Haida Tires Review 2026: Canada's Best-Selling Budget Tire

We sell over 24,000 Haida tires every year. That's not a typo. Twenty-four thousand. Through our two warehouses in Winchester and Ottawa, Haida outsells premium brands 3:1 in our operation.

When people ask me "are Haida tires good?" — the numbers answer that question. You don't sell 24,000 units a year of a bad product. Customers come back. Shops reorder. Fleet operators standardize on them. That doesn't happen with junk tires.

But let me give you the full picture, because Haida occupies a specific spot in the market and it's important to understand what that means.

Who Is Haida?

Haida is a Chinese tire manufacturer that produces a wide range of tires for passenger cars, SUVs, trucks, and commercial vehicles. They're one of the larger tire manufacturers in China, with multiple factory lines and a global distribution network.

In Canada, we're one of the largest independent Haida distributors. We stock over 1,000 Haida SKUs — passenger, light truck, winter, all-season, performance, and commercial. If Haida makes it, we probably have it.

The Haida Lineup

Here's what matters:

Winter Tires

• HD617 — Our #1 seller. Budget winter tire that outsells everything else in our inventory. From $62/tire. Full review here.
• HD668 — Studded winter option for extreme ice conditions.

All-Season & Highway

• HD625 — Standard all-season passenger tire. Quiet, comfortable, good tread life.
• HD668 — All-season for sedans and compact SUVs.

Performance

• HD927 — UHP summer tire. Aggressive tread, good wet grip. Budget alternative to premium performance tires.
• HD937 — Performance all-season. Year-round capability with sportier handling.

Truck & SUV

• HD878 — All-terrain for trucks and SUVs. Decent off-road capability at a budget price point.
• HD828 — Highway all-season for pickups and SUVs.

Commercial

• Multiple commercial and trailer tire options for fleet operators.

The HD617 Story

I have to talk about the HD617 because it's the single most important tire in our business. We move 24,000+ units per year of this one model. At roughly $62 per tire, a full set of winter tires costs under $250 — less than the price of a single Bridgestone Blizzak in some sizes.

Canadian drivers need winter tires. That's not optional in most provinces. But spending $800-1,000 on a set of premium winters isn't in everyone's budget, especially when you're also buying rims, paying for installation, and storing your summers.

The HD617 solves that problem. It's a legitimate winter tire — proper winter compound, siped tread blocks, snowflake-rated — at a price that makes winter driving safety accessible to everyone.

Honest Assessment: What You're Getting

Haida is a budget tire brand. I'm not going to pretend otherwise. Here's what that means in practice:

What Haida Does Well

• Price. This is the main event. Haida tires cost 40-60% less than premium equivalents.
• Basic performance. They grip, they stop, they handle Canadian weather. The fundamentals are solid.
• Variety. Over 1,000 SKUs means we have a size for virtually every vehicle on Canadian roads.
• Consistency. After selling tens of thousands of these tires, we know what to expect. The quality is consistent — no surprises.
• Winter capability. The HD617 genuinely performs in Canadian winters. Snow, slush, cold pavement — it handles it.

Where Haida Falls Short

• Tread life. Budget tires generally use simpler compounds that wear faster than premium alternatives. You might get 50,000 km where a Michelin gives you 80,000 km.
• Noise. Some models are noisier than premium equivalents, particularly at highway speeds.
• Wet braking. In emergency braking on wet pavement, a Michelin or Continental will stop shorter. That's a measurable difference.
• Ride refinement. The overall ride quality is good but not as polished as premium tires. More road feedback, slightly firmer.

The Math That Matters

Here's how I think about it: a set of four Michelin X-Ice Snow tires costs roughly $720-800. A set of four Haida HD617s costs roughly $248-300 depending on size.

Even if the Haida lasts 20% fewer kilometres, you've spent less than half the money. You could buy two full sets of Haida for the price of one set of Michelin and still have money left over.

For fleet operators running 10, 20, 50 vehicles, that math is what makes business decisions. That's why fleet operators are some of our biggest Haida customers.

Who Should Buy Haida Tires?

• Value-conscious drivers who want reliable tires without the brand premium
• Fleet operators looking to minimize per-vehicle tire costs
• People who change tires frequently — if you're putting on 30,000+ km a year, buying budget tires more often can make more sense than premium tires that last longer
• Second vehicle / beater car owners — if it's a work truck or winter beater, premium tires are wasted money
• New drivers who are still learning and might curb a few tires
• Anyone who needs winter tires and can't justify $800+ — safety first, and affordable winters beat no winters every time

Who Shouldn't Buy Haida?

• Performance enthusiasts who want the absolute best grip and handling — step up to Atturo AZ850 or go premium
• Long-distance highway drivers who prioritize comfort and low noise above all else
• Anyone who keeps their car 10+ years and wants maximum tread life per purchase

The Verdict

Haida tires are exactly what they claim to be: reliable, affordable tires that get the job done. They're not trying to win comparison tests against Michelin. They're trying to put safe, functional tires on Canadian vehicles at prices that don't require a line of credit.

We've sold over 24,000 of them in a single year. Our warranty claim rate is low. Our repeat customer rate is high. That tells you everything you need to know.

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