Car Owners Say Michelin is the Best Tire Brand for 2021

Michelin is the most satisfactory brand when it comes to OE (Original Equipment) tires in every category beating the likes of Bridgestone and Goodyear. This is according to the 2021 J.D. Power Original Equipment Tire Customer Satisfaction Survey.

The U.S.-based study takes into account the absence of tire-related issues as well as appearance and performance after one and two years of service. The study is based on responses from 26,131 owners of 2018 and 2019 model-year vehicles, and examines tire owner satisfaction in four key areas (in order of importance): tire wear; tire ride; tire traction/handling; and tire appearance. Rankings are included among four vehicle segments: luxury; passenger car; performance sport; and truck/utility.

In the study, Michelin ranks highest in the luxury segment with an overall satisfaction score of 782 (on a 1,000-point scale), followed by Pirelli with a score of 760. The segment average is 750.

Michelin also ranks highest in the passenger car segment with a score of 752. Goodyear ranks second with a score of 739, and Kumho ranks third with a score of 736. The segment average is 721.

Michelin ranks highest in the performance sport segment with a score of 789, followed by Goodyear with a score of 761. The segment average is 731.

Finally, Michelin ranks highest in the truck/utility segment with a score of 771. Bridgestone ranks second (737), and Hankook ranks third (712). The segment average is 711.

Check out the full rankings below.

Moving forward, the effects of travel restrictions brought on by the coronavirus pandemic is expected to hit the tire industry, says J.D. Power.

They have noted that vehicles are driven with 13 percent fewer miles, and tire rotations and pressure checks saw similar rates of decline. Also, owners delayed replacing their original equipment tires with the study indicating a 23 percent decline in replacement rates.

J.D. Power says that while this poses a challenge to the tire industry, it can also be used as an opportunity if tire manufacturers bring people back to service facilities by implementing better visual wear indicators and increasing tire safety communications.

J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Original Equipment Tire Customer Satisfaction Study

Luxury

1. Michelin (782)
2. Pirelli (760)
3. Segment Average (750)
4. Goodyear (748)
5. Bridgestone (742)
6. Continental (721)

Passenger Car

1. Michelin (752)
2. Goodyear (739)
3. Kumho (736)
4. Continental (726)
5. Firestone (725)
6. Segment Average (721)
7. Dunlop (720)
8. Bridgestone (715)
9. Pirelli (714)
10. Yokohama (708)
11. Hankook (704)
12. Toyo (699)
13. Nexen (687)
14. Falken (675)

Performance Sport

1. Michelin (789)
2. Goodyear (761)
3. Segment Average (731)
4. Pirelli (709)
5. Bridgestone (698)

Truck/Utility

1. Michelin (771)
2. Bridgestone (737)
3. Hankook (712)
4. Segment Average (711)
5. Goodyear (689)
6. Continental (657)
7. Firestone (656)

Source: Car Guides PH