Are Michelin Tires Really Worth the Price? (Checked!)

Michelin Tires is one of the most reliable tires in the world. The brand got its reputation from its invention of the radial tire.

In fuel economy and handling, the radial tire outdoes all other kinds of tires, but this means Michelin tires are also expensive.

Are Michelin tires worth the high price?

Michelin tires are worth every dime you pay for them. Not only do they feature innovative technology, but Michelin tires are some of the highest performing and longest lasting. You can’t go wrong with these tires.

Why Are Michelin Tires More Expensive?

Michelin tires are more expensive because of their exceptional quality, long-lasting warranty, and high industrial rankings.

It’s no news that the brand makes some of the most expensive tires.

Below are some features that increase the value of Michelin tires and keep people buying despite the high cost:

1. Quality

The Michelin brand has an established standard that all its tires must meet up with before they are released into the market.

According to Michelin’s ex-company president, Pete Selleck, if a tire sample does not meet up with the established standards, production comes to a standstill until the factory makes an amendment, usually within a day.

That must be why the Michelin brand records some of the lowest numbers of complaints from customers.

2. Customer and Industry Reviews

Michelin tires are the darling of customers and independent review agencies.

According to several Consumer Reports reviews, Michelin tires break records in performance and long tread life. Despite the eye-watering price of their tires compared to competitors’, Michelin continues to report robust sales figures.

This is a testament to the trust customers have in their tires to deliver safe and superior performance in all driving conditions.

3. Warranty

The long-lasting warranty that Michelin tires provide also has an implication on their price.

All Michelin tires enjoy a 6-year warranty. Some of them also have mileage warranties.

Under the 6-year warranty, if any tire suffers vibration, cracking, or material defect within six years, you get a new one for free.

With the few tires that have mileage warranties, Michelin Tires will replace your tire if it doesn’t exceed a certain estimated tread life.

Are Michelin Tires More Durable?

Michelin tires are some of the most durable tires.

Autoguide, a car website, rated one of their tires, the Michelin Defender LTX, as the third most durable tire. In fact, depending on certain factors, Michelin tires can last as long as 5-10 years.

Here are some comparisons between Michelin tires and tires from other brands:

Michelin LXT Force vs. Pirelli Scorpion ATR (SUV tires):

The Michelin LXT Force lasts longer than Pirelli Scorpion ATR. The highest recorded number of miles for Michelin LXT Force is 97,000 miles.

The Pirelli Scorpion has never lasted longer than 65,000 miles.

Michelin X-Ice Xi13 vs. Firestone Winter Force (Winter tires):

Once again, the tread life of the Michelin X-Ice Xi13 is much longer than the tread life of the Winter Force.

The X-Ice Xi13 can go for as long as 40,000 miles, while the Winter Force has only 30,00 miles on it, at most.

You should also be reading our article which talks about Are Pirelli Tires Quiet or Noisy?

Michelin Defender LTX vs. Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady (All-season tires):

Here, the Michelin Defender is also more durable than the Goodyear Assurance.

The tread life of a Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady is 60,000 miles, which is a whole 30,000 miles less than the mileage on the Michelin Defender’s 90,000 miles.

Michelin tires are often more durable than most tires. However, the longevity and durability of the tires depending on user habits, region, and other factors.

These factors may affect the durability of a Michelin tire or any other tire:

• Poor road conditions
• Using unsuitable tires during snow or summer
• Poor maintenance of the tires

What Is the Real Difference Between Michelin and Other Brands?

The Michelin brand’s popularity is buoyed on its ability to innovate, deliver premium-quality products, and exceed customers’ expectations consistently.

Here are some of its distinguishing qualities:

1. Radial Tire Design

What makes the Michelin tire brand unique is that it invented a radical product, the radial tire. The radial tire redefined fuel economy and handling in tires.

The radial tire also single-handedly made Michelin Tires one of the world’s biggest tire producers. To this moment, the radial tire dominates the US tire market.

2. Quality Raw Materials

Another element that set the brand apart from other manufacturers is the top grade rubber Michelin uses in the productions of its tires.

The rubber contributes massively to the ability of Michelin tires to conserve fuel in cars. That said, there are also particular features that differentiate the brand from specific tire brands.

