, from sedans, CUVs, minivans, and sports coupes.
Are Douglas tires the same as Goodyear?
Douglas tires are better than Goodyear. Douglas tires are a trademark of tire lines made by Goodyear. While Douglas tires are cheaper than Goodyear tires, the latter provides a higher treadlife warranty, lasts longer, and performs much better on ice and snow-laden roads.
What is the lifespan of a Douglas tire?
According to the manufacturers, Douglas tires can last up to 45,000 miles, which has a better service life than some other brands. This means that if you drive for 10,000 moles in a year, Douglas tires should take you for four years. With proper maintenance, the tires can serve you for much longer.
Final Words:
Douglas tires are some of the most reliable tires you will get at an affordable cost. As a product of Kelly-Springfield and a subsidiary of Goodyear, we can confidently say that the tires are of good quality. Douglas is not a premium brand but is comfortable and stable under normal conditions.
When searching for a reasonable budget tire for your vehicle, the article on who makes Douglas tires helps you to make an informed decision. The company promises a treadwear warranty of 45,000 miles and a 90-day free return policy. The tires are available in all Walmart stores. It is prudent to have the tires mounted by Walmart technicians at their shops to keep the warrant viable.
