Douglas Tires Review: Excellent Tires on a Budget

Douglas tires don’t cost much. Manufactured by Goodyear, these tires are only available for sale at Walmart, which owns the exclusive rights to market and sell Douglas tires in the US. These tires must be mounted and installed at Walmart stores, too, or else their warranty might be void.

All these things sound very exciting on paper. Purchasing a set of tires manufactured by a reliable company like Goodyear from a household name such as Walmart. What could go wrong? Especially since Walmart is known for offering quality service to its consumers.

The thing is, everyday drivers cannot tell the difference between cheap and premium tires. Both perform equally well during your daily drive. And at normal speeds, they won’t give you any reason for concern. Sure, expensive tires will be more comfortable, but the difference will be subtle.

It is when you test tires to their limit that the penny drops. Premium tires justify their asking prices at high speeds and on rough terrains. It is in such testing conditions that the likes of Michelin, Bridgestone, and Continental excel. Cheap yet dependable tires like Douglas struggle in such scenarios.

Nevertheless, whether it’s standard passenger tires or performance tires, Douglas has built a solid reputation for itself over the past three decades. The brand’s tires might be laps behind their premium counterparts. But for anyone on a tight budget, they are an option.

Got it? Let’s know more in our Douglas tires review.

Douglas Tires Review

Here are the best Douglas tires currently on the market

#1. Douglas All Season

The Douglas All Season tire is a value-priced brand for passenger cars and minivans. Goodyear added this tire to its lineup in order to give more options to drivers who wanted an affordable set of tires that could safely carry them from point A to point B. That is precisely what the All Season tire does.

One of the best things about this tire is that it is extremely cheap. And not only when you juxtapose its price with that of premium tires – it is cheaper when compared to tires of budget brands, such as Toyo, General, Mastercraft, etc. And the difference is significant.

Sure, the performance is enticing, but what about the performance? The Douglas All Season tires perform really well on dry pavement. It offers excellent cornering grip and traction on dry roads. In doing so, it does what is expected of most modern tires.

Unfortunately, things start to go downhill when you make inquiries about its tread compound. Douglas has made no mention of the tire’s rubber. Both the website as well as the representatives in Walmart stores have nothing to offer. This cannot be a good thing, right?

Snow and wet weather performance is almost non-existent, and things have the potential to go haywire pretty quickly on ice. So while Walmart would like you to think that this is an All-Season tire, you should never count on it to keep you safe in harsh wintry conditions.

Ride comfort is one of the few areas where this tire doesn’t disappoint. It isn’t exactly quiet, but the tread growl is barely noticeable. You won’t find it obtrusive. And the ride quality is decent, too, especially for the price. It does a fine job of absorbing road bumps.

#2. Douglas Performance

The Performance is one of the brand’s most popular models. It is also one of Douglas’s cheapest. You can get an entire set of these tires for the price of one premium UHP tire. Which, even when you factor in this tire’s relatively short tread life, is an enticing factor.

This tire presents a perfect option for anyone looking to upgrade from the Douglas All Season. It feels better behind the steering wheel and is certainly more responsive. Cornering performance and highway-speed stability are on the higher side, too.

Its grip levels are exceptional. The Douglas Performance might cost the same as the All-Season but its handling on dry roads is multiple times better. For those of you who own a mini-sedan, there’s no reason why you should mind putting this tire on your wheel.

That said, just like its brother, this tire’s wet traction and grip are lackluster. Its tread compound is simply not good enough to keep the Douglas Performance glued to the road. Which is a shame given that its hydroplaning resistance is decent for the price.

Douglas tries to compensate for these shortcomings by slapping this tire with a 45,000-mile treadwear warranty. The number might not seem large, unless you consider that this is a performance tire. Performance tires’ treadlife is generally short (due to the way they’re driven).

So the warranty on offer is pretty decent. Still, ‘decent’ isn’t the word anyone could use to describe this model’s snow and ice traction. Don’t expect this tire to keep you safe in harsh wintry conditions, which is something that applies for the Douglas All-Season too.

#3. Douglas Performance GT-H

The Performance GT-H is a sibling/competitor of the Douglas Performance. This tire offers better high-speed handling, is much better at cornering and is more stable at high speeds. That too while costing less and being available in a higher number of tire sizes.