You may also like to read our article Are Vredestein Tires Quiet or Noisy?

Look at the comparisons between Michelin and other tire brands below:

Michelin vs. Pirelli

Even though these two brands may be similar in their delivery of quality and customer satisfaction, they are also different.

These differences include:

Focus on Performance:

Pirelli tires focus on excellent grip and handling in tires.

This means their tires grip the road perfectly in different weather conditions and keep the driver in control of the wheel. So, Pirelli tires provide the smoothest rides on the road.

No wonder their motto is ‘ Power is nothing without control.’

The motto of the Michelin brand is ‘Total Performance,’ so they spread their focus on the overall functions of tires, not just handling and grip.

Michelin emphasizes safety, longevity, fuel efficiency, impressive handling, and all-weather performance.

Durability:

Perhaps because of the excessive focus on grip and handling, Pirelli tires tend to suffer wear and tear faster than other brands. This is why using them more frequent replacements.

In contrast, Michelin tires are known for durability. In fact, they are one of the most durable brands and were recently named the 3rd most durable brand in the world by Autoguide.com, a website that provides information on cars.

If you are obsessed with grip and handling while driving, go for Pirelli tires. That’s if you can afford their need for regular replacement. If, however, you prefer that your tires deliver in every aspect, you should purchase Michelin tires.

Michelin vs. Goodyear

The similarity between these brands is the wide variety of tires they offer customers. They both have tires for trucks, SUVs, and sedans.

However, they differ in these respects:

Performance:

Goodyear tires perform better than Michelin tires on wet roads.  

A good example is a comparison between the Michelin Pilot Super Sport and the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2. The tread patterns of the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 are structured in a way that pushes out water effectively.

However, for the Michelin Pilot Super Sport tire, the tread pattern is not as effective.

It’s a different story in dry conditions. The Michelin Pilot Supersport performs better than the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2.

Our advice is for you to purchase Michelin tires for summer, and Goodyear tires for winter.

Price:

Michelin tires are more expensive than Goodyear tires.

However, Michelin tires compensate for the difference in price by providing extra performance options.

A good example is a comparison between the SUV tires Michelin LTX Force, and Goodyear Assurance CS Fuel Max. The Michelin LTX Force costs $274, while the Assurance CS Fuel Max sells for $137.

Buyers of the Assurance CS Fuel Max often complain of the noise the tire generates, something absent in the Michelin LTX Force.

What Are the Cheaper Alternatives to Michelin Tires?

Michelin tires are notable for traction, durability, and fuel efficiency.

The brands below are cheaper, but also provide these qualities:

Goodyear

Goodyear tires are definitely cheaper than Michelin tires.

The US Discount Tire ratings place the average cost of Goodyear tires at $119, while it states that the mean cost of Michelin tires is $190. 

The brand is notable for providing fuel-efficient tires that provide excellent traction in varying weather conditions. Take, for example, the Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring, the recommended tires for tours.

The tire provides amazing traction and smooth on-road rides in both wet and dry temperatures.

Bridgestone

This brand often competes with Michelin tires on all facets.

They produce tires that are durable and provide outstanding handling on the road. Unlike Michelin tires, they also have reasonable prices. Let’s compare the Michelin Pilot Supersport with the Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole.

Both tires have been placed on Autoguide.com’s top ten list of high-performance tires.

However, the Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole is cheaper than the Michelin Pilot SuperSport. The prices for the Potenza range from $100-$300, while the Pilot SuperSport is priced from $181-$567.

How Much Should I Buy 4 New Tires?

You need to decide what kind of tire you are buying. Michelin offers a variety of tires from SUV tires to all-season tires.

For example, the price of SUV tires ranges from $79(Michelin X-Ice Xi13) to $231(XPS Traction). So, four new SUV tires would cost about $316-$924.

Also, the most expensive Michelin tires are the Michelin XDR, which costs $42,500. But you wouldn’t need such tires unless you have a heavy-duty vehicle.

Are Michelin Tires Ever on Sale?

Yes, you can get Michelin tires at discounts at select websites and dealerships.

Tire dealerships like Costco and Discountedwheelwarehouse.com have Michelin tires on sale every other month.

You can also get rebates at dealerships and select retailers.

Was this article helpful?