CEAT SecuraDrive tyres review: An upgrade for your compact SUV?

It's been three months since we slapped on the CEAT SecuraDrive tyres onto our long-term test Kia Sonet. Initially, we found that the SecuraDrive tyres not only improved the ride and handling, but also gave it a quieter cabin that lifted the feeling of premiumness that the Sonet offers. But tyres, like any other component of a car, are prone to wear and tear and that can adversely affect the experience you get from your car. However, I’m happy to tell you that this isn’t the case with the SecuraDrives yet.

Yes, three months isn’t a long time when you consider the five-odd year lifespan of a set of tyres, but the initial few months can still be a good indicator of what’s to come. The SecuraDrives still retain the plushness first felt when we fitted them onto the Sonet — there aren’t any undue vibrations filtering into the cabin and road noise is contained well. And having driven a Sonet with OE tyres recently, I can assure you that there is still a marked difference between the SecuraDrives and the OE rubber.

In terms of dynamics, the SecuraDrive tyres still provide similar levels of grip in the corners as they did when new. There isn’t any excessive squealing from the tyres even when pushed hard, and thanks to a rogue canine on the road, I also found that the braking performance is still fantastic. The tyres don’t complain or make the ABS kick in too early, so you get more performance out of your brakes. When driving in a spirited manner, the traction control light isn’t left flashing all the time and the tyres seem to generate enough grip to match the Sonet’s 113bhp and 250Nm of torque.

The Sonet is being driven everyday, taken on commutes and occasionally on long drives and shoots too, so the tyres have seen a fair few kilometres already and being with the evo India team, you can be sure that these aren’t slow, laid-back kilometres. Even so, the tyres look as good as new, with little to no wear on the tread which should mean it also retains the same water dispersing capabilities as before. With Pune having unplanned rains on the odd day even in February, it shouldn’t be too long before we get to test that parameter out as well.

Overall, the CEAT SecuraDrive tyres have held up rather well and it is no surprise that more and more manufacturers are switching to the SecuraDrives as the stock choice for their new cars. Much like when we first reviewed the tyres, the SecuraDrives remain a solid pick for anyone looking for a new set of tyres for their hatchback, small sedan or compact-SUV.

You can click here to get yours.