All of the major US, Euro, & Japanese tire companies make good tires. They also make some stinkers too. Including Michelin.
Tires have various factors that people value:
Lifetime - related to the tire compound and pattern
Steering response - related to how stiff the sidewalls are- stiffer the better
Ride - Related to how soft the sidewalls are and how round the tires are
Mechanical grip -related to the tire compound and pattern
General grip - related to tire compound
Braking distance - related to grip
Hydroplaning resistance - Primarily related to pattern, with compound a second
Snow - same as hybroplaning with different characteristics
Low rolling resistance - is a function of what level grip is needed. Generally, low rolling resistance tires are a nonsense. Less grip = less resistance for a small, very small improvement in mpg at a tradeoff of control & Safety.
When I buy all season tires - truck or car, the number one thing to me is handling. Steering response and grip. Why? Feedback to the driver. Does this mean you need tires for a Corvette. No. But also means most of the tires for the same price can perform better with limited tradeoffs in lifetime.
Any tire that lasts more than 50,000 miles likely has insufficent grip for anything but straight line interstate driving in warmer weather.
Lifetime is very important for cost reasons, but if the tires doesn't work on the road, lifetime becomes a prison sentence.
Ride I could care less about. That's what the suspension is for and a rolling sofa is not safe when you don't know what's going on beneath you.
There is no tire that works in all conditions, you have to pick and choose what works for your area and car and driving style.
As a racer, I have driven many and many types of tires. Michelins are generally appealing to those who want extremely high mileage at any tradeoff (general car tires) or very high performance (Pilot line), but cost a lot.
There have been some Michelin tires that are plain mediocre such as the LX1, MXV4, and those 80K mile tires that have been chisled out of stone, and cannot turn or stop unless it is dry and 80 degrees. There are also some great Michelin tires that are fantastic and expensive like the Pilot line.
BTW, Michelin also owns BFGoodrich and Uniroyal.
Tires have various factors that people value:
Lifetime - related to the tire compound and pattern
Steering response - related to how stiff the sidewalls are- stiffer the better
Ride - Related to how soft the sidewalls are and how round the tires are
Mechanical grip -related to the tire compound and pattern
General grip - related to tire compound
Braking distance - related to grip
Hydroplaning resistance - Primarily related to pattern, with compound a second
Snow - same as hybroplaning with different characteristics
Low rolling resistance - is a function of what level grip is needed. Generally, low rolling resistance tires are a nonsense. Less grip = less resistance for a small, very small improvement in mpg at a tradeoff of control & Safety.
When I buy all season tires - truck or car, the number one thing to me is handling. Steering response and grip. Why? Feedback to the driver. Does this mean you need tires for a Corvette. No. But also means most of the tires for the same price can perform better with limited tradeoffs in lifetime.
Any tire that lasts more than 50,000 miles likely has insufficent grip for anything but straight line interstate driving in warmer weather.
Lifetime is very important for cost reasons, but if the tires doesn't work on the road, lifetime becomes a prison sentence.
Ride I could care less about. That's what the suspension is for and a rolling sofa is not safe when you don't know what's going on beneath you.
There is no tire that works in all conditions, you have to pick and choose what works for your area and car and driving style.
As a racer, I have driven many and many types of tires. Michelins are generally appealing to those who want extremely high mileage at any tradeoff (general car tires) or very high performance (Pilot line), but cost a lot.
There have been some Michelin tires that are plain mediocre such as the LX1, MXV4, and those 80K mile tires that have been chisled out of stone, and cannot turn or stop unless it is dry and 80 degrees. There are also some great Michelin tires that are fantastic and expensive like the Pilot line.
BTW, Michelin also owns BFGoodrich and Uniroyal.
