The question posed in the title of this article is rather difficult to answer since the variables are seemingly endless. However, some firms like J.D. Power make a specialty of it, as revealed in the Original Equipment Tire Customer Satisfaction Study. As the name suggests, this study looks at the satisfaction of U.S. consumers with their vehicle's original equipment tires.
The good news is that since last year, there has been a five-point increase in overall satisfaction. Electric vehicle owners saw a 62-point jump in satisfaction. These increases, however, may seem a little less impressive when you realize that the scale is out of 1000! At the top of the rankings, we continue to find well-known names, but which manufacturers have managed to come out on top?
In the luxury category...
Let's start with the most prestigious title, that of the luxury segment, won by Michelin for the twentieth year in a row with a score of 833. The French company was able to carve out a good lead over Goodyear, which came in second with 818, only five points higher than the average. Michelin obviously beat the competition to the punch, probably thanks to its models like the Pilot Sport 4 S, perfect for ultra-sporty vehicles or other high-performance models.
For the average person
Let's be honest, most of us will probably recognize ourselves more in the passenger car category, which encompasses everything from the Subaru Crosstrek to the Honda Civic of this world. Although the French company is still on the podium with a score of 827, it is just one point behind its eternal Italian rival, Pirelli. In this category, we find for example the P Zero All Season Plus or the Cinturato P7 All Season Plus 2, two effective choices available in a wide variety of sizes. A special mention goes to BFGoodrich, third in the ranking with 825 points.
What about trucks?
J.D. Power also took a look at the truck and utility vehicle category, which was marked by much lower scores. In another landslide victory, it was Michelin that took the gold with a score of 809, but what I find more interesting is the presence of Bridgestone and Continental on the podium. It is certainly because of their more interesting choice than most of the other manufacturers, as for example with Continental’s Vancontact range at Bridgestone’s Dueler tires.
In any case, we have to take these statistics with a grain of salt since our neighbors to the south don't have exactly the same driving conditions as we do. Nevertheless, it is interesting to note certain trends such as the domination of Michelin and the surprising third place of Continental. Does this make you any more likely to buy these tires?