These tires also perform much better in the rain, which isn’t a difficult feat considering the Douglas Performance’s below-average traction and grip in wet conditions. You could drive them on roads inundated with days of heavy rain and they’d still stay glued to the road.

Hydroplaning resistance is also above average. Multiple circumferential grooves give accumulated water particles all the space they need to evacuate the tread area. This, in turn, ensures that the tire’s road contact stays intact, regardless of how wet the conditions are.

One area where both these tires offer similar performance is harsh winter. Neither of them have the tread compound to stay usable on snow and ice, even light snow. You’d thus be better off with a dedicated set of winter tires than putting either of these tires on your wheel in such conditions.

However, not everything in the comparison goes in this tire’s favor. Take treadlife warranty for instance. As stated above, the Douglas Performance is warrantied for 45,000 miles of treadlife. That isn’t the case with the Performance GT-H – this tire’s tread is backed to last only 40,000 miles.

Fuel efficiency is another area where these tires disappoint. Which isn’t surprising given that UPH tires aren’t meant to reduce your trips to the gas station. They are meant for enthusiast drivers keen to pushing their tires to their limits.

#4. Douglas DWT MOAPA ATV

The Moapa ATV is built for multiple applications, from racing needs to trail use. That too while having starting prices that range from $91 and up. So if you’re looking for an aggressive tire on a budget, the Moapa ATV might be what you need.

This tire features an aggressive tread design that helps distinguish it from others on the road. A 6-ply construction gives it the load rating and added strength to withstand huge amounts of weight. It also gives this tire above-average traction on the most challenging of terrains.

Grip is excellent too. A wide contact patch, which expands with speed, allows it to grip all types of terrains. Whether you’re driving on slippery terrains like dirt, mud, or sand, or the tire has to encounter gravel or rock, this tire won’t disappoint you with its performance.

Puncture-resistance is supreme. A 6-ply carcass ensures that whatever particles it comes across on the road cannot tear through the tread area. A stiff sidewall has what is needed to keep bumps with curbs from downgrading this tire’s quality.

That isn’t to say that the Moapa ATV ticks all the boxes. Number of sizes is an area where this tire was expected to do better. But as things stand, this model is available in only three sizes, ranging from 12-inch to 14-inch. So drivers of bigger ATVs should look elsewhere.

Douglas Tires Buying Guide

What to expect when buying Douglas tires? Are there any features that distinguish these tires from other cheap tire brands? Any shortcomings that might force you to go for alternatives? In this section, we’ll provide you with all the answers.

Why Buy Douglas Tires?

Here’s why Douglas tires have been going strong since 1992:

Widespread Availability

Douglas tires are available at all Walmart stores. This doesn’t sound like a big deal, but actually, it is.

Walmart is one of the leading multinational retailers in the US. It operates a chain of hypermarkets, departmental stores, neighborhood markets, and discount shops. We’re talking about over 4,700 stores throughout the United States. And this number is only going to get bigger.

Aside from that, Walmart does a fantastic job of educating the general public about the tire it sells. The official website will tell you everything you need to know about Douglas tires, including whether they will fit your vehicle, size availability, warranty, and anything else that might help you make the decision.

Affordable Price Point

Here’s another thing that goes in Douglas tires’ favor: they are super cheap.

It isn’t improbable for one Michelin or Goodyear tire to cost above $150. That means you’ll have to fork out somewhere more than $550 for a set. In contrast, a set of Douglas tires will only set you back $250 or less, leaving you with chump change for a tall coffee.

It isn’t only premium tires that cost more. Toyo is well-known for churning out super-inexpensive tires. Still, a set of Toyo tires will cost more or less the same (around $200), without the widespread availability and extended warranty that give Douglas tires an edge over their competitors.

Decent Warranty

What if the tire has any defects – do you drive to Walmart or Goodyear?

Walmart stands tall behind the tires it sells, no matter how low the asking prices are. The shopping giant backs Douglas tires with a 45,000-mile treadwear limited warranty, which is decent considering that these tires don’t cost much.

If the representative at Walmart judges the defect to be eligible for replacement, you’ll get the replacement tire free. Though you’d still need to cover the installation cost, service charges, taxes, and any other government-mandated charges.

There’s, however, a catch. For Douglas tires to qualify for the warranty, they must be mounted at a Walmart store. That means if you got these tires installed anywhere else, the warranty will go void. Most customers aren’t aware of this rule until it’s too late.

Reasonably Comfortable

Douglas tires are pretty comfortable for the price.

Sure, you can go out and buy quieter and more comfortable tires. But they won’t be as inexpensive as Douglas tires. You’d have to blow a decent size hole in your pocket to afford them.

That is something Douglas tires save you from. The ride quality isn’t exactly plush, but it is soft enough to carry you from point A to point B with minimal tiredness. As for the tread growl, it won’t inconvenience your ears, even at highway speeds.

Why NOT Buy Douglas Tires?

Here are the negative aspects of Douglas tires:

Below-Average Wet traction

Most cheap tires you see on the road struggle on wet roads. Douglas tires aren’t any different. If you want a tire that could ensure your safety in rainy conditions, they aren’t the best choice. Their hydroplaning resistance is nowhere near good enough to offer adequate traction or grip.

If you’re looking for budget-friendly tires that could hold their own in wet conditions, Hercules tires are an excellent option. Hercules tires’ have the tread compound as well as the hydroplaning resistance that enables them to safely carry you from point A to point B in rain.

Problematic Snow and Ice Traction

Nothing about Douglas tires’ tread compound tells us they are ready for very cold conditions. Even on light snow these tires will struggle to stop things from going haywire. Ice traction is non-existent too. Put simply, don’t count on these tires to perform well in wintry conditions.

The Michelin X Ice is our choice for the best tire for snow and ice. Sure, this model costs many times higher than any Douglas tire. But it justifies its higher asking price with a silica-based rubber compound that does a marvelous job at freezing temperatures.

Short Tread Life

Douglas tires are a proof of the maxim that you get what you pay for. While they might be cheap, don’t expect these tires to last multiple seasons. Especially if you’re the sort of driver who is always fond of pushing their vehicle’s tires to their limits.

Here are the expected tread lives of different Douglas tires:

• Douglas All Season: The All-Season tire’s tread is expected to last 45,000 miles or up to three years. This number is pretty low when you compare it with what other budget tire brands have to offer.
• Douglas Performance: User reviews indicate that the Douglas Performance has the same tread life as the All Season. Again, almost every performance tire, even those from budget brands, give better numbers.
• Douglas Performance GT-H: The slightly more powerful sibling of the Douglas Performance can theoretically last 40,000 miles, if the warranty is to be believed. Same sentiment as shared about the previous two.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the common queries people have about Douglas tires:

Who makes Douglas tires?

Douglas tires are made by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. Goodyear sells Douglas tires through Walmart, which holds the exclusive rights to sell Douglas tires in the US.

Are Douglas tires the same as Goodyear?

No, Douglas is a trademark of the line of tires made by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.

Goodyear tires last longer than Douglas tires, offer higher treadlife warranties and perform much better in rainy conditions and on snow- and ice-laden roads. However, they cost more, making Douglas tires a better option for budget-minded drivers.

Are Douglas tires good in the winter?

No, Douglas tires aren’t usable in wintry conditions, even light snow. These tires lack the tread compound needed to remain useful on snow- and ice-laden roads. So you’d be better off with a dedicated set of winter tires.

Is Douglas tires made in USA?

Yes. All of Goodyear’s tires are made in USA.

Are Douglas tires only at Walmart?

Yes, Walmart owns the exclusive rights to sell Douglas tires in the US.

If you’re thinking of buying Douglas tires, remember that these tires’ warranty only stays intact if you have them installed and replaced at Walmart stores. Doing otherwise might void the warranty.

But this shouldn’t be a problem given that Walmart has more than 4,700 stores across the US.

Conclusion

Our Douglas tires review has made one thing crystal clear. These models offer a compromise for anyone on a tight budget. Their tread life, summer performance and ride quality are pretty decent for the price. But wet traction and snow-and-ice performance are lackluster.